Vintage Xcelite or other Nut Driver Sets

[JohnDeere]

Is it hollow shank?

 

[CoogarXR]

It should be hollow. They made those super long ones in 1/4" and 5/16", and they had both hollow and magnetic versions (magnetic weren't hollow). They can be labeled LL-X or AA-X, the X being 8, 8m, 10, or 10m. These also were available in the smooth/curved handle too.

These were primarily designed for console TV/stereo repair where you had to hit chassis mounting screws through the rear opening.

 

[piehammer]

Is it hollow shank?

Yessir.

 

[SquirrelsTools]

Just happened upon this little guy

 

[thefraze_1020]

Has anyone ever seen a Blackhawk nutdriver? I'm not sure what the "G" stands for, but the handle looks identical to a Powr-Kraft example further up the thread. I'm thinking it's Rosco or Stanley? Unfortunately the shaft is bent.

 

[craftsman creep]

Finally completed this set.

 

[d42jeep]

I bought this incomplete set of mini drivers to serve as a case for my recently acquired mini metric drivers. I need a 5mm and a 9mm
-Don

 

[RacerX]

FYI, Harry J. Epstein's has these on thier site, for $59.95

https://www.harryepstein.com/xcelite-11-piece-fractional-nutdriver-set-120n.html

 

[piehammer]

FYI, Harry J. Epstein's has these on thier site, for $59.95

https://www.harryepstein.com/xcelite-11-piece-fractional-nutdriver-set-120n.html

Are there any other good sites similar to HJE that are worth checking out?

 

[CoogarXR]

FYI, Harry J. Epstein's has these on thier site, for $59.95

https://www.harryepstein.com/xcelite-11-piece-fractional-nutdriver-set-120n.html

For the purists, that's a later, chinese-made set (note that there is no "USA" on the case or drivers, and the part number ends in "N", that's a dead giveaway). It's probably fine, but it's not the old USA-made Xcelite. I don't know why the website advertises that it is.

I know the plastic composition of the Chinese drivers is different; they don't stink, so there's that, lol.

 

[d42jeep]

I’m always happy to find metric nutdrivers at a sale. I usually throw them into one of the car toolsets. Here are the Craftsman ones I found yesterday.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

While I was in the nutdriver storage box I pulled out my best looking Craftsman nutdrivers to see how close I could come to a complete set. Seems like I could use a couple more.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

A week or so ago I found this Xcelite roll with a few tools in it at an estate sale.
I added some spares that I had on hand but I had a long way to go before it would be full.
I had posted it on the Garage Sale thread and was contacted by GJ member Pexto who generously offered to send me most of my missing pieces since he had multiple spares on hand. We arranged a trade and the package of Xcelite arrived last night. I started adding the new tools this morning and ended up only missing a very few items.
He sent some extras as well that I was happy to add.
I decided to get the rest of the rolls out from the basement make sure that they were as complete as possible. Here is the end result.
And the rest.
Now I have a better idea what to look for to finish up. Thanks again to Pexto for the generous trade.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Cleaned up the little metric guys and added a Torque Amplifier. Looks like I need to pick up 5 and 9mm examples.
-Don

I've had sticking problems with tools like this in the past. The different size drivers get stuck really tight in the holder. Any tricks to help this?
I thought about trying a little candle wax on the bits as any greases might affect the handle material.

 

[Macduf]

Smallest set of xcelites I've ever found. Even have a small vomit smell

 

[steel 35]

Think I needed this one; flat driver with a V grind = Phillips

 

[d42jeep]

Don, I'd be interested to know what you think about that magnetic Xcelite. My recent Xcelite haul yielded two of those in 1/4" and 5/16. I thought they might make decent bit drivers, but the way the magnet protrudes into the socket means they really only fit screws with a recess in the head, and a normal 1/4" bit won't seat deep enough in the driver to be useful. was disappointed. Maybe yours is different?

I finally had a chance to test the magnetic 1/4” Xcelite driver I found at a recent estate sale. I think that under certain circumstances it could be really useful. Some of my cars have a lot of sheet metal screws in obscure locations that makes them hard to start. I used to put a blob of body caulk in a nutdriver to grip the screw when I was starting it and these provide a much cleaner solution to the problem. It turns out that I had some longer ones in the nutdriver drawer including a Vaco.
Here are the magnetic drivers plus a Walden 1/4 driver with a sliding sleeve that grips the screws.
-Don

 

[CoogarXR]

I use the magnetic ones for starting nuts too. Then switch to a hollow one to sink it.

I think Xcelite only offered 1/4 and 5/16 magnetic drivers for retail (in 5 varieties; pocket clip, standard, long, and extra long handled nut drivers, and they were available in the 99 blades too), but I have seen some oddball magnetic drivers in other sizes. But like I have said before, Xcelite would make just about anything you asked them to. I just saw a 10mm metric 99 blade that was magnetic the other day. I didn't buy it, but I saw it, lol.

 

[bmwrd0]

The magnetic ones are really handy for HVAC work, too. Although at this point, everyone has switched to a drill driver with nutsetters.

 

[Burn1]

Only thing vintage for certain is how long it took to find locally a nice used Xcelite 4-13mm set.
Got a set of Crescent SAE sometime back and have been looking for a nice metric set.

Next project is making/modifying a metal holder for mounting these sets within a wall tool cabinet(current project).
Freeing up some much needed space in a MBCentury Rolla box.

 

[d42jeep]

I bought my set new sometime between ‘76 and ‘82. I recall that they seemed expensive at the time. I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth since then.
This little guy arrived in the mail today to add to the other minis.

I’m not sure that they made a 9mm mini.
-Don

 

[Burn1]

Cool mini set. Thanks for sharing that picture.

 

[NoahG]

Found the single oldest Xcelite in my collection.

 

[d42jeep]

That looks like one from the set pictured in this ‘42 catalog. This set all had the same color handles.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I received this Cornwell nutdriver in a care package today. The shape of the handle is very similar to the early Xcelite driver pictured above. I wonder if Cornwell was sourcing their nutdrivers from Xcelite?
-Don

 

[CoogarXR]

I received this Cornwell nutdriver in a care package today. The shape of the handle is very similar to the early Xcelite driver pictured above. I wonder if Cornwell was sourcing their nutdrivers from Xcelite?
-Don

I know they did later on, but I had never seen a Cornwell that old. Here's a more recent Cornwell spinner with an Xcelite handle:

 

[NoahG]

That looks like one from the set pictured in this ‘42 catalog. This set all had the same color handles.
-Don

That’s really cool to see. Thanks for the share!


I’ve been rewiring an old studio Fresnel for a friend’s classroom, and a series 99 stubby handle and 11/32” nut driver blade was exactly what I needed to add a ground wire. Has anyone ever seen a purpose made stubby 11/32”? Cause I sure haven’t.

 

[d42jeep]

A few pieces arrived yesterday to fill in my recent project sets. I’m still looking for a 99 series 1/4” magnetic driver.
-Don

 

[CoogarXR]

That’s really cool to see. Thanks for the share!


I’ve been rewiring an old studio Fresnel for a friend’s classroom, and a series 99 stubby handle and 11/32” nut driver blade was exactly what I needed to add a ground wire. Has anyone ever seen a purpose made stubby 11/32”? Cause I sure haven’t.

If you check out my earlier post:

Vintage Xcelite or other Nut Driver Sets

Thanks for the info. Found this decent stubby #1 Phillips at an estate sale today. -Don

www.garagejournal.com

Xcelite made fixed-handle stubbies in 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 11/32 and 3/8. Sizes other than 1/4 and 5/16 can be hard to find, but they are out there.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's an nsn set from 1994 I picked off Craigslist

 

[bonneyman]

Some of my cars have a lot of sheet metal screws in obscure locations that makes them hard to start. I used to put a blob of body caulk in a nutdriver to grip the screw when I was starting it and these provide a much cleaner solution to the problem.
-Don

I used to take a piece of vinyl electrical tape and place it over the end of the nutdriver - sticky side in - and press it into the opening with a screw head. The tape took up enough slack to hold the screws while installing them, and was easy to remove with a dental pic afterwards with no mess. Just an FYI

 

[Pexto]

Here's an nsn set from 1994 I picked off Craigslist

That's an interesting toolkit. You might want to compare it with the Jensen tool kit (from 1991) I recently found: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...read-13th-annual.526765/page-13#post-10524477.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like pretty similar assortment of stuff

 

[d42jeep]

I grabbed this rusty lot off of eBay to continue filling out my sets. Some went into the evaporust and others just got cleaned up.
-Don
Spares cleaned up.

 

[d42jeep]

This Crescent 1/4” nutdriver arrived today. As soon as I started opening the box the unmistakable odor of a stinkdriver wafted out from inside the packaging. No doubt it was made by Xcelite for Crescent.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ somebody finally bought that set of VACO nutdrivers I had. even sealed up in a gallon zip-lock they were stinkin' up the place!

 

[d42jeep]

This set is now only missing the 1/4” magnetic blade which I haven’t yet been able to locate.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This nutdriver was listed on eBay as a 9/32” which it obviously wasn’t but the price was right so I picked it up. Despite the almost impossible to remove paint spatter, it seems to be a 19/32” which was one I didn’t have in my user box.
-Don
It has now been added. It’s the HS-19.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I ran into an S-K plastic-handled spinner yesterday that had paint spatters on it! Could NOT get them to come off!

 

[d42jeep]

If it’s one of the green and white ones I can send one with the sockets.
-Don