1/4 Inch Nut Driver

These are nut drivers for 1/4 inch square drive sockets. I made the one on the left after one like the driver shown on the right fell down into something where I cannot find or reach it. At the present socket drivers are for hex bits and fixtures, but that is not what I want. I know there is a hex to square adapter, but that is not what I want, either.*

*After posting this, I was in a larger Lowe’s Home Improvement store. The tool department did have a nut driver like I made. I had looked on-line, and found none in any of the stores selling tools, not even eBay. This was still a fun project, and it could be adapted to make a different type of tool.

Materials

• Red oak 1 1/4 inch square
• 6 inch extension for 1/4 inch sockets
• 1/4 x 1/4 inch square steel stock
• 1/8 x 3/4 inch steel flat bar
• 1/8 inch steel rod

Tools

• Table saw
• Lathe
• Drill press
• Handheld electric drill
• Tailstock chuck for concentric drilling
• Handsaw
• Files
• Welder

I ripped 2 x 2 inch oak stock to 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 inch stock and cut it to length just a little longer than my hand. Then I chucked it in a lathe to make a handle shaped like a cylinder. I made it rather plain. Embellish according to your own desires. I used a file and sandpaper to smooth my turning. The concentric hole is 21/64 inch in diameter. That is just large enough to pass the socket extension. Note: If the handle piece is no longer than the drill bit when chucked, it is easy to drill a concentric hole that passes all of the way through the handle.

A short piece of 1/4 x 1/4 inch steel stock will slide into the female end of the socket extension to keep the socket extension from turning freely. I welded it to a piece of 1/8 x 3/4 inch flat bar. In preparation for welding, I used a shim to place the 1/8 inch stock so it is centered vertically on the 1/4 x 1/4 inch stock. The 1/8 inch stock is centered along its length on the 1/4 x 1/4 inch stock. The 1/8 inch stock is just a little longer than the diameter of the oak handle.

Slip the square steel stock into the female end of the socket extension. Place the assembly over the handle for marking. I need a second concentric opening just large enough to pass the female end of the socket extension. I determined the hole needed to be 31/64 inch in diameter. I held an electric drill by hand, and that worked well enough. I wanted a hole 1 7/8 inch deep. Unfortunately, the drill grabs easily and my hole came to be 2 inches deep. I could dismantle the driver and add a shim in front of the bell expansion on the socket extension or female end.

Place the welded section and the socket extension into the concentric hole from the larger diameter end. Mark alongside the 1/8 inch steel stock. Use a handsaw with a fairly fine blade to make a slot on each side of the handle to fit the 1/8 inch stock. In the second photo I am driving the handle onto the 1/8 inch stock to shave excess material. Use a file, too, to avoid splitting the handle. See the third photo to understand how it is supposed to fit.

I drilled a hole and used a 1/8 inch rod to lock the assembly in the handle.

I used a grinder to remove excess steel on both sides of the handle. Then I finished it for a nice smooth fit with a fine steel file. The second photo shows the finished driver. I want to rub the oak with motor oil for a finish.