Draper 33506 Metric Hexagon Key, 3.5mm

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Lastly, there’s one other added benefit to having both SAE & metric hex keys. In the United States, larger metric half sizes like 6.5 mm aren’t standard in most hex key sets. However, the 1/4″ SAE hex wrench will likely work in place of a 6.5 mm wrench. In scenarios like these, use the chart to estimate the correct alternative. You can test different sizes till you find the best match. We do recommend starting slowly to ensure that you don’t damage the hardware. Our range of long-reach Allen keys are manufactured by leading brands like Irwin, Stanley, Bahco, GearWrench, Wiha Tools, Facom, RS PRO, and of course the original trademark designer, Allen. How would you use a long reach hex key? Allen™ screws and wrenches are not the be-all-end-all in the world of fasteners and tools. Some complaints focus on the tool size being too small to allow for one to apply sufficient torque in all cases. Also, inferior materials used in the manufacturing of either the wrench or the screw can render them easy to damage in spite of the increased number of pressure points. But they are still popular more than 100 years after William G. Allen™ filed for his patent and will likely be here to stay for the foreseeable future. Summary T-Shaped Hex Keys: T-shaped hex keys or T bar Allen Keys have a crossbar or T shaped handle at the end which provides a better grip Long-reach Allen keys are a common feature of most good quality hex key sets, which tend to include a useful range of common wrench sizes and diameters (typically from around 1-1.5mm, up to 12mm and beyond).

This article provided a summary of the commonly available sizes of Allen™ wrenches/keys and explained the different types of Allen™ wrenches as well as the advantages of these tools. For information on other topics, consult our additional guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform where you can locate potential sources of supply for over 70,000 different product and service categories, including suppliers of Allen™ wrenches and other hex key wrenches. A Hex Key is commonly referred to as an Allen Key, this is because Allen was the original manufacturer of the Hex key. Our range features options that are with or without a ball end, which allows users to screw at an angle A ball end Allen key set is also an increasingly popular choice for both professional and hobbyist users alike, and with good reason - ball end hex wrenches (sometimes known as ball end hex keys, or ball point hex keys) offer a far greater degree of versatility and flexibility in terms of access to smaller spaces. They achieve this by dramatically increasing the range of positions the user can stand in relative to the fastener they’re working on at the time. Non-sparking designs – While most Allen™ keys use an alloy steel or tool steel material in their fabrication, there are options available that utilize Beryllium Copper in lieu of steel. The Beryllium Copper material will not create sparks if the tool accidentally slips and strikes another metal surface. The non-sparking feature of this material makes these types of Allen™ wrenches suitable for use in applications where the presence of flammable gases or combustible liquids might exist.Hex keys have a number of important characteristics that make them particularly well suited to the straightforward, user-friendly fastening role that has made them so popular among operators of all experience levels. These include the fact that hex keys: Allen™ wrenches or Allen™ keys are generally available in several different styles or types. The most common Allen™ wrench type is the one mentioned earlier – the L-shaped hex key – but there are other variations that incorporate different handle designs, utilize different materials, or add special features. A summary of the most common Allen™ wrench types is found below:

Pressure points – the hex design of the Allen™ screw distributes force from the tool against 6 surfaces compared with 4 for the Phillips head screw and 2 for the slotted screw. This makes it easier to loosen or tighten these fasteners and can make it less likely to strip or damage a fastener while loosening or tightening.Figure 1 – The cross-section of an Allen™ key showing the measurement for width across flats Types of Allen™ Wrenches

Tether-ready designs – These Allen™ wrenches include an opening on the handle which can be used to attach a tether that can secure the wrench to the user or to a fixed object such as a scaffold. This feature helps prevent the wrench from accidentally falling into a work area and causing injuries or equipment damage. This feature is useful when the tool user is working on an elevated platform.Hex keys or Allen keys are available in metric sizes and imperial sizes Imperial Allen Keys. They are also available in Allen Key Sets which include a range of popular hex key sizes including 12mm Allen keys. RS also supply Allen keys from leading brands such as Wera Allen Keys, Wera Allen Key Sets and Bondhus Allen Keys Allen™ wrenches are available as individual keys of a given size but are also sold in sets that contain a range of standard sizes. Allen™ keys are identified as being either metric-sized keys in millimeter sizes or SAE (Imperial) sized keys in fractions of an inch or decimal equivalents.