Review – Neiko 10070A Torx Bit and External Torx Socket 35-piece Set

I have been a DIYer for a long time and over the years managed to collect a quite a bit of Torx bits and sockets. All except E sockets or External Torx sockets.

Unlike their generic Torx sockets and bits, external sockets are rather expensive when purchased individually so I decided to research and purchase a set.

Why do I need it?

Male Torx screws requiring E sockets are fairly ubiquitous in small engines found in snow blowers, portable generators, etc.

I needed E Torx sockets when I was rebuilding the carburetor on my Generac Wheelhouse 5550 / Briggs and Stratton 5500 portable generators).

What to look for

When it comes to quality on Torx bits and sockets, I look for 4 things:

• Socket holder tolerance / specs – Poorly made bits/sockets have high gap space between points which causes slippage or worse, stripped heads. Look for a tight fit between bolt head and a socket;
• Detente – Sockets are held in place by a magnet, ball or friction that is part of the ratchet. If possible, look for sockets that is compatible with a locking ball detente ratchet (i.e. sockets with holes);
• Socket Wall thickness – thicker walls allows you to apply more torque bolts and screws;
• Finish – Look for nicely polished finish, usually in chrome or satin. They are super easy to keep clean without worrying about rust;

Rachets Extra

At this price point, ratchets are NOT INCLUDED. You will either need all three ratchets (1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2″) or buy an adapter set like this inexpensive TEKTON Impact Adapter/Reducer Set, 4-Piece (1/4, 3/8, 1/2 in.) | SIA99025

Which set?

There are many, many E socket sets on the market. After my initial research, I narrowed the list down to these 3 sets:

• Neiko, 35 piece set – Neiko 10070A Torx Bit Socket and E-Torx Star Socket Set 35-Piece Set
• Neiko, 60 piece set – NEIKO 10083A Master Torx Bit Socket and External Torx Socket Set
• OTC, 52 piece set – OTC 5900A-Plus 52 Piece Master Square Drive Torx Set

They all have excellent quality, so selecting one is a matter of cost and certain socket sizes.

Nieko 10070A

Neiko 10070A set comes with 35 pieces. Bits are made from S2 steel alloy which makes them very strong. Sockets are made with high strength chrome vanadium steel to provide high torque strength and to prevent corrosion.

Torx Star bit Sockets – 13 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 7 pieces; T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30;
• 3/8″ drive – 5 pieces; T40, T45, T47, T50, T55;
• 1/2″ drive – 1 piece; T60;

Torx Tamper Proof bit sockets – 12 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 8 pieces; TT8, TT9, TT10, TT15, TT20, TT25, TT27, TT30;
• 3/8″ drive – 4 pieces; TT40, TT45, TT50, TT55;

External Torx sockets – 10 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 5 pieces; E4, E5, E6, E7, E8;
• 3/8″ drive – 4 pieces; E10, E12, E14, E16;
• 1/2″ drive – 1 piece; E18

At roughly $1 per piece, Neiko 10070A is a great choice if you are on a budget like I am. (buy Neiko® 10070A Torx Bit and E Socket Set

Nieko 10083A

Neiko 10083A set comes with 60 pieces and has identical materials specifications as 10070A.

Torx Star Bit Sockets – 17 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 10 pieces; T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30;
• 3/8″ drive – 5 pieces; T40, T45, T47, T50, T55;
• 1/2″ drive – 2 pieces; T60, T70;

Torx Tamper-Resistant Bit sockets – 17 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 10 pieces; T6H, T7H, T8H, T9H, T10H, T15H, T20H, T25H, T27H, T30H;
• 3/8″ drive – 5 pieces; T40H, T45H, T47H, T50H, T55H;
• 1/2″ drive – 2 pieces; T60H, T70H;

Torx Star Plus Bit Sockets – 12 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 7 pieces; T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30;
• 3/8″ drive – 4 pieces; T40, T45, T47, T50, T55;
• 1/2″ drive – 1 piece; T60;

External Torx sockets – 14 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 14-pieces; E4, E5, E6, E7, E8;
• 3/8″ drive – 5-pieces; E10, E11, E12, E14, E16;
• 1/2″ drive – 4-pieces; E18, E20, E22, E24;

Identical to Neiko 10070A set, bits are made from S2 steel alloy and sockets are made with high strength chrome vanadium steel. Storage case is also included.

E20 socket is included in the Neiko 10083A set which is rather expensive by by itself (costs around $10) so if you can afford the extra 30 bucks, this set is a great deal (buy Neiko® 10083A Torx Bit and E Socket Set here).

OTC 5900A

Torx Star Bit Sockets – 15 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 10 pieces; T6, T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30;
• 3/8″ drive – 5 pieces; T40, T45, T47, T50, T55;
• 1/2″ drive – 2 pieces; T60, T70;

Torx Tamper-Resistant Bit sockets – 12 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 7 pieces; TT8, TT10, TT15, TT20, TT25, TT27, TT30;
• 3/8″ drive – 4 pieces;, TT40, TT45, TT50, TT55;
• 1/2″ drive – 1 piece; TT60;

Torx Star Plus Bit Sockets – 12 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 7 pieces; T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30;
• 3/8″ drive – 4 pieces; T40, T45, T50, T55;
• 1/2″ drive – 1 piece; T60;

External Torx sockets – 13 pieces

• 1/4″ drive – 5-pieces; E4, E5, E6, E7, E8;
• 3/8″ drive – 4-pieces; E10, E12, E14, E16;
• 1/2″ drive – 4-pieces; E18, E20, E22, E24;

OTC 5900A uses S2 steel to meet or exceed torque specifications and all bit sockets are a 2-piece design which is 20 percent stronger than a one-piece style for long. Sockets are made from black oxide which may be more susceptible to surface rust. This is the set to own if you work on engines on a daily basis (buy OTC 5900A 52 Piece Master Square Drive Torx Set here).

If you just want E Torx Sockets

If you already own a bunch of Torx bits and just need some External Torx sockets, you may want to take a look at one of these sets:

• Anytime Tools 11 pc FEMALE E-TORX (Star) SOCKET Set w/RAIL E4 – E20
• Sunex 2690SE 1/2-Inch Drive External Star Impact Socket Set, 9-Pieces, E10-E24
• Neiko 14-Piece External Torx Bit Socket Set

These E-Torx sockets contains popular E20 socket, but Neiko offers the chrome finish and a storage case. Anytime comes with a metal rail and the finish is steel (black oxide) which I believe is subject to surface.

Why Nieko 10070A Set over other sets

After a lot of researching, I settled on Neiko® 10070A Torx Bit and E Socket Set because of its:

• Excellent value (much better than buying them individually);
• Chrome finish (no rust stains);
• Sturdy plastic case (organization is a must when it comes to bits and sockets);

These external Torx (a.k.a. E Torx) sockets are not widely available and they aren’t cheap either. Sometimes it makes sense to pay just a bit extra to purchase a nominal set rather just one socket. For example, an 1/2″ E18 socket costs around 20 bucks, but spending another 20 bucks gives you 10 extra pieces.

Socket tolerances seem to be good with minimal wobbles and I had trouble detaching some of those sockets (read my tip below). Everything else seems to be in line with similar products I have used in the past from different manufacturers.

Storage Case

I used to store my sockets on those metal rails but I really did not like them after getting cuts (sharp edges) and missing sockets (very frustrating). Since then, I try to buy small tools with its own box or container and that’s why I like that Neiko includes a storage case.

Drawbacks

In my opinion, there are two drawbacks:

1. WARRANTY – Neiko Tools is a Taiwan-based manufacturer and does not have any company presence in the USA. Their main USA importer is Ridgerock Tools (company link here), and they in turn resell Neiko products to online resellers (i.e. Amazon resellers).But neither Neiko Tools or Ridgerock provide factory warranty, so if you have any defective sockets, you need to deal directly with the online resellers. Amazon.com has made good effort on resolving defectives products that sellers refuse to provide. Besides, I am not paying Wiha prices, so for $30 for a 35-piece set, I am not too concerned.If you really want go for the maximum quality, you may want to look at CASOMAN 11PCS Female Torx Socket Set E Torx Star Socket Set with Rail E4 – E20.
2. Storage Container – Really a minor complaint in that this case is an ABS blow molding / single plastic shell which means the “hinge” is just a thinned-out plastic that is susceptible to wear and tear. I would have preferred a more sturdy hinge like the one found on DEWALT TSTAK Tool Box 8-Compartments Clear Lid Side Latches for Easy Connection (I have two of these cases).

Wrapping Up

If you have a limited or random number of Torx bits, Torx Security Bits and External Torx sockets, Neiko 10070A 35 piece Torx Bit and External Torx Socket Set is probably a good fit.

However, if you already possess a good number of Torx bits and you can’t foresee using Torx security bits, a Neiko 14-Piece External Torx Bit Socket Set may be a better idea (E20 socket alone is worth the cost).

Well, I hope you found my Neiko tool review article to be useful. If that is the case, can I ask you to sign up for my newsletter (form is found on the upper right screen)? I promise it will be spam free.

Thanks and good luck!