Over at Sears, this Craftsman 12pc nut driver set is on sale for $20. This sale comes around every so often, and is a good recommendation each time.
I bought my set almost three years ago, and it was also during Sears’ holiday sale. If I didn’t already have a set, I’d buy these now. I have since also added a set of Wera nut drivers, as I find the handle style more comfortable, but I paid more than $20 for just a 7-piece fractional set.
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These nut drivers have hard plastic handles and hollow shafts that make it possible to access nuts on longer fasteners.
They should still be made in the USA, as shown in the photo, but with Sears these days nothing is guaranteed,
This set comes with 6 fractional nut drivers in sizes 1/4, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16 and 1/2 inch, and 6 metric nut drivers in sizes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 mm. Each nut driver is color coded and stamped with its size.
The set also comes with a zippered case that has elastic loops for each driver.
In regard to value, this set costs a little less much as 3 individual drivers, at the current $20 sale price. When I bought the set, it was because I needed 5/16″, 11/32″, 3/8″, and 7/16″ sizes. Even with a coupon, those drivers would have cost more than the $20 for this 12-piece set. I have only used the metric drivers a couple of times, but even just a fractional set of these drivers are priced over $20.
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Not everyone needs nut drivers, or can even think of a time when they would be handy. But, if you were thinking of buying a set, and have a modest budget, this is a fantastic bargain.
If you are looking for nut drivers to use on a frequent basis, other brands have drivers with more comfortable handles. These handles aren’t bad, but don’t expect premium comfort-grip handles for the price. On a positive note, these handles are easy to clean.
Buy Now(via Sears)
NCD
I bought both the metric and sae sets probably 25 years ago, still have and use them regularly. Well worth the money IMO.
adam
I picked up a set of Kobalt nut drivers which are quite nice. They are fractional / metric combos so you only end up having half as many to carry. These also accept a socket wrench in the handle which is a nice feature, as well as having hollow shafts.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_149279-22328-87050_0__?productId=50076739
Jim Felt
I guess this price point begs the question of whether these sets are U.S. sourced or the “new” enfeebled Sears’ Chinese own knock off of Craftsman?
Anyone know before I buy these as Christmas gifts?
Thanks in advance.
typhoon
The nutdrivers are still made in USA. The case is made in China.
They’re not the best nutdrivers—aside from the basic handles, they have only partially drilled out rather than fully hollow shafts. But for $20, made in USA, SAE and metric, all color-coded and with a convenient case, you can’t go wrong with them.
Shurre
Glad to know the nut drivers are American made. Wish this didn’t come with that imported case. Oh well, that can always be thrown away.
Thank you for the information.
Allen
Look to be the same ones I bought 25 or more years ago. I keep them on the wall and use them a fair amount. I don’t think the handles would take much banging around in a tool box, but I have no complaints.
firefly
What are the advantage of a nut driver set over a standard socket set? IMO a simple socket set is much more compact and easier to replace…
Allen
When placed above the workbench you just grab the one you need, no bother getting out a socket and ratchet.
In a tool kit, not much use if you already have a small socket set in the bag.
Electricians and plumbers will carry two, seems they always just need two.
These are purchased after a good 1/4 socket set.
Chris Pyfer
I carry a 7/16″ and a 1/2″ nutdriver for plumbing work. There is no better tool for toilet assembly and setting. Quick, plenty of clearance and an often overlooked feature is that you would have to be pretty hamfisted to over torque a nut in most applications. You get a good feel for tightness with these tools.
Wayne Ruffner
I prefer drivers for work where a driver is appropriate – the single unit construction makes me more confident that I’ll still have that tool the next time I need it, and picking up “a” driver is quicker than assembling one.
But when I pick up my tool kit and it’s got a full set of Metric, Torx, Screw and Fractional drivers, I think that maybe I should figure out something else.
fred
Nut drivers are just handy.
We had 10 or so Bosch jobsite table saws (4100DG09) and probably the same number of their miter saws (GCM12SD) that used cap screws and nuts to affix auxiliary fences. We kept a 7/16 nut driver with each saw to facilitate putting the fences on and taking them off – so we probably had something like 20 Klein 630-7/6 nut drivers just for this purpose.
Stuart
I use them more for electronics work than anything I would use a ratchet and socket for. There is potential for overlap, but nut drivers are a lot easier for working with machine screws, component hardware such as switches, and longer fasteners. It’s often easier to take a nut driver to a nut on a long bolt or stud than a deep socket and an extension.
Jerry
A couple more advantages;
Nut drivers with a hollow shaft work where shallow sockets won’t work, yet the hex portion is shallow, so if you are ‘starting’ a nut, it is held at or near the end, rather than falling to the bottom of a socket, out of reach of the bolt threads.
Electricians love them for connectors that use a nut to hold the wires in place
rshadd
I have both imperial and metric sets that I bought 20 some years ago. They’ve served me well over the years. My only complaint is that the white markings on the handles have worn off and are now difficult to read.
SteveR
After reading the review, I was tempted to ask, “Does anyone even use these anymore?”. In many ways, they’ve been pushed aside by the ratchet and socket for general use. I haven’t used a nut driver in quite some time, but was going to say they’re really handy for an electrician/lineman to use on those bolts and nuts he sees frequently, rather than carrying a ratchet and socket set. The advantage they have is when you’re working with long screws where you’re trying to remove a threaded nut and need the hollow shaft to fit over it.
I have plain socket drivers, which have a screwdriver handle and 1/4″ or 3/8″ drive head/shaft on them. The 1/4″ also has a locking mechanism to retain the socket. But, depending on the screw length, I may need to use a deep socket rather than a standard-depth socket. Nut drivers have their place and are better at certain jobs than a ratchet and socket. The one drawback is that you can’t exert as much force with one as you can with a ratchet, so they’re most usable in dealing with nuts, bolts and fasteners up to about 7/16″. The only improvements you could ask for would be (1) to have a comfort (two-component) handle on them, and (2) to have a hex bolster up near the handle so that you could put a wrench on it to help twist off a stubborn fastener. Those would raise the price quite a bit, though.
It’s like everything else, however: It’s whatever that works for you in a given situation that matters.
Eric Hamilton
I carry a full set of SAE nut drivers in my tool bag, of which the 1/4″ and 5/16″ are in my tool belt at all times. I also have a socket set. As someone stated above, each one has it’s place in the field. Torque specific applications obviously require a socket and ratchet, but assembling or disassembling certain things, such as a condensing unit or air handler, nut drivers are ideal. Nut drivers also come in different varieties, such as longer shafts and magnetic tips, which are invaluable in certain applications. I also have an insulated 5/16″ driver that I use for changing out breakers in energized panels.
pencil neck
Just picked up a set, sitting in the car now. USA made tools and a bargain at $20. Side note, they are starting to put USA made screw driver sets on sale. $5 off most kits. I bet prices will get better in the next few weeks.
Was nice to still find USA tools in there. Pliers too.
Mike
Are they honoring the price in the stores, or do you have to order online first?
Stuart
You should be able to buy it for the same sale price online and in stores. If for some reason they have a different price in stores, they should be able to do an instant pricematch.
Brandon
I went into a Sears “Hometown Store” on Tuesday, Nov 25 to purchase a set of these. I already knew they were in stock from the Sears website. When I got to the store, the sales associate knew exactly which set I was describing (“the $20 nut driver set in a carrying case”) and located them quickly. When she rang them up, she asked me how much I had said the price was. When I told her again, she said, “That’s odd. They’re coming up as $24.99.” Then she said “I can place the order online for you and have them shipped to your house at no extra charge.” I asked her if I could just get the online price, and she said that she couldn’t do that. So I let her place the order online, and paid the online price. The set arrived UPS at my house the next day, shipped from a distribution center in the same state I live in. The whole experience was mystifying.
Mike
Your experience is exactly why I wanted to hear from someone who had physically purchased one from the store before I headed over to Sears. They do that kind of thing quite a lot. The Hometown stores are franchises and don’t always follow the Sears pricing, but the Sears stores sometimes do it as well.
Gary T.
They have these for sale at my local Sears for the $20 price.
Allen
After we get done singing their praises what are the chances they are clearing them out for an updated import ?
Are these Pratt-Read ?
fred
No
From the UPC – and confirmed on the K-Mart site – the OEM is Easco Hand Tools (the OEM for many old Danaher – K-D tools)
Stuart
I’d say the chances are the same as 3 years ago when I bought the same set for the same price.
Coach James
I bought this same set ~12 years ago and use them often. The 5./16 gets used the most but all of them see use. They have held up fine. A thicker handle would be a bit more comfortable to me, but these do what I need them to.
huuh
11 mm? Has anybody ever seen this size used? Why would they include this instead of the very common 12 or 13 mm?
Brian14
I might consider getting these for that price.
At my local sears, in the clearance bin, a lone 11mm nut driver was marked down to 5 bucks….
Hang Fire
Local recent stock clearly says Made in China, not just the case. I’ve heard of many people getting the USA sets, not just on Toolguyd, so be sure and check for old stock.
Stuart
Are you certain? The last I saw, these were still USA made. I haven’t seen any other reports of them being made in China. If they are, then that really stinks.
Hang Fire
I’m sure. It clearly said Made in China on the packaging, otherwise I would have bought a set. There was no folder/tool distinction, just Made in China.
Mike
I bought a set today and looked for any made in China sets, didn’t see any. There were more than plenty to look through.
Wow, Sears is in trouble. At 6:00 PM today there were FOUR cars in the parking lot when I went in. Admittedly, this Sears is the only store open in a dead mall and it’s in a fairly dead retail zone. But it’s also the only full line Sears store within 25 miles. Four cars on the evening of Black Friday.
There were maybe half a dozen salespeople in the tool area. As I went in, they were grouped together chatting and blocking the main isle. They didn’t even look at me as I went around them. There were no other customers in the tool area and I still had to flag someone down when I wanted to check out. I also walked through the electronics area just to see what they had. There was one salesman in that area busy playing Angry Birds on a tablet. He didn’t look up as I went by, either.
I didn’t experience the people at the door asking about offers like mentioned in another post, in fact no employee paid me any attention at all until I was at a ‘register’ and literally standing on my toes and waving my arms at the group of employees.
I put ‘register’ in sarcastic quotes because each of the register stations now has a new sign clearly stating it’s an information terminal only and not a register.
It’s hard to believe Sears was once such a powerhouse retailer.
joe
I’ve never been enticed to buy a set of these even low priced. I would buy a set right away if they have magnetic tips though. I understand that in a magnetic nut driver, the nut would get stuck inside. That’s a challenge for the engineers. A simple push botton and spring could solve that issue. I’ll never go back to non-magnetic tips lol.
joe
Just to emphasize a little. If I’m working on an outside AC unit and I need to replace a capacitor which would require to remove some nut-head-screws that are deep in the crevices….using a non-magnetic driver, the screws/nuts would fall right out and I would then have to fish for them. I carry a small magnet in my pocket for such situations.
Another example is replacing ballast to ceiling florescent lights. Where I live, they are held with a small nut. Imagine being up in the ladder and the small nut falls of the tip and just rolls who knows where lol…what to do next? Use a wood/sheet rock/or any available screw at hand…or spend 15 minutes fishing for it.