What do you do with your included assembly tools?

[MOS3522]

You know, those tools you get when you buy something. I just bought a very nice Eley hose reel and it came with a great L shaped hex wrench. I think it may even be stainless steel, like the bolts.

But I used to have dozens of these little hex keys, flat wrenches, etc that came with all the Ikea furniture, toolbenches, you name it. Anything that needed assembly and had a tool.

Do you use these tools, or use your own (presumably better) tools? Do you save them, and accumulate 30 orphan hex keys? It goes against my nature to throw them out!

 

[WildBill]

I usually throw them away the second I open the box and use tools made out of actual metal.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have a plastic box with a label. Spare Hex Keys.

I drill a hole in the stamped wrenches ... Then hang them on a hook.

 

[Sumboodie]

Trash unless it's something special I may need later or an actual usable tool. Like a Delta faucet came with a tool for removing the aerator.

Already have enough junk as is and only can remember location of so many tools.

 

[PCustoms]

Throw it back in the box.

Hide box, "just in case".

Eventually find box 10yrs later and question why the hell I kept that.

Throw box and wrench away

 

[Cruzan80]

Generally throw them away. But the 5G antenna showed up with a decent looking full polish 17mm combo, and a 10mm Saltus. Figured those were worth keeping

 

[cmandp]

If they are decent quality or special keep. Otherwise throw out or put in the scrap bin.

 

[PWC Repair]

Stuff like that goes into the scrap bin. It turns into a little extra cash when the bin gets full.

 

[kbeefy]

I have a drawer just for all those tools. I don't think I've ever used any of them...
Maybe I'll make a little metal sculpture with them someday.

 

[cousin eddie]

they usually go in the old diaper wipe plastic container in the house thats part of the "home tool kit" so i dont have to run to the shop to grab something next time. Besides, throwing away any tool is like wasting beer.

 

[BillK]

Scrap metal bin unless it is something special that I will need again for whatever it came with.

 

[mike93lx]

Generally they go straight into the trash

 

[no704]

Gaff tape to the bottom of whatever assembly it’s for.

 

[pancho400cid]

I accumulate them in a drawer. When I die my wife and kid can throw them in the recycling bin unused.

 

[reader2580]

There is no reason to keep the cheap Allen wrenches that come with products. They are typically cheaply made and not marked with the size. If you throw them in a box or drawer you’ll have no idea what size they are, and what they came with.

If you must keep them I suggest taping them to the item, or label them as to what they are for.

 

[PCustoms]

There is no reason to keep the cheap Allen wrenches that come with products. They are typically cheaply made and not marked with the size.

I forgot, I flung one across the garage in the general direction of the scrap metal bucket last week after it rounded over on the 2nd cap screw...

 

[kaymccampbell]

I toss the included tin tools in a coffee can, for later inclusion in other projects.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Gaff tape to the bottom of whatever assembly it’s for.

Not that I've ever done it, but I was going to suggest the same thing.

 

[PFSard]

* I polish them up. Then put them with my Snap-On, Mac, Matco and Cornwell tools. Ha, ha, ha!!!!
* But seriously. I generally don't use them for assembly. I keep them in a spare storage case (tucked away in an otherwise unused space).

 

[johnnn]

We get tons of these at work, the chrome looking ones aren't always good quality. The good ones usually have markings or a ball end. Odd sizes are occasionally cut into straight bits and used in a drill. Diy extractors have worked once or twice, although spare torx bits are usually used first. Every once in a while I find a drawer full of the same 3 sizes of Allen wrench.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Gaff tape to the bottom of whatever assembly it’s for.

I use blue painters tape. I tape the cheap wrenches for tp and towel holders under the vanity sinks right next to the faucet tools.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I keep them because why not? Then if someone tells me they need an allen wrench I let them borrow one of those. Also I could never throw away a tool.

 

[T444e]

They go in the scrap drum as soon as I open the package. Don't waste my time with them.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Keep mine. Then along comes a time when I need a hex key socket instead of just the hex key - a bit of JB weld and a socket the same size as the hex key and some hacksaw and file work and I solve my problem without a trip to the hardware store.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I save those stupid allen keys, I don't know why since they never get used. I have a drawer full of them I should toss out.

 

[nadogail]

They go into the collection of tools that I am willing to loan without regret.

Sometimes they get used for "filler metal" on a poorly fitting weld joint.

 

[mike93lx]

I keep them because why not? Then if someone tells me they need an allen wrench I let them borrow one of those. Also I could never throw away a tool.

The why not is clutter and wasted space. If I have easy access to a better version, why bother?

I hate clutter and duplicates that have no useful purpose.

I dont encounter people asking me to borrow tools like these, so at least for me, loaners isn't a good reason.

 

[finn]

I keep them in a plastic box with a lid, and actually use them when it’s for something quick and simple, so I don’t have to break out a better set.

My reasoning is that it seems i rarely put the “better set” back where it belongs immediately after I’m done, and, as a result I have several sets short an allen key….

If I just reach for the “miscellaneous Allen key box” for a quick job where a precision wrench isn’t really required, , there are enough duplicates that it really doesn’t matter if I don’t immediately replace it, and my “better sets” remain fully stocked.

Those strays eventually make their way back to the random box.

My wife keeps a few in her own cabinet, too. That way she can fix things on her own.

 

[red61cj5]

The medium/large phillips screwdriver that came with my concept 2 rower is one of my favorites.

 

[Jazz1]

keep them in the plastic bag containing warranty and file with the rest..alphabetical order of course

 

[Firebrick43]

usually too soft, throw them out

 

[jives]

If is is "quality" furniture that may have some spare parts, I toss all in a bag and tape to furniture. Especially with furniture that will see future disassembly, like beds. Other tools get put in the in-the-house toolbox.

 

[wolfhawk73]

The only ones I've ever kept are the ones included with my Milwaukee Quik Lok attachments. They're all kept in a Plano box that travels with the attachments when I'm doing yardwork somewhere other than at home.

 

[unslow1]

I have a box of loaner/giveaway tools. They go in that box. I don't feel bad about customizing those to get a job done.

 

[niget2002]

I've been putting them in a locked box at the top of my closet with the words, "Daddy's little secret" on it. There's a few other useless bits and bobs in there also. My entire family is on pins and needles to find out what's in there. One day I plan on giving it to my son with the key for Christmas. It'll be the longest running dad joke of all time.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I've been putting them in a locked box at the top of my closet with the words, "Daddy's little secret" on it. There's a few other useless bits and bobs in there also. My entire family is on pins and needles to find out what's in there. One day I plan on giving it to my son with the key for Christmas. It'll be the longest running dad joke of all time.

The kids opened it years ago.

 

[goldtang]

At home if there are any good ones I keep the rest in the bin or , if I build any thing at my daughters place they all end up in a tin kept at her place you just never know

 

[BearsFan315]

IF they are of the standard tool type, i typically toss them and use my standard tools. Or i may use them to assembly the item, then toss.

IF they are a special tool for that specific application, then i put them in my special one use tool drawer and label what they are for. this way if/ when i toss said item i can toss associated tools.

 

[bdbecker]

I give them to my 5yo son. He loves them because they are "real tools". It also gives me the opportunity to teach him how to be responsible with them by not leaving them laying around, but with no real risk if one does go missing. He's got quite the collection in his little Trusco tool box (along with a few other inexpensive tools I've bought for him). You can hear him coming to help with a project from across the house as they rattle around inside.

The hammer stays with me though... learned that lesson the hard way. When a 4-5 year boy has a hammer in his hands, everything is a nail.

 

[NFT5]

I have one compartment of one drawer in a tool box that is reserved for these tools. I was able to put off buying a set for many years until finally presented with a fastener that I didn't have the appropriate size for.

Exception is the spanners that come with spray guns. They live with the guns with a universal one tethered to the bench where I disassemble for cleaning.