[sdiy] non-marring nut drivers?

[Steve Lenham]

> I'm having trouble finding non-marring (ie plastic or plastic-coated) nut 
> drivers to prevent scratching of panels. My new Euro panels are using 
> MetalPhoto process which in turn uses pure aluminum panels which are 
> "soft".
>
> The usual Google is failing me...... Specifically need 1/4" and whatever 
> is on the Cliff jacks.
>
> Paul S.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this yet, but if you simply pack out the 
bore of the nut driver (using a piece of tubing or a few nuts with their 
holes enlarged) until slightly less than the thickness of one nut remains, 
you can proceed with confidence because the end of the driver will never 
touch the panel.

I worked for a company manufacturing broadcast mixers and we used this 
technique for everything from M2.5 nuts up to Switchcraft jack nuts and 
retaining nuts for front panel pots.

HTH,

Steve L.