T Handle Allen Key Sets

[William Harvey 1Participant @williamharvey1]

Hi,

I am looking for a decent set of T Handle Allen Keys for use with our Warco WM180 Lathe.

The allen keys supplied appear to be 2 – 6mm along with a 2.5mm?

Any recommended suppliers / sets?

Many thanks

[William Harvey 1Participant @williamharvey1]

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

I have a cheapish "Draper" set on the wall behind my lathe. Main sizes used are 2.5 5 and 6mm. The set goes up to 10mm. No issues with them in 8 or 9 years of use.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I use an Aldi el cheapo set and they have been excellent so far.

Andrew.

[William Harvey 1Participant @williamharvey1]

Hi,

I have found these and these.

Both seem OK?

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Eklind and Bondhus are my favourite brands, unfortunately they are not cheap but they are good.

Mike

[egaParticipant @ega]

I like the Bondhus ball-ended drivers.

Vintage Unbrako seem good quality.

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

The Park Tool "P wrenches" I've had for many years are good quality. They have ball ends. Kennedy Pro-Torq T-handled hexagon ball drivers also seem decent quality.

Faithfull and Neilsen are an unknown quantity to me. They could well be quite serviceable, like a Toolstation set of hex keys I bought about 18 years ago, or they could be like the Tesco set someone once bought me that I think were made of old Camembert.

[John Billard 1Participant @johnbillard1]

MSC Industrial have them on offer at the moment, an 8 piece set for £16.99. Plus VAT and carriage. Order for the next day. They are US made and good quality.

John B

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

I had a set of T-handled Hex Wrenches from a local firm in Standon (which has now closed its Trade Counter and only supplies by Mail Order).

I found that one of the handles turned but NOT the hex shaft – so I took it back where it was refubded without argument.

I also have a set from Aldi – and they have NOT let me down yet.

MC

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Dr. MC Black on 08/05/2021 17:45:40:

I had a set of T-handled Hex Wrenches from a local firm in Standon (which has now closed its Trade Counter and only supplies by Mail Order).

I found that one of the handles turned but NOT the hex shaft – so I took it back where it was refubded without argument.

…

I admit to being surprised by this unfortunate experience as my impression was that these "tee handled" tools are essentially ordinary Allen wrenches wrapped in a plastic tee-shaped handle so that the hex shaft is obliged to turn with the handle.

Can you comment?

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by ega on 08/05/2021 18:29:12:

Can you comment?

I suspect MC is talking about the type of T handle wrench that has only one business end, i.e. at the foot of the T. Presumably these do not always have the short arm of an ordinary allen wrench hiding somewhat redundantly inside the plastic handle.

Come to think of it, if I'm right, I'd be interested to know what they do have.

Edited By Bill Phinn on 08/05/2021 18:49:10

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

the only allen key that is used most of the time is the 6mm for the tool post – just buy a couple of these and paint in fluorescent colours (mine are lime green) because unless you are one of the 10% who always replace a tool in its recognised place you will need to pick it out among the swarf.
One of the things I have meant to do for a long time is to replace the cap heads, which gather swarf, with square head screws

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Posted by Bill Phinn on 08/05/2021 18:44:27:

Posted by ega on 08/05/2021 18:29:12:

Can you comment?

I suspect MC is talking about the type of T handle wrench that has only one business end, i.e. at the foot of the T. Presumably these do not always have the short arm of an ordinary allen wrench hiding somewhat redundantly inside the plastic handle.

Come to think of it, if I'm right, I'd be interested to know what they do have.

Edited By Bill Phinn on 08/05/2021 18:49:10

I think they must have had a metal shank inside a moulded plastic handle but they were returned to the company and I did not take any apart to investigate the construction.

The set currently offered have the "short end" poking out of the handle so presumably have an Allan key hidden inside the plastic.

MC

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

When I aquired my WM180 three years ago I bought a set by 'Silverline' comprising 10 hex T handles from 2 to 10mm including 2.5, 4.5 & 5.5mm I don't normally use/need the 9 & 10mm.

Silverline is a low/mid price supplier but the T handles have been completely excellent and live under my bench for use on WM180 and several other tools/machines………The only thing I don't really like is that they are blue!!

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Posted by Bob Stevenson on 08/05/2021 21:44:04:

The only thing I don't really like is that they are blue!!

I think that blue is "Silverline's colour"

My Aldi (or was it Lidl) set have red handles but I used a silver coloured marker to put codes on the handles so I can easily see which is which.

I made a stand for them by boring holes into a length of 2 x 2 (or should that be 50 x 50mm) wood. That sits in a cupboard under my bandsaw.

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

Dr Black……..you have reminded me that I should have mentioned that the Silverline hex’s come with a folded steel rack which has slotted eye-holes so can be readily unclipped from bench and taken to car or washing machine etc

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I made my set myself (because I could).

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Posted by Anthony Knights on 09/05/2021 08:19:21:

I made my set myself (because I could).

That's a neat idea. How did you secure the hex key into the handle? Would make a good beginners project.

John

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Dr. MC Black on 08/05/2021 19:02:04:

Posted by Bill Phinn on 08/05/2021 18:44:27:

Posted by ega on 08/05/2021 18:29:12:

Can you comment?

I suspect MC is talking about the type of T handle wrench that has only one business end, i.e. at the foot of the T. Presumably these do not always have the short arm of an ordinary allen wrench hiding somewhat redundantly inside the plastic handle.

Come to think of it, if I'm right, I'd be interested to know what they do have.

Edited By Bill Phinn on 08/05/2021 18:49:10

I think they must have had a metal shank inside a moulded plastic handle but they were returned to the company and I did not take any apart to investigate the construction.

The set currently offered have the "short end" poking out of the handle so presumably have an Allan key hidden inside the plastic.

MC

Thank you both.

Clearly, there is more than one way to make these; the screwdriver type, which I favour for light work, obviously has the shank moulded into the handle and, of course, no short leg. I have one or two vintage Unbrako brand tees with forged handles and the shank located by a set screw in a hex recess in the forging; not pretty but they are strong.

For a cheap, simple tool however the standard Allen key takes some beating.

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

I have some Ball-ended Bondhus ones of the Screwdriver Type which I use for my Taig Lathe (which uses strange American size screws). I find then excellent. But they were expensive!

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Posted by Bob Stevenson on 09/05/2021 07:47:55:

Dr Black……..you have reminded me that I should have mentioned that the Silverline hex’s come with a folded steel rack which has slotted eye-holes so can be readily unclipped from bench and taken to car or washing machine etc

The one that I returned had a similar rack; it was VERY fiddly getting the key through the lower hole. Even though I write it myself, the home-made wood rack is better and easier to use.

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

Posted by Journeyman on 09/05/2021 09:38:33:

That's a neat idea. How did you secure the hex key into the handle? Would make a good beginners project.

John

Beginners project is correct. I made them over 10 years ago when I first started. Handles are drilled with a hole the same size as the hex AF size and the key ( with the angled piece cut off) knocked or pressed into the hole. I wasn't sure at the time, how successful it would be, but they have lasted all this time. The 6mm one is used all the time on my mini-lathe tool post. A good exercise in basic turning and cross drilling.

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

I did a three afternoon workshop course as part of my Physics degree over 50 years ago. One of the exercises was to make a T-shaped Allen Key Holder on lathe. I think that I must still have it somewhere and my executors will find it when they clear the house!

MC

[VicParticipant @vic]

Bondhus make the best T handle hex keys. The key is welded to crosspiece and then coated in plastic. Many if not most others just have standard L shape keys in a moulded plastic handle. For machine use the long and extra long Ball ended ones are very useful.

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