Wrenches, sockets, ratchets...check. Allen Wrenches?

[EmptyWallet]

Building my tool collection here.

Wrenches, ratcheting wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, and ratchets are all good to go.

What else is there? Allen Wrenches? Who makes a great value affordable set of those? Can I go Taiwan (Gearwrench or Kobalt?) or does someone else make a great set?

Can anyone else think of a set of something that is needed for the basics I have above?

 

[pipsters]

I own Bondus USA they are good.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[waterboy12]

Eklind, craftsman. I feel like Allen wrenches are one of those things that unless your really abusing them, there hard to mess up. I use craftsmans when I need Allen wrenches.

 

[thesilverone]

Bondhus. Made in USA. Great prices and are very reliable

 

[jeffmoss26]

Eklind or Bondhus. Both made in the USA. I have several folding sets, mostly from garage sales. I also have a couple Craftsman mini hex drivers for working on locks. Even have bits in my magnetic ratcheting screwdriver.

 

[Exceller8]

I own Bondus USA they are good.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I bought an SAE folding set yesterday and I really like the quality for the $$$.

 

[bowtiepro3]

The only allen wrenches I buy are bondhus. Being in a machine shop they stand the constant abuse of daily use. You can buy the twin pack MM ans STD on sale for less than $25.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Perfect, thanks guys!

Anything to add to my list of stuff above?

 

[SMKS]

Bondhus. Made in USA. Great prices and are very reliable

Another vote for Bondhus. I have the metric hex keys with a ball end on one side. Very handy and good quality. They're cheap on Amazon, too.

The Bondhus I have are way better quality than the USA made Craftsmans I have.

 

[reptilezs]

bondhus they are excellent and priced well

 

[jeffmoss26]

You didn't mention anything about pliers...I am sure you have them, what brands?

 

[jrodc455]

Craftsman ones are Chinese now. Most of em I've seen anyhow. I work at Sears, so I'm not just making it up to stir the pot.

 

[twincam00]

I own Bondus USA they are good.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

from amazon...
"GoldGuard exclusive finish is 14 carat gold, professional quality, and easy to clean."

14 carat gold for $23.16??

 

[EmptyWallet]

You didn't mention anything about pliers...I am sure you have them, what brands?

I have about 4 or 5 pliers, all Channellock.

 

[EmptyWallet]

What's the difference between these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00012Y38W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

and these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Just the color?

And this is just stubby set?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006O4AII/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[pipsters]

What's the difference between these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00012Y38W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

and these:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00132CGTW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Just the color?

And this is just stubby set?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006O4AII/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I bought the briteguard finish ones because I was concerned about rust. Look at any old allen keys and chances are they are plated with an industrial black oxide finish that tends to rust. Bondhus says the briteguard finish resists rust better, so that is why I chose them.

 

[Plasmatic]

I'm a big fan of my Wiha L-keys. I have both the ball and the straight end long-arm keys. They both have their uses.

 

[OEXL16B]

Get the LONG keys with the ball hex on one end. Don't get short keys.

 

[shoturtle]

The wiha has a very nice finish to them.

Wera has a very nice set of stainless steel hex plus, that will not round out a hex head.

 

[shoturtle]

Get the LONG keys with the ball hex on one end. Don't get short keys.

Just make sure you do not use the ball end to break free the bolt, especially with the smaller keys.

 

[OEXL16B]

Just make sure you do not use the ball end to break free the bolt, especially with the smaller keys.

You gotta be pretty strong to be doing that. And yes, I fixed your typo.

 

[kippieland]

Another vote for Bondus here....love mine!

 

[shoturtle]

I was just correcting but with the smaller size key. I seen allot of people snap the ball end off. Harder with the larger sizes. But seen them break off also.

 

[dirtrider]

Get the LONG keys with the ball hex on one end. Don't get short keys.

I also have several Eklind sets as well as some Snapon Hex sockets, but I am always a fan of decent priced quality American tools.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

another vote for bondhus and i have a 3/16 hex socket I made at work out of a bondhus ball driver. I use it on my air ratchet to break bolts free all the time.

 

[coldfusion21]

Another vote for bondhus or Elkind. I use mine frequently every day and rarely break one using them as intended. Once they break or start to round out or get lost I just get a new set. Usually enco is running a deal on the package set from one of those two manufacturers. old set gets tossed in the drawer, never know when you'll need to cut or bend or weld one.

 

[cascivic]

i always thought these looked so awesome....but probably out of price range. anyone ever have any experience?

 

[thesilverone]

enco and travers tool have sales on them all the time. I also prefer bondhus t-handles
bondhus

eklind

 

[lwlobo]

PB Swiss hex keys are amazing. An old equipment mechanic from Germany came over to work on a pc of equipment and his PB allen wrenches blew me away. They looked nearly new, but he said they were 20 years old and he used them every day, at least that's what I think he said as his english wasn't good. They were long, extremely well finished, strong. I wasn't sure if they were stainless or that nice matte finsish you find on euro tools.

I priced a set and at $70 they're still on my wishlist. I do have the Wera stainless set that was a hot buy off Amazon a while back ($12, IIRC), they're very nice but not in the same league as the PB Swiss.

 

[tribbles]

i always thought these looked so awesome....but probably out of price range. anyone ever have any experience?

Those look...FABULOUS!

 

[Ditchdigger]

I made my living for the last decade with Bondhus ball end allen wrench sets. They were my best friends and I had at least one set in my pocket at all times. I absolutely despise folding sets. They always seem to be a hassle and in the way.

To the folks worried about busting off the ball end, look at which end they are mounted on. The one you cannot generate enough torque to damage. You would have to rig up a breaker bar to hurt em. So that would be user error and even then they are lifetime warrantied tools.

I have callouses on my index and ring fingers from the constant spinning of a Bondhus allen wrench against them. You can let the ball end walk in the socket and spin the tool with your thumb for fast assembly and teardown.

 

[EmptyWallet]

I bought a set of metric and standard from Bondhus. Also picked up a set of the star patterns as well. What else from Bondhus?

 

[lwlobo]

I bought a set of metric and standard from Bondhus. Also picked up a set of the star patterns as well. What else from Bondhus?

As someone mentioned, their T handles are very good. I also have a set of ballend hex insert bits I got off Amazon for a reasonable price. I love Bondhus, good quality tough tools, made in USA.

 

[Notwerk]

You did well on the bondhus set. I have sae/metric sets in gold guard, and they're outstanding. The ballends are very useful and I can't imagine ever breaking them. I want a set of bondhus hex bits next. Really happy with their stuff.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Any other L shapes I should look at besides regular hex and star? Picked up both of those.

EDIT - I see square, but I don't think I'd ever need those.

 

[SMKS]

I would hold off for now. If you run into some applications where you need additional tools, then you'll know. I think you're probably pretty well covered with those three sets.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Got it! I kinda figured that, but I just wanted to check.

 

[OEXL16B]

In the Bondhus catalog, they have stubby long sets; they come in real handy for tight clearance applications. I've got a 3/16'' key that I use on small engines that I had to cut to make it shorter on the short end for that very same reason. Then about a year later, Bondhus comes out with their own versions already cut.

 

[TwoInch]

I have about 4 or 5 pliers, all Channellock.

i think you have the idea when it comes to allen wrenches

fwiw, i use older craftsman long ball ends, or bits for a driver sometimes too.


i think we need to move on to your pliers stash, list what you have, and we can go from there...

i can tell ya right now tho, that you NEED to get a knipex plier wrench, two preferably small and large, and at least one knipex alligator plier... 10" probably. i had mostly craftsman and channellocks, and they are great tools, but damn, them knipex are the shizz when it comes to those particular styles. give em a look.

 

[EmptyWallet]

I am so desperately wanting a pair of the Knipex Plier Wrenches. I just picked up from Sears a pair of the Knipex Mini Bolt Cutters tonight.