Oxford 6mm Long Handle Allen/Hex Key - from Torque Precision Bicycle Tools

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Did you know that most people use the wrong screwdriver for the job? It’s essential to distinguish between the various screwdriver types and know what screw you’re using. A set from Halfords will include a variety of screwdrivers for slotted head screws, Phillips drive screws and Pozidriv screws, perfect for any job. Impact drivers & screw bits This article provided a summary of the commonly available sizes of Allen™ wrenches/keys and explained the different types of Allen™ wrenches as well as the advantages of these tools. For information on other topics, consult our additional guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform where you can locate potential sources of supply for over 70,000 different product and service categories, including suppliers of Allen™ wrenches and other hex key wrenches. Allen™ screws and wrenches are not the be-all-end-all in the world of fasteners and tools. Some complaints focus on the tool size being too small to allow for one to apply sufficient torque in all cases. Also, inferior materials used in the manufacturing of either the wrench or the screw can render them easy to damage in spite of the increased number of pressure points. But they are still popular more than 100 years after William G. Allen™ filed for his patent and will likely be here to stay for the foreseeable future. Summary Non-sparking designs – While most Allen™ keys use an alloy steel or tool steel material in their fabrication, there are options available that utilize Beryllium Copper in lieu of steel. The Beryllium Copper material will not create sparks if the tool accidentally slips and strikes another metal surface. The non-sparking feature of this material makes these types of Allen™ wrenches suitable for use in applications where the presence of flammable gases or combustible liquids might exist.

Allen™ wrenches or Allen™ keys are generally available in several different styles or types. The most common Allen™ wrench type is the one mentioned earlier – the L-shaped hex key – but there are other variations that incorporate different handle designs, utilize different materials, or add special features. A summary of the most common Allen™ wrench types is found below:Torque needed **- When tightening or loosening a fastener (particularly loosening) the amount of torque needed to move the part is key. An L-shape or T-handle have particular leverage in this area, their extended handles allow for greater torque when dealing with fasteners

Tether-ready designs – These Allen™ wrenches include an opening on the handle which can be used to attach a tether that can secure the wrench to the user or to a fixed object such as a scaffold. This feature helps prevent the wrench from accidentally falling into a work area and causing injuries or equipment damage. This feature is useful when the tool user is working on an elevated platform. Are typically double-ended, thus offering a ‘spare’ hex driver in case of damage or rounding to one end of the tool Hex keys have a number of important characteristics that make them particularly well suited to the straightforward, user-friendly fastening role that has made them so popular among operators of all experience levels. These include the fact that hex keys:Moving over to the right-hand side, we’ve provided the metric to SAE guide for Allen wrench conversions. Similar to the metric hex keys, the SAE hex wrenches don’t always have a perfect substitute as seen for SAE size 3/16″. Thus, we recommend that those with only a metric Allen wrench set add a separate SAE hex key set to their stable. Substituting Uncommon Hex Sizes L-Shaped Hex Keys: L Shaped Hex Keys or L Keys are the most common type of hex key with a hexagonal tip at each end Figure 1 below shows the cross-sectional profile of the Allen™ wrench or Allen™ key. The important parameter that establishes the size of the Allen™ wrench or Allen™ key is the width across flats, which is the distance between any two of the faces of the tool that are parallel to each other. In particular, the T-handle design provides a more comfortable grip than the standard L-shaped hex key, but importantly it can also allow for significantly increased torque (provided the gauge of the hex wrench itself is high enough), because the additional weight of the T-handle acts as a counterbalance that can help to seat the tool more firmly and securely in the head of the fastener.

T-handle hex keys The T-handle feature a good grip thanks to the shape of its handle, from where it gets its moniker, allowing for significantly increased torque.

Where the additional access provided by a long-reach hex wrench is needed, you'd use the more elongated side as the ‘driver', and the shorter side therefore becomes the handle that you turn to tighten or loosen the fastener. However, when a hex bolt is within easy reach and there's plenty of space to work in, long-arm Allen keys can also be handy used in the reverse configuration - the longer side can help provide better grip and torque when operating as a handle. What types of long reach Allen keys are available?