What's up with this Snap On driver?

[whyNick?]

I recently got a new 1/4 nut driver through a warranty claim with Snap On. The new driver (p/n NDD108AR) has a red sleeve over the metal shaft. The sleeve is very soft and thin, it almost feels like vinyl. It fits the shaft very loosely and doesn't cover the socket so I don't believe it's intended as insulation for electrical work. The Snap On website doesn't shed any light on what this sleeve is supposed to do. Any ideas?

You can see the sleeve in the pic on the website:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=634201&group_ID=675111

 

[bobcatdan]

I think it is just part of the color coding system and nothing else. If it is loose, I'd probably be annoyed and cut it off.

 

[redwrench60]

I agree, it is part or the color coding system.

 

[GPark]

I find the loose cover useful...I hold that part in my fingers in one hand and spin the nut driver quickly with my other. I reckon it's there's for that reason as well as easily distinguishing it between other nut drivers.

 

[kiatech]

Cut it off and get some shrink tubing of your choice and put it?

 

[Flivver250]

Nut driver foreskin.

 

[rsanter]

Leave it
Dab some super glue so it can get between the sleeve and shaft if you don't like it moving

Bob

 

[larry_g]

I would make a guess that it is heat shrink material that did not get shrunk properly. Try to warm it a bit with a heat gun and see if it will shrink tight.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jbullfrog]

Snappy nut drivers have been that way for at least 20 years, as I have a set from college that way.

 

[spacedoutbob]

My Snap On Nut Driver sets are the same, they are at least 35 years old. Both in SAE and Metric.

Bob

 

[whyNick?]

Thanks everybody for the answers.

I guess I've never used a SO nut driver before, the item I warranteed was a specialized driver that SO no longer makes so they sent me a 1/4 nut driver and a 1/4 bit. I was satisfied with the exchange as the nut driver is more useful to me than the specialized driver was.

The sleeve is really loose on my driver to the point that it wrinkles and twists if I try to spin the shaft with my fingers. I hit it with a heat gun and it just got softer so I'll probably cut it off.

I've seen several discussions on here about SO's warranty. I bought some SO tools back in the 90s when I worked in a shop. Recently I dug out several drivers with damaged tips and some other misc items that I'd broken years ago. I'd never bothered to submit a warranty claim and I don't have access to a truck anymore so I emailed SO with my part numbers and asked what they could do for me. I had a response within a few hours and new tools in my hands within the week, no questions asked. Kudos to Snap On, that's customer service!

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Mine too. Just think snap on believes they are pretty this way. The metrics have the same but are all black.

 

[whyNick?]

Mine too. Just think snap on believes they are pretty this way. The metrics have the same but are all black.

Yup, mine looks just like the red one on the left. It is a pretty red color to be sure .

How do you like the hard handled screwdrivers? I broke one of my old screwdrivers which had a square handle like your nut drivers and they replaced it with one like your green screwdrivers. On first inspection I don't care for it much at all, the old handles seemed to fit my hand better and they were easy to turn quickly. The new one seems clunky to me but I expect I'll get used to it.

 

[Skin]

The color coding is actually required for use in electrical fields. They're standard colors across many brands. Since metric isn't really used it has no requirement, at least that I know of.

 

[whyNick?]

The color coding is actually required for use in electrical fields. They're standard colors across many brands. Since metric isn't really used it has no requirement, at least that I know of.

I had no idea, I always wondered why my old set of Xcelite nut drivers was all different colors, now I know. Now to memorize which color is which size...

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Yup, mine looks just like the red one on the left. It is a pretty red color to be sure .

How do you like the hard handled screwdrivers? I broke one of my old screwdrivers which had a square handle like your nut drivers and they replaced it with one like your green screwdrivers. On first inspection I don't care for it much at all, the old handles seemed to fit my hand better and they were easy to turn quickly. The new one seems clunky to me but I expect I'll get used to it.

I have the soft and hard handles in regular sets and the soft in the long cabinet screwdrivers. The soft ones are a PIA to clean. The hards are easier. Aside from that I love the instinct handles. They fit my hand perfectly. I have a matco set that I really don't care for. I use them for beating. The handle reminds me of a pornstars dong and is too big for my little hands.

 

[whyNick?]

I have some SO, MAC, and Hazet drivers and about a zillion Craftsmans. To be honest, ever since I bought my Pittsburgh Pros the others haven't been out of their drawer. Not only do I really like the HF drivers, if I lose one I'm only out a buck.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

How do you like the hard handled screwdrivers? I broke one of my old screwdrivers which had a square handle like your nut drivers and they replaced it with one like your green screwdrivers. On first inspection I don't care for it much at all, the old handles seemed to fit my hand better and they were easy to turn quickly. The new one seems clunky to me but I expect I'll get used to it.

If for some reason you'd rather have a matching hard handle over the soft grip, look into the Williams USA screwdrivers by Snap-On. They are the same screwdrivers as the old Snappys, just with a Williams logo stamped in.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I have some SO, MAC, and Hazet drivers and about a zillion Craftsmans. To be honest, ever since I bought my Pittsburgh Pros the others haven't been out of their drawer. Not only do I really like the HF drivers, if I lose one I'm only out a buck.

I put together a fairly large craftsman top box that I keep in the back of my truck. Since it is a pickup truck I was concerned about putting lots of high value stuff in it. Long story short I have the Pittsburg pros in that box. I have used a couple of them so far and can't complain. They are similar to the instinct handles that I like so much.

 

[CWP1616L]

I agree, it is part or the color coding system.

Then how do you explain the metric sleeves that are all black?

 

[4xdog]

I always assumed (a risky thing to do, I know...) that the sleeves were on nut drivers so they'd be instantly recognized as *not* a screwdriver...

 

[cheechi]

I have used some nut drivers with a rigid, stiff sleeve. It was there so you can hold it and twist the driver quickly. At first I thought that's what you were describing until you tried to heat it up.

 

[Fordman7795]

I find the loose cover useful...I hold that part in my fingers in one hand and spin the nut driver quickly with my other. I reckon it's there's for that reason as well as easily distinguishing it between other nut drivers.

This is the reason

 

[Vvmvbb]

Electrical insulation?

 

[RaptorDuner]

My dad has a metric Craftsman set that's about 15 yo and it is gray plastic but is color coded.