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Park the way forward for 25 quid or any better quality for that price? T handle a bonus
TIA
A set of Wera will last you a lifetime as long as you dont loose them
20% off here
I'll second the Wera Hex Plus.
Wera are THE Allen keys.
Are they also good for screwdrivers then?
Are bahco any good?
The Wera ones as mentioned are excellent, better than overpriced Park tools, although deep set grub screws cannot be accessed due to the shaft being thicker than the allen head, not a common problem, but it's their only flaw.
Wera screw drivers are good.
Their Lazer tips are good for general use
But if I can only have one set of screw drivers it's the hex through tang chisel drivers they do.
Mines are needing replaced now but they are 10 years old and well abused
They have been beat on and torqued on with a spanner they have been used to pry they have been used to chisel on occasion. Great things
Banco stuff hit and miss.
Some of its just rebadged junk.
Some of its really good.
I rate their socket sets and ratchets highly.
Their screw drivers much less so.
Third for Wera
This comes up from time to time, seems Wera is the default answer, but cos this is STW & we like bling:
PB Swiss Tool
&
Silca HX
add £100 to your £25 for the Silca!!!
I would also stick a t25 in the tool box. Never had one fail on disc rotor bolts since we got one
I bought PB Swiss hex and Torx. I suspect the Wera are in no way inferior, in fact I have read that Wera are slightly larger than the PB Swiss so may work better in less than perfect hex heads.
Came here to say Wera but beaten to it several times! Lovely tools.
I have Wera screwdriver bits for my drill and they are excellent.
If you're going to spend that much then Wera are the only sensible choice. They're my work set.
Just got a set if generic X-tools from CRC at home which work 99% of the time and cost about 1/4. The wera ones are great for getting thread locked and corroded bolts out though!
Wera for the win, though the sleeve can work loose and sometimes in the way for recessed heads. I might buy a second set and deglove the old ones to use this way (don't google degloved it will give you knightmares)
You can buy a set already degloved or take a blade to the last bit of the glove.
Had to do that with the 8 to get through the crank for pedals
I use Bondus allen wrenches and they seem to be decent quality. Like these ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bondhus-10946-Balldriver%C2%AB-L-wrenches-1-5-5mm/dp/B0006O4AEC/ref=sr_1_13?qid=1566126239&refinements=p_89%3ABondhus&s=diy&sr=1-13
Not colour coded but fit allen bolts well and I've never rounded a fixing with them.
The Wera “degloved” are also cheaper, I bought one of each of the three main sizes years ago from RS Components… would buy again.
I've had a set of these for 15 plus years, had lots of hammer, 5mm one is bent a little now but never let me down, used on bikes, cars, diy etc
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Facom-Hex-Power-Key-Set/dp/B008ASX0QU
Amazon had some stainless Weras for the price of the black ones a few months back at least. I don’t pretend to know the difference other than the stainless ones were meant to be £60! Had them for Father’s Day, they’re lovely. I’m thinking of asking Father Cmas for the Torx version.
ANyone happen to know what "SB" stands for in Wera tools (not just L-keys) ?
(I wondered about "short body", i.e. shorter shaft)
I was told its German and relates to cheaper packaging
Edit
Selbstbedienungsverpackung
Edit backatyou
schittiböx ?
I think I must be the only person that doesn't like wera? I'd rather have a plain hex end instead of their shaped one, it's caused me problems especially with smaller sizes. Prefer my Inbus set and my teng t-handles
Wera do hex and hex plus.
You really do want both as you can have issues with some sorts of occasionally fittings
Wiha magic ring are really nice, as is the ergo holder. Magic ring is a spring that holds the bolt on the ball end. Comparable price with the bondhus ones but shinier and tricker.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/wiha-metric-magic-ring-hex-key-set-9-pieces/8095g?_requestid=345581
trail_rat
Member
Wera do hex and hex plus.
Ah, I did not know that! I thought they were all the hex plus.
Any set of chromium molybdenum Allen keys will last you a life time. A set for under a tenner from B&Q (or Halfords, can’t remember now) are well on their way to lasting me a lifetime and they’ve been well used over the years, every weekend back in the days I used to while away my weekends tinkering with old bangers, so the light bike duty they see these days is child’s play. Lasted me 23 or so years and counting. It’s an Allen key. Pretty basic tool really. Save your money for something worth investing in.
I had a set of Wiha with the magic spring rebadged as Halford Professional. The 5MM one broke recently but they must be well beyond 10 years old, manged to buy a single replacement, but it is colour coded green which looks a bit odd in the otherwise silver set. Would buy again.
I've got a set Facom that I have had for years still going strong.
Wera
Sorry but that is terrible advice wobbliscott.
Cheap poorly fitting hex keys keep workshops in business.
I've had cheap keys appear in sets from the likes of Halfords that have slop from new in bolts that quality hexes fit in snuggly.
If you get good ones then fair enough but to assume all that are of a certain material are made to the same tolerance is foolish.
Hex keys also wear - in a workshop environment we would get replace our 4 and 5s at least once a year -you could clearly see the discolouration where the surface finish had worn down-on measuring with a mic there was measurable wear -which when your working on thousands of pounds of customers bike is not cool.
I prefer the proper t handle ones, I've had teng ones and I really rate them. Wera seem nice for the L shape ones
So aside from the obvious, what’s the difference between the stainless and the ‘blacklaser’ Wera keys.
The stainless are £25 on amazon while the blacklaser are £33.??
Stainless keys should be used in stainless fittings if your working to some regulatory body guidance
Use of regular keys in stainless fittings will leave trace of material in stainless that will cause corrosion hot spots.
For regular joe it means your hex keys don't rust.
The material is naturally more brittle than chrome molybdenum though similar to that of chrome vanadium
Blacklaser is just pretty much annodising over chrome molybdenum
We have a set off both and a few assorted. Saves on our daughter taking the garage set and mates using them.
Can't tell the difference in use but the black do look nicer.
The amazon prices are a bit steep. Both our sets were less than £20 each.
Loads of deals out there.
We carry a cheap Aldi set in the van for the odd occasion when someone at a race is desperate for one but forgets to bring it back 😉
Another vote for the Wera Hex Plus.
The hex is slightly flared so it's much less likely to round a damaged/corroded/poorly sized screw head. Feels well made, colour coding is useful too.
Best allen keys I've ever used and sometimes available cheap on sportpursuit!
Been using Swisstool for many years for my work (machine tools). . Been very durable.
Facom set have had an absolute battering in work over the last few years and still work a treat.
Got myself a set of facom T handles for the bike at the companies expense too.
If you want something maybe a little cheaper the chromed up long ones from RS are really good as well.
I think I must be the only person that doesn’t like wera? I’d rather have a plain hex end instead of their shaped one, it’s caused me problems especially with smaller sizes.
I don't like the rainbox Wera ones I got for Christmas - the plastic coating makes the body a lot bigger and I find it's hard to judge what size hex key you're picking up (and its invevitably too small, unless you've ememorised the colours!).
Their plain stainless hex keys are exellent however. I've some older Facom ones that have been top notch too
Whilst we're all here, any decent pliers recommendations?
Yup
Tool porn! I work with Aero Engineers, here are some of the views: Stahwille are very very good, very accurate but can corrode more easily than others (my fav pliers) - typically Rolls Royce, RAF top choice. Some love the SnapOn, good but expensive. Some really like the Facom, have great shaped spanner’s and trick ratchets. Wera OK, they like the multi tools but generally avoid the rest of their tools. Craftsman, especially the older stuff well thought of. Other tools are available! Someone mentioned ALDI earlier, they can have some ok tools, damn good value but we have the Allen key set and the 4mm is 4.2mm some will not fit accurate bolts, all the others are ok but not as accurate as the Stahwille or SnapOn ones.
We also race and I can tell you in the amateur paddocks, the majority of tools are Halfords Pro, we have a lot in the car and bike tool boxes and we reckon they are excellent and fantastic value.
I've had a set of these for a while and have to say they have been brilliant:
Superstar Ball End Allen Keys
Also got a set of Silverline T-Handle but not overly impressed - snapped the 4mm.....
I wouldn't mind that set of Wera but I think the sleeve would get in the way? Even if you cut it back the actual tool shaft (ooh we missus) looks wider, limiting insertion? (Ooh er missus etc).
I really like my Aldi ratchet spanners and the few Halfords Pro tools I have are great actually.
My go to Allen keys are on my Alien 2 multitool in truth most of the time lol, with some duties handled by a set of surprisingly good Go Outdoor keys and eBay one offs for the HUGE sizes needed for cinch cranks etc.
Knipex for pliers, pump grips, cutters etc etc...
I wouldn’t mind that set of Wera but I think the sleeve would get in the way? Even if you cut it back the actual tool shaft (ooh we missus) looks wider, limiting insertion?
No, it doesn't get in the way at all, unless you have some specialist hex head screws that are super deep.
Wera, Wiha, Bondus, Allen are all good, I wouldn't spend my own money on Stahwille as my experience of their other tools isn't good. I used to work on Aircraft engines, all our tools were Snap on, our team lead tried to start replacing tools with Stahwille - mainly 1/4" drive ratchets, as they get a hammering, OMG they were bloody awful!
I've used Bondhus for years.
Any set of chromium molybdenum Allen keys will last you a life time.
Surely they get worn enough in time that they need replacing? I've seen/borrowed a lot of knackered Allen keys over the years that's I've handed back rather than use on my bolts.
The OP asked about T-handle and everyone has just responded with 'L shaped'. Your toolbox needs a set of basic Allen keys but a set with handles are a lot more pleasant to use.
I've got https://www.proxxon.com/en/industrial/22650.php in a few sizes that are really nice (had a cheap complete set of X-tools or something before and broke the handle on one dropping it).
Park stuff is all very nice but for anything that isn't bike specific are really overpriced.
Really though - if you're getting a new set of money-no-quite-no-object allen keys, really don't bother with right angle jobs.
Get some of the pivoting ones. They are a million times more practical for working on bikes. (well maybe 100,000 times).
You'll thank me if you do.
They look a bit JML.
This place is just not niche enough these days. For tightening all those Ti bolts you bought and fitted, you really ought to have Ti tools too.
Edit- can't be stuffed wrestling with the linking images thing. have a link instead:
https://www.imprex.net/product/titanium-ball-end-hex-allen-key-kit-metric/
Well, cover me and eggs and flour, then bake me for fourty minutes, that worked.
Facom R.360 nano set
Knipex pliers
JCOOL torque sleeves
Norbar 1/4" torque wrench
Plus a few ice tools bits for cassette/BB etc
Nobeerinthefridge
They look a bit JML.
Whereas your reply is more ToysRUs
ive got the wera ones and they are nice to use.
However! i do find that on the smaller than 5mm stuff its easier to round off alloy capheads. its like the points of the tool are over to the side of the caphead to its got a poor fit.
Just so you know, Ti is a really bad material to make tools from. As much use as a chocolate fireguard, unless you really need them don't be tempted.
whilst we are here....anyone use those wera joker wrenchs?
Do those index at set point dez ?
Or are they free to move ?
Do those index at set point dez ?
They do - they lock into certain positions. I thought they might get loose over time, but they don't. Mine are Draper that I found on eBay cheap-ish, so not a "premium" brand, but I've been using them for a fair few years and they haven't altered in the slightest. You'd only have to try them for getting pedals off to know how perfect they are.
enp1
Subscriber
I prefer the proper t handle ones, I’ve had teng ones and I really rate them. Wera seem nice for the L shape ones
Same. Teng T handle ones seem pretty precise and nice to use
Oh yeah, Draper. I forgot I have a set of these for those situatios where a t handle works best.
I was a bike shop mechanic for 5-6 years full time and a few more years part time.
I never liked separate Allen keys. Too easy to lose and they slow you down too much changing sizes. Having to step away from the stand to the bench.
I used a Park Tool multi-tool (AWS-10* - 1.5-6mm allen keys only). Cost £10. I went through about 5 sets but almost all were due to being nicked by my colleagues. I still have some that are 10+ years old. They're a little loose fitting now but still work enough. Only thing is you have to tighten the bolt up occassionally.
Ball ended comes in useful once every couple of months but otherwise not at all. I had a Park Tool ball end set and an Ice Tools one. The Ice Tools one was better for my money. Handles cracked on both sets but more easily on Ice tools. Works just as well without them.
As a home mechanic I have a cheap Draper set of ball ends and a bunch of the park tool allen key multi-tools.
I'd save your money. That said people like shiny expensive things so go for it.
Screwdrivers on multi-tools are awful though.
* Now largely replaced by AWS-11 which has an 8mm and as a result is too big and heavy. Really you need a multitool with 4,5 & 6mm on. That does 95%+ of the bike.
eddiebaby
Member
Oh yeah, Draper. I forgot I have a set of these for those situatios where a t handle works best.
I have a set of Draper Expert t-handles that are probab;y almost 20 years old now, and tbh they're bloody excellent. But Draper's always teh same, some of it's great and some of it's awful and you never really know which it'll be til you use it
Regarding right angled allen keys, I've actually found [url= https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park-tool-3-way-hexagonal-wrench-aws/rp-prod13218 ]these things[/url] more useful in reality, for brakes, stems and the like.
Ice Tools - that’s what i had. handles cracked on the frequently used ones.
No, it doesn’t get in the way at all, unless you have some specialist hex head screws that are super deep.
But on those odd occasions when it does it's a pain in the arse e.g. the little 1.5mm cable clamps in a Pinion shifter. Hence I have just bought one of those Wiha sets from Screwfix, no bulge or plastic to get in the way and I love.the way the holder swings all the keys out for easy access
I use nearly all types. For most small adjustments or checking something is tight I use a park multitool that is normally close at hand, very occasionally a triangular type one and tend to get the newest longer Wiha magic ring ones out for a planned job, changing cranks of pedals or where reach needed or access is difficult, adjusting disc brakes through the spokes. Just because you get a shiny new set you don't have to stop using the old ones.
The Wera chisel screwdrivers are also on offer at Toolstation.
Treated my self to a set after the recommendation earlier
Cheers for heads up.
Needing a new set
Toolstation doing for 20 quid from 27 ?
At Screwfix 19.99 is the regular price
Bondhus, based on a recommendation on here IIRC.
Had Wera, now I have PB swiss and have reached allen key nirvana, performance wise haven't noticed any difference but I like the PB swiss aesthetics and holder a lot more - easier to get keys in and out, less clunky.
Then PS swiss again for screwdrivers, Knipex for pliers.
Check Machinemart, they've got some interesting options,extra long, colour coded, Clarke and Draper ones with a cool full colour coating, makes them look anodised.
I have this Pedros hex Set. Long handles quite useful for some awkward bike jobs. Finished well in silver and decent tight tolerances. Quality nylon holder:
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/tools-maintenance-cleaning/pedros-l-hex-wrench-set
Beta 951 or Facom for sliding T handles and PB Swiss for L handles.
It’s all tool porn though, Bondhus for the ‘just as good but cheaper’ option. They make Park’s Allen keys I believe.
I don’t like the rainbow Wera ones I got for Christmas – the plastic coating makes the body a lot bigger and I find it’s hard to judge what size hex key you’re picking up (and its invevitably too small, unless you’ve memorised the colours!).
Well yes, that's kind of the point innit. After a while, you'll just....know.