Favorite nut tool

Fehim Hasecic wrote:

This. I’ve seen a guy use it on multipitch and brag about how cheap it was. Just need to drill a hole to attach it

My first nut pick was made from one of those  I made the hook much deeper and put several lightening holes in it. It lasted me close to 40 years. Sadly, those brackets are made out of aluminum these days so the heft and stiffness just isn't there.

anotherclimber wrote:

Thanks for mentioning the Climbing Technology nut tool. I wasn't aware of that one.

http://www.climbingtechnology.com/en/outdoor-en/anchors/mobile-anchors/nuts-tool

It looks really interesting, but you are absolutely right that it needs a wide pommel on the back. I note that it has by default the pointy end that Patrik likes to have on his for getting out micro nuts. 

About the hook end: Are you saying you insert it through the hollow part of the nut, hook the back and top side and push upwards to twist the nut out? Have you found this to wear the nut a bit more than usual since it is not being removed the way it went in?

I mean this. With a hook like that you can hook and pry, lift the whole nut right out

Larry S wrote:

I mean this. With a hook like that you can hook and pry, lift the whole nut right out

Thank you for the clarification Larry. That's actually pretty neat.

I use a two-dollar screwdriver from home depot.  kept losing my "real" nut tools, so decided to minimize my losses.  drill a hole in the plastic handle for a cord loop to clip.  file a hook into one side of the end so it doubles as a v-thread tool.  shaft is rigid, handle is easy on the hand, end is skinny enough for the smallest micro-nuts, and I can buy eight of these for the price of a "real" nut tool.

Noticed some of the tools mentioned have a round eyelet at the hook end. Anyone connecting their leash at the hook end of the tool?

Any new, amazing, cover-all-scenarios nut tools since 2018?

Racechinees .wrote:

I think I have an old DMM one, which has double hooks on one side; perfect for pulling the trigger on cams that are a bit too deep. Don't know the name and can;t seem to find it on there website anymore.

Sounds like the DMM Nutter

Mike Twrote:

Noticed some of the tools mentioned have a round eyelet at the hook end. Anyone connecting their leash at the hook end of the tool?

Any new, amazing, cover-all-scenarios nut tools since 2018?

I like the hook end to be very thin so that it can get into tight spaces.

mbkwrote:

I like the hook end to be very thin so that it can get into tight spaces.

File it down thinner at the "business end" and you can even booty some tiny brassies that you can't reach with a standard tool.

hikingdrewwrote:

Any tool with a hook end for prying out the bigger nuts and hexes. Steel is heavier but will last longer than aluminum if you do a lot of gardening..

Here's my Metolius Feather after 2 seasons with some aggressive gardening on a few pitches and a bit more use while cleaning one pitch. It was getting sharp enough to be dangerous so I bought a new one and won't use it on route development -- from here on out only steel for real cleaning.

Fun thread revival!  Here are some photos and brazen opinions:

-With all these newfangled cams and rap-bolt thingies, I use a nut tool for cleaning very infrequently any more.

-Keeper leashes, integrated biners, and that WC 3D trigger bar grabber all create tangles and clusterf.s.  Try separating your #4 from the keeper leash while clawing through that flare....YMMV

- The 2 middle tools have a short webbing loop girth hitched to the back end.  It stays clipped at the back of a gear loop.  When needed for cleaning, clip it to the rope you are following on, do the job, return nut tool to gear loop.  Preclip it to your rope if you have a pumpy nut removal coming up.  Use the racking biner to build your gear anchor if short on clips.

-Nut tools are good for cleaning munge out of placements on lead, and some will tighten bolt nuts.  The Metolius on the bottom works, but only about 1/16 of a rotation on a Fixe hanger.  That built-in biner makes the tool poke ya when clipped on the harness.

-The top tool is a WC Nut Key from the 80s.  GIirth hitching a an old 60cm sling to the tool works great for route preparation.  It used to have a full hook and a trigger bar hole.  Plenty of life left!

I’m a fan of the DMM nut buster myself. The rubber is easier on the palm when whacking a nut out. 

Nick Hahawrote:

With so many brands to choose from, which nut tool brand do you prefer?

I'm not sure they make them anymore but I love my Grivel nut tool. 

This is less than half of my nut tool crap. I've found that the Wild Country with the springy leash, is my prefered tool. Regardless of my preference, remember that when you clip it off the point is always directed out, not in.  

Billcoewrote:

This is less than half of my nut tool crap. I've found that the Wild Country with the springy leash, is my prefered tool. Regardless of my preference, remember that when you clip it off the point is always directed out, not in.  

The connoisseurs choice. 

Adam Francowrote:

Here's my Metolius Feather after 2 seasons with some aggressive gardening on a few pitches and a bit more use while cleaning one pitch. It was getting sharp enough to be dangerous so I bought a new one and won't use it on route development -- from here on out only steel for real cleaning.

This is my situation as well. I go through at least 2 tools a year and buy only the cheapest (which are usually also the most durable) tools I can find.

The USHBA titanium tool is great. Silly that it's made of Ti (would prefer a steel version for price ang longevity) but the shape is great. I had a WC pro key (not a fan) and still have a BD wiregate that I use regularly, but the shape and length of the USHBA is awesome. Not necessarily worth finding for the price they tend to go for, but I've liked mine a lot.