Hex Key Organizer?.......

[Crow Horse]

Any ideas for organizing hex keys? I must have several hundred I've collected through the years. Any good way of identiying the sizes of them?

 

[wreckercologist]

http://www.drillspot.com/products/68725/eklind_tool_co_11111_universal_hex_key_stand

 

[MoToys]

Something like these would work nicely as they come in so many different sizes.
http://www.planomolding.com/fishing/fishing-products/
If your just putting them in drawers you might want to look at some of the schaller red dish sets.
http://www.schallercorporation.com/servlet/StoreFront

I would than label the dish with the size.

 

[reptilezs]

i would start by dumping the cheapo ones and sort by metric std, short long

 

[Crow Horse]

I've done the sorting and maybe 10% of them are stamped with a size. A lot are probably cheap ones. Even so, I'd like to try and identify them. I've seen drill bit "sizers" but never one for hex keys....... Ah, the woes of being a tool hoarder......

 

[Outlawmws]

I've done the sorting and maybe 10% of them are stamped with a size. A lot are probably cheap ones. Even so, I'd like to try and identify them. I've seen drill bit "sizers" but never one for hex keys....... Ah, the woes of being a tool hoarder......

For sizing, Calipers, and if not digital with inch/metric, make up a conversion table in Excel

Sounds like you have a hodge podge of them like me Crow, replete with duplicates. You might want to spend the time to drill a block of hardwood for a custom rack, depending on where these will land for storage.

I keep my SAE in a smaller drawer in my 11 drawer roller dedicated to foldable sets, packaged sets and loose allens. a couple of the sets have plastic holders somewhat similar to a drill index, but open.

Yeah, I'm overdue to re-organize and size mine too...

The metrics are with the drawer of metric wrenches and sockets (which is now near overload...).

 

[DekeT]

I store all of my drill bits in drawer organizers and label each one. I also put the same size hex key in each of those drawers. 2 uses for 1 drawer.

 

[trboxman]

cheap digital micrometers to ID them, and a block of wood with appropriately sized holes drilled and labeled to store them.

 

[QUICKADDY]

Hi everyone. If having your hex keys lost and unorganized is driving you crazy you should check out the product I recently developed and patented.

www.QuicKaddy.com

 

[gonefirefighting]

I use magnetic tool bars

 

[woody 73]

I found a plastic box (like the above fishing boxes) and I must have tons of hex keys over the years stored inside that box.

 

[garfunkle24]

Hi everyone. If having your hex keys lost and unorganized is driving you crazy you should check out the product I recently developed and patented.

www.QuicKaddy.com

I really wouldn't want my hex keys magnetized. They would pick up filings that will then get in the heads of the hex socket screws. Just my $0.02.

 

[el tanque prohibido]

Another option is that Bondhus sells their hex key holders separately.

 

[Plasmatic]

I put my main set in Wiha "Pro-Star" holders, part numbers 91024 and 91025. You can get them from Micro-Tools:
http://www.micro-tools.com/store/P-91025/Empty-Improved-Prostar-Hex-Case-Inch.aspx
http://www.micro-tools.com/store/P-91024/Empty-Improved-Prostar-Hex-Case-Metric.aspx

Example picture:
http://img.directindustry.com/pdf/repository_di/18656/l-keys-wiha-prostar-116799_1b.jpg

 

[OccupantRJ]

I made a rack for my hex keys in this thread linked below.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84541

 

[[email protected]]

I found a neat organizer made by RONCO company. I bought 3 standard and 3 metric and organized mine. http://ronco1.wix.com/ronco Nice product. I wish I had thought of it.

Mark

 

[Ign]

I see the thread's from '12......but cheap hex keys will just screw you. The ones that come with most import tools I immediately give to the wife for metal art or throw in the scrap bin. I just keep one complete set of metric and fractional at each lathe and mill; you can usually get a full set of BOTH for ~$20 by Bondhus, Allen or Paramount so it's not a huge investment. I prefer the ball end on the longer arm and just use the plastic holder they provide.

NOW T-handles are a different story, I need to build a sheetmetal organizer for those.

 

[PelicanPines]

I found a neat organizer made by RONCO company. I bought 3 standard and 3 metric and organized mine. http://ronco1.wix.com/ronco Nice product. I wish I had thought of it.

Mark

Interesting caddy. Found one for sale on eBay by Ronco for about $30. Also found the caddy for sale at Walmart for $11.

I am also in the camp of "cheap hex" keys get tossed. I have my set of T handles that take up a drawer and USA boxed sets taking up space in another drawer.