I was at my local Home Depot the other day, picking up an online order, when I came across a Dewalt multi-tool gift pack. It included Dewalt’s new multi-tool and keychain multi-tool for just $19.88.
It struck me as odd that Dewalt, a company that prides itself as being a professional tool brand, would market their new hand tools as a consumer holiday gift package complete with fold-up packaging and a slide-out red bow. But my curiosity got the best of me and I bought a set for testing.
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The set comes with a smallish traditionally-styled pocket-sized multi-tool, and a keychain-sized tool. Both are described in more detail in our Dewalt multi-tool preview from earlier in the year.
It looks like you can only buy the gift set at Home Depot stores, as they aren’t even listed on Home Depot’s website. If you want to call your local store to see if they have this, the receipt lists the UPC as 076174724196, and the model number is DWHT72419L. A few online vendors list the gift set but don’t have any in stock.
Update: this combo kit has dropped in price at local Home Depot stores, at least those that haven’t sold out yet, and you can also buy it from Amazon for $20-22.
Dewalt Multi-Tool
I don’t want to say that Dewalt’s multi-tool (DWHT71843) is junk, but it’s definitely not what I expected. I’m used to using and working with Leatherman multi-tools, and these just feel a little cheap and almost haphazardly designed.
While the image here shows all-silver pliers, the product model has a shiny black finish with silver outer jaw accents.
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My first complaint is how the multi-tool fights you a little whenever you open and close the pliers. Whether this is balanced by how have a spring action depends on how much you use them.
The outer tools tend to clump up a little bit, but not terribly so. The knife deploys, locks, and unlocks fairly easily. Some of the tools, such as the file/ruler, require a little more digging around with your nail to fold out.
The scissors are a hassle to fold back into the knife. They deploy easily enough, but you have to take extra time and effort when closing them. Otherwise the inner scissors handle knocks into the inner wall of its docking area and prevents the scissors from folding in all the way. You have to squeeze the jaws of the scissors a little before they can be wrangled back to their closed position.
I would have been happier if the handle was a little larger, and if the pliers didn’t open as wide as they do, but these are more minor complaints than the others.
Overall, the Dewalt 16-in-1 multi-tool is usable. I’ve seen worse, but I have also seen a lot better. This is about the best I’ve seen at the sub-$20 price point.
Dewalt Keychain Tool
I was really excited about Dewalt’s keychain-sized multi-tool (DWHT71842), and it doesn’t really disappoint.
My only complaint is that there are no ball detents to keep the two arms securely closed together when the pliers are being carried. A small rubber band or O-ring across the bottom should suffice if this ever proves to be an issue.
The tools clump together a little, but since there are only two tools on each side, this isn’t an issue. As with the full-size multi-tool, extra attention needs to be paid when folding the scissors closed.
Overall, I find this to be a neat little keychain tool, and might clip it to my bag. The bottle opener seems stout, and I like that the lanyard hole is very robust, although I don’t think I have a keyring strong enough to fit.
While the fit and finish could use a bit of refinement, this is a tool I would buy again for personal use.
Cameron
First off thank you for the review I love visiting your websites for such informative reviews.
I picked up this set on black friday and while the full size multi tool I thought was decent for the price the miniature one is having a problem with the scissors poping open and draging the knife with it so imight have to exchange for a new one.
anyway I look forward to more of your awesome reviews.
regards,
Cameron
Stuart
Thanks for the kind words!
What you described is what I typically just call clumping, where the tool you want to access is joined by one or more adjacent tools.
With my mini tool, the scissors tend to drag when the knife is accessed, but the knife doesn’t really drag out when the scissors are accessed. This, and what you’re experiencing could be defects, but it could also be inherent to the tool’s design.
If you definitely plan on returning the gift set, I would recommend that you buy the replacement first. That way you can keep the better of the two and return the more defective/lower performing one.
In my opinion, I would rather the knife dragged along with the scissors than the scissors drag along with the knife, as the scissors are a slight hassle to close up each time.
DaddyO
Unfortunately I see the same “pimping” out the Dewalt name now that Stanley Tools is in charge of operations. One of the key success factors for Dewalt’s growth in the 1980’s thru current is that Black and Decker always kept them separate and as a professional tool i.e. if your tool was yellow it was professional quality. I am a huge Dewalt fan but was concerned when I started to see their hands tools start showing up after the Stanley Merger. The Japanese plan their business growth through generations where most US corporations only see a 3-5 year plan. Take a look at how Craftsman has fallen. I would not buy anything Craftsman nowadays if there is a viable alternative, esp their hand tools.
miss franciene
I recently replaced my 40 year old craftsman beltsander with a new craftsman. Its ok, but guess what. I was at harbor freight recently and the same sander was on sale there. The only differience was different color plastic. and of course the name. enough said!!!!….
John
Yellow team seems to really be scraping the bottom of the barrel. I saw this at Home Depot during black friday and couldn’t believe it.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-Rapid-Heat-Ceramic-Glue-Gun-DWHTGR50/204293086#.UqJzjqVy9uY
Josh N.
I’m actually interested in that item, thanks for posting the link.
Chris
Notin wrong with a well built glue gun that heats up faster and stays hotter longer then most…
Jerry
I saw the Wingman on sale for under $20 at I believe Home Depot. Are these of comparable usefulness, in the $20 and under range? I’m thinking college age nephew gift. Looking at the images, the DW doesn’t seem junky, but the wingman looks to be more compact, and maybe a bit more precise looking. Would I be wrong?
Stuart
The Wingman is hands-down vastly superior, in regard to fit, function, and quality. I don’t have one in front of me at the moment, but it’s slightly longer and more slender than the Dewalt. It’s what I gave my cousin just before she went away to college this summer. 5 Essential Tools for College Students
Jerry
Glad to hear it, as I grabbed one just in case the sale ended or they ran out. A Wingman, that is. I didn’t see the DeWalt one, but they could have had it on an end cap instead of with the Letaherman as my HD stop was a quick in and out, only bought two things, and didn’t have time to browse.
Joe M
Home Depot isn’t the only one selling the gift pack. Smaller online sites do too. You’ll have to convert a little bit from Canadian funds if you’re in any other country but: $26.95 CAD.
http://www.blackrocktools.com/dewalt-multi-tool-set-16-in-1-tool-8-in-1-tool-dwht72419.html
I’d still buy Leatherman exclusively for Multi-Tools. But, if you’re going to buy the bigger tools, you might as well save the money and get it online. It winds up cheaper in the long run.
Some of the new DeWalt tools I rather like. Others are just gimmicky. For example, I own the 5-in-1 Hacksaw from DeWalt. I have dubbed it “The Voltron Saw” and I’m quite fond of it for small jobs. I also own the folding Utility Knife, The DWHT10035, which has become indispensable to my everyday life.
On the flip side of this? Their manual Screwdrivers and Measuring Tapes. I mean, Why? Why would you need a DeWalt version of these? If you’re going DeWalt for Screwdriving or Measuring, DeWalt makes some pretty darn good battery powered tools to do this work for you. It’s worth the investment if you’re going DeWalt, so why get the cheap stuff? Let other companies make cheaper products. Products cheap enough that you don’t mind buying multiples of them when they inevitably break on you. DeWalt has been making the big power tools and battery powered tools for a long time, those you can trust the reputation on. The new hand tool stuff is, at best, a ruggedization of a sister company’s tool. Untested, and unnecessary. I see this multi-tool thing as an extension of this. Why bother, aside from as a novelty?
joe
Not bad for the price.
Yadda
Probably another great collector item since this may be the only mulitools they release.
DanG
Lots of times those unique tool sets are manufactured overseas and that’s why the quality is inferior on them. The company such as DeWalt picks out a company and decides how much they want to pay for the “special” multi-tool kit they issue to promote their tools. If they went to Leatherman or Gerber or even Victorinox the special little gift kit would really be special. Americans just don’t want to spend an extra amount of money for a added bonus to a drill or a circular saw or a router. I sure would love for a company like DeWalt to go to Leatherman and have them create a bonus multi-tool kit for a special DeWalt purchase. Even a Leatherman Side Kick would bring about some special bonus results.
CJ
I got sucked into the marketing hype. My old pocket knife lost the hinge screw so it’s a wobbly mess so I though I would just use this…. I’m back to my old busted knife. I’ll just keep in my truck for a backup.