PB Swiss Allen Wrenches: RainBow, Safety or Torx?

The PB Swiss Tools Safety Hex Key set (PB 3212.LH-10 CN) holds nine metric hex keys from 1.5 to 10 mm. What makes it a “safety” set is the knurled shaft: the metal has a fine textured pattern pressed into it so your fingers do not slip when your hands are wet or greasy. The long end of each key has a ball point, a rounded tip that lets you turn a screw at an angle of up to 30 degrees instead of lining the key up perfectly straight.

The keys are made from spring steel alloy, which PB Swiss says combines elasticity with high hardness, so the keys flex slightly under load rather than snapping. Each one is laser-marked with a serial number, and the set sits in a practical plastic holder. The listing weight is 559 grams, the heaviest here. It also lists an item length of 10 inches, but the listing does not specify whether that refers to the longest key or the holder.

This set suits mechanics, bike tinkerers and anyone working in engines or machinery where oil is everywhere. If grip is not a concern and you would rather find sizes by color, one of the RainBow sets is the friendlier choice.

The PB Swiss Tools Limited Edition 25Y set (PB 212.LH-10 RB 25Y CN) is a special version of the RainBow hex key set. It has nine long L-wrenches from 1.5 to 10 mm, each with a ball point for 30-degree turning, in a plastic holder. What sets it apart is the edition itself: the listing says it includes a message and signature from the company’s CEO.

Each key is chrome-plated and powder-coated in its own color, which is what PB Swiss calls the RainBow color code. Once you learn which color matches the size you reach for most, you can grab it without squinting at the tiny size marking. The keys are spring steel alloy, laser-marked with serial numbers and covered by the lifetime guarantee, and the set weighs 403 grams.

This is the pick for gift-givers who want something a little special for a tool enthusiast or a PB Swiss fan. Functionally it matches a standard RainBow ball-end set, so a buyer who only cares about the tools could look at the 2212 RainBow set further down, which adds an angled short end.

The PB Swiss Tools Hex Key set (PB 212.LH-8 CN) is the compact option in this lineup. It includes eight long L-wrenches from 1.5 to 8 mm, each with a ball point for 30-degree turning, in a plastic holder. The keys use the same spring steel alloy, carry laser-marked serial numbers and have the lifetime guarantee.

At 231 grams, it is the lightest set here, and its finish is listed as powder-coated silver rather than color coded. The trade-off is that it tops out at 8 mm, so it will not reach the 10 mm size found in the nine-piece sets.

It suits beginners assembling furniture, adjusting bikes or doing small household fixes, where the smaller sizes do most of the work. Anyone dealing with larger bolts should step up to a set that reaches 10 mm.

The PB SWISS TOOLS 9 Rainbow Key set (model 210.H-10 RB) has nine RainBow color-coded L-wrenches from 1.5 to 10 mm in a plastic holder. The listing highlights precisely chamfered edges, meaning the ends are slightly beveled so they slide into a screw head cleanly, and materials resistant to solvents, oils, acids and salts. The finish is chrome-plated and powder-coated, and the set weighs 0.29 kg.

The listing does not mention a ball end on these keys, and the short description refers to them as short keys, so expect a straight hex tip on each end. That means you need to line the key up with the screw, but a straight tip generally grips a screw more fully than a ball end, which is useful for tight bolts.

This set fits someone who wants color coding for speed and prefers square-on turning at the workbench. If you often reach screws at awkward angles, the ball-end RainBow sets are more flexible.

The PB Swiss Tools Torx L-Wrench set (PB 410.H 6-25 CN) is the one set here that is not for hex screws. Torx screws have a six-pointed star-shaped recess instead of a six-sided hexagon, and they show up on electronics, appliances, bikes and cars. The set includes eight keys in sizes T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20 and T25, stored in a plastic holder.

PB Swiss describes the tips as precise and true to size for a good fit, and the keys use the same spring steel alloy with laser-marked serial numbers and the lifetime warranty. The specification lists the head style as both hex and Torx, but the title and included components describe Torx keys only, so do not expect it to fit hex screws. The listing does not mention a ball end or color coding.

It is a great companion gift for someone who already owns a hex key set and keeps running into star-shaped screws. It does not replace a hex set, so pair it with one of the other options here or with a standard hex key set they already have.

The PB SWISS TOOLS RainBow Key L-Wrench set (PB 2212.LH-10 RB) is the most versatile hex set in the group. It has nine long RainBow color-coded keys from 1.5 to 10 mm, a ball point on the long end for 30-degree turning, and a short end bent at 100 degrees instead of the usual 90. That slight extra angle helps you reach screws tucked behind edges where a regular short end would bump into the surface.

The keys are spring steel alloy with laser-marked serial numbers, a powder-coated finish and the lifetime guarantee, stored in a practical holder. The listing does not specify the set’s weight. It does list an item torque of 100 N m, but it does not explain whether that applies to a single size or the whole set.

This set suits anyone who wants color coding, ball-end flexibility and help with awkward screws, from bike mechanics to cabinet installers. Beginners who only need the basics may find the simpler 212.LH-8 set enough.