---
title: "What Are Nut Drivers and Nut Setters Used For?"
description: "Nut Drivers and Nut Setters (Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized)) are used for installing, adjusting or servicing the assembly rather than…"
url: https://engineeringhardware.com/applications/nut-drivers/
source: Engineering Hardware & Fasteners
---

# What Are Nut Drivers and Nut Setters Used For?

Tools · Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized) · Application guide

Typical applications, the industries that specify nut drivers and nut setters, and how to choose the right size, material and finish for the joint.

Nut Drivers and Nut Setters are used for installing, adjusting or servicing the assembly rather than forming part of it. They are manufactured to Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized), and selection is driven by the nominal size, the fit and tolerance the assembly requires, and the service environment.

- **Primary duty:** Installing, adjusting or servicing the assembly rather than forming part of it
- **Governing standard:** Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized)
- **Nominal size range:** 5.5 mm to 17 mm
- **Category:** Tools

Application notes are general engineering guidance. Verify the property class and any approval requirement against your own design calculation.

![What Are Nut Drivers and Nut Setters Used For? application image](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Nut-Drivers.webp)

Nut Drivers and Nut Setters (Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized)) are specified where the joint requires installing, adjusting or servicing the assembly rather than forming part of it. The sections below cover the typical end-uses by industry, the size and material decisions for each, assembly practice, and the applications this fastener type is not suited to. Stocked across roughly 5.5 mm to 17 mm, they cover general to heavy-duty work.

## Typical Applications for Nut Drivers and Nut Setters

The most common settings where these are specified:

- **General machine building:** fastening covers, brackets, motors and sub-assemblies on production equipment.
- **Maintenance & repair (MRO):** a stocked size for servicing existing plant where the original fastener spec must be matched.
- **Fabrication & metalwork:** bench and on-site assembly of steel frames, enclosures and weldments.

Product catalog

## Related Nut Drivers products

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[View all Hex & Other Standard Nuts →](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener-products/nuts/hex-other-standard-nuts/) [Full product catalog](https://engineeringhardware.com/products/)

## How to Specify Nut Drivers and Nut Setters for Your Application

- **Size:** Select on nominal size, and confirm it against the mating feature in the assembly. This product spans 5.5 mm–17 mm; check the full table below for the exact dimensions of each size.
- **Material:** Choose the material and finish for the service environment — plated steel for general use, stainless for corrosion resistance.
- **Environment:** For damp, coastal or chemical exposure prefer A4/316 stainless or a suitable coating; indoors, plated steel or A2 is usually sufficient.
- **Standard:** This product is supplied to Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized). Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions between suppliers.

## Where Nut Drivers and Nut Setters Are Not the Right Choice

Match the fastener to the load, environment and whether the joint must be reopened; the wrong class or style is the usual cause of joint failure.

Custom manufacturing · Made to drawing

## Need a nut drivers and nut setters outside the standard range?

A non-standard fastener tool is quoted from the drawing; where one already exists in the catalog, the special is usually a variation on its tooling.

Minimum order from 2,000 pieces; samples within 7 days of drawing approval.

[Custom fastener tool manufacturing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/tools/)[Send a drawing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/tools/#rfq)

## Technical Drawing

Dimensioned line drawing of 5.5 mm Nut Drivers and Nut Setters to Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized). Side view and top view, drawn to the dimensions in the table below and redrawn for any size selected.

- **Fits:** M3 hex nut
- **Form:** nut driver / nut setter
- **Typical use:** electronics, sheet metal

## Dimensions & Specifications (Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized))

| Across flats | Fits | Form | Typical use |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5.5 mm | M3 hex nut | nut driver / nut setter | electronics, sheet metal |
| 7 mm | M4 hex nut | nut driver / nut setter | sheet metal, control panels |
| 8 mm | M5 hex nut, ST4.2 hex-head screw | magnetic nut setter | self-drilling screws |
| 10 mm | M6 hex nut, ST5.5 hex-head screw | magnetic nut setter | roofing and cladding screws |
| 13 mm | M8 hex nut, ST6.3 hex-head screw | magnetic nut setter | roofing, purlin fixing |
| 17 mm | M10 hex nut | nut driver | general assembly |

Inside the plant

## Manufactured in our own plant

This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided.

1. ![Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/09-wire-rod-feed-cold-heading-machine.webp) 01 **Cold heading** Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail. Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift.
2. ![Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03-thread-rolling-machine-bolt-production.webp) 02 **Thread rolling** Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch. Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g.
3. ![Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/05-heat-treatment-baskets-black-bolts.webp) 03 **Heat treatment** Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it. Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1.
4. ![Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/23-zinc-plated-bolts-treatment-basket.webp) 04 **Surface treatment** Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list. Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are Nut Drivers and Nut Setters used for?

Installing, adjusting or servicing the assembly rather than forming part of it. They are supplied to Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized).

### Which industries use Nut Drivers and Nut Setters?

They are commonly specified in general machine building, maintenance & repair (mro) and fabrication & metalwork, among other sectors.

### How do I choose the right size of Nut Drivers and Nut Setters?

Select on nominal size and on the fit the assembly requires. This product is available from 5.5 mm to 17 mm; the full dimension table on this page lists each size.

### Are Nut Drivers and Nut Setters made to a recognized standard?

Yes — they are manufactured to Trade series (hexagon nut drivers, across-flats sized), so dimensions are interchangeable between suppliers when you quote the standard on your order.

### Can I get a quote for Nut Drivers and Nut Setters in the size and material I need?

Yes. Use the technical drawing and quote form on this page to set the size and options, then send the exact configuration to our team for pricing and lead time.

## Related Pages

Product page: [Nut Drivers and Nut Setters — specifications & sizes](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener/nut-drivers/)

### Nut Drivers and Nut Setters Specification Guides

### Related Fastener Applications