What's a good nut driver?

[plain garage]

I've always used socket with extensions instead of having dedicated nut drivers, but I'm finding myself dealing more and more with 8mm and 10mm screws around tight places, and my new tool box needs some new tools

I checked out some at the box stores, but they're not comfortable to grip.
Came across these on amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DD3CQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

What are you favorite nut drivers for precision and feel?

 

[wild cowboy]

I think you almost found the ideal nut drivers, except I would go with the hollow shaft model in the same brand, that way you can undo or tighten nuts on long threaded shafts

like these

 

[Wamsutta]

Agreed. The hollow shaft Wihas with the sticky rubber grip is the way to go.

 

[Engine]

Craftsman, 12 piece set in a case, USA made. They are about $20 for the set. I have these and like 'em a lot.
Link

 

[wild cowboy]

yes, depending on your budget, the USA made Craftsmans are a bargain, but if you want even nicer, get the Wihas - also have a look at the Wera brand, a German competitor to Wiha, about the same price, and some say even a more comfortable handle!

 

[zer0cell]

I have been happy with Klein. They have identifying marks on the ends of the handles so that you know which one you are grabbing. They have solid and hollow shafts, long shafts and short ones, magnetic and non magnetic, metric or sae... lots of options. All made in USA.

http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/cushion-grip-nut-drivers/nut-driver-sets

You can buy them online or at home depot.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

THIS drives me nuts.

 

[sonvolt]

Can't beat the craftsman sets for the $$

 

[JonnyMac]

http://www.uktools.com/products_test.php?page=91

I'm a fan of nut drivers... dont overlook the flexible shaft versions they are seriously helpful in some tight situations..
Ive got these witte ones.. I love them.. and pb swiss do some very nice drivers

 

[bob15]

I've always used socket with extensions instead of having dedicated nut drivers, but I'm finding myself dealing more and more with 8mm and 10mm screws around tight places, and my new tool box needs some new tools

I checked out some at the box stores, but they're not comfortable to grip.
Came across these on amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DD3CQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

What are you favorite nut drivers for precision and feel?

Try to find one and check the grip out.

Many people, myself included, find those style grips uncomfortable and NOT the ideal nut driver they are made out to be.

I perfer the older Craftsman nutdrivers that have the same style rubber grip as the Klein's but with the entire grip the proper color code.

I do agree, get the hollow shaft drivers on whatever brand you buy.

 

[McFarmer]

My Bondus are good but the size is just printed on the soft handle, didn't last long. It is also stamped on the shaft, hard to see, and when in the holder, hidden.

 

[Formula]

THIS drives me nuts.

I have to agree with you!

Kleins are ok too.

 

[dirtydogintex]

bought two long shaft kleins - magnets fell outta each in a matter of weeks
not impressed.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I really like the Xcelite nutdrivers I bought in the 70s, mostly because they have large acetate grips. As a bonus, the grips are dyed all the way through and look quite nice when they're polished up.

I also have the Craftsman set and they're a good value.

 

[wild cowboy]

yep!!

bought two long shaft kleins - magnets fell outta each in a matter of weeks
not impressed.

awww man - don't say that! - I just bought the pair of long shaft 5/16 & 1/4

 

[Sal Bandini]

I think you almost found the ideal nut drivers, except I would go with the hollow shaft model in the same brand, that way you can undo or tighten nuts on long threaded shafts

like these

$55? What a rip-off. You can get that for $34.

http://chadstoolbox.com/search.aspx?find=34391

 

[Wakefield]

I guess a hollow shaft nutdriver of the right size beats just putting a 1/4" drive socket or deep socket onto a 1/4" drive handle

 

[creativecars]

This...

 

[azhatchback]

I use this:
http://store.snapon.com/SearchResults.aspx?q=sgt4b&departmentId=0&departmentName=All&Min=0&Max=0&FieldId=0&FieldValue=

It has retired my craftsman full SAE and Metric set. Will save you lots of tool box room too. I have never ran into a situation where I need more than a deep socket on a nut. For my hands instinct soft grip is #1.

Pricey but they have a 1/2 inch version too:
http://store.snapon.com/Handled-Drivers-chrome-Driver-Soft-Grip-Handle-8--P646699.aspx

You could also look into the T handle nut drivers. I really like my ratcheting SO T-handle. Craftsman has a nice line of the solid ones too.

 

[FJ 432]

A roto head ratchet and a deep socket.

And polka dotted dresses!

 

[nanofrog]

The Who makes really good Metric Nut Drivers? thread might be of interest.

 

[StanleyAdams]

I too need help with this so I'm gonna post in this thread.

I need the right order numbers from the wiha eu catalog for the ones with a hollow shaft so I can order them through a local distributor. The thing is I can't find them on the wiha UK site. It only says deep drawn socket, not hollow shaft. Are they only available in the US?

I need to order individual sizes 8, 10, 12 and 14, not a set.

 

[Davefr]

A roto head ratchet and a deep socket.

And polka dotted dresses!

How many sockets are 6"+ long? You'll bottom out the stud before the socket will grip the nut.

 

[dirtydogintex]

awww man - don't say that! - I just bought the pair of long shaft 5/16 & 1/4

the magnets were 'glued' in stuff similar to that in some VIM insulated screwdrivers (magnetic holder).... and yes the VIMs also came 'unglued'.

maybe O'Reilly spray carb cleaner is badder *** than I thought because it just couldn't be the lacquer cleaner, now could it?

 

[Sal Bandini]

I too need help with this so I'm gonna post in this thread.

I need the right order numbers from the wiha eu catalog for the ones with a hollow shaft so I can order them through a local distributor. The thing is I can't find them on the wiha UK site. It only says deep drawn socket, not hollow shaft. Are they only available in the US?

I need to order individual sizes 8, 10, 12 and 14, not a set.

Deep drawn are the 341 series found on the US site. The 343 series are hollow shaft, but it appears those are different than the EU 343 series and only go to 13mm.

http://wihatools.com/300seri/343mmser.htm

 

[BirdMobile]

I recently purchased a set of Wiha metric nut drivers with the "softfinish" handles.
They're pricey - but ****** perfect!

 

[plain garage]

Thanks for all the responses, leaning towards klein or wiha at the moment. One thing I noticed is the hallow shaft ones seem to have a shorter shaft, is that right? I work on cars in confined spaces so reach is important. Are the solid shafts more rigid? Granted these are for low torque application, but I feel hand tools needs to be precise when working with them, any flex/twist/deformation is undesirable.

How deep are the recess in the solid shaft drivers? The fasteners on my cars are mostly screws, not nuts/studs (except the exhaust studs, 11mm go figure) so the hollow feature may not be as important as reach.

 

[RedRabbit]

My girlfriend. . No but the Craftsman's are really good in my opinion.

 

[StanleyAdams]

I got an email from wiha saying the hollow shaft ones are only available in the US.

Thanks for all the responses, leaning towards klein or wiha at the moment. One thing I noticed is the hallow shaft ones seem to have a shorter shaft, is that right? I work on cars in confined spaces so reach is important. Are the solid shafts more rigid? Granted these are for low torque application, but I feel hand tools needs to be precise when working with them, any flex/twist/deformation is undesirable.

How deep are the recess in the solid shaft drivers? The fasteners on my cars are mostly screws, not nuts/studs (except the exhaust studs, 11mm go figure) so the hollow feature may not be as important as reach.

The hollow shaft ones are shorter than the normal (non-stubby) ones. I don't know exactly about cars, but they are very useful in electronics where a nut holds a switch or potentiometer, you have to fit the whole visible part of the element in the socket and reach the nut. A wrench is a no-no cause 90% of the time you end up surface scratches around the nut. I went to a local wiha dealer with a few pots and switches in my pocket and tried the 10mm deep drawn socket nut driver, they work fine for this application. The socket is about an inch (maybe exactly an inch) deep and is the same depth on all sizes.

Like with the other wiha softfinish screwdrivers you have a version for high-torque applications. That's the one with a hex thing between the handle and the shaft that you can put a regular wrench on for cheating when you break a bolt or nut. I think on these the shaft goes deeper into the handle and they are more suited for high-torque.

 

[SLYDIT]

i bought a hazet 10mm nut driver 20 years ago...its been used more than any other tool i have and is still in great shape. highly highly recommend.

 

[KinzeMech]

I've got the craftsman ones (sae and metric), but neither come out of my toolbox any too often.

My first choice is my 1/4" hex impact driver, and this set http://www.sears.com/craftsman-35-pc-impact-drill-and-driver-set/p-00935080000P?prdNo=6

The shallow bits have a magnet in them and work great when you're driving from the bolt side. When driving from the nut side, the deep sockets give plenty of reach.

It tight quarters, even if I have to use the shallow socket to start the nut (utilizing the magnet to avoid dropping the nut), and then change bits to the deep socket to run it down further than the shallow one will reach, it's still faster even with the tool change than running them manually with a hand driver (insert puns about hand driven nuts here...)

 

[plain garage]

So I ended up getting the Wiha hollow shaft metric set, just arrived today. They all look very nice, but there's just something off about a 13mm nut driver. The soft grip is much harder than I expected, and I was surprised the size markings at the end of the handle are all different colors and solid vs unfilled font.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I like Snap-On, Mac and, Craftsman nut driver's.

 

[monkeyspanners]

I've got a mix of different make i bought as individuals on ebay, it makes it easier to pick the right one out of the tool bag plus i get to try different makes too.

I have Eclipse, Gedore, King ****, Facom, Koken, plus an Irwin 9 in 1

 

[GTO]

I love my Kleins,long shaft non magnetic.