To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Allen wrenches that aren't garbage?

I

Itsjustdirt

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2013
Messages
531
Location
San Diego, California
It seems like I've purchased 12 sets of allen wrenches in the past couple years. All seem too strip, fit poorly, or bend instantly. They are used for anything from automotive to fine/expensive hobby work.

Suggestions?! Thanks!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
M

M6erfan

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 6, 2014
Messages
10,170
Location
'Merica!
What brands have you tried?

I like Bondhus, and Wiha/Wera get good reviews around here.
 
N

Noworries

Banned
Joined
Dec 8, 2019
Messages
230
Location
Southern California
OneDollarSaab said:
We had a thread about this a couple days ago and pretty much everyone agreed on Bondhus, with Chesco and Eklind getting honorable mentions
Click to expand...

Those were going to be my suggestions with this caviat..inherent to their design, like screwdrivers, they all are "junk" meaning if you dont use them as intended they will round off. Straight down with pressure applied.Angle it and it is going to slip. Ball ends are good for their purpose...but on a tight or corroded fastener you will lose that ball, at least that is my experience
 
O

OneDollarSaab

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2018
Messages
155
Location
Hesperia, California
Noworries said:
Those were going to be my suggestions with this caviat..inherent to their design, like screwdrivers, they all are "junk" meaning if you dont use them as intended they will round off. Straight down with pressure applied.Angle it and it is going to slip. Ball ends are good for their purpose...but on a tight or corroded fastener you will lose that ball, at least that is my experience
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's a given that Allen/internal hex is possibly the worst fastener design in widespread use. Any amount of crud inside the fastener and you are done.
 
B

bwringer

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
10,250
Location
Indianapolis
There are several great brands.

Wera and Bondhus are my faves. Eklind is quite good too.

These things are not very expensive, even in the high-end brands. Toss out the junk and buy the good stuff.
 
L

lakeroadster

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
5,166
Location
Central Colorado
Itsjustdirt said:
It seems like I've purchased 12 sets of allen wrenches in the past couple years. All seem too strip, fit poorly, or bend instantly. They are used for anything from automotive to fine/expensive hobby work.

Suggestions?! Thanks!
Click to expand...

MacTools

Most all of my tools are Craftsman, bought in the early 1980's.

I've got a set of MacTools allen wrenches that a guy gave me about 20 years ago. They have a convenient plastic storage device that each one slides into.

Everyone is still there and none are broken. They're great.
 

Attachments

  • MAC Tools.jpg
    MAC Tools.jpg
    6.8 KB · Views: 152
M

msevarino

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
May 21, 2020
Messages
63
Location
Los Angeles
While I also give a +1 for bondhus, PB Swiss deserves an honorable mention. Although out of their entire product line, I think their hex keys are their worst product......although they seem to be most famous for them after their screwdrivers.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
 
M

Mohawk Dave

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Messages
5,068
Location
SoCal
Bondhus.

I have some sets of Snap on hex bit sockets, but wanted long straight, long ball end, stubby straight, stubby ball end, etc.... So what did instead of spending Snap on money, I bought Bondhus keys and Tekton hex bit sockets.... Removed the Tekton hex and put the Bondhus hex in the Tekton socket.... Highly recommend

I just used a cut off wheel on the Bondhus keys... So like 1 ball end L key would produce a stubby ball and a long straight ball end. 2 birds get stoned off 1 key. Ya dig?
 
H

Handyandy23

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2017
Messages
1,523
Location
Ontario, Canada
Oil leak said:
I like Wera hex plus the best with Bondhus second.
Click to expand...

Based on reviews and the "hex plus" I want to try a set of the Wera next. The off-corner engagement just makes sense (and might also help with getting the Allen keys seated in a dirty fastener).

So I can't vouch for them yet, but my research has led me there. And you can get them for a good price Amazon Prime.
 
C

cherrybomb

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2016
Messages
887
Location
Near Madison Wi.
I like my Bondhus,but don't forget that the condition of the tip of the wrench and the fasteners condition can be real important also,don't ask me how I know.
 
A

AA/FC

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
2,080
bob15 said:
Wrong. You can get SAE and metric in Bondhus gold plating.

http://bondhus.com/pages/goldguard-ball-end
Click to expand...

The link that was originally provided in this thread wasn't very clear. Look at it yourself.

I purchased a full set of Snap on hex keys (made by Bondhus) that were both gold and silver.... Metic gold, SAE silver. If both SAE and Metric are available in BOTH gold and silver, why did Snap on sell me one of each? lol. I also bought another set of SO socket hex keys and those are the same way. You can see where I thought metric was gold and SAE was silver. Maybe someone at Bondhus should tell someone at SO that they make both versions, in both colors. lololol. See pictures below. These are MY tools, not generic pics from the internet.

Ball end short hex key set. Metric gold, SAE silver:
attachment.php




Socket hex key set, metric gold:
attachment.php


attachment.php


And thanks for starting your reply with.... "Wrong." Nothing screams "I'm a complete smart ***" more than that on the internet. lolol.
 

Attachments

  • soballhex.jpg
    soballhex.jpg
    80.4 KB · Views: 1,549
  • sohex2.jpg
    sohex2.jpg
    105.6 KB · Views: 1,527
  • sohex3.jpg
    sohex3.jpg
    110.2 KB · Views: 1,529
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
A

AmericanMechanic

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
404
msevarino said:
While I also give a +1 for bondhus, PB Swiss deserves an honorable mention. Although out of their entire product line, I think their hex keys are their worst product......although they seem to be most famous for them after their screwdrivers.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
Click to expand...

PB swiss color coding is great. I wish American manufacturers offered it. Same as nut drivers... who in their right mind would make nut drivers that aren't color-coded? Seems only about Klein/Vaco have that right these days.
 
T

theluke

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2014
Messages
90
Location
central pa
I've been using an Allen brand hex key set for the last 3 years and haven't had any issues with them. Only complaint is the holder wears out and the smaller sizes fall out easily. Maintenance guy so I use them on door handles, door closers, hvac stuff, used em as punches a few times. Quite a few times held them in place and hit em with a hammer to loosen a set screw. You guys can laugh at me all you want, but they work.
 
J

Joebass

Well-known member
Joined
May 16, 2019
Messages
118
Location
Ny
As the owner of a fabrication shop, I have a dozen sets at least of Bondhus, and also a couple sets of their drivers and T handles. I do own a set of metric and SAE Wiha, and have thought about a set of the Wera, but can't seem to drop the money. I also worked at a GM plant, and every set up man and tradesman had Bondhus.
 
D

DFB

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 7, 2016
Messages
5,765
Location
Southern VT/Western Mass
Tool Barn is having a Buy American promo for the Memorial Holiday a lot of Bondhus choices, and a pretty good price on the long T Handle sets. My pal at the motorcycle shop had some recent tool supply catalog on the workbench back on Tuesday when I was there, and those 2 sets were $56 each in that book. I distinctly remember commenting to him that the price was too high. (Haha back during the winter he bought an SK convertible snap ring plier set from one of those book offers he always gets. He showed to me and told me what it cost I said you paid too much and showed him competitive prices on the net :D

He called back the place and complained they said oh sorry we made a mistake with the billing :rolleyes:)

I have had the #13389 & 13190 I bought decades ago, I just might add that Torx set.


https://www.toolbarn.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=bondhus+ALLEN+WRENCH++sets


For some guy going thru 2 dozen sets of Hex style bits in a couple of years 2? :headscrat: you must be buying them in the Dollar Store. I have Chesco, Craftsman and even some imports I can only remember breaking a few obviously overloading maybe them adding a wrench for and extension where something else like a hand impact driver would have been the wiser move.

Even then with socket drive hex we broke like 4 one day on stubborn brake disc screws in the motorcycle shop before we finally got the heat out :eyecrazy:
 
P

pedrodagr8

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 25, 2013
Messages
613
msevarino said:
While I also give a +1 for bondhus, PB Swiss deserves an honorable mention. Although out of their entire product line, I think their hex keys are their worst product......although they seem to be most famous for them after their screwdrivers.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
Click to expand...

AmericanMechanic said:
PB swiss color coding is great. I wish American manufacturers offered it. Same as nut drivers... who in their right mind would make nut drivers that aren't color-coded? Seems only about Klein/Vaco have that right these days.
Click to expand...



I think you will enjoy this then (How It's Made: Hex Key Wrenches) recorded at PBSwiss.

To answer OP, I have never used PB Swiss (I like their screwdrivers though) but I swear by Bonhus. One of the biggest value/$ purchases I have ever made. Having used some cheap and name brand hex key kits, I took a chance on Bondhus and have never needed to replace them since.
 
Last edited:
B

brtsvg

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
131
Go German - Wiha - you’ll thank yourself many times over the next year
 
1

1982fxr

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
9,995
Location
Phoenix
lakeroadster said:
MacTools

Most all of my tools are Craftsman, bought in the early 1980's.

I've got a set of MacTools allen wrenches that a guy gave me about 20 years ago. They have a convenient plastic storage device that each one slides into.

Everyone is still there and none are broken. They're great.
Click to expand...

Probably made by Eklind or Bonhus
 
R

Ralf11

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 29, 2016
Messages
2,275
you also need the hex key accessory kit no matter what brand you buy

the kit consists of a set of picks to clean dirt out of the recess...

and a grinder to true up the end of the hex key
 
B

bts

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2011
Messages
109
Location
Perth. Australia
Unbrako are the best. Though they have been hard to find here in the last 10 years.
Bondus or Eklind are my next choice. Even so I have to replace them every 3 or 4 years because they are one of my main tools.

Tony
 
S

Samuel D

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 9, 2019
Messages
638
Wera Hex-Plus is kind of like Snap-on’s Flank Drive in reverse. But unlike Flank Drive, it’s still under patent protection, so you have to overspend on Wera to get it. Still not a bad deal.

It works pretty well. The keys sometimes have more clearance in the fastener than feels good, but, as with Flank Drive sockets (or Metrinch that took the idea to its logical conclusion), that is less important than with conventional tools.
 
R

racinfarmer

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 6, 2012
Messages
2,155
Location
Minnesota/Utah
AA/FC said:
The link that was originally provided in this thread wasn't very clear. Look at it yourself.

I purchased a full set of Snap on hex keys (made by Bondhus) that were both gold and silver.... Metic gold, SAE silver. If both SAE and Metric are available in BOTH gold and silver, why did Snap on sell me one of each? lol. I also bought another set of SO socket hex keys and those are the same way. You can see where I thought metric was gold and SAE was silver. Maybe someone at Bondhus should tell someone at SO that they make both versions, in both colors. lololol. See pictures below. These are MY tools, not generic pics from the internet.

Ball end short hex key set. Metric gold, SAE silver:
attachment.php




Socket hex key set, metric gold:
attachment.php


attachment.php


And thanks for starting your reply with.... "Wrong." Nothing screams "I'm a complete smart ***" more than that on the internet. lolol.
Click to expand...

That is simply how Fap-Off spec'ed the product from their vendor.

If I was going to order 50,000 sets of each a year, I'm sure they'd offer them to me in pretty much whatever color I request.
 
C

cliftonbros89

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 2, 2015
Messages
3,009
Location
Missouri
I have Bondhus, short, long, metric & sae, all gold. They all work really well for me. Not something I use often. I only use a few sizes regularly. But they hold a lot better than the China Craftsman I used to have. They weren’t expensive either. I bought the long sets as a combo and the shorts separately all through Amazon. If I remember it was maybe around $50 for all 4 sets.

I’ve used Eklinds that my dad has had for years and they’ve all held up well. Pretty inexpensive as well and available at a lot of places.

I’ve read a bunch of good reviews about Wera’s options as well. I was going to go Wera if I didn’t go Bondhus.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom