nut drivers

[Innovate1]

Pretty handy for electronics and appliances. And hose clamps as several others have mentioned.

 

[LeeG]

I use mine quite often. An old set of Xcelite hollow shaft drivers. I almost never use a small socket. I keep them handy because I use them, and use them a lot because they are handy.



I have this end cap near the middle of my garage, and it is where all my quick access tools are stored. Here are my screw sticks and SAE nut drivers.

 

[richfinn]

I keep a Wiha T handle 10mm nut driver in my kit, just quicker and more convenient than attaching a socket and ratchet to an extension. I use it mostly on engine covers, battery terminals and undertrays (mostly when my impact driver is set up for another task)

I also have a long 7mm hose clip driver with a flexible shaft that is pretty useful too.

Just buy the sizes you need though, don't go too crazy

 

[BarrelRoll]

When I was working on air compressors and industrial equipment daily I had a couple in my tool bag. I switched to mining 5 years ago and I don't think I've touched them since. I've got a Mac 1/4" socket driver with a hard handle that also works as an extension I almost never use either. If it's small enough to be in nut driver size I'm usually using a 1/4" hex M18 gun on it.

 

[Steve_P]

I primarily use mine for home HVAC - you only need to grab two of them, and can take a lot of sh!t apart

 

[metaldad]

Other than my 'collectors' sets, which sit unused, shafts brightly polished, i use regularly 1/4 & 5/16 x 6" shafts regularly in industrial hvac.

 

[bonneyman]

I keep some of those old school drivers around for those single use jobs where I don't want to break out a socket set and extension. I had a nice almost new old stock VACO set but didn't use it enough and needed the money so sold them to a forum member.

And now I've just about got another set of stubby, regular, and long VACO's - grabbing nice condition one-at-a-time.

 

[BigBoreFan]

I use a 6mm and 8mm a lot on motorcycles. I have the long shaft Wera. I love em.

 

[Dave455]

I think it depends on the industry you work in. Some, such as the electrical / electronic tend to use a relatively limited range of small fasteners, and nut drivers are their “go to” tool. They keep a selection with their screwdrivers, and might not even have the 1/4” drive socket set we all tend to take for granted.

Personally, I find them ideal for some specific uses, such as hose clips. I keep some (limited) tool sets in my vehicles, generally including some 3/8” drive sockets and a ratchet, but I always include a 6 or 7mm nut driver, specifically for hose clips.

As a matter of interest, when I think about all the problems I’ve sorted out by the roadside, a good proportion of them have been coolant issues that have needed hose clips removing!

The British firm L.Robinson, who make “Jubilee” clips (a popular make of hose clip in the U.K.) offer a selection of their own “clip drivers”. The T shape ones take up little space in a vehicle tool kit.

 

[decableguy2000]

As a cable guy I use an assortment of nut drivers daily. 3/16-1/2". Have at least 2 sets on the truck long and standard versions. Plus at least 3 sets at home as well.

 

[Iridium rand]

They don’t have many applications for mechanics which is why so many view them as useless, they’re best for small and low torque bolts and especially where there’s no room or it’s impractical to swing a ratchet, and being low torque it’s much faster to turn than a ratchet would be. Electronics seem to be the most common field where they’re useful since you’re often working inside the case of something, think of say a pinball machine or a computer

 

[crewchief888]

Heavy eq mechanic here, I use 1/4, 5/16, 7mm, 11/32, & 7/16. 7/16 is perfect for starting grease zerks in recessed counterbores on had cylinders

 

[MarvinBerry]

I'd say if you were working around tedious things that dare not be scratched or over torqued...they have their place.

It's really a tiny window where they'd be preferred over regular sockets and ratchets and or ratcheting wrenches etc.

That describes a lot of what I work on... guitars drum kits recording studio electronics... yet I don't have nut drivers in that box.

Use a spinner & 1/4 drive all the time. Mostly because of space. Full set of drivers SAE & metric would chew too much real estate. Those tools live in an old 2 drawer rally box... also never touch the ratchet 97% is spinner handle.

Don't have em in the main shop box either that's all spinners too.

I do have a set of nut drivers in the other stack... some kobalt spline universal things that kinda ****. That box doesn't have any sockets so they come in handy now & then for household stuff.

 

[Grokew]

I use them for washing machine and ventilator fan repair and maintenance.

 

[exmaxima1]

They CM sets must be pretty valuable. This local guy has sets of both SAE and Metric---he wants $125 for them!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...search&referral_story_type=listing&tracking={"qid"%3A"-6354667581330280777"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"7363756760363508"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"%7B%5C"target_id%5C"%3A7363756760363508%2C%5C"target_type%5C"%3A0%2C%5C"primary_position%5C"%3A143%2C%5C"ranking_signature%5C"%3A953155656477573120%2C%5C"commerce_channel%5C"%3A504%2C%5C"value%5C"%3A4.6178442440024e-5%7D"%2C"ftmd_400706"%3A"111112l"%7D

 

[Bubba Fett]

They CM sets must be pretty valuable. This local guy has sets of both SAE and Metric---he wants $125 for them!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1368209997014382?ref=category_feed&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=listing&tracking={"qid"%3A"-6354667581330280777"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"7363756760363508"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"%7B%5C"target_id%5C"%3A7363756760363508%2C%5C"target_type%5C"%3A0%2C%5C"primary_position%5C"%3A143%2C%5C"ranking_signature%5C"%3A953155656477573120%2C%5C"commerce_channel%5C"%3A504%2C%5C"value%5C"%3A4.6178442440024e-5%7D"%2C"ftmd_400706"%3A"111112l"%7D

The old USA-made ones seem to be a collectors item. Craftsman used to have some with full hollow shanks, but later switched to shanks with 1 to 2 inch hollows. Still good, but the hollow ones are better. The ones with the color-coded cushion grips go for even more. I believe Pratt-Read made them.

The ones that are made in China are junk. The handle material is bluish, and has a weird greasiness, and the machining on the business end is sloppy. The people that use them want good ones, which is why the price for used ones is so high. I say skip them and just go with Klein or Vaco.

 

[lardy1]

I have the ones in the link but both sets came together in a nice zippered fabric case. I think it was a holiday special or some other Craftsman promotional thing. I don't use them often but they're nice to have available for the occassion that I do.

 

[ATC]

I too, have the USA Craftsman set in the zippered case. I also have a SAE set of Kleins. They both came with my MAC box when I bought it, so...

I use the 1/4 and 5/16 on hose clamps all the time. Sometimes on machine screws & nuts if I have the space for it. 7 & 8mm get used a lot on the interior plastic dash pieces of my truck. Anything else seems to get a socket and either a ratchet or a M12 driver.

 

[SteadyC]

I like the Malco ones. They are not hollow shank, but magnetic. Cool design that you can remove the driver and clean the magnet. Some models have a removable handle that allows you to use the shank in your drill or impact driver. If you don't need a set I'd get a Lennox 9 in 1. 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 nut drivers are on it. Good for HVAC. Set wise I'd go with Klein.

 

[decableguy2000]

If you can find them the Craftsman T handles are nice were made by Armstrong. Haven't seen any replacements for those yet.

 

[WWheeler]

This thread cracks me up.

I've got this old Craftsman USA set that I must admit I've had for decades but have barely ever used ...




And I've got this old set of Kleins in another box that I used to use somewhat but likewise haven't touched in I don't know how long ...



But the only nut driver that definitely has seen any use by me in the past so many years is this no-name rusty nut driver that I keep on top of the furnace to use every time I have to change out the filters. It's handy and there whenever I need it and gets the job done.

 

[anndel]

I have Craftsman and Xcelite I used when I was a electronics tech back in the 80's. I haven't used them since and just sits in my tool box stinking up the place with those stinky handles.

 

[Iridium rand]

I think a big part of the reason nut drivers are so impractical for most is that they’re usually fixed handles, I know I wouldnt use mine nearly as much if they were like that, instead I use a roll of interchangeable shanks from xcelite with a regular screwdriver handle and this ratcheting t-handle, far less bulky

 

[jsmeece]

I have a full set of SAE 7 piece (3/16 to 1/2) and Metric 10 piece (5 to 13mm) from Greenlee. Not sure who made them for Greenlee. I have used them a few times, quality seems pretty decent. I remember not paying much for them, got them on closeout from somewhere, can't remember where at the moment, maybe Home Depot?

 

[Shipfittin]

If I am working with small hardware, 5/16” and below, I typically grab a nut driver. Especially if there are numerous nuts and bolts that need to be loosened or tightened. I just find that I work faster with it than I do trying to use a ratchet and socket trying to back off or install numerous pieces of hardware. I also sometimes have a bad tendency of over tightening with wrench or ratchet so it helps there as well.

If I am using a ratchet with a long extension I typically break the hardware free than remove the extension from the ratchet. So in all practicality I create my own nut driver most of the time anyway.

 

[WWheeler]

I think a big part of the reason nut drivers are so impractical for most is that they’re usually fixed handles, I know I wouldnt use mine nearly as much if they were like that, instead I use a roll of interchangeable shanks from xcelite with a regular screwdriver handle and this ratcheting t-handle, far less bulky

That's actually a good suggestion, and actually another one that's funny to me, because it helped me to remember a GearWrench ratcheting nut driver set that I've actually never used but do believe I would have been except it got put on a shelf in my garage a few years ago that must have been back when at the time I was outgrowing my tool chest and was shopping for a new one and somehow totally forgot I even had it until I saw your post.


The only drawback I see to these is unlike my Craftsman and Klieins I posted above the hollow shanks on these only extend 15mm or so (you can tell how far by the stepped diameter change on the larger sizes) instead of the full handle length like the others, but that's probably plenty deep enough for most circumstances. BTW, The T-handle I tossed in the pic isn't from that set but is part of a GearWrench ratcheting screwdriver set that I do use fairly often.

 

[Ton ton]

Do it best brand of nut drivers are terrible soft. Don't even think about buying them. Speaking from experience.

 

[rick carpenter]

Very useful for low torque panel-type work, like @RickyPetite and @bobg03 said. Hose clamps too like many mentioned. When I had to do my own work on our a/c components, they were very convenient...

didn't have to fiddle with sockets​

slipped easily into & out of my pocket or tool pouch & wouldn't come apart​

big enough that when I dropped them in tall grass I could find them easier.​

 

[HVAC Study]

I am an hvac tech and the majority of our world is 1/4 and 5/16. So much so that these two are often sold in pairs. I find 3/8 sometimes but to me it is rare to have anything over 3/8.

In my EDC bag I used two handles that accept 1/4 drive bits and I carry a 6in long bit in #2&3 Phillips, 1/4 slot, #2 sq or robertson, and 1/4, 5/16,3/8 magnetic. I can put whatever I want in the handles like my extensions or even the shorter bits.

I supplement that with some regular 1/4 drive sockets I keep in my “access” kit.

 

[HVAC Study]

This is what I was talking about. There isn’t much I can’t access with all of this. The craftsman I made by pressing a quick change adaptor into the handle. The other one is a Malco connnext. The 1/4 5/16 and 3/8 six inch bits are makita

As you can see everything here about can be run by either my handles, the micro ratchets, or my drill/ driver/ impact. I use the Klein multi stubby for stubby nut drivers as well as stubby screwdrivers.

 

[Jtels85]

Nothing worse than losing your 1/4” drive socket underneath the hood of the car when you could have used a nut driver instead.

Craftsman nut drivers are also hollow shaft, so if you have a long bolt that you need to tighten down a nut on, the threads of the bolt will go up into the shank.

They definitely have their place.

 

[CR888]

Wiha T-handle nut drivers are extremely useful working on small engines, motorbikes & other things. I have standard handle too by Felo but much prefer T-Handle.

 

[CoogarXR]

Nothing worse than losing your 1/4” drive socket underneath the hood of the car when you could have used a nut driver instead.

Craftsman nut drivers are also hollow shaft, so if you have a long bolt that you need to tighten down a nut on, the threads of the bolt will go up into the shank.

They definitely have their place.

Just to be a Terminology Nazi- The craftsman nut drivers are considered "drilled" shaft nut drivers, not "hollow". Hollow shaft nut drivers are hollow all the way into the handle (and in some cases, there is a hole in the handle too, and they are completely hollow. The craftsman shafts are only drilled about an inch and a half up the shank. That's something I had to learn early in my nutdriver game, lol.

 

[WWheeler]

Just to be a Terminology Nazi- The craftsman nut drivers are considered "drilled" shaft nut drivers, not "hollow". Hollow shaft nut drivers are hollow all the way into the handle (and in some cases, there is a hole in the handle too, and they are completely hollow. The craftsman shafts are only drilled about an inch and a half up the shank. That's something I had to learn early in my nutdriver game, lol.

Huh? I just checked and you're right. Until now I always thought my Craftsmans were hollow all the way up the shaft. shows again how much I've used them, like never. The Kleins I have definitely are hollow though.

 

[Jtels85]

Just to be a Terminology Nazi- The craftsman nut drivers are considered "drilled" shaft nut drivers, not "hollow". Hollow shaft nut drivers are hollow all the way into the handle (and in some cases, there is a hole in the handle too, and they are completely hollow. The craftsman shafts are only drilled about an inch and a half up the shank. That's something I had to learn early in my nutdriver game, lol.

I wasn’t aware of that! Thank you.

I’ve looked at other brand nut drivers at different stores, and most of them don’t even have “drilled” shafts. To me, that defeats the purpose.

 

[Feralghoul88]

I use these and the SAE ones all the time.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VHZHAU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bmwrd0]

11/32" for electric motor connections. Will keep you from over tightening it, searching for the correct 1/4" socket, and you know what it will be by the color handle. I use Xcelites now I am retired, but I used Kliens when I did HVAC.

 

[MadMark]

I bought an extra 7 mm craftsman nutdriver for removing panels and dashboard work on 1980's GM cars.
It was very helpful.

I also found a magnetized 11/32 is great for hooking up the ignition wire to the starter. Thanks for reminding me bmwrd0.

 

[nadogail]

I too have fond memories of both the mini Xecilite drivers with their torque Multiplier Handle and the full sized hollow shaft style. The color coded handles were great.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I have full sets of both and several individuals. I keep 1/4 and 5/16 in my work box for hose clamps as I’ve been known to go a little too far with the power tools and bind the clamp up lol. I use the 3/8 one for larger hose clamps like what’s on my dads truck. And I may have used a couple to check air filters here and there but no other real uses for them and I don’t use any of my tools for mechanics stuff around the house as they strictly are for mechanic work so most will probably never see use. Never really used the metric ones. Most of the time I’ll grab my spinner handle though if I need something like that because it’s just quicker to do that and get the socket(s) I need.