Recommend T handle metric key set

Agrees, a lot of cheap toffee screws around mainly from China. The bolt that camps my vice was Chineese and the threads stripped within 1 month

"Buy Cheap Buy Twice" I should know better

The original Allen keys used to have some form of guarantee eg they would always twist (deform) by half a turn before they finally failed. They don't seem to claim that nowadays. here is a company that claims to be the original Allen company but I wouldn't be surprised to discover that the name was bought by a trading company and is badged onto Far Eastern products, as is the fashion these days. With a token production site in the US obviously, so they can claim "made in USA" etc.

I've got a set of Wiha ball-ended hex screwdrivers, actually bought individually. I think these are mid-range in terms of quality. Forget where I bought them. If you get the "screwdriver" style, they might as well be ball ended, as you are limited in the torque you can apply.

Big selection of hex drivers at Screwfix including Bahco (Sandvik), Teng Tools etc. I need a set of the tee handled ones. These often have a ball on the "long" end and a straight hex on the "short end".

Murray

The good thing about the Bondhus T handle hex keys are that they have proper welded T handles unlike some other brands. The T handle is also heavy enough to provide a flywheel effect enabling you to “spin” fasteners in quickly.

**LINK**

The ball ended ones are great on machines with limited access to lock screws etc.

Somewhere I picked up the idea that Allen keys were sized to apply the correct torque to a screw by hand. Basically you tighten up quickly with the short end and then, switching to the long end as handle, push the end of the key until it just bends. Seems to work for me and avoids stripping threads. If undoing requires more force I use a socket set.

An ex-Army colleague is convinced that you should extend spanners with a length of pipe, give them a good hard pull and then hit the end with a big hammer. Although he's a big bloke, he thinks bolt heads shear and threads strip because the steel is 'cheap'. He can't remember who told him to hammer on an extender.

Is there any sense in my Allen key idea, or in my friend's gorilla approach, or are we both daft?

Dave

I prefer " proper" hex keys, ie. one long one short side. Set for imperial and one for metric, not a lot of money for decent quality. I also have a set of hex keys for a 1/4" socket set which do all the heavy stuff. What make ? can't remember, but never had a breakage.

I managed to find a set on Amazon for a good price, granted I will have to wait but in no hurry - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00012Y38M/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2KVF7QXNCLV8H

Edited By petro1head on 01/02/2018 14:11:13

Mr. S Duffer,

ur friend prob didn’t have to pay for the damage he left behind.....

I have some well used flogging spanner’s tho......hahaha......clogs

No suggestions for a source of 'allen screwdrivers'?

I can only find sets that take the little inserts.

I have one that I filed up myself from a tired screwdriver for M6 screws, but I would really like a decent set.

P.S. Dave - I have always understood that screwdrivers and allen keys are usually sized so that single-handed an average person will find it hard to over-tighten a fixing. Increasingly I find myself using the short part only to nip up allen screws. I have some (expensive) double length M6 ones that are much harder to loose (they are also silver) but I use them very gently.

The Amazon listing states :-

Manufacturer warranty will not apply. Please check Amazon’s return policy, which usually offers free returns within 30 days of receipt.

Interesting to note Bondhus warranty only applies to the US ?

That's because it's an American firm, and thus they do most of their business there, and they probably think the cost of shipping new keys would be too costly for them.

Michael W

Just bought my Bondhus hex keys and just checked supplier and clearly states a lifetime warranty applies.

Somewhat puzzled why Amazon state -- Manufacturer warranty will not apply ?

I bought from an authorised UK Bondhus supplier.

Please tell me if I am getting confused on this but as i understand if you buy direct from US via Amazon then no warranty but buy in UK from their authorised supplier and you get the lifetime warranty ?

Edited By Billy Bean on 01/02/2018 17:29:53

Edited By Billy Bean on 01/02/2018 17:33:04

Edited By Michael Briggs on 01/02/2018 17:51:37

If you buy in the UK as a retail customer from a trade shop (ie not from a mate or in the pub car park or a boot sale) you have a range of rights under Sale of goods legislation. Merchantable quality, meets description, and fit for purpose required (if you remember to say, with a witness). I am not sure what cover you get if you buy in the UK from a foreign shop, but I'm sure someone can remind us ... ?

Tim

Wera make hex drivers from small instrument sizes to at least 10mm. Very good quality but you pay for it.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 01/02/2018 18:15:24

Stahlwille, Beta, Wiha, Wera all superb makes. Spendy but superb none the less.

RS, Farnell and CPC do Wera (green and black handles), in sizes from circa 1mm to 10mm. RS & Farnell do Wiha (red and black handles) maybe in the same range but certainly from 3mm upwards

Once you have a part number you might find them discounted on Ebay

Proper manufacturing in Germany doesn't come cheap though

www.rswww.com

uk.farnell.com

cpc.farnell.com

I'm pretty sure I got my Wiha brand drivers from CPC individually but I see Axeminster do a Proxxon set.

Murray

Note - CPC and Farnell are sister companies but usually CPC stuff is often / usually a fair bit cheaper. That's borne out when you compare the price of the same tools from the link above to those from Farnell.

Edited By Muzzer on 01/02/2018 18:47:42

Did you not see my link earlier? Or are you after plain hex rather than ballended?