SASORacing
Well-known member
What is a good brand that preferably goes to 12mm (12mm is a essential size, sets that only go to 11mm confuse me). I am in the market for a new set! 
Do you use nutdrivers?
- Thread starter SASORacing
- Start date
1950mercury
Well-known member
We'dI use them all the time for small engine repair. My Snappys go to like 15 mm and 5/8
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shockwave
Well-known member
Look at witte they are great and go up to 15mm
I've always had good performance out of Pratt-Read drivers. Never used their nut drivers, but I'd say - if they're anything like their screwdrivers - they'd be a good bet.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H1JKY8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H1JKY8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Coach James
Well-known member
I have the C-man drivers in metric and standard. They've worked well for several years now.
Coach
Coach
1950mercury
Well-known member
Pratts and crapsman only go to 11mm in the sets
Coach James
Well-known member
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Nutdrivers are my Go-To tool. I've got to have a handle that spins fast, something round. I mostly use Craftsman nutdrivers, but those Kleins would probably work good.
12mm has gotten hard to find in hollow shaft IME (i.e. Klein, Xcelite, Wiha, ...).
Not commonly used in general, but I do see them on Japanese made products (retaining nuts for rotary switches and potentiometers for example).
Please keep in mind, this is from the perspective of electronics use, so hollow shaft is necessary, not optional.
Not commonly used in general, but I do see them on Japanese made products (retaining nuts for rotary switches and potentiometers for example).
Please keep in mind, this is from the perspective of electronics use, so hollow shaft is necessary, not optional.
littleponderosa
Well-known member
Old proto set from the early 80's that go thru 5/8".
Damn fine set. Getting kind of worn in well at this point.
Bill
Damn fine set. Getting kind of worn in well at this point.
Bill
AnthonyJ124
Well-known member
I have a craftsman set... And never noticed they only went up to 11mm until I just went out and looked. I don't use them too often.
wvrailroader
Well-known member
The Proto J1212MND 12 piece set goes up to 14mm. They also have the Duratek handles. I have the same set, but with the old style handles and really like them.
joel63
Well-known member
1/4 ", 5/16", and 3/8 Craftsman nut drivers have in my go everywhere tool
pouch for the last 43 years. Only lost one.
Work well for me.
I also have Snap On sae and metric, but they stay in the big box.
pouch for the last 43 years. Only lost one.
Work well for me.
I also have Snap On sae and metric, but they stay in the big box.
1foxracing
Well-known member
That exact set can be had from Harry J. Epsteins for $20.00
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/PrattandRead/82047.html
Dave455
Well-known member
I use them on smaller nuts.
CK make some nice ones with hard handles, and I'm fairly sure they go up to 12mm. Not sure if they are available in he U.S. though, as they seldom seem to get a mention here.
I really don't like any of the soft handle designs. Even if I'm working on clean stuff they still seem to get gritty or dusty. I believe Wiha still offer their 'classic' hard handles on nut drivers though, so that would be another choice!
CK make some nice ones with hard handles, and I'm fairly sure they go up to 12mm. Not sure if they are available in he U.S. though, as they seldom seem to get a mention here.
I really don't like any of the soft handle designs. Even if I'm working on clean stuff they still seem to get gritty or dusty. I believe Wiha still offer their 'classic' hard handles on nut drivers though, so that would be another choice!
LordPsychon
Well-known member
Those are definitely good nutdrivers but they only go up to 11mm and I believe the OP was looking for 12mm or higher.
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
I rarely use them anymore since I bought a 6 in 1 screwdriver several years back. 95% of the time, I need a 1/4" & 5/16".
Occasionally, I use an 11/64" for old style fluorescent ballast replacement. Anything else, I just attach a 1/4" drive socket to a driver handle.
Occasionally, I use an 11/64" for old style fluorescent ballast replacement. Anything else, I just attach a 1/4" drive socket to a driver handle.
I have the old style handled Proto's in Imperial which I like a lot. What is kind of funny is only use the 1/4" and 5/16" for worm drive hose clamps. I have Toptul metrics that go from 6-14mm, I can count on one hand how many times I used them.
Gotcha640
Well-known member
If you like using nut drivers, and you know you'll use a particular non-included size regularly, why not buy the set plus the singles?
I can't fault my socket set for not including the 32mm I needed for the suspension overhaul I did last year, or my screwdriver set for not having the 5 wing microtip for the iPhone I repaired.
I can't fault my socket set for not including the 32mm I needed for the suspension overhaul I did last year, or my screwdriver set for not having the 5 wing microtip for the iPhone I repaired.
OP, you might want to research the Bondhus a little more before purchase if you are interested in them. According to a review on Amazon the hollow shaft only extends for 1/2" or so. If that is true they wouldn't even be as useful as your average deep socket. They also mention that the nut drivers are not US made (like almost all the rest of their product line) if that matters to you.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004O35IUQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I have SAE and metric nut driver sets and I do use them several times a week, but 99% of the time it is a size smaller than 3/8" or 8mm. The larger sizes usually require a high enough torque to break loose fittings that it becomes much more comfortable to instead switch to something 1/4" drive and then use deep sockets.
I agree with you. I bought both the standard sets and then I added an extra 5.5mm nut driver as a single from another brand.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004O35IUQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I have SAE and metric nut driver sets and I do use them several times a week, but 99% of the time it is a size smaller than 3/8" or 8mm. The larger sizes usually require a high enough torque to break loose fittings that it becomes much more comfortable to instead switch to something 1/4" drive and then use deep sockets.
I agree with you. I bought both the standard sets and then I added an extra 5.5mm nut driver as a single from another brand.
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uncletater
Well-known member
Wera sets are great and feel good in your hands
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I like the Craftsman T-handle nut drivers they just discontinued. Found them cheap on a closeout shelf . I just saw a metric set at Sears this week. Also Ace Hardware still stocks them.
MoparTrucks
Well-known member
I just did the same, the metric only go up to 11mm and the SAE go to 1/2 ". I use them a lot on hose clamps and starting nuts on small engines mostly but must never have needed a 12mm or larger!
fasteddie313
Well-known member
Don't really use them much, I much more often have a screwdriver bit on a ratchet than a socket on a screwdriver, I have a set of kline nutdrivers that never get used, and CMan ones, and some junk prolly HF ones, they just waste a drawer.
My SK 1/4 drive screwdriver gets all that sort of action (witch isnt much) with whatever socket I choose.
If you already have a 1/4 socket set then I'd just add a 1/4 drive screwdriver, matbe a 1/4-3/8 adaptor so you can put 3/8 on it too, BAM, much more versatile nut driver set costing wayy less money..
Or even one of those dewalt impact 1/4 hex bit to 1/4 or 3/8 square drive adaptors and then you get all your sockets on anything that drives standard 1/4 hex..
A separate screwdriver for every size socket is just bulk and frustration IMO, go the route I suggest and you even have deep nut drivers, flex nut drivers, whatever sockets you have...
My SK 1/4 drive screwdriver gets all that sort of action (witch isnt much) with whatever socket I choose.
If you already have a 1/4 socket set then I'd just add a 1/4 drive screwdriver, matbe a 1/4-3/8 adaptor so you can put 3/8 on it too, BAM, much more versatile nut driver set costing wayy less money..
Or even one of those dewalt impact 1/4 hex bit to 1/4 or 3/8 square drive adaptors and then you get all your sockets on anything that drives standard 1/4 hex..
A separate screwdriver for every size socket is just bulk and frustration IMO, go the route I suggest and you even have deep nut drivers, flex nut drivers, whatever sockets you have...
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thunderingferret
Member
I have a decent set of Kobalt that go to 13mm. They're the spline-drive style/universal type, with soft grips. I think they were like $12 at lowes or something cheap like that. Good luck
Dust Devil
Well-known member
I own several sets of nutdrivers (klein,craftsman)
I never use them anymore. They take up too much space on my cart and there is something that works better.
What I now use is this, has a super ergonomic tacky grip
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681247&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
or this
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681247&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
With this
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681180&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
Along with the 1/4" deep and shallow sockets that always are on the cart.
Plus you can get the other shanks that hold 1/4" bits of all kinds, I use hex,torx daily and this system works awesome. I still use regular drivers for phillips and flat, but for other bits and when a nut driver is called for you cannot beat the snap ratcheting with interchangeable shanks.
I never use them anymore. They take up too much space on my cart and there is something that works better.
What I now use is this, has a super ergonomic tacky grip
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681247&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
or this
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681247&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
With this
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681180&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
Along with the 1/4" deep and shallow sockets that always are on the cart.
Plus you can get the other shanks that hold 1/4" bits of all kinds, I use hex,torx daily and this system works awesome. I still use regular drivers for phillips and flat, but for other bits and when a nut driver is called for you cannot beat the snap ratcheting with interchangeable shanks.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I use Craftsman and Klein fairly regularly.
OP
SASORacing
Well-known member
Thanks for the replies. I sort of forgot about using nut drivers for a while but realized the can actually be very handy for low torque things and for holding a nut still when tightening it's bolt.
I actually just bought this 1/4 driver today its an Armstrong with female 1/4 on end. These are perfect for stuff like attaching a small torx socket to disassemble a snap on ratchet.
I actually just bought this 1/4 driver today its an Armstrong with female 1/4 on end. These are perfect for stuff like attaching a small torx socket to disassemble a snap on ratchet.
My Bondhus nut drivers are US made I'm pretty sure. Got them when I saw a good deal come up. Generally I still use T handle or spinner handle. Got into using the palm ratchet more recently with them since I rearranged my 1/4" drawer, that works pretty well.
Generally I go for 1/4" mid depth socket & whatever handle is needed before I reach for a nut driver. Sometimes I will even go to the 3/8" drawer before I reach for a nut driver. But when you need one, well I would say 'when you need one you know' but at least in auto/small engine situations they're probably still more of a last resort.
Generally I go for 1/4" mid depth socket & whatever handle is needed before I reach for a nut driver. Sometimes I will even go to the 3/8" drawer before I reach for a nut driver. But when you need one, well I would say 'when you need one you know' but at least in auto/small engine situations they're probably still more of a last resort.
Agreed, never really got the point of using nut drivers, another expense, less room in the tool box for other stuff, and you can use a 1/4" drive speed handle, or what have you.
-tried to find it on mactools.com but their site is terrible now. I use a locking 1/4 extension with a handle at the end that also accepts a 1/4" drive ratchet. Love this thing, I put a universal 8mm socket on the end for hose clamps, or have the normal assortment of 1/4" drive shallow and deep sockets to use with it - way more practical than a set of nut drivers.