allen key organization/size identification

[plain2car]

All,
I am looking to do some "small tool organization". I currently just keep my allen wrenches loose in a drawer, I would like to remedy this by putting them in some kind of a holder(s) with size identification. I have searched a few threads on here related to this and have a couple of ideas for "holders", but I am not sure how to find the misc. sizes I have. so, I thought I would ask what everyone uses to "store" their allen wrenches & how to find the size of the allen wrenches?

thanks for the time & any help is greatly appreciated....

plain2car

 

[d.mcfarland]

I believe the holder that most come in has to be the easiest thing...

 

[Ilikeike]

I keep my individual allens in the case they came with, which shows the sizing. My T handles are in the rack they came with and shows sizing.

$12.49, comes with the tools. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776C2D6H/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1

I tossed all my loose ones long ago.

 

[gatlibs]

If you don't want to buy a new set like this (https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00FBFI6T6), then you could wrap each key in wire around a key ring. Marked electrical tape could be placed in the middle of each to denote size. It is disadvantageous to the holders, but it keeps them together.

 

[Urambo Tauro]

No organizer here. My Craftsmans came loose in SAE and MM pouches which have to be dumped out every time I need one. I was thinking about grabbing a piece of wood or something and drilling holes to keep them in, but for now I am storing them a shallow drawer so I need something relatively flat and the pouches at least help to keep the SAE and MM ones separate.

I'm planning to paint them for easy reference. Not at the working tips, nor along the straight parts where they get handled the most, but right at the elbow. The paint will probably wear off eventually anyway, but that seems like least vulnerable place for it.

I already have a system for what colors to use, based on an old Fisher-Price magnetic letters/numbers set that I grew up with as a kid. I never set out to memorize them, but somehow I still remember every letter and number's corresponding color. Might as well use that same color scheme.

 

[larry_g]

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...MIvK_Q_oiW4AIVEh-tBh0MVwr0EAQYAyABEgKhtvD_BwE

I use these. Google; hex key holder. They are available in SAE and metric.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Sine Swept]

I keep a few loose keys, identified with coloured heat shrink, for quick use.

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

I have my “shop sets” in the holders they are in, but for all my loose Allen keys or my work and car Allen keys I bought a couple older leather pouches that organize them perfectly. There is not size markings but that could easily be taken care of with some masking tape and a pen. I paid $5.00 shipped each. I like having them in a nice leather organizer and the price was right. I would suggest looking on EBAY for something similar to what I mentioned.

 

[plain2car]

Thank you for the replies. I am planning on getting a couple of the referenced holders. I am unsure with the color coded as mentioned? I have a "T"handle set that does have the color handles... i assume the color are a "standard"? I am mainly trying to figure out what size a particular loose wrench is? i would like to know the size as i organize them...

thanks!!!

 

[davethorik]

Digital calipers, if you have them, would make quick work of sorting.

 

[toolmutt]

I keep a few loose keys, identified with coloured heat shrink, for quick use.

Great idea! I'm gonna do that for a couple frequently used ones.

 

[thr3squared]

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...MIvK_Q_oiW4AIVEh-tBh0MVwr0EAQYAyABEgKhtvD_BwE

I use these. Google; hex key holder. They are available in SAE and metric.

lg
no neat sig line

I did the same thing. And if you find yourself missing certain wrenches you can find them online or sometimes at hardware stores.

 

[CoogarXR]

Digital calipers, as mentioned, for finding their sizes. Or for larger ones, I just see which sockets fit on them, lol.

 

[lilredex]

Keep mine in a special Allen index box and a PAL accessory box. Not too much guesswork when there is only one of each size.

 

[MrSurly]

If you are going to color-code them (something I've considered doing) follow the 'standard' colors of the typical nut driver set for the common sizes at least such as these

 

[bob15]

These work really well. McMaster might still sell them....in sae & metric

 

[MrSurly]

These work really well. McMaster might still sell them....in sae & metric

DAMMIT! That looks like a great little holder!

 

[johninct]

I keep a full set in a Snap-On pouch that I specifically bought for them 25 years ago. They are in order so if it is too big/too small, I just grab the next one down. I can carry them any where too.

 

[Urambo Tauro]

If you are going to color-code them (something I've considered doing) follow the 'standard' colors of the typical nut driver set for the common sizes at least such as these

Well whaddaya know. I'd all but given up on finding two companies that agreed on a universal color-coding standard. With all the differences in wrench and socket set coloring out there, I hadn't even thought to give nut drivers a closer look. But after a little searching, it looks like you're right. At least a handful of them use the same colors on their nut drivers. Why the heck hasn't this caught on? I'm starting to feel bad for making up my own color scheme now. I'm afraid I might never unlearn it. It's just too burned into my head at this point haha.

 

[derosa]

No organizer here. My Craftsmans came loose in SAE and MM pouches which have to be dumped out every time I need one. I was thinking about grabbing a piece of wood or something and drilling holes to keep them in, but for now I am storing them a shallow drawer so I need something relatively flat and the pouches at least help to keep the SAE and MM ones separate.

I'm planning to paint them for easy reference. Not at the working tips, nor along the straight parts where they get handled the most, but right at the elbow. The paint will probably wear off eventually anyway, but that seems like least vulnerable place for it.

I already have a system for what colors to use, based on an old Fisher-Price magnetic letters/numbers set that I grew up with as a kid. I never set out to memorize them, but somehow I still remember every letter and number's corresponding color. Might as well use that same color scheme.

Dollar store nail polish does a great job for cheap and easy. Can even mix colors to get the secondary colors.

 

[CR888]

I thought everyone just kept an old cookie tin & jammed as many Allen keys as they own in there with SAE mixed in with Metric and different brands & length all together in a mish-mash clusterfuc of metal. Even the cheesy cheap nasty ones that come with flat-pack furniture are kept for this box. I thought everyone did it this way??

 

[plain2car]

Digital calipers, as mentioned, for finding their sizes. Or for larger ones, I just see which sockets fit on them, lol.

hhmmm.... I like this! .... my thought is to get a few different holders & then put the wrenches in the correct size location. I have some that just came with projects & have no idea what size they are

Thank you for the replies... hopefully this might "inspire" some to get started on a organizing project....

plain2car

 

[OccupantRJ]

For my larger ones, I made this rack.
Build link below.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84541

 

[plain2car]

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...MIvK_Q_oiW4AIVEh-tBh0MVwr0EAQYAyABEgKhtvD_BwE

I use these. Google; hex key holder. They are available in SAE and metric.

lg
no neat sig line

soo... i ordered a similar set to these & should get here next week. i will use the digital calipers to "measure" & then hopefully put them in the correct location for future use...

thank you guys again for the comments...

 

[Spacey_G]

If you know all your hex keys are SAE, you probably won't even need to measure them to organize in that Bondhus holder. Each key will fit snugly in the correct spot.

 

[rick carpenter]

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...MIvK_Q_oiW4AIVEh-tBh0MVwr0EAQYAyABEgKhtvD_BwE

I use these. Google; hex key holder. They are available in SAE and metric

I did the same thing. And if you find yourself missing certain wrenches you can find them online or sometimes at hardware stores.

You can order any online HD items with free shipping to store. I do this a lot for Bondhus, Milwaukee, and Bosch singles.

 

[brollona]

I thought everyone just kept an old cookie tin & jammed as many Allen keys as they own in there with SAE mixed in with Metric and different brands & length all together in a mish-mash clusterfuc of metal. Even the cheesy cheap nasty ones that come with flat-pack furniture are kept for this box. I thought everyone did it this way??

Same here. The particular pleasure is to dig trough whole pile searching for smallest sizes which are always on the bottom.

 

[pioneer1]

This is great timing, I have all my hex keys loose in a pile on top of my tool box and have been wondering how to store them, or just buy new with holders

 

[Jazz1]

I still have my original system in place. Few years back got sets with holders

 

[Kellybass921]

Allen wrenches are one of my most used tools in my line of work, I deal with a lot of cap head screws lol. I used to use the flip out “dog bone” sets, eventually upgraded to harbor freight ball end packs, but now I’m a firm believer in bondhus ball-end. I haven’t twisted one yet and only rounded off the 3 mm as I do every one I own regardless of brand, but the holders they come with stay pretty tight. I definitely recommend a saw and metric set, if you don’t use them multiple times a day every day they’ll last a lifetime, and if not they are lifetime warranty and made in USA

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

I keep a few loose keys, identified with coloured heat shrink, for quick use.

This is a simple genius idea that I will be stealing for many things here on out.

That said the bondhus organizers for a buck something is the best advice you got and I agree with it. Unless you have the original containers.

Seriously though for a good 3 to 10 bucks depending on how many you have, plus some time identifying sizes, you can get that organized pretty well this way without investing much into it.

 

[MushCreek]

I use Wera Hex-Plus, and they come in a great holder. I used them every day at work, and they are the best I've found. I still have a box of random hex keys, but I use them so often that I know the sizes just glancing at them. I made a pretty aluminum holder that I keep at my lathe with another set of Wera's.