DeWalt 5/16 in. Cleanable Nut Driver

A compact, impact-ready nut driver that earns its keep

I’ve been putting a 5/16-in. cleanable driver through weeks of HVAC coupling, metal framing, and general sheet-metal fastening, and it’s earned a regular spot in my impact driver kit. It’s a simple tool, but the details—magnet strength, corner geometry, and how it deals with metal shavings—make a real difference on the job. This one gets those details mostly right.

Build and design

• Size and form factor: It’s a single 5/16-in. driver on a 1/4-in. hex shank, about 2.9 in. long. That’s a sweet-spot length: enough reach to clear flange heads, insulation, and channel lips, but short enough to keep the balance tight on an impact driver.
• Impact-rated: It’s rated to 2000 in·lb, which is far beyond what a typical 1/4-in. impact driver will deliver. I ran it on a high-output impact driver and through an adapter on a compact 3/8-in. impact wrench without a hiccup.
• Recessed corners: The hex bore uses recessed corners to drive on the flats of the fastener, not the points. That’s more than marketing. It reduces burrs on plated hex heads and cuts down the confetti of metal shavings you’d otherwise get when the corners chew into the screw head.
• Magnet and cleanability: There’s a strong magnet in the bore with a cleanable cavity. The design lets you slide and wipe shavings out of the driver nose so it doesn’t become a steel-wool dispenser. I’ll talk more about how that plays out below.

Fit and finish are what I expect: no wobble on the shank, a snug hex bore, and a finish that resists scratching and light corrosion. After many trips in and out of steel studs and strut, the exterior shows normal scuffs but no flaking.

Performance in the field

My testing focused on jobs where a 5/16-in. driver is standard fare: self-drilling TEK screws into 16–20 gauge steel, HVAC straps and S-locks, and metal framing connections.

• Start and hold: The magnet is strong enough to hold fasteners horizontally and at slight upward angles, which is exactly what you want when you’re reaching into a return plenum or overhead channel. On longer screws with heavy washers, the hold weakens a bit—as you’d expect—but it was still workable with a steady hand.
• Engagement: The flat-driving geometry reduces chatter when you’re starting screws with one hand. I noticed less slippage on zinc-plated heads compared to generic drivers, especially once the head was partially burred from prior removals.
• Speed: With a compact impact driver, it ran fasteners confidently without ringing the head or skittering around on the first hit. I could feather the trigger and still get positive engagement.
• Access: The 2.9-in. length is versatile. It fit inside C-channel and across strut without the cup contacting surrounding surfaces too early, and it wasn’t so long that it compromised control in tight studs.

In short, it does what a good nut driver should: start fast, hold tight, and get out of the way.

Magnet and cleanability

Magnets are a double-edged sword on sheet-metal work. They hold the fastener, but they also collect every ferrous shaving you make. This driver’s cleanable feature is not a gimmick.

• Debris management: After a dozen self-drillers, the cavity had the usual furry halo. Sliding the collar forward and wiping cleared the shavings quickly. I didn’t have to dig with a pick to resurrect the magnet.
• Magnet strength post-cleaning: The magnet didn’t weaken or shift with repeated cleaning cycles. It still snapped onto fastener heads with authority after many rounds of wiping.
• Stainless and coated fasteners: As always, if the fastener isn’t ferrous (e.g., some stainless hardware), the magnet does nothing. The geometry still helps, but don’t expect the same overhead convenience in those cases.

The cleanable cavity kept productivity up. Less time picking shavings out means more time driving screws.

Durability and torque handling

I intentionally pushed this driver on a few jobs that border on silly for a 1/4-in. hex tool—like backing out old, paint-caked hex-head screws and spinning in self-drillers where a pilot would have been kinder.

• No bell-mouthing: The hex bore stayed crisp. Edges show normal polishing but no rounding. That’s the litmus test for a driver you’ll keep versus toss.
• Heat and finish: After some extended runs, the body warmed but never discolored or gave off that scorched smell you get from cheaper drivers. The exterior finish resisted rust despite a couple of damp site days—drying it at the end of the shift is still a good habit.
• Shank integrity: No twist or hairline cracks at the 1/4-in. shank. It locked into my impact collet without looseness and released cleanly.

The 2000 in·lb rating feels honest. In real-world use, it never hinted at failure.

Ergonomics and control

• Balance on tool: On a compact impact driver, the weight kept the nose planted without making the tool feel nose-heavy.
• Visibility: The cup length doesn’t obscure the head, so you can see engagement starting. For very recessed hex heads, the wall thickness may limit access; this isn’t a thin-wall specialty driver.
• Noise and feel: Impacts feel solid and damped—not the pinging rattle you sometimes get with brittle cups. That tactile confidence matters when you’re working fast.

Where it excels

• HVAC and sheet-metal work where metal shavings are constant and magnet cleanup matters.
• Overhead and awkward angles that benefit from a strong magnet and predictable engagement.
• Repetitive fastening, thanks to the flat-driving geometry that cuts down on burrs and cam-out.

Where it falls short

• Tight recesses or hardware requiring a thin-wall cup. If you routinely work in deeply recessed hex pockets, you’ll want a thin-wall variant.
• Non-ferrous fasteners. The magnet can’t help with stainless or certain coated heads; you’ll rely purely on geometry and technique.
• Single size. It’s a 5/16-in. only. That’s obvious, but worth noting if you expected a multi-size set or interchangeable sleeves.

Comparisons and alternatives

Compared with generic, non-cleanable nut drivers:
- The flat-driving corners produce noticeably fewer shavings and less head damage.
- The magnet is stronger and more consistent.
- The cleanable feature saves real time. If you’ve ever abandoned a magnet-clogged driver mid-day, you’ll appreciate this.

Compared with thin-wall drivers:
- This one is more durable for impact use and less prone to cracking, but it can’t reach every recessed nut a thin-wall can. Keep both if your work demands it.

Maintenance tips

• Clean the magnet cavity regularly. If you’re seeing wobble on start, it’s usually shavings, not wear.
• Don’t use it as a drift or pry bar; the shank is tough but not a chisel.
• Wipe it down after wet work. The finish resists corrosion, but water plus steel shavings is a recipe for rust.
• If you notice chips in the cup edge, retire it—sharp edges will scar fasteners faster.

Warranty and value

It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. That’s not a long warranty in tool terms, but for a consumable like a nut driver, it’s reasonable. In practice, longevity is the real measure, and this one has the durability to outlast budget drivers by a healthy margin.

Final recommendation

I recommend this 5/16-in. cleanable driver for anyone who does regular metal-to-metal fastening—HVAC techs, metal framers, and maintenance crews in particular. The flat-driving geometry protects fastener heads, the magnet is genuinely useful, and the cleanable design keeps it performing after a pile of self-drillers. It’s impact-ready and durable enough to shrug off daily abuse. If you need a thin-wall cup for recessed work or you mostly drive non-ferrous fasteners, supplement it with a specialty driver. For general metal fastening with an impact driver, this one is a reliable, efficient choice that earns its spot in the pouch.