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I’m after a good quality hex set where the shaft isn’t thicker than the end (fnarr fnarr!) I’ve got the blue handled Park Tools one but the end on the long bit is that rounded ball end hex shape for undoing things at an angle and I hate them for normal use. I’ve also got the Park Tools shiny ones but the shaft is thicker than the end and as a result it won’t fit in certain applications where the bolt head is down a narrow tube (Specialized Future Shock I’m looking at you!) so I want a decent quality set that fits in places like that.
The ones in the Unior Pro kit are like that 😁
https://uniortools.com/eng/product/193HX-US-t-handle-hex-wrench
That’s the sort of thing - ta.
For permanent workshop use I've got a set of Draper P/T handles, but for mobile use I've got Halfords and Wera - the latter are more expensive, but nicely colour coded so you can just grab the right one once you've subconsciously learned the colours. I've not managed to mangle any of the above, yet!
We have the Wera Bike set one for in the garage. Bought it last year in a sale at £65 not cheap but our others had lasted 30 years so not too bad
https://products.wera.de/en/screwdrivers_series_400_t-handle_bicycle_set_6.html
https://www-us.wera.de/en/great-tools/hex-plus/
https://www-us.wera.de/en/great-tools/l-keys-in-a-two-component-clip/
I am a professional mechanic, and I always have a Wera allen key set in my pocket!
They reduce the risk of rounding out heads, and often are able to open an already somewhat mangled bolt that regular keys would certainly round out.
Wera tools are good quality otherwise too.
Yeah, I’d looked at the Wera but they all seemed to be thicker than the end I didn’t see those Hex plus L shaped ones though and they look like they are OK. Pretty reasonable for £28 as a supplemental set. 👍
LOL @alan1977
another +1 for the wera
Remember the wera colour coding is a plastic sleeve that can be removed (not sure if that's a one time operation). I think you can get ones without.
Another cycling site tech editor raves about the PB Swiss 212.LH RB (Long Handle Rainbow). If you think wera are expensive these are at least double.
I have the hex plus for trail duties but they have a ball end on the long part and the plastic covers sometimes get in the way.
Ive trimmed the cover on my ones to get through the crank arms for pedal duties
I have an old non colour coded Wera set. Must be at least 10 years old now. On the 10mm key I cut the sleeve halfway up. It's not affected it's operation. Or keeping it safe in the wee organiser.
There's nothing to stop you from cutting off the ball ends...
I don't know much about this Wera set, but no ball-ends and £13 a set - clearly not stainless but at least they're Hex-Plus: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001553NKS/?coliid=I22EE7W263HDEY&colid=K6IDZDYBCB6V&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it
"Another cycling site tech editor raves about the PB Swiss 212.LH RB (Long Handle Rainbow)."
I hope they're hand-spun on hydro-powered equipment by a craftsperson who only speaks Romansch and accepts payments in kind.
This may suffice. Can be found cheaper
The WERA and PBSwiss ones are worth the money, i've had a good few other sets (some of them weren't cheap either!) and they all lose their corners and then need chucking, or the ends trimming to get a "fresh" tip. Some within a few months of use. (Some in weeks!)
The WERA ones i bought have barely even lost their finish yet, and i've had them nearly a decade.
The PBSwiss ones are only 3 or 4 years old, but seem equally as well made. Got them half price, so can't complain!
I also got some torx to match the WERA hexes.
I managed to round off a WERA one that I got as part of a set for Christmas. I was surprised and annoyed.
Wera, obviously
Bahco Hex L-key set (as opposed to long ball end hex L-key set)
Thanks all - those Wera L shaped at £12 will do the job. Ordered 👍