Vintage Xcelite or other Nut Driver Sets

d42jeep · Aug 29, 2017

One of my collecting quirks is an unnatural fascination with nut drivers. My tool collecting buddies are aware of the problem because I've sent some of them nut drivers as unsolicited gifts in the past. So when I saw this set at a nearby tool sale by a retired electrician, I just had to have them. I imagine there are some other nut drivers out there so please feel free to post them here. I'll be adding some pictures of other brands and sets as time permits.
-Don

thehorse13 · Aug 29, 2017

I have a bunch of these laying around. I can't stand them and if you'd like a donation to your illness I would be happy to send them to you.

d42jeep · Aug 29, 2017

I appreciate the offer but I already have a toolbox full of the extras. :eyecrazy:

-Don

alfazer · Aug 29, 2017

I like them, but with T-handles. Or maybe that makes them nut spinners, which is a different tool category from a nut driver?

Sam'sAutoParts · Aug 29, 2017

That set is great, love the holder!

I think I also have a similar problem, it all started with a pair of Vaco drivers I inherited from my Dad. I started by trying to complete that set and expanded into trying to trying to complete sets of other brands and versions.

Edit: a Trio of Bonney drivers I found last year, have not made any progress with this set yet, but plan on finishing it at some point.

gungatim · Aug 29, 2017

I like Xcelite tools as well. My dad was an electronics tech before getting into sales, and he had several tv repairmans tool boxes (you'll remember those, GE/RCA branded flip open with tubes and stuff in them).

He had tons of Xcelite stuff, and hunter brand hand tools as well. I grew up with the yellow handles and millions of the screwdriver, nutdriver, and reams that fit the handles, but sadly lost them in a garage fire as a kid.

I am slowly putting together a set, but they are hard to find. I have a handle, some short nutdriver inserts, and some long ones.

I'll try and remember to grab a pic and post on here...

IIRC, they were the first company to have those little screwdrivers that fit in a larger black handle in the plastic holders as a kit, before Asian companies ripped them off in the early 80's as well...

d42jeep · Aug 29, 2017

Sam'sAutoParts said:
a Trio of Bonney drivers I found last year, have not made any progress with this set yet, but plan on finishing it at some point.

Those are very cool. First Bonney ones I've seen. I have Xcelite, Vaco, Proto, Walden, Craftsman, Husky and some others and now I'll be looking for Bonney drivers. Thanks for posting them.
-Don

CoogarXR · Aug 29, 2017

I also am a fan of Xcelite and Vaco for many of the same reasons. My dad is an electrical engineer / automation programmer, and he has a lot of "vintage" Xcelite/Vaco stuff in his box that I used growing up. Something just nostalgic about those colored handles.

I recently lost one of my craftsman nut drivers on a camping trip (my camper needs a 5/16 to set up). I just may use that as an excuse to replace my craftsman set with an Xcelite.

lilredex · Aug 29, 2017

Do those all have hollow shafts?? It makes them a lot more useful. I see some of the newer ones (imports) that do not.

Sam'sAutoParts · Aug 29, 2017

d42jeep said:
Those are very cool. First Bonney ones I've seen. I have Xcelite, Vaco, Proto, Walden, Craftsman, Husky and some others and now I'll be looking for Bonney drivers. Thanks for posting them.
-Don

Thank you! Happy to er...help lol....

The Vaco set I have at work, still need to clean up a couple of the more recent finds. The 1/4 and 5/16 are the one that started my collection. I actually use most of mine frequently, just used the 7/16 this morning.

The two xcelite were fillers that I haven't taken home yet, one is branded Williams.

6PTsocket · Aug 29, 2017

Sam'sAutoParts said:
Thank you! Happy to er...help lol....

The Vaco set I have at work, still need to clean up a couple of the more recent finds. The 1/4 and 5/16 are the one that started my collection. I actually use most of mine frequently, just used the 7/16 this morning.

The two xcelite were fillers that I haven't taken home yet, one is branded Williams.

I have a bunch of xcelite like that. The handles on mine are definitely made from cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), identified by the vomit smell. They also stink up any drawer they are kept in. I would not be surprised if yours are not made during the period that the use of that plastic was in vogue. It is an impact resistant, chemical resistant plastic, but it STINKS. It is oxidation that occurrs on the surface. It looks like mold in extreme cases. You can scrub it off but it happens again.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

My Old Tools · Aug 29, 2017

My longs and shorts are Klein.

Sam'sAutoParts · Aug 29, 2017

6PTsocket said:
I have a bunch of xcelite like that. The handles on mine are definitely made from cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), identified by the vomit smell. They also stink up any drawer they are kept in. I would not be surprised if yours are not made during the period that the use of that plastic was in vogue. It is an impact resistant, chemical resistant plastic, but it STINKS. It is oxidation that occurrs on the surface. It looks like mold in extreme cases. You can scrub it off but it happens again.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Yep, some of mine do get some mold on them, but most of mine don't. It's annoying but it doesn't stop me from buying and using them.

bonneyman · Aug 29, 2017

I just sold a nearly complete set of NOS VACO's last month.

Sam'sAutoParts · Aug 29, 2017

Oh man...those are nice! I'm sure the new owner is very pleased.

bonneyman · Aug 29, 2017

Sam'sAutoParts said:
Oh man...those are nice! I'm sure the new owner is very pleased.

Thanks! I was missing the 9/16 so let it go for a sweet price.

gungatim · Aug 30, 2017

OK took some pics last night.

MAC set of nut drivers, next to those are a pair of drivers marked "Corsair".

the Mac look like they could be made by Xcelite but who knows...

then my Xcelite handle and various drivers. the small blue Xcelite is the only one I have left of my Dad's tools, I used to use it on my model railroad in the basement as a kid which is why it wasn't destroyed in the garage fire. the Jensen driver, no idea who made that one...

twertsy · Aug 30, 2017

I have a bit of a thing for the SPINTITEs.............

Sam'sAutoParts · Aug 30, 2017

gungatim said:
OK took some pics last night.

MAC set of nut drivers, next to those are a pair of drivers marked "Corsair".

the Mac look like they could be made by Xcelite but who knows...

then my Xcelite handle and various drivers. the small blue Xcelite is the only one I have left of my Dad's tools, I used to use it on my model railroad in the basement as a kid which is why it wasn't destroyed in the garage fire. the Jensen driver, no idea who made that one...

Those Mac drivers definitely look like Xcelite, and the Corsair look to be Vaco rebrands.

gungatim · Aug 30, 2017

Sam'sAutoParts said:
Those Mac drivers definitely look like Xcelite, and the Corsair look to be Vaco rebrands.

cool. got the whole set for $3 some time back at a sale. I wonder if I bust the handles off the Mac's if the drivers would fit the Xcelite handle? I know Mac won't warranty them (I asked) and it's incomplete stopping at 3/8".

Sam'sAutoParts · Aug 30, 2017

gungatim said:
cool. got the whole set for $3 some time back at a sale. I wonder if I bust the handles off the Mac's if the drivers would fit the Xcelite handle? I know Mac won't warranty them (I asked) and it's incomplete stopping at 3/8".

I would imagine the Xcelite handle would fit and vis-versa. The handles are easy to change I actually used a Xcelite handle on a ratchet a while back. I just stuck the shaft in a vise and used a washer to protect the handle and used a pry bar to slip it off.

d42jeep · Aug 30, 2017

Here are some Vaco and Craftsman metric nutdrivers.
-Don

Jim C. · Aug 30, 2017

Here's my favorite, and probably most used collection of nut drivers. It's a Craftsman SAE set with the circle V manufacturer's mark. What I like most about this set is that unlike later Craftsman sets, the shafts are hollow all the way up into the plastic handle.

Jim C.

akalian · Aug 31, 2017

I've had this set for years, but it doesn't look original. It's got an Xcelite case but all the drivers are Jensen :dunno:

I might have replaced the original Xcelite contents but to be honest I can't remember doing it. But the outside of the case shows screwdrivers but there are only nut drivers.

I guess you'd have to call it a FrankenDriver set.. :lol:

.

HeelSpur · Aug 31, 2017

Spintites, black handled says Spin-Type, was told they were spintites but who knows.

DSCF1764 by wvwheaties, on Flickr

d42jeep · Sep 1, 2017

It rarely seems that I find one of anything. After posting the early Xcelite set at the beginning of this thread, I found another at a Tahoe estate sale today, missing only the 1/4" driver. The holder is in even better shape than the first one. The first shots are of the set as found, the others are after some cleaning and are side by side with the first set. The long driver is totally rusted through.
-Don

JohnDeere1 · Sep 2, 2017

I have (some) of them I'm trying to fill my set if anyone has extras let me know they are nice to have also the vaco sets I only have a couple of those as well.

turbowoodworker · Sep 2, 2017

Hey Jeep that is a pretty cool set. If you like Xcelite, you may like this old thread.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204887

Cruzan80 · Sep 2, 2017

I have most of a set of older CM, and Xcelite's mixed in. Managed to find a set of metric Xcelite nut drivers for under $5, as they didn't realize they were a set (neither did I, just kept grabbing singles and laid them out).

Sam'sAutoParts · Sep 2, 2017

Some great sets you all have, I may need to keep on eye on eBay for some NOS sets. I don't think I even own one complete set, and most of mine were acquired in tool boxes I have bought or from the flea market for 50 cents or less.

Here is the rest of my accumulation.

Early Vaco, these have the sizes stamped on the shaft and don't appear to be color coded.

Assorted sized and length Xcelite

Top to bottom Rosco, Proto, wooden spintite?, large amber handle spintite

Craftsman random sizes, and a Klein that still needs to be cleaned up.

My users that hang on the wall at home, the Vacos have seen better days, but they still work just fine.

d42jeep · Sep 4, 2017

I found a picture I took last year of my home toolboxes Nut Driver drawer. The right front are Xcelite, the left front are Xcelite Metric and the back left shows my Xcelite small driver set, which I've had for a long time.
-Don

d42jeep · Sep 5, 2017

Here are the nutdrivers I found over the holiday weekend plus I found an old picture of some Proto and Craftsman drivers.
-Don

bmwrd0 · Sep 5, 2017

Sam'sAutoParts said:
Top to bottom Rosco, Proto, wooden spintite?, large amber handle spintite

The wood handle is probably Bridgeport, they used larger handles like that.

Sam'sAutoParts · Sep 8, 2017

bmwrd0 said:
The wood handle is probably Bridgeport, they used larger handles like that.

Cool thanks for that tip, I need to take a closer look to see if I can see any markings.

d42jeep · Sep 8, 2017

I did mention that I had a slight problem at the beginning of the thread. Here are some pictures from the nutdriver box. The loose Xcelite and loose Vaco drivers are extras.
-Don

d42jeep · Sep 8, 2017

A couple more. :eyecrazy:

-Don

bonneyman · Sep 9, 2017

Good gosh, Don, we should start calling you the tool vacuum! :lol_hitti

Oh, I forgot - twertsy already has that name patented. :bowdown:

d42jeep · Sep 9, 2017

I can't hold a candle to Twertsy in the tool collecting world. I would show my few Spintite finds but they've all made their way to his shop.
-Don

d42jeep · Sep 17, 2017

Here is a unique Walden nutdriver I had to have. It is split and designed to grip the bolt or nut. I assume it is to reach into inaccessible places. The PowrKraft driver is the first of that brand I've seen. I picked it up at the Tahoe flea today.
-Don

Jp267 · Sep 17, 2017

d42jeep said:
I found a picture I took last year of my home toolboxes Nut Driver drawer. The right front are Xcelite, the left front are Xcelite Metric and the back left shows my Xcelite small driver set, which I've had for a long time.
-Don

I haven't seen those in years. The were the first Christmas gift I ever bought for my Father. Brings back memories. I also got him a set of Xcelite small precision screwdrivers. I have those now that he's passed on. Don't know what happened to the nut drivers though. That was 1st grade I think. LOL

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Vintage Xcelite or other Nut Driver Sets

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