dedicated nut-drivers, or 1/4" handle + 1/4" sockets?

[redman43]

As the title states, what are your preferences? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to either that I haven't thought of?

Personally, I just realized I have both. Space is at a bit of a premium in my box (and no a larger box is most definitely not an option ), so I find myself having to decide whether to keep the dedicated nut-drivers that are currently occupying the entire space inside one of the small drawers in my HF tool cart, or take them out, find a home for them on the bench, and replace them with the significantly smaller footprint of a 1/4" (spinner???) handle and use it with my 1/4" sockets.

If it matters, the nut-drivers are the HF 7pc metric and 7pc SAE set, full range of sizes from 5 to 11mm and 3/16" to 1/2". My Craftsman 1/4" socket set has a wider range in both SAE and metric as well as a few deep-well, not to mention the ability to use the larger 3/8" sockets using an adapter.

Ideas, thoughts, ramblings...

 

[FJ 432]

I bought a HF swivel headed ratchet that I can use as my nut driver. I'm like you where space is a premium and I'm happy so far.

 

[mrholeshot]

If you don't have extra long bolt with nuts lose the nutdrivers. I have several sets and they see limited use.

 

[Soon2AdjustYou]

I prefer the 1/4" driver with sockets myself. This saves space but also allows me to get into tight areas by putting an extension on it or even an adapter for a 3/8" socket. Nut drivers are a cool idea, but unless I'm going to have a dedicated job that uses the same size nut over and over (electrical work) I don't care for them. Just my opinion.

Dr. B

 

[CrashTestDummy]

They're unitaskers. That said, as Mrholeshot said, they usually have hollow stems, so you can pull nuts off overly-long bolts that you'd have to hunt for your small set of deep sockets for.

Additionally, with my set, at least, they are color-coded, some way or another. When I know what the bolthead size is, and know it can be removed with normal hand strength, like hose clamps (and there's several on today's fuel injected engines), I'll just grab the nut drivers to remove. My old eyes require some effort to focus on the label etched into the side of the socket set, so being able to just grab something by color, especially when having to fix something after a long day's work, is relieving. Keep the nut drivers, you'll need them later.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

 

[speed bump]

I keep a 1/4" and 5/16" nut driver on my cart for hose clamps and HVAC stuff. Other than that nut drivers ussually see limited enough use that I can stuff them in a drawer in my big box. Personally I hate spinner handle and often enough deep sockets just aren't deep enough so out come the nut drivers.

 

[redman43]

This place is great. Less than an hour and I've received nothing but great advice on both sides of the spectrum.

It does sound like they do have some specifically useful purposes (ie, long bolts). I think I'll definitely keep them around, but since space is at a premium at the moment, they'll need to be out of the cart. I'm usually in my garage doing my work, so I have no problem walking a few feet to the work bench to grab the one I need when the task at hand warrants it.

Thanks again.

 

[bonneyman]

I prefer the 1/4" driver with sockets myself. This saves space but also allows me to get into tight areas by putting an extension on it or even an adapter for a 3/8" socket. Nut drivers are a cool idea, but unless I'm going to have a dedicated job that uses the same size nut over and over (electrical work) I don't care for them. Just my opinion.

Dr. B

on this opinion.
About the only advantage to nut drivers is most have a magnet installed in the end, which frees up hand by holding the screw for you. But I recently grabbed a set of magnet inserts by Craftsman, and can now add this feature to my 1/4" sockets. So, the nutdrivers have become a rare use item.

 

[Danglerb]

My first choice is something in a power tool, Bosch PS40 impactor, and pull a trigger instead of twist a driver. I do hand tighten, so a bit holder, socket on a ratchet, wrench, or nut driver is handy.

I do like the solid feel of a one piece tool like a nut driver for some tasks, starting a nut etc.

The trade off is what is convenient to use, keep close to the working area, etc.

BTW I've never owned a "full" set of nut drivers, just a few misc in sizes I use the most. Hard to justify the space for a whole set, especially a SAE and Metric.

OTOH I have just the opposite with hex drivers and have a real pile of them in all flavors, shapes and sizes.

 

[mikemolzahn]

Nutdrivers are a waste of space, especially if your box is foamed. You already have nut drivers as well as deep nut drivers with having the 1/4" handle ands shallow/deep sockets.


Why waste the space,

Join in and Be Heard,
Mike

 

[moparmuscle88]

i use a socket and a 1/4 driver, so i can put a u joint or an extension on as well, space is at a premuim in my boxy, so i cant waste the space with things ill hardly ever use

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I picked up some nutdrivers YEARS ago, for radio and electrical work (radio's had two knobs back then, LOL). They were cheap, and I had grown up with them, or (when allowed to), my fathers Xcelite.

When I started getting better tools, I replaced my old ones, with a Craftsman set (bargain sale), which stays with my electronics/pc stuff. However, my main PC tool, is a ratcheting, magnetic bit screwdriver, with the magnet on an extending shaft. ($7 import tool from an autoparts store)

 

[Scout Driver]

I don't think that the HF nutdrivers are hollow-shaft drivers. If they are not, you won't get the full benefit of having a set of dedicated nutdrivers. The hollow shaft is necessary when threading a nut down an extra long stud or bolt. Do you do work that requires this ability? If not, you could say goodbye to your nutdrivers. (as long as they are not hollow-shaft)

Scott

 

[Bolster]

I get by with a 1/4" driver handle (often ratcheting), and my deep 1/4" sockets if there's a stud sticking up.

I like the ratcheting action so much I can forgo the dedicated nut drivers.

 

[redman43]

Just checked, the HF nut-drivers I have are hollow shaft. Not sure how long the hollow section is though.

 

[redman43]

I get by with a 1/4" driver handle (often ratcheting), and my deep 1/4" sockets if there's a stud sticking up.

I like the ratcheting action so much I can forgo the dedicated nut drivers.

A ratcheting driver... I may need to look for one of those. It would take this idea one step further.

 

[Scout Driver]

I get by with a 1/4" driver handle (often ratcheting), and my deep 1/4" sockets if there's a stud sticking up.

I like the ratcheting action so much I can forgo the dedicated nut drivers.

I do the same thing as Bolster. There are no nutdrivers in my possession! (unless I found a set to match my Stanley screwdrivers)

Scott

 

[2drx4]

I get by with a 1/4" driver handle (often ratcheting), and my deep 1/4" sockets if there's a stud sticking up.

I like the ratcheting action so much I can forgo the dedicated nut drivers.

I do the same. But I just put a 1/4 drive adapter in my snap-on ratcheting screwdriver, rather than have an actual ratcheting 1/4 driver.

 

[Krokodil]

I also wanted to get a wera nut driver set, but after reading this I think I'll just get a 1/4" dr socket set. The options are so much more wrt swivel heads, etc.

 

[Brad54]

I prefer the 1/4" driver with sockets myself. This saves space but also allows me to get into tight areas by putting an extension on it or even an adapter for a 3/8" socket. Nut drivers are a cool idea, but unless I'm going to have a dedicated job that uses the same size nut over and over (electrical work) I don't care for them. Just my opinion.

Dr. B

Absolutely my thinking too.
I had a set and I re-gifted them to my brother-in-law.

I've got a fixed-handle driver for 1/4-inch sockets, and I've got an adapter bit for my Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver. And really, the ratcheting screwdriver makes the fixed handle nearly a waste of space as well.

-Brad

 

[Danglerb]

Nut drivers will have MUCH thinner walls than a socket, so if you have clearance issues a nut driver could be the only option.

 

[Krokodil]

Funny thing, this is probably the first thread on this forum that I have read where the general consensus is NOT to buy/get/keep tools in favor of space constraints.

 

[Deskmechanic]

I'm clearly in the minority but I love nutdrivers, or I should say two nut drivers 8mm and 10mm. Never have a use for other sizes but those two I use under the hood on Japanese cars constantly. But recently I got a swivel ratchet, which might replace the 10mm nutdrivers. Well see.

 

[Danglerb]

Nut drivers with a 1/4 square drive in the top, wonder if anybody makes them?

 

[otis66]

The only nut driver I really use from my set is the 3/8" for electrical work. I work on trucks and buses.

 

[Scout Driver]

A 5/16" nutdriver would be nice for hoseclamps.

Scott

 

[DMessin]

Nut drivers with a 1/4 square drive in the top, wonder if anybody makes them?

Yes, I've often thought this too!

I do have a 1/4 drive handle, which has 1/4" square drive on top. Basically a 1/4" extension with a hard plastic handle molded on. The one I have is made by Fuller and it's very useful for final tightening when you can't get quite enough torque with the handle alone.

 

[crewchief888]

Nut drivers with a 1/4 square drive in the top, wonder if anybody makes them?

Yes, I've often thought this too!

I do have a 1/4 drive handle, which has 1/4" square drive on top. Basically a 1/4" extension with a hard plastic handle molded on. The one I have is made by Fuller and it's very useful for final tightening when you can't get quite enough torque with the handle alone.

i have a couple of them laying around in my home box, seems like one is a fuller, another "no-name"

i have sets of metric & standard nutdrivers, 1/4 dr metric, std , deep and shallow, 1/4" drive handle, extra 1/4, 5/16, 7mm, & 10mm nut drivers, all at home.
in my service truck i have 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 7mm, 10mm nutdrivers. set of shallow std 1/4 dr sockets, a few select deep sockets, select 1/4 swivels, long 1/4" dr ratcheting T handle driver.

yea i probably have too many nut drivers

 

[dumper]

I am a big fan of nut drivers. They don't take up that much room in the tool box , and can be very handy...until today! I was fastening a machine screw to a nylock nut inside a tool cabinet, blind. I put the nut into the nut driver, located the machine screw, then snugged it up. No problem...except I couldn't remove the @#%$&^ nut driver! Unloosened the nut, went back in with a 1/4" socket, extension, and ratchet. No problem. Oh well, how much do you think I can get for these things?

 

[toytech40]

I have nut drivers sae and metric which live in my big box close to the bench which I like when woking on small electrical projects, or just small projects where there are several different sizes. That way your are not having to changing sockets all the time. In my cart and travel boxes it is 1/4 sockets and driver handle to conserve space, and my SO handle has the female square drive in the handle which is handy at times, and with the handle you have endless combinations for specialized drivers with extensions and universaljoints, deep and shallow sockets. In my electricians pouch I also have nutdrivers as it is more convenient for how being used and not having to fumble with sockets.

So best of both worlds for me, just my two pennys worth

 

[walrus]

Nut drivers with a 1/4 square drive in the top, wonder if anybody makes them?

Snap On makes them, I use one nearly every day. Craftsman used to make them, not sure if they still do. They sucked though as the 1/4 shaft didn't go all the way to the top of the handle like Snap on does.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=23844&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog