sourcing hexagonal tubing

[13SigsParticipant @13sigs]

Does anyone know where I can buy a length of 8cm (at least) of steel hexagonal tubing with an external across flats width of 10mm and an inside across flats width of 8mm. In other words, to fit over an 8mm nut and be turned by a 10mm spanner. The photo below shows the business end of a box spanner with the type of hexagonal tube I am after. If push came to shove I could possible adapt what I have already got, however, if I made a mistake it is far easier to cut another piece from a much longer length of suitably dimensioned tubing rather than reworking another box spanner.

[13SigsParticipant @13sigs]

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

I would think that has been made from round tube then swaged into the hex at the end.

Nick

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

I'm intrigued as to why? If the current box is too long then trimming it and redrilling for a crossbar is easiest..or a longer crossbar.

If able to adapt the box you have then making a round bar to fit and milling/filing flats on it for your 10mm spanner should be easy enough and you don't need to insert into the tube and cross pin until it's right..

[13SigsParticipant @13sigs]

Posted by pgk pgk on 01/11/2015 13:10:52:

I'm intrigued as to why? If the current box is too long then trimming it and redrilling for a crossbar is easiest..or a longer crossbar.

If able to adapt the box you have then making a round bar to fit and milling/filing flats on it for your 10mm spanner should be easy enough and you don't need to insert into the tube and cross pin until it's right..

I included the photo to help illustrate what I need, which is; a length of hexagonal tube. An 8mm box spanner with the external wall formed into an hexagonal throughout its length will be ideal. So far, I have only found box spanners similar to the photo and no source of 8mm internal flats, hexagonal steel tubing.

[David JuppParticipant @davidjupp51506]

From limited searching of the catalogues of standard steel products that I get most information from, there doesn't seem to be any steel hexagonal hollow.

If anyone does manufacture such a product, it's likely to be a special.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

You may be able to find hexagonal steel tube from a rollformer in China or USA (if ordered in very large qty's) but probably not on the shelf of a normal steel supplier. Some suppliers of architectural metals may also have it, but the small size may be an issue and they may not have it in steel.

Had you thought of using 8 x 10 or 8 x 12inside dim rectangular tube rather than hex? (if you are using it as a wrench, in fact)

This rectangular tube material may be easier to find. To control side slip on hex heads in such tubing if used as a wrench, setscrews could be added to centralize the tube on the hex points.

Failing all else, there are at least two other ways to make parts that look like hex tubing. You could make it in two pieces in the mill and solder or weld it together, or you could make a die for use in an arbour or fly press and squeeze round tube to the hex shape (maybe using an internal hex mandrel to help form the shape).

Good luck, JD

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 01/11/2015 14:09:57

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Maybe make your own…
1 mm wall tube.11.2ish od .push hex down it..ideally creep up on size.. by mill/grind taper flats but failing that say 20 degree conical taper

Edited By jason udall on 01/11/2015 14:14:00

Edited By jason udall on 01/11/2015 14:16:20

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Thats two edits of above. Both omited changes???
Anyway…make tapered nut…pull via screw thread.

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

13sigs is trying to make a long box spanner with the requisite dimensions to fit the hexagon nut of a glow plug for one of his model aeroplanes…

This should help us help him sourcing material, but I agree with David, unlikely to find tube ready made….

13sigs, I use a nut spinner in my glow engines for removing/ replacing glow plugs, iirc, its a BA size but cant remember which….(2BA?…)

Edited By John Rudd on 01/11/2015 14:55:37

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by John Rudd on 01/11/2015 14:53:22:

I use a nut spinner in my glow engines for removing/ replacing glow plugs, iirc, its a BA size but cant remember which….(2BA?…)

That's the sensible way of doing it!

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Not much help- I've just chucked one away, it came with a box of bits to make a glass and chrome table, wife bought it . The box spanner was just as you described, far to flimsy so I binned it, shows it is made tho'.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

This?

**LINK**

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by pgk pgk on 01/11/2015 15:12:04:

This?

**LINK**

Exactly, well done.

Why on earth would you try searching for hexagonal tube to make you own poor quality version!?

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