Old Allen wrench uses

[Daveo]

Kicking around the other day on what to do with a bunch of old loose allen wrenches. Then it dawned on me I ALWAYS need punches! So I made a few out of the longer ones. They generally hard enough to do what I need. Any other uses?

 

[sofasurfer]

Long thin screwdrivers for opening cases on electronics like clock radios, cd players.

 

[Moldyjim]

Chisels, I have some of the 7" long screwdriver bits that I modified for engraving and sculpting brass. More or less the same material as hex keys I suspect.

A friend forged a really cute hatchet out of a 3/4" hex key, he left the hex on the poll end.

 

[no704]

I have several that are now straight and use them in my cordless drill.

 

[Daveo]

I have several that are now straight and use them in my cordless drill.

I get it....I got so many damn allen wrenches though! I hate pitching stuff!

 

[slowtwitch73]

I recycle them.

 

[Moldyjim]

One of these days I want to cut a bunch to one length and stack them up for forging a pattern welded Damascus billet. The hex might make an interesting pattern and the material is decent carbon steel.

 

[rbgearz]

I've made punches, chisels and screwdrivers out of them. The bent ones make nice right angle screwdrivers. Grind them to length.

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

Many, many years ago, when I was making tools for a living, I must have had too much time on my hands and made this. 1/2" ball driver.

 

[Flitch]

Kicking around the other day on what to do with a bunch of old loose allen wrenches. Then it dawned on me I ALWAYS need punches! So I made a few out of the longer ones. They generally hard enough to do what I need. Any other uses?

I made a seal puller with the optional mounted hammer blow

 

[four.cycle]

NOT Secret Santa works every time on orphan hex keys.

 

[Zeus36]

Used as a prybar/90 degree drift for removing the partially serrated pins from the inside outward on the rear of Wilton bullet vises.

 

[sqznby]

Kicking around the other day on what to do with a bunch of old loose allen wrenches. Then it dawned on me I ALWAYS need punches! So I made a few out of the longer ones. They generally hard enough to do what I need. Any other uses?

They're also great for scribes.

 

[BMW Rider]

Handy for fixing trail damage.

 

[fishwatcher]

Kicking around the other day on what to do with a bunch of old loose allen wrenches. Then it dawned on me I ALWAYS need punches! So I made a few out of the longer ones. They generally hard enough to do what I need. Any other uses?

Nice! What do you use punches for? I can only think of a few uses. Interested to learn about more.

 

[Jacko264]

They make nice scribers

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I have combined a number of them with found sockets and a bit of JB Weld to create allen sockets that I can attach to my ratchet. I have a very nice and almost complete collection.

 

[rust in the eye]

Cut an inch or so from a 10mm one yesterday to access the transmission fill plug on a Maserati Q-Porte. An obstruction was an inch away from the internal hex plug, no room for elbow Allen key or socket. The cobbled 10mm hex bar and wrench got it done.
I've also used the long arms along with the appropriate socket to improvise long er hex bits.
Allen keys breed like rabbits in my tool box and I'm often tempted to throw them out but.......

 

[four.cycle]

I have one that somebody turned into a 90-degree screwdriver (center of image)

 

[Daveo]

Cut an inch or so from a 10mm one yesterday to access the transmission fill plug on a Maserati Q-Porte. An obstruction was an inch away from the internal hex plug, no room for elbow Allen key or socket. The cobbled 10mm hex bar and wrench got it done.
I've also used the long arms along with the appropriate socket to improvise long er hex bits.
Allen keys breed like rabbits in my tool box and I'm often tempted to throw them out but.......

I keep them around, I have made a few "shorty" ones for clearance issues...

 

[Monza Harry]

I keep them to replace the tips on my hex-bit sockets they do get abused. Harry

 

[Xti04]

I use the loose extra ones as go/no go gauges for brake pads. Years ago when I worked for Audi ther service limit for rear pads was 5 mm. If my 5mm key wouldnt slide between the rotor and backing plate on the pad I knew I was good to sell the job and didn't even have to remove the wheel to perform measurement.

 

[chinboys]

My old master machinist used to grind them down and make deburrers out of them

 

[MushCreek]

My snap-ring tool uses hexagonal bits, and I've made new/custom tips from hex keys.