What grinds my gears…

[Swerd]

Did you ever get plain fed up with some simple hand tools that you've had for many years? The other day, I got fed up with my assorted sets of Allen Wrenches, or to use the generic term, hex keys. I have two sets. One is a small set of 7 short Allen Wrenches (made by the Allen Manufacturing Co.). The other set, Sears Craftsman, has 11 longer hex keys. Both are old, dating back to the 1970s or 80s, when steel tools were made in the USA and lasted forever. They have the SAE size etched or stamped on them, I need bright light & a magnifier to see the size, but other than that, there’s nothing wrong with the keys themselves. It’s those clear plastic snap-top pouches they came in. Every time I had to use one, I had to dump out the entire contents to find the right size by trial & error.

Over the years, I occasionally bought some item that had Allen head set screws in it. Often, it came packaged with a single hex key to fit the screws. Rather than search through my collection, I used the supplied key. In fact, I rarely had to use one of the keys I actually had bought. Afterwards, I threw the free key in my bag of hex keys. That was a mistake – the free hex keys had no sizes marked on them. Over the years, the collection of unmarked hex keys grew, filling the pouch.

Now, it’s gotten very difficult to find the size I need. I have some door locks with a hex-head set screw that occasionally needs tightening. Those locksets came with a hex key to fit the screw. Of course, it was unmarked, so I never learned what size it needed, guessing it might be metric. On one door, I have to tighten the set screw once or twice a year. It’s become a real bother to find the right unmarked hex key. I tried marking it with masking tape, string, or twist ties. They all came off too easily. The other day, I marked it with my wife’s pink nail polish. I wonder how long that will last?

Finally I got fed up and ordered a new set of hex keys that come in holders that mark each key. SAE & metric, all for less than $20. Amazon offers lots of cheap Chinese-made hex key sets, probably all junk. But I finally found this, Bondhus, made in the USA.

Bondhus 20199 Balldriver L-Wrench DoublePK, 10999 1.5-10mm & 10937 0.050-3/8" - Hex Keys - Amazon.com

Bondhus 20199 Balldriver L-Wrench DoublePK, 10999 1.5-10mm & 10937 0.050-3/8" - Hex Keys - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[Trell]

I got fed up as well this winter with the old tools in my toolbox and donated much of it to a guy that does not have so much money. Then I bought new tools from Felo, Made in Germany. Now I have fewer tools but much better quality and better fit for purpose. They even sell Bondhus tools

Schraubendreher, Schraubenzieher, Bits und Zangen von Felo

Wir bieten das richtige Werkzeug für jeden Einsatz. In höchster Qualität, mit dem Maßstab an Ergonomie für den professionellen Einsatz.

www.felo.com

 

[Alex2507]

Both are old, dating back to the 1970s or 80s

Finally I got fed up

Nobody can say you rushed into this.

I've got the same bag of Craftsman Allens (two lengths for added redundancy) and of course the 57 odd assortment of 'this might come in handy' size. The balldriver language didn't go unnoticed either. I just didn't know what to do with it other than copy and paste but I'm a little jealous. The balldriver stuff is handy on automotive applications. I never stepped up to that level of tool finesse due to small need vs high expense (at the time).

So nice going on your new

Balldriver

 

[Swerd]

I got fed up as well this winter with the old tools in my toolbox and donated much of it to a guy that does not have so much money. Then I bought new tools from Felo, Made in Germany. Now I have fewer tools but much better quality and better fit for purpose. They even sell Bondhus tools

Schraubendreher, Schraubenzieher, Bits und Zangen von Felo

Wir bieten das richtige Werkzeug für jeden Einsatz. In höchster Qualität, mit dem Maßstab an Ergonomie für den professionellen Einsatz.

www.felo.com

I'm so very happy to see that Bondhus makes the grade for a German tool supplier. I looked at the Bondhus catalog, only to see color-coded hex keys. I may no longer be happy with my all black set .

@TLS Guy
I see that Bondhus is in Monticello, Minnesota.

 

[Swerd]

So nice going on your new

Balldriver

In English, "balldriver" sounds so unecessarily rude. However, "kugelkopf" sounds much more impressive badass.

 

[Pogre]

It’s those clear plastic snap-top pouches they came in. Every time I had to use one, I had to dump out the entire contents to find the right size by trial & error.

Omg. I just went through this 2 days ago tightening the Allen screw on my wife's rear view mirror in her car! Ended up just dumping the whole pouch and of course the little ones fell on the floor and went into the cracks in the seat cushions.

Need to get one of those little plastic holders with a hole for each wrench. Those are much better.

 

[Swerd]

Omg. I just went through this 2 days ago tightening the Allen screw on my wife's rear view mirror in her car! Ended up just dumping the whole pouch and of course the little ones fell on the floor and went into the cracks in the seat cushions.

Need to get one of those little plastic holders with a hole for each wrench. Those are much better.

Be sure to get a Balldriver set .

 

[ryanosaur]

This is just priceless.

 

[Trell]

I'm so very happy to see that Bondhus makes the grade for a German tool supplier. I looked at the Bondhus catalog, only to see color-coded hex keys. I may no longer be happy with my all black set .

@TLS Guy
I see that Bondhus is in Monticello, Minnesota.

View attachment 48312

Clearly an attempt to get small girls interested in tools. That pink hex key is a dead giveaway

 

[Mr._Clark]

In English, "balldriver" sounds so unecessarily rude. However, "kugelkopf" sounds much more impressive badass.
View attachment 48314

I have a similar set (by a different manufacturer). The only problem is that I lost one, and that one is inevitably the size I need. It's uncanny. I think the tool gods have banned me from hex key heaven.

 

[Alex2507]

that one is inevitably the size I need.

5/32 is to Allens what 10 mm is to sockets.

True fact.

 

[lovinthehd]

LOL I feel you on the Craftsmen hex/allen kits in the plastic bags, bought some of those and think they're still out there somewhere, but don't use them. I have tons of metric (and some SAE, but mostly metric) hex/allen wrenches, the ones I use mostly are Park Tool versions, Park is a bicycle tool specialist, which have sizes marked on the handles (and have a couple different types of handles, too), plus I have and use Bondhus (with baller ends ), plus those suitable for attachment to ratcheting wrenches, etc. Keeping them organized with the provided holders in size order always beats dumping out a bag and trying to find the markings on the side of a wrench, tho.

 

[ryanosaur]

I don''t mind the ol' push-the-tip-in-and-see-if-it-fits technique.

 

[MR.MAGOO]

I'm so very happy to see that Bondhus makes the grade for a German tool supplier. I looked at the Bondhus catalog, only to see color-coded hex keys. I may no longer be happy with my all black set .

@TLS Guy
I see that Bondhus is in Monticello, Minnesota.

View attachment 48312

How sweet, the PRIDE edition for the 'non-binary' mechanic / hobbyist.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I got fed up as well this winter with the old tools in my toolbox and donated much of it to a guy that does not have so much money. Then I bought new tools from Felo, Made in Germany. Now I have fewer tools but much better quality and better fit for purpose. They even sell Bondhus tools

Schraubendreher, Schraubenzieher, Bits und Zangen von Felo

Wir bieten das richtige Werkzeug für jeden Einsatz. In höchster Qualität, mit dem Maßstab an Ergonomie für den professionellen Einsatz.

www.felo.com

Felo and Wiha are my favorite tools brands. Never disappoint in quality:

22 Piece ErgoStar Ball End Hex L-Key Set - Inch, Metric

Wiha ErgoStar Ball End Hex L-Key Inch/Metric 22 Piece Set

www.wihatools.com

Expensive, but top notch quality

 

[TLS Guy]

In English, "balldriver" sounds so unecessarily rude. However, "kugelkopf" sounds much more impressive badass.
View attachment 48314

Those are the sets I use. When it comes to these implements you need actually three sets of these. You need SAE, Metric and Torx. Then you are set.
I have had my sets for 20 years at least and done a lot of work with them.

I also have dome ultra small Allen keys for work in small precision gear, especially SME pickup arms.

I have never found anything about this to "grind my gears!"

With wrenches you need two sets of everything these days, SAE and metric, and if you work on old English gear you need a Whitworth set as well.

 

[Alex2507]

With wrenches you need two sets of everything these days, SAE and metric

Long pattern, short pattern, offset, 12 point, 6 point ... ratcheting wrenches

 

[3db]

Be sure to get a Balldriver set .

Ball driver or ball buster?? You're being intentionally vague!!!

 

[Swerd]

With wrenches you need two sets of everything these days, SAE and metric, and if you work on old English gear you need a Whitworth set as well.

If you have to work with Chinese-made fasteners, in addition to all those wrenches, you'll also need metric and SAE tap & die sets, not to mention metal files and ball peen hammers.

Yeah, and lots of ear plugs for your family and neighbors too. Chinese-made fasteners always make me curse like a sailor.

 

[Verdinut]

I have a Fuller set which I bought about 20 years ago. The company still sells what seems to be a good quality product:

Fuller Tool 30-Piece Set of SAE and Metric Hex Keys in a Handy Storage Case 130-8030 Allen key set wrench hexagonal key socket chrome-vanadium steel precision-machined - Allen Wrench Set - Amazon.com

Fuller Tool 30-Piece Set of SAE and Metric Hex Keys in a Handy Storage Case 130-8030 Allen key set wrench hexagonal key socket chrome-vanadium steel precision-machined - Allen Wrench Set - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

I tend to agree with some of the reviewers. The case would still need some improvement.