Wera 950/9 Hex-Plus Metric Hex Key Set: Color-Coded Ball Ends

A hex key set earns its keep when you can grab the right size quickly, reach awkward fasteners without fighting the angle, and apply force without chewing up the socket. The Wera 950/9 Hex-Plus Multicolour 1 SB is a nine-piece metric L-key set built around those exact problems. It combines Wera’s Hex-Plus profile with long arms, ball ends, color-coded sleeves, laser-marked sizes, and a dedicated clip for storage.

This article covers the exact Wera 05073593001 set sold on Amazon US as child ASIN B009ODV0OE. On September 28, 2026, the Amazon page showed a $43.95 new price, a 4.8-star rating from 13,682 reviews, and 1K+ purchases in the past month. Wera’s official product page confirms the nine metric sizes, Hex-Plus geometry, long-arm ball ends, thermoplastic sleeves, BlackLaser finish, and wear-resistant holder.

Hex-Plus is the main reason to pay more than for a basic set

Standard hex keys transfer force through relatively small contact areas inside a socket-head screw. Wera’s Hex-Plus profile is shaped to increase the contact area between tool and fastener. The company says that reduces the notching effect at the corners and allows up to 20% more torque before damage compared with conventional profiles.

That does not make a damaged fastener impossible, and this article is not treating the manufacturer claim as a hands-on test. The practical buying point is simpler: if you often work on bikes, machinery, furniture, appliances, or workshop fixtures where stripped internal hex sockets are expensive or frustrating, the extra attention to contact geometry is more meaningful than it is for occasional light-duty assembly.

The nine metric sizes cover most common workshop jobs

The set includes 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 mm keys. Those sizes cover a broad span of common metric socket-head fasteners without mixing SAE sizes into the same holder. Each key is color coded by size, and the size is laser engraved into the tool.

Color coding sounds cosmetic until you are switching repeatedly between similar sizes. The bright sleeves make it easier to learn which color belongs to the key you reach for most often, while the permanent size marking gives you a second check when precision matters. The tradeoff is obvious: this is a metric-only set. If your work regularly mixes inch and metric fasteners, you will still need a separate SAE set.

Ball ends make angled access easier, but they are not for maximum torque

The long arm of each key uses a ball end. That lets the tool engage a hex socket at an angle rather than requiring the shaft to line up perfectly with the fastener. On equipment with brackets, housings, bicycle frames, or crowded assemblies, that can save time when straight access is limited.

The short arm provides the conventional straight profile for higher-force work. That distinction matters because a ball end is primarily an access feature, not the end you choose when you need the strongest possible engagement. Use the ball end to start, spin, or reach a recessed fastener at an angle, then switch to the straight end when the job calls for more controlled torque.

Sleeves and the clip improve handling, with some added bulk

Wera wraps the round-section keys in color-coded thermoplastic sleeves. The company says the sleeves improve grip and remain comfortable at low temperatures. The keys sit in a wear-resistant clip designed to hold them securely while still allowing removal.

That makes the set easy to identify in a drawer or tool bag and keeps nine loose L-keys from scattering. It also makes the tools bulkier than plain bare-steel hex keys. Buyers who value the smallest possible storage footprint or want a throwaway emergency set may find a simpler uncoated set more practical.

For regular metric work, though, the Wera 950/9 Hex-Plus Multicolour 1 SB offers a clear combination: broad size coverage, quick visual identification, angled access, and a profile specifically designed to reduce stress on socket-head fasteners. It makes the most sense for users who reach for hex keys often enough to notice the difference between a generic set and a purpose-built one.