Let's Talk Nutdrivers

[wilbilt]

Catchy title, eh?

I have an odd assortment of them, but not a complete range of sizes. I would like to buy a nice set.

Klein is US-made and has been around forever. Being that I was raised by a pack of wild electricians, I have used them a time or two. I honestly have never cared for the rubber-covered yellow handles, though. In a greasy application, they are slippery.

Vaco is Klein without the rubber covering, pretty nice.

Xcelite makes wonderful tools, I love the amber-handled screwdrivers (that actually have properly-shaped tips), and their colorful nutdrivers are what I am currently thinking about buying.

Jensen is well-known for building technician tool kits, and their stuff is top-notch as well. I have a set I use at work and really like them.

Then there are Craftsman and Stanley...I have a couple of these and they are adequate.

Kobalt? Husky?

HF, of course, has a 7-piece set for like $7....I could buy those, but how would it make us feel?

Does anyone have a set of lowly nutdrivers that they really like and would recommend based upon fit, finish, and feel?

 

[dink]

I ordered a set from one of my manufacturers


But I would also look at the Channellock ones also

 

[wilbilt]

I would also look at the Channellock ones also

I own plenty of Channellock tools, but never knew they made nutdrivers (or screwdrivers for that matter!).

http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/category.cfm?SID=1&Category_ID=20

Pretty reasonable price on those. The handles are a bit over the top, though. They look like they would be hard to clean.

 

[W-Cummins]

I have 3 sets of Snap-On Ergonomic nut drivers and I really like them. 2 sae ( one in the electroservice tool set) and one metric. I would like to have a composite set but I don't want to pay for one

William...

 

[eschoendorff]

I have a set from Armstrong, with the clear colored handles. They are more than adequate. I have a set of metric by Husky (made in Taiwan ) and I hinestly cannot tell much of a difference between them and the Armstrongs.

 

[wilbilt]

I have 3 sets of Snap-On Ergonomic nut drivers and I really like them. 2 sae ( one in the electroservice tool set) and one metric. I would like to have a composite set but I don't want to pay for one

William...

I didn't think about Snap-On, either. I don't see the tool truck regularly anymore, maybe that's why.

They do like nice, but roughly twice the price of the other brands. If the truck rolled up with them on display, I would buy them...

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...2&group_ID=746&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[wilbilt]

I have a set from Armstrong, with the clear colored handles. They are more than adequate. I have a set of metric by Husky (made in Taiwan ) and I hinestly cannot tell much of a difference between them and the Armstrongs.

The Armstrong ones look decent. The "Made in USA" tag is a plus....

http://www.armstrongtools.com/images/catalog/cat_images/lviews/66-845.jpg

 

[GearHead_1]

I'm absolutely not the person you see on this site endorsing Craftsman anything but in this case I have to say that their nut drivers have worked just fine for me for over 30 years of almost daily use. Other than the color band fading over time or losing one I've never had to replace one. Watch the adds they can be had for less than $20 I believe.

 

[Inetmonkey]

I'm not a big fan of Jensen or Excelite myself. You see their kits all over in the computer industry and while they seem very complete, the tools always felt a little cheap to me. I have a standard set of Craftsman nutdrivers that came with a set I bought some time ago. They've been adequate, but I've always wanted something with a better grip. Maybe something like they have on their pro edition screwdrivers, with bigger, padded handles.

 

[dink]

I'm not a big fan of Jensen or Excelite myself. You see their kits all over in the computer industry and while they seem very complete, the tools always felt a little cheap to me. I have a standard set of Craftsman nutdrivers that came with a set I bought some time ago. They've been adequate, but I've always wanted something with a better grip. Maybe something like they have on their pro edition screwdrivers, with bigger, padded handles.

Go with the Channellocks

 

[eschoendorff]

The Armstrong ones look decent. The "Made in USA" tag is a plus....

http://www.armstrongtools.com/images/catalog/cat_images/lviews/66-845.jpg

That's a slightly larger version of the set I have.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Snap on are the best ones. I have them for two reasons.

1. They have a rolling outer sleeve on the shaft so you can brace the nutdriver and twist without any friction on your fingers.

2. The best reason: They have a hollow shaft past the "working end" to allow a greater depth of work. I know for a fact craftsman does not have that.

-BWP

 

[l_bilyk]

I have klein... i like them

 

[Jared]

I have a sae craftsman set i have no problem with them as you cant put much tourque on a nut driver anyways

 

[Rrumbler]

I have a set of Kleins that I have used for over thirty years, and they're still as good as new; of course, I am one of those "wild electricians", so one must take my endorsement with the proper amount of salt.

I also have a few X-Celite (sp??) that are ok. One thing for sure, though, is get ones with the deep hollow in the shaft, and color coded for size, otherwise, you'll wind up turning the air blue from time-to-time because "the da%&*# thing don't fit".

 

[wilbilt]

I have a set of Kleins that I have used for over thirty years, and they're still as good as new; of course, I am one of those "wild electricians", so one must take my endorsement with the proper amount of salt.

Wow...an electrician in Las Vegas. That's awesome..

My folks left NYC in 1957 (dad was out of IBEW local 3 Bronx, NY) and his first job "out west" was at the Nevada Test Site. He has some Kleins that have to be 50 years old and still holding up.

The only problem I have with them is that the handles tend to be slippery when oily. I guess I should have learned by now to clean parts before I work on them LOL