TLGREEN 138 Pieces Tool Kit Set Review: a handy starter toolbox with a decent 12V drill

I picked up the TLGREEN 138-piece tool kit because I was tired of hunting for random screwdrivers and using a butter knife as a makeshift tool. I wanted one box I could grab for basic home jobs: building flat-pack furniture, hanging shelves, tightening loose screws, and the occasional small repair in the car. The fact it came with a cordless drill was the main reason I hit “buy”.

I’ve been using it for about two weeks on real stuff at home: assembling an IKEA-style TV unit, putting up curtain rails into plasterboard and brick, and fixing a wobbly garden gate. So this isn’t a lab test; it’s just how it behaved in day-to-day, slightly annoying DIY jobs where you want things to work and not fight you.

On paper, it looks good: 12V drill, 25+1 torque levels, two speeds, 22Nm, 2000mAh battery, and a pile of bits and hand tools in one green case. The Amazon rating is solid at 4.5/5, so I was expecting something decent but not professional grade. I mainly wanted to know: is this actually useful, or just a crowded plastic box with a weak drill?

Short version after using it: the kit is pretty solid for light to medium home use. The drill is better than I expected for 12V, the tools are okay-to-good for the price, but there are a few corners cut. If you’re thinking of serious renovation work, it’s not the right level. For basic home stuff, it gets the job done without too much swearing.

In terms of value, this TLGREEN kit sits in a sweet spot if you’re starting from zero. You get a cordless drill, a set of basic hand tools, sockets, bits, and some extras all in one box. Buying all of that separately from well-known brands would easily cost you more, especially the drill. So if you’re a new homeowner, a student, or just someone who never bothered to buy tools before, it’s a fairly cost-effective way to equip yourself in one shot.

However, if you already own a decent drill or some hand tools, the value drops a bit. A lot of what’s in the box will be duplicates of things you might already have, just at slightly lower quality. In that case, you might be better off spending the same money on a better standalone drill or a smaller set of higher-quality tools. This kit tries to cover everything, which is handy, but it also means nothing is truly top-tier.

Compared to other budget tool kits I’ve handled, this one feels pretty solid for the price. The drill is actually better than I expected in this range, and that alone carries a good chunk of the value. The rest of the tools are serviceable and, for a casual user, perfectly okay. You’re paying for convenience and completeness rather than premium build. If that’s what you want, you’ll probably feel you got your money’s worth.

So overall, I’d say good value for casual users, average value for enthusiasts. If you’re just looking for something that “does the job” around the house without spending a fortune and without having to think too much, this kit makes sense. If you’re picky about tools or already halfway equipped, your money might be better spent topping up your existing gear with a higher-grade drill or specific tools you’re missing.

The overall design is straightforward. The toolbox itself is a hard plastic case with a handle. It’s not the thickest plastic I’ve seen, but it doesn’t feel like it will crack the first time you knock it over. The latches close properly and haven’t popped open on their own yet, even after I tossed it into the car a few times. Inside, every tool has a molded slot. That’s nice in theory, but you do have to put everything back in exactly the right place or the case doesn’t shut cleanly.

The drill design is pretty compact and lightweight. It’s clearly made to be used with one hand without tiring you out, and in that sense it works. The grip is rubberized in the right spots, and I never felt like it was going to slip, even when my hands were a bit sweaty. The direction switch (forward/reverse) is placed where you’d expect, and the two-speed slider on top is easy to flick with your thumb. It doesn’t feel like a high-end professional drill, but it also doesn’t feel like a toy.

Layout-wise, TLGREEN did an okay job. The commonly used pieces like bits and the tape measure are near the drill, and things like Allen keys and precision screwdrivers are grouped together. What I don’t love is that some of the smaller pieces (like certain bits and fasteners) are a bit fiddly to get out of their slots. If you have bigger fingers, you’ll probably curse once or twice trying to dig them out. Still, after a couple of uses, you get used to where everything sits.

Overall, design is functional rather than pretty. The green color is a bit loud, but that’s cosmetic. It’s easy to spot in a cluttered room or garage, so that’s actually a plus. I’d say the design does what it needs to: keeps things together, drill is comfortable, and nothing feels totally misthought. But don’t expect premium feel or super clever storage tricks; it’s basic but works.

The drill comes with a 2000mAh 12V battery and a 12.6V/1A charger. In real use, I was able to assemble a full TV unit, drill a few pilot holes in wood, and fix a gate (maybe 40–50 screws in total plus some drilling) on a single charge with power to spare. For typical home jobs, that’s enough. You’re unlikely to drain it in one go unless you’re renovating a whole room or building a big deck.

Charging time is on the slower side. From almost empty to full, it took around 2 to 2.5 hours on the included charger. There’s a green LED indicator that turns on when it’s fully charged, which is basic but useful. You don’t get a fancy battery level display on the drill itself, so you mostly notice the battery getting weak when the drill starts to lose a bit of punch. It doesn’t just cut out suddenly; it gradually feels less powerful.

One important point: you only get one battery in the kit. That’s fine if you’re a casual user doing short tasks. But if you plan to work for several hours straight, you’ll hit the limit. You’d have to stop and recharge, which is annoying if you’re in the middle of a project. For the price and target audience, I get why they only include one, but a spare battery would make a big difference for more serious DIYers.

Overall, the battery situation is acceptable for an average household user. It holds charge well enough, doesn’t drain super fast in idle, and the drill doesn’t overheat. Just don’t expect professional runtime or quick-charge performance. If you treat it as a home tool for occasional bursts of work, you’ll be fine. If you want to do full-day projects regularly, you’ll probably want a higher voltage system with multiple batteries.

The tools are made with corrosion-resistant alloy and a chrome finish, which is pretty standard in this price range. After a couple of weeks, including some outdoor use and being tossed in the back of the car, nothing has rusted or chipped. The sockets still look clean, and the chrome hasn’t flaked off. That said, you can feel from the weight and finish that this is not professional-grade stuff. It’s light and a bit “hollow” compared to more expensive brands, but not flimsy to the point of being useless.

The drill housing feels solid enough. I accidentally dropped it from about waist height onto a tiled floor once (my fault), and it survived with just a small scuff on the plastic, no cracks and no change in performance. The chuck still holds bits firmly and doesn’t wobble more than you’d expect for this level. The torque ring clicks positively into each setting, which gives a bit of confidence that it’s not going to wear out immediately, though long-term durability is something only months or years of use can really prove.

The weakest point in terms of durability is probably the case and the small accessories. The plastic case is fine but I wouldn’t stand on it or expect it to survive being crushed under heavy stuff. Some of the little plastic holders for bits and fasteners feel like they could break if you’re too rough pulling things out. Also, the tape measure and some of the smaller tools feel a bit cheap; they work, but I don’t see them lasting a lifetime if used heavily.

In my view, durability matches the price. For occasional home projects, this kit should last a good while if you’re not deliberately abusing it. If you plan to use tools every day or in harsher conditions (construction site, car workshop, etc.), you’ll probably want to upgrade to stronger individual tools. For someone who just wants a reliable kit in the cupboard for when something needs fixing, this is good enough and doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart on first use.

Let’s talk about the drill performance first, because that’s what most people will care about. With 22Nm of torque and 2 speeds, it’s clearly aimed at light to medium tasks. In practice, it handled furniture assembly without any problem. I drove dozens of screws into chipboard and softwood on speed 1 with the clutch set around mid-level, and it didn’t strip screws or stall unless I was being lazy and not pushing properly. For drilling into wood, it did fine using the included bits. The holes were clean enough for DIY use, nothing fancy but totally acceptable.

On harder stuff like brick, it’s more limited. It’s not a hammer drill, so you can’t expect miracles. I managed to drill small holes for wall plugs in a fairly soft brick wall using proper masonry bits I already owned (the included bits are more for wood/metal), but it took more time and pressure than a stronger mains-powered drill. If you’re planning to do a lot of drilling into concrete or heavy masonry, this is not the right tool. For the odd hole here and there, it’s okay if you’re patient.

The hand tools perform like budget but usable gear. The hammer is light but fine for nails in wood and tapping things into place. The adjustable wrench is okay for occasional use, though the adjustment isn’t super smooth. The sockets and ratchet are acceptable for light torque; I used them on some small bolts on a bike and a few nuts in the garden gate and they held up. I wouldn’t lean on them with a long cheater bar, but that’s not what this kit is for anyway. The pliers grip well enough for general tasks like bending wire or pulling small nails.

Overall, performance is good for home DIY, especially if you’re not pushing it too hard. The drill is the highlight: it’s not super powerful, but it’s consistent, easy to control, and the torque settings actually make a difference. The rest of the tools are serviceable. They’re not going to impress someone who already owns professional-grade gear, but for an occasional user or a first toolbox, they do the job without falling apart in your hands.

When you open the case, you’re greeted with a fairly dense layout of tools. You’ve got the 12V cordless drill, a selection of drill bits (twist bits, wood bits, flat bits), some screwdriver bits, a small hammer, an adjustable wrench, a set of Allen keys, sockets with a small ratchet, a tape measure, nose pliers, and some basic fasteners. It’s the kind of mix that covers 90% of small home tasks but obviously not everything.

The drill is the star of the show: 2-speed gearbox (400/1500 RPM), 25 torque settings plus a drilling mode, and a 2000mAh battery that charges with a 12.6V/1A charger. There’s also a little LED work light near the chuck, which actually helps when you’re trying to screw into the back of a dark TV cabinet. The bits and sockets are all stored in molded slots, so at least when it’s new, everything has its place and doesn’t rattle too much.

In terms of variety, the kit is decent: you can tighten bolts with the sockets, handle small electronics with the precision screwdrivers, and do basic assembly or repairs with the hammer and adjustable wrench. It’s clearly aimed at general household use rather than heavy mechanical work. For example, the ratchet and sockets are fine for furniture and light car tasks (battery terminals, interior bits), but I wouldn’t use them to break loose rusted suspension bolts.

My impression when I first opened it: good starter kit, especially if you don’t already own tools. If you already have a decent set of individual tools, a lot of this will feel redundant, and you might only really care about the drill and a few bits. But as a one-shot purchase to cover most basic needs, the content is fairly well thought out, even if some pieces feel a bit on the budget side.