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The Allen wrench itself is a small L-shaped wrench with six sides. If you look at a cross-section of the Allen wrench, it looks like a hexagon. When you need to use the Allen wrench, stick the short end of the L shape into the bolt head and press down on the longer side of the L to turn the bolt.
What can I use if I don’t have an Allen wrench?
Wrenches Similar to Allen Wrenches Hex Wrench of Hex Key Wrench. Torx Key. Torque Wrench. Things Around the House. In Your Kitchen. Screwdrivers. Nuts and Bolts. Open Ended Wrench or Combination Wrench.
Is a hex key and Allen wrench the same thing?
A hex key, also known as an Allen key or Allen wrench, is a small handheld tool that’s used for for driving bolts and screws with a hexagonal socket.
What are the two types of Allen wrenches?
Different Types of Hex Keys L-Style Allen Wrenches. This is the standard Allen key and is easily found anywhere. T-Handle. This is a popular tool, mostly used in motorsport applications. P-Handle. Folding Hex Key. Ratcheting Drivers. Torque Wrench. Allen Screwdriver. Ball Hex Sets.
What is an Allen tool?
A hex key (also, Allen key and Allen wrench) is a simple driver for bolts or screws that have heads with internal hexagonal recesses (sockets). Hex keys are formed from a single piece of hard steel hexagonal rod having blunt ends that fit snugly into similarly-shaped screw sockets.
How do I remove Allen screws without Allen wrench?
How to Remove Allen Head Screws Without an Allen Head Screwdriver Try to find a standard screwdriver that fits snugly between two of the points of the screw. It should fit with no wiggle room. Get your hacksaw. Put a small toothed blade on the saw. Use a standard screwdriver that fits the groove you just made snugly.
Can I put an Allen wrench in a drill?
Can I put an Allen wrench in a drill? Yes. You can cut off the branch of the L-shaped hex key. Create a straight wrench that can fit into the chuck of a power drill.
What does a hex Allen wrench look like?
An Allen wrench is one of the simplest wrenches to use. The Allen wrench itself is a small L-shaped wrench with six sides. If you look at a cross-section of the Allen wrench, it looks like a hexagon. Since the Allen wrench has such a specific shape, it can only be used with items especially designed for it.
Why do Allen wrenches exist?
The primary advantage of Allen bolts over hex bolts is that the tool used to do them up can be smaller than the head itself. So they are perfect for if you have a bolt that’s down inside a narrow opening. You can stick the Allen key down into the hole and do up the bolt.
Why is an Allen wrench called an Allen wrench?
Originally named Allen Manufacturing Company, the business produced hexagonal set screws and wrenches to fasten them. The terms “Allen wrench” (American English) and “Allen key” (British English) are derived from the Allen brand name and refer to the generic product category “hex keys”.
What are Allen wrench screws called?
Socket Head Cap Screws, which are also known as Allen head screws are stock items at Lightning Bolt in many materials sizes. These screws come with a hexagonal cross-section socket in the head and require an Allen wrench or hex key to drive them into material and secure them into a structure.
How many sides does Allen key have?
Alone, the basic Allen wrench has six sides, which allow for better grip when turning a bolt. That means the basic Allen wrench can only be used on hex bolts, as they have six sides themselves. However, you can buy socket sets that allow you to add different types of heads on the Allen wrench.
How many allen wrenches are there?
14 Different Types of Allen Wrenches.
How do you tell what size an Allen wrench is?
Measure the Hex Key As long as you know how to measure a hex key, you can always determine the size you have. Hex keys measurements are done across-flats or AF. This simply means that they are measured from one flat side of the head to the one directly across from it.
What are Allen wrenches made of?
Alloy steel and carbon steel are the most commonly used materials for Allen keys. Some manufacturers also use chrome vanadium to make wrenches that will have heavy-duty applications, given the properties of the material.
Can you use an Allen wrench as a screwdriver?
How Allen Keys Work. Allen keys work like most other screwdrivers and wrenches but with a few nuances. You can use them by placing one of the ends inside a fastener with a hexagonal socket head and turning it.
What do I do if I get the wrong size Allen key?
6 Answers Find a bolt whose head is the required size. Insert the bolt head half-way into the socket. Find a bolt whose head is the required size. Turn two nuts on and counter-tighten them (jam them together). You can get a decent set of hex wrenches for $10 – $15; possibly much less if you wait for a sale.
What does a hex bit look like?
A hex bit socket is a specially designed bit that fits into a manual or power screwdriver or drill. Such sockets are usually two-sided, with one side featuring the male, or driver, unit and the other side featuring the female, or socket, unit.
How do I make my Allen key faster?
????To speed up the furniture assembly process, cut off the short L-leg of the wrench with a grinder or Dremel tool, then chuck the remaining long leg into a cordless drill. Now use the speed of the drill to quickly tighten all the hex screws. Allen wrenches come in both SAE fractional-inch sizes and in metric sizes.
