T-Handle Hex Keys

Moose364 · Oct 10, 2016

So I have had a set of the cheap HF t-handles for close to 5 years and the junk plastic handles are breaking off when I'm using them. so it time for an upgrade, so what do yall use and whats the best for the money, and I don't work in a shop where we have tools trucks. so snap-on or Mac would be online ordering, but I figure they have someone make them for them,
anyway thanks for the help in advance

zer0cell · Oct 10, 2016

These are supposed to be one of the best for the price. Made in Germany.

<a href="http://amzn.to/2dKktGH">Wiha 33493 8-Piece 2.0-10mm Metric Sizes T-Handle Hex Driver</a>

M6erfan · Oct 10, 2016

Moose364 said:
So I have had a set of the cheap HF t-handles for close to 5 years and the junk plastic handles are breaking off when I'm using them. so it time for an upgrade, so what do yall use and whats the best for the money, and I don't work in a shop where we have tools trucks. so snap-on or Mac would be online ordering, but I figure they have someone make them for them,
anyway thanks for the help in advance

zer0cell said:
These are supposed to be one of the best for the price. Made in Germany.

<a href="http://amzn.to/2dKktGH">Wiha 33493 8-Piece 2.0-10mm Metric Sizes T-Handle Hex Driver</a>

Those Wiha's linked above are good but I prefer this style with the added short 90 degree end...

https://www.amazon.com/Wiha-33489-Metric-T-Handle-8-Piece/dp/B0033PQWGK/ref=sr_1_26?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1476117413&sr=1-26&keywords=hex+t+handle+metric

barrybeefburger · Oct 10, 2016

Facom or Bonghus

gdocktor3 · Oct 10, 2016

Bondhus and Elkind are both good and made in USA. I prefer the t handles with the L shaped combination Allen wrench so you can still have the longer end for increased torque. Snap On makes them, not sure who else does though. For reference https://store.snapon.com/Hex-Soft-G...ination-Hex-Wrench-Set-3-32-1-4--P644306.aspx

Bigblue&Goldie · Oct 10, 2016

For purely a "T" you can't go wrong with Bondhus. The quality and price are excellent.

pstemari · Oct 10, 2016

+1 on Bondhus. The handles are welded steel under the plastic, and you can get lot of torque from them, more than anything up to a 3/16" or 5mm can handle..

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rlitman · Oct 10, 2016

M6erfan said:
Those Wiha's linked above are good but I prefer this style with the added short 90 degree end...

https://www.amazon.com/Wiha-33489-Metric-T-Handle-8-Piece/dp/B0033PQWGK/ref=sr_1_26?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1476117413&sr=1-26&keywords=hex+t+handle+metric

I have that style from HF.
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-piece-t-handle-ball-point-and-hex-key-wrench-set-96645.html

They're not the best, but they're not awful either.
The ones I have are ball ended on the long shank, and plain straight hex on the short T end. And since they say Pittsburgh on each handle, I've had no trouble getting them replaced when I've snapped a ball off on a frozen bolt.

pstemari said:
+1 on Bondhus. The handles are welded steel under the plastic, and you can get lot of torque from them, more than anything up to a 3/16" or 5mm can handle..

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I will admit that I don't push the issue with either ball end or Tee handle hex.
If I need to put the spurs to it, I'll use a hex socket.

I have a couple of Bondhus sets of allen keys (L type), and I feel that they're as good as my Snap On ones.

MikeF2316 · Oct 10, 2016

Here's a question? Does anybody make hex screwdrivers? I just got a bike covered in hex screws, and at the moment all I have is L shaped hex keys and bits for my ratcheting screwdrivers. I'm not a firm believer in T-Handles. I just want plain screwdrivers. I just had a quick look around, couldn't find any.

rlitman · Oct 10, 2016

MikeF2316 said:
Here's a question? Does anybody make hex screwdrivers? I just got a bike covered in hex screws, and at the moment all I have is L shaped hex keys and bits for my ratcheting screwdrivers. I'm not a firm believer in T-Handles. I just want plain screwdrivers. I just had a quick look around, couldn't find any.

Absolutely, though I'm not sure I'd be happy with the torque I could get out of them on 5mm and 6mm hex. Working on bicycles, I pretty much only use T handles. I like the way I can spin the shaft in one hand, and torque down the end with the other.

Bondhus makes a set for example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bondhus-6pc...-5-5mm-Metric-MADE-IN-USA-10686-/141452895292

zer0cell · Oct 10, 2016

I know bonhus makes some at a pretty affordable price

Stevenn1 · Oct 10, 2016

MikeF2316 said:
...Does anybody make hex screwdrivers?....

I have a 10 yr old CRAFTSMAN U.S.A. set I bought new at Sears. It's just the SAE set. I don't know if they made a Metric set or not.

R_einan · Oct 10, 2016

MikeF2316 said:
Here's a question? Does anybody make hex screwdrivers? I just got a bike covered in hex screws, and at the moment all I have is L shaped hex keys and bits for my ratcheting screwdrivers. I'm not a firm believer in T-Handles. I just want plain screwdrivers. I just had a quick look around, couldn't find any.

Bondhus 74632 Set of 8 Balldriver Screwdrivers with ProHold Tip, ProGuard Finish, sizes .050-5/32-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006O4AIS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

gdocktor3 · Oct 10, 2016

I was having a major brain fart earlier. Wiha and Klein also make really good hex keys. I have a set of Wiha metric L wrenches, but these T L combo's are the cats pajamas https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0033PQWGK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Klein also makes T L combo hex keys https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004DAN5RI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Allen also makes some, but while they are the original creator of the "allen" wrench, I feel they aren't as good as the other two brands https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UNKZD4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

NoahG · Oct 10, 2016

I've got a mix of Bondhus, Eklind, Wiha and Klein.

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kctyphoon · Oct 10, 2016

MikeF2316 said:
Here's a question? Does anybody make hex screwdrivers? I just got a bike covered in hex screws, and at the moment all I have is L shaped hex keys and bits for my ratcheting screwdrivers. I'm not a firm believer in T-Handles. I just want plain screwdrivers. I just had a quick look around, couldn't find any.

Home Depot has these also, this is just what came up in the search first.. I have the Milwaukee.. It's pretty decent but I don't use it on my bike.

https://www.gmesupply.com/catalog/p...pymowL_AY2ApRfgjsMgm6tTlMj7LvV87wNhoCql7w_wcB

I'll assume you need metric. My gsxr750 needs an extra long Allen key in one size to remove the air box, I just ordered a cheap set off eBay for like $17

Even breaking the thread lock free, my folding Dewalt hex set and whatever other HF or husky sets I have laying around have never had an issue working on the bike.

MikeF2316 · Oct 10, 2016

Moose, sorry to take your thread on a tangent, but on the bright side now there's lots more information than there would have been.

rlitman said:
Absolutely, though I'm not sure I'd be happy with the torque I could get out of them on 5mm and 6mm hex. Working on bicycles, I pretty much only use T handles. I like the way I can spin the shaft in one hand, and torque down the end with the other.

Bondhus makes a set for example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bondhus-6pc...-5-5mm-Metric-MADE-IN-USA-10686-/141452895292

R_einan said:
Bondhus 74632 Set of 8 Balldriver Screwdrivers with ProHold Tip, ProGuard Finish, sizes .050-5/32-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006O4AIS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Although I didn't say it, I was looking for metric ones, but I've now ordered both sets.

Thanks guys! :bowdown:

Moose364 · Oct 10, 2016

Hey thanks a lot, y'all have gave me the tools I needed to figure out which ones to get

Finky198 · Oct 10, 2016

I have eklind 9" set in met and std which were snap on rebrands... very good quailty, but I don't think you can go wrong with anything made by Wiha or Bondhus either...

R_einan · Oct 10, 2016

I don't use t-handles, personally. I have Bondhus ball end L-wrenches, and full sets of hex driver sockets (both standard and ball); most of my work is on Harleys and don't find T-handles a necessity to perform any work I've done. I would likely but either Eklind or Bondhus T handles in the future however. Honestly, in looking at each offerings, I would lean towards the Eklind becuase I like the storage stand included with thier sets.

pstemari · Oct 10, 2016

R_einan said:
I don't use t-handles, personally. I have Bondhus ball end L-wrenches, and full sets of hex driver sockets (both standard and ball); most of my work is on Harleys and don't find T-handles a necessity to perform any work I've done. I would likely but either Eklind or Bondhus T handles in the future however. Honestly, in looking at each offerings, I would lean towards the Eklind becuase I like the storage stand included with thier sets.

The base is optional w Bondhus. I got in with my metric t-handles but I'm not very fond of it. It eats of a lot of space and it's easy to knock over.

At some point I'll probably mill some keyhole slots in a piece of aluminum bar and make a wall rack. I made a custom rack like that for the tool for my micro mill and it worked out really well.

R_einan · Oct 11, 2016

pstemari said:
The base is optional w Bondhus. I got in with my metric t-handles but I'm not very fond of it. It eats of a lot of space and it's easy to knock over.

At some point I'll probably mill some keyhole slots in a piece of aluminum bar and make a wall rack. I made a custom rack like that for the tool for my micro mill and it worked out really well.

That plastic tray seemed unstable and inadequate for my purposes as well. I am very happy with Bondhus L-wrenches however. I may consider getting the keys from them and either building or sourcing a proper rack/display for them later. I would likely keep them in the top hutch of my tool chest and would prefer a rack similar to the angled rack Eklind uses. I found that I can buy that same rack through Snap-On as a separate piece, but my wallet starts crying every time I open THAT catalog... I am also pretty sure the Eklind is the vendor supplying Snap-on, so I'm sure the quality is there.

MikeF2316 · Oct 17, 2016

Well look what I have now.

Metric:

Fractional:

kctyphoon your reply wasn't there when I started my last reply and went shopping. I found this at Home Depot, and for $Cdn 14.88

And all in their new home, in with the Robertson Drivers.

T-Handle Hex Keys

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