What to do with all the "hex head allen wrenches"

[toolmiser]

It seems everytime I buy a box of "junk" there is a bunch of allen wrenches in it. I've kept them over time, but I think it is time to thin the herd? Other than scrap value does anyone have this problem, and if so, is there any good alternate uses? I am sure within a week of getting rid of them I will need a sacrificial one. I can't even see much of a chance to sell at our garage sale.

Thanks!

 

[jetmech09]

Somehow stick them into the appropriate size socket, and what do you know? You've got a tool that costs an arm and a leg.

 

[wreckerman5357]

I keep a good assortment of Allen wrenches in my toolbox at work, my gun cabinet, my hunting / range bag, and the junk drawer in my kitchen at home. I don't use them much at work, but run into to a situation when I need them a time or two a week. A lot of my older rifle and scope setups use hex (my newer stuff is all torx) so it is nice to have a set at home for maintence and a set in the field for emergencies. The stuff in the junk drawer is nice to have when you have furniture to assemble or your wife needs some around the house for some reason.

Realistically, hex keys are not worth much, so selling them off is not going to get you anywhere. I find myself needing them for various tasks in my life, often times outside of work. I would say put yourself toghether a few sets and put them places you might need them.

 

[kb2tha]

I cut the top off of a gallon windshield washer jug and just throw them in there. Have never been at a loss to find the right one when needed. I am sure I have plenty of duplicates but I'm OK with that.

 

[smothers33]

I would keep a set or 2 for yourself the rest either garage sale or a friend maybe. There isn't much of a use for them. A good set of hex bits is more versatile IMO because you can use them on ratchets, impacts, extensions, swivel joints, breaker bats, etc... But there are times a Allen wrench will work were a bit won't so they're stil nice to have. I did use them for a while as pin punches before I could afford the real pin punches. Dunno what else you could use em for though

 

[TwoInch]

grab a coffee can and toss em in, and put under work bench for that day you need one like you mentioned above. i wouldnt even sort them out or pick the winners. unless you have a million, there is no scrap value, and you never know when you might need em.

maybe grab a couple handfuls, and hand the rest off to your buddies.

 

[TwoInch]

if it tells you anything, pawn shops around here sell them for 20 for a buck, and will actually give you around fifty for a buck(large handful)

 

[Holt]

Cut the L portion off and use the straight shaft in a drill. Give the rest away to a family or hard working kid in the neighborhood

 

[JDS968]

Somehow stick them into the appropriate size socket, and what do you know? You've got a tool that costs an arm and a leg.

That's kinda funny but if you think about it...get an extra set of small sockets in metric and inch pattern, drill and tap each socket for a set screw, and then cut the bends off of each allen key, giving you interchangeable and replaceable bits to put in your new allen sockets, in 2-3 lengths at least (depending on how long the straight sections of each key are).

 

[454ragtop]

That's kinda funny but if you think about it...get an extra set of small sockets in metric and inch pattern, drill and tap each socket for a set screw, and then cut the bends off of each allen key, giving you interchangeable and replaceable bits to put in your new allen sockets, in 2-3 lengths at least (depending on how long the straight sections of each key are).

Rather than drill and tap, use loctite sleeve retainer, holds well, comes right out with a little heat. The quality allen wrenches are made of good steel, and make good punches and other tools. Use one on Toyatas to hold the tensioner when doing timimg belts.
HTH, Jim

 

[pfbz]

I keep lots of duplicates of the smallest sizes... They always seem to dissapear.

 

[RECox286]

They can be re-gifted at weddings and Christmas...

Uncle Bob

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a few that I was thinking of saving for a winter project. Sticking them in a 1/4" dr socket and weld them into place. It'll make them perfect to use in an impact driver.

 

[RedFordTruck]

Thats a good idea. Homemade hex bits...

Ive got a Taiwan wrench that snapped in half and a 1/2'' drive japanese ratchet that 4 inches of the handle are gone.

At some point I wanna weld them together to have a ratcheting wrench...

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I've got a set of donor sockets and allens in a bag I need to setup already. Cutting those things take work.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've got a set of donor sockets and allens in a bag I need to setup already. Cutting those things take work.

Cut off tool or chop saw.

 

[balane]

Throw 'em in a box, set it out and you have an unlimited supply of ear scratchers.

 

[Holt]

Secret santa. Make it someone elses problem

 

[RedFordTruck]

Instead of pranking someone by forking their yard, you could stick a ton of allen wrenches in their yard. It'd have to be a tool freak for it to be funny though!

 

[G_P]

I have a cigar box full of random allen wrenches. I use my T handle ones all the time but every now and then need a sacrificial one to make a special tool. Or if someone asks to borrow one I just give them one out of the box and tell them to keep it.

 

[e30bradley]

Somehow stick them into the appropriate size socket, and what do you know? You've got a tool that costs an arm and a leg.

I've done this in a pinch.. I too have a tonn of l shaped hex wrenches. Cut it with a dremel and put it in a socket. Works nice.. but they fall out of the socket

 

[greasemonkey44]

i grind a taper on the big ones and use them to pull out valve seats in showers

 

[Gort the giant robot]

Drill holes in a 2X4 and drive them into the 2x4 with a hammer. Nail the 2x4 to a wall and hang tools on it.


Gort.

 

[JDS968]

Rather than drill and tap, use loctite sleeve retainer, holds well, comes right out with a little heat. The quality allen wrenches are made of good steel, and make good punches and other tools. Use one on Toyatas to hold the tensioner when doing timimg belts.
HTH, Jim

Which one is the "sleeve retainer"? I haven't heard of that before, and the website doesn't show anything. Loctite would certainly make assembly easier, so it would be great if you didn't switch bit lengths often, although I think the set screw would be easier if you wanted to switch it from long to short and back on a fairly regular basis.

Ive got a Taiwan wrench that snapped in half and a 1/2'' drive japanese ratchet that 4 inches of the handle are gone.

Gone? Where did they go??

Instead of pranking someone by forking their yard, you could stick a ton of allen wrenches in their yard. It'd have to be a tool freak for it to be funny though!

That sounds like a recipe for lawnmower-related injuries!

I've done this in a pinch.. I too have a tonn of l shaped hex wrenches. Cut it with a dremel and put it in a socket. Works nice.. but they fall out of the socket

See above.

 

[CouchSpring]

Make some artwork out of them,spiders and such.

 

[454ragtop]

Sleeve retainer http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KKTIG/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Good stuff, next best thing to welding.
Jim

 

[kngkong]

Drill holes in a 2X4 and drive them into the 2x4 with a hammer. Nail the 2x4 to a wall and hang tools on it.


Gort.

I like that idea!