DEWALT Compact Accessory Set – Work Site Tough
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Sometimes what you want is less rather than more. What DEWALT has done with this 19 piece set is to distill all the best bits from bigger sets and given the tradesman or keen DIYer a really useful kit that will cover many situations without taking up too much space. The bright yellow case screams DEWALT at you but it is also very toughly made with a strong hinge and a catch that you operate even with gloves on. I stood on the
case in my workboots, and although I am not exactly "brick outhouse" it didn't flinch. Inside, the things that caught my attention at first were the drill bits. Firstly they appear to be titanium coated, which in my view is something that makes a big
difference to the longevity and accuracy of bits. I have had a set of TiN coated bits for over five years and they are still performing well. The second thing that caught my attention was the tip geometry of the bits. The tips have a sort of "step" arrangement from a sharp tip. This seems to help accurate
starting, particularly in hard materials. Finally, the bit shanks have ground flats on them that produce nearly hexagonal shanks. These shanks will resist twisting in a normal drill chuck and perform much more efficiently. What will probably be used more often is the set of screwdriver bits on the other side of the case. There are two bit holders. The first is just a standard hex
arrangement with a powerful magnet to hold the bit in place. For many of the simple screwdriving applications this set up is the most obvious and simplest solution and if it ain't broke, there is no need to get any more complicated The second bit holder however has a more sophisticated purpose. It has a sliding collar that slides over the screw and supports it while it is being driven, thereby
avoiding the "wobbly screw syndrome" I often encounter when setting screws freehand. It means screws are driven home accurately and straight and avoids unnecessary screwhead damage. This bit holder has a magnetic screw holder so the screw will not fall out of the sliding collar as it is brought to the work. Three longer shanked screwdriver bits are included, a Phillips, a Pozi and a straight bit, but reflecting modern usage patterns, there are four Philips 2 compact bits and
four Pozi 2 compact bits. These bits are good quality and do tend to last quite well even under "trade" use and are easily replaceable so the set can be made complete again once they are used up. The bits have a grippy corrugated pattern on the flutes that does actually help them grip the screwheads when driving. Perhaps my only gripe, and this probably reflects the way I use things, is that the plastic inserts that hold the drill bits grip tightly, and when I am in a hurry (most of the
time) I tend to forget about them and just put the bits back in the case loose. It just means I have to be careful when I open the case next time I use it. In the meantime, this little set has already found a valued place in my workbox, and I am very happy to use it.
Reply No. 210
8 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE
www.toolbusiness.co.uk
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