Vintage Xcelite or other Nut Driver Sets

[LesserSon]

Yesterday, I picked up an XceLite holder at the flea market. A little research shows me this model has been posted here before.
I thought it was mostly just dirty, but a good bit of it seems to be oxidation. As I was thinking of how to protect the label, I realized it was loose - almost half-off. So I set my teeth and pulled. Sure enough, it came off without tearing, leaving patches of dried glue on both the metal and vinyl(?). Well, that’s half done. The metal went into EvapoRust, and with a little careful scraping, the glue came off (not water-soluble, apparently).

Now, about that label…rubber cement? superglue? pva? Then I remembered I had a remnant of two-sided tape, and it was exactly the right width! I tried scraping the dried glue from the back of the label with limited success, so shrugged and laid down a strip of tape.

But when it took a couple tries to get it lined up on the metal, I discovered the tape had pulled the dried glue from the back of the label. Well, that’s not going to stick!

So I carefully used the discarded tape to remove the bulk of dried glue, and pulled my last length of tape. Phew! just enough.

I have a lot of XceLite nutdrivers, but it turns out they are mostly the “No-“series; only a few HS-series, with unfortunate gaps and redundancies among them. Plus, the handle of my HS-14 is too thick to fit this holder.

So for now it goes on a shelf, and I have some more flea-shopping ahead.

 

[LesserSon]

duplicate post

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my complete set.
I went through my two or more lifetimes of Xcelite spares and upgraded a couple of mine and these matching ones will be headed your way to zip 18104. They aren’t show quality but they should be correct for your new rack. Sorry, no 1/4”
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

Thank you for your generosity, Don!

 

[four.cycle]

I have a No. 8 - no "S" - not the same obviously - that I picked up at a junk shop for Don - if you just need a placeholder, let me know. BK
(the red on the shaft appears to be a piece of tape.)

 

[INSP380]

My old hard handle Snap-Ons….Haven’t seen these posted yet…

Steve

 

[Shelbylex]

From todays yard sale (will need to be cleaned - person did a lot of woodworking...)

 

[garilla]

Anyone figure out how to get rid of that xcelite vomit smell on some of the plastic handles? My. Father used to have this ammo can in his car with some tools and a few xcelite, every time you opened that can (was air tight) the smell really hit you!

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I believe it's the off gasses from the plastic handles, similar to the Craftsman handles. There are ways to get rid of it or neutralize it if I remember correctly. Search the internet or here.

 

[RTM]

Anyone figure out how to get rid of that xcelite vomit smell on some of the plastic handles? My. Father used to have this ammo can in his car with some tools and a few xcelite, every time you opened that can (was air tight) the smell really hit you!

Seal it with shellac or polyurethane?. Shellac has helped with mine.

 

[bonneyman]

I've had good luck with Ballistol gun oil. Neutralizes acidic residue so slows the deterioration and eliminates the smell. However, if you use the drivers regularly the oil comes off and it might start stinking again. So it's a good remedy for long storage or display purposes - not daily use.

Ballistol Multi-purpose Oil | All Use Medicated Oil

Discover Ballistol multi-purpose oil that cleans, lubricates & protects metal, wood, leather, rubber & plastic. Eco‑friendly & rust‑preventive. Shop now!

ballistol.com

 

[bmwrd0]

I think wiping down with Balistol works, if I remember right.

 

[LesserSon]

Thanks again, Don! They look at-the-ready now.

 

[Etchase]

Not much history here, but these blue Proto’s are my metric set. No complaints. The large fonts are my originals and the small are replacements for lost ones. Not sure which are older. Replacements were purchased used. The two 14’s are a replacement and an original I recently found in the garage.

 

[Etchase]

Posted to The wrong thread! Sorry

 

[d42jeep]

These Xcelite nutdrivers came up on an ongoing eBay search for unusual sizes so I picked them up.
I went through the nutdrivers and added them in.
Xcelite
Vaco
Tried them in the drawer.




Craftsman metric nutdrivers and mini Xcelite set
Klein and long nutdrivers
Old set with extras



Back in the toolbox
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

Nice. I have the 19/32" and use it a fair bit.

 

[WisJim]

I picked up a bag of Xcelite 99 series bits and a ratchet T handle at a garage sale this weekend. I didn't have any of these interchangeable handles and bits before, so now I have another kind of tool to keep looking for. The long nut drivers are all metric except for one 1/4".
Also 3 extensions, 2 reamers, a couple Bristol splines, some Allen hex, and other various bits. The handle is marked 99-4-R and has the ratchet selector on top of the handle, different from the other 2 types of selectors that I have noticed online. I forgot to check the sizes of the short bit drivers.

 

[bmwrd0]

Looks like you need one of the blue rolls, too.

 

[d42jeep]

You have a good start on a 99MP set there.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I spotted this 1948 Park Metalware ad on eBay and did a screenshot.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

I've seen the smaller 32nd sizes, Don, but never a 19/32". It's close enough you might be able to use it on a 15mm nut.

 

[Etchase]

I can’t pass by one of these sets. Happy to have found it.

 

[Shelbylex]

I have a question: I have an extra Xcelite 99-1 handle and would like to get an magnetic attachment which could hold 1/4" bits. Did Xcelite ever make those attachments? Is there another attachment which fits?
Thank you in advance!

 

[pfbz]

I'm also a nut driver fan, but more for actually using... I can't remember how many sets of those Xcelites I've had in the past, but quite a few and remember them well.
I hope that I have my new Wera nut drivers (top row) long enough that they too become a future classic. :-0

 

[d42jeep]

I have a question: I have an extra Xcelite 99-1 handle and would like to get an magnetic attachment which could hold 1/4" bits. Did Xcelite ever make those attachments? Is there another attachment which fits?
Thank you in advance!

They make a 1/4” magnetic nutdriver attachment but it is designed to just hold screws and I doubt that the magnet would be strong enough to hold 1/4” bits.
-Don

 

[crerus75]

I have a question: I have an extra Xcelite 99-1 handle and would like to get an magnetic attachment which could hold 1/4" bits. Did Xcelite ever make those attachments? Is there another attachment which fits?
Thank you in advance!

To my knowledge they never did, but they DID make an adapter to go the other way. The 99PAN power adapter has a hex shank that you can use in a drill chuck and holds the Xcelite screwdriver blades. See here for an example. I bought one on Amazon a few years ago but it seems to be unavailable there now.

It doesn't have the recess required for the ball detents used on 1/4" impact drivers, but that's probably a good thing. The Xcelite screwdriver blades are not the hardest steel and I can't imagine they'd last long when used in an impact driver.

 

[CoogarXR]

I have a question: I have an extra Xcelite 99-1 handle and would like to get an magnetic attachment which could hold 1/4" bits. Did Xcelite ever make those attachments? Is there another attachment which fits?
Thank you in advance!

No, they never made a 99-series bit holder. You could find the super-rare 99-x4 (or a Vaco 90-X4, same thing), which is a 99-series 1/4" socket driver, and then stick a Snap-On TMBS8A 1/4-drive magnetic bit holder on the end. That's what I keep in my mobile case for a bit holder.

Excuse the crappy blurry pics, lol:

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you Don, Crerus and CoogarXR!!!

 

[crerus75]

No, they never made a 99-series bit holder. You could find the super-rare 99-x4 (or a Vaco 90-X4, same thing), which is a 99-series 1/4" socket driver, and then stick a Snap-On TMBS8A 1/4-drive magnetic bit holder on the end. That's what I keep in my mobile case for a bit holder.

I suppose the other way to do it would be to make your own out of a spare Xcelite screwdriver shank and a hex bit holder. I'd get a spare Xcelite 1/4" nut driver blade and something like this Bosch bit holder. I'd tack weld the two together, making sure to keep the magnetic end cool so that it doesn't demagnetize it.

If you want a non-permanent modification, you might be able to epoxy a small disc magnet at the bottom of the 1/4" Xcelite nut driver. I did this on a junk bit holder that I had which lost its retaining ring and would no longer hold bits. Works great now. A strong neodymium magnet will hold the hex bits quite securely, but it is brittle and won't stand much impact if you really bang the hex bit around. Still, if you want a no-modification solution, you can try it and undo it if you don't like it.

 

[RocketPig]

Here is a partial set. Missing a couple bits but I thought the I managed to pick one up the other day, missing stuff as usual.

Here is a partial set. Missing a couple bits but I thought the box was cool.

I managed to find one of these the other day and just got it wiped down. Any idea of the original contents or age? Mine only came with nut drivers and a reaming tip. I see yours has 2 double ended standard drivers and the handle.

 

[Shelbylex]

I suppose the other way to do it would be to make your own out of a spare Xcelite screwdriver shank and a hex bit holder. I'd get a spare Xcelite 1/4" nut driver blade and something like this Bosch bit holder. I'd tack weld the two together, making sure to keep the magnetic end cool so that it doesn't demagnetize it.

If you want a non-permanent modification, you might be able to epoxy a small disc magnet at the bottom of the 1/4" Xcelite nut driver. I did this on a junk bit holder that I had which lost its retaining ring and would no longer hold bits. Works great now. A strong neodymium magnet will hold the hex bits quite securely, but it is brittle and won't stand much impact if you really bang the hex bit around. Still, if you want a no-modification solution, you can try it and undo it if you don't like it.

Thank you, Crerus! I will look for proper bits for now (yard sale season...). If I do not succeed, I will create one

 

[d42jeep]

I found these three Klein nutdrivers at a yard sale yesterday.
I added them to some others I had on hand.

-Don

 

[RTM]

Over the past years, I have been grabbing any nutdriver I saw, and had around 50 going into summer, covering the range from 5/64" to 5/8", with many duplicates, but only a metric one. They are all tossed haphazardly into a box, and pulling one out meant grabbing several until one fit. I have had two successful auction purchases, and a GS purchase that will pretty much stop the need to grab any more drivers, and will start thinning out the herd.

Insert haphazard picture here shortly.

First purchase was this Vaco set, which finally arrived over a month later. This is a K7 set, appearing in catalogs from 1965-69, and covers 3/16 - 1/2". The pouch rolls up into a standup case.



Next up is an XceLite No 127 set, which came with a duplicate 3/8", which is a closer color to the rack, but in much nicer condition. This set was sold with this label from 1950 - 65. While it appears to be missing 2, I have those in my haphazard organizer, just need to fish them out. This set runs 3/16" - 3/8". According to the catalogs, the case is lockable as shown, and the drivers can be inverted and hung tip up from the bottom shelf, allowing easier access.


And in the maybe not vintage set, I scored a group of Craftsman metric drivers at a Garage Sale, after I scored the other 2 at auctions. This set was spread out over 2 boxes in someone else's haphazard system, and I was running late for a Dr appt, so I hoped I got them all.
I have not found these in a catalog yet, to determine if these were listed as a numbered set, or just solos. Running from 5 mm to 11 mm. I want to build a storage rack similar to the XceLite above to hold these, and possible extras I might find. These are -H- marked, which the list says Danaher Holochrome 1994 - 2011, so possibly vintage. I've found several listings for 7 piece sets, so this might be all there is.

 

[Skyman]

Here's my set of Xcelite nut drivers, which seems to have a few empty pockets.

 

[d42jeep]

That’s a very nice roll. Mine isn’t that fresh looking.
-Don

 

[Skyman]

I did some cleaning up on it, but it wasn't terribly grimy. My set seems to be missing the 9/32 and 5/16 drivers, and possibly a couple of screwdrivers, or maybe an extension or adapter to the right of the handle?

 

[Skyman]

Here's a set I bought decades ago at Price Club. They're Taiwanese made, with nice length on the shafts. Pretty good quality.

 

[d42jeep]

I did some cleaning up on it, but it wasn't terribly grimy. My set seems to be missing the 9/32 and 5/16 drivers, and possibly a couple of screwdrivers, or maybe an extension or adapter to the right of the handle?

Probably screwdrivers. I likely researched the set before putting mine together.
If you have trouble finding your missing nutdriver pieces, you can simply remove the handles from conventional nutdrivers since the blades are the same.
-Don

 

[Skyman]

Good to know! Thanks for mentioning that. It makes sense from the perspective of cost of sales.