Allen Keys

Post by **Mick F** » 4 Jul 2007, 11:03am

I've been trying to get some long Allen keys for some time. 'Normal' ones tend to be too short, and it's difficult to get a bit of torque with them, especially on chainring bolts or crank bolts with them.

I eventually found just what I was looking for. And even better, they were 'Ball Ended' and chromed! And they were long! They're made by Laser, and cost £6 odd from a local discount store. (Trago Mills) They're in 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 mm and are fitted in a handle that can be used as a Tee Bar.

horizon · Post by **horizon** » 4 Jul 2007, 11:19am

Good one Mick. I shall be along to Trago sharpish. I've been looking for years for, I think, a 6mm for all the handlebar turning we do when bikes go in and out of the shed. I use an extender on one but Draper do a lovely long, padded handled one but this goes no lower than I think 8mm (cranks??). In the end I decided that there must be a logical reason for this in that too long a handle would give too much torque on a small allen nut but the person who decided this had obviously never had a quill stem.

GeoffL · Post by **GeoffL** » 4 Jul 2007, 11:20am

Nice find! I suspect that a visit to the Glyn Valley is required ... :wink:

Edited to add: I went to Trago yesterday and couldn't find the allen keys Mick bought. However, I did find an even cheaper set (about four quid) by "Rapier" of long allen keys with ball ends.

In addition, I bought a pair of Rolson cable cutters for (IIRC) £2.45. These trimmed my wire-cored washing line very easily (I'd given up on side-cutters and a hacksaw previously) and seem robust enough to trim gear and brake cables.

HTH,

Geoff

horizon · Post by **horizon** » 4 Jul 2007, 11:32am

It's a 7mm or 8mm brake pad key so the sizes don't go any lower. Shame.

ianr1950 · Post by **ianr1950** » 4 Jul 2007, 12:26pm

Kennedy make some good long ball ended Allen Keys, I've used them for years.

reohn2 · Post by **reohn2** » 4 Jul 2007, 10:30pm

I've got a set similar to MickF's made by Elkind (i think)they're American and very good quality too

PW · Post by PW » 5 Jul 2007, 11:43am

I cheat.

In the shed there's a sawn off bit of seatstay which works nicely as an allen key extension. :wink:

Post by **Mick F** » 5 Jul 2007, 12:00pm

I would cheat too! Sometimes with ring spanner and sometimes with mole grips. Long allen keys are best though ....

lenton4sa · Post by **lenton4sa** » 14 Aug 2007, 10:53am

Try 'Screwfix' at Yeovil. They are good for all types of tools, fairly cheap as well, only disadvantage is the postage.