Cycling UK Forum

I want something to hold allen keys but it seems pouches/holders on their own (without allen keys) do not exist.

I am on the verge of just making one myself out of leather or something (and taking a course in embroidery lol)

I have got a plastic pouch thing at the moment from years back, but it was never designed to take the (metric) allen keys I am putting in it, nor the lengths I have got (a bit too long).

I just want something (preferably long lasting and zip up like a booklet thing) to hold 1.5/2/2.5/3/4/5/5.5/6/8/10mm keys.

I'm trying to avoid things like this with the keys exposed where they can slide out after the holder has been used a lot...



There's a few (like Draper) that are in boxes and the sets aren't cheap (about £43) but I don't want Draper allen keys, I just want to put my own Bondhus keys in something so they don't fall out and are in their own case/holder.

I simply cannot believe something this simple is this difficult.

This ones alright but the keys are still exposed and it doesn't go up to the 10mm one from looking at it...



This one's good, it's the £40+ set of Draper ones in a box, but the sizes are way off (it's got a largest key that's 14mm)...



The hunt continues.

Well... it's funny you should mention that, but my metric allen wrench holder is up for sale at the moment - what a coincedence! I'm only asking £25 for it. Free postage, too!!

is this for the workshop rather than carrying on the bike?

In the workshop, most folk use a set in a plastic clip to hold allen keys these days. Bondhus 18099 is a good clip which ought to cost about a quid (and does in some places) but the rob-dogs who have them in stock in the UK think that they are somehow worth at least x10 this much..... (edit; or think you want to buy ten....)


holds nine metric keys from 1.5mm to 10mm

This is a comparable Wera clip for more reasonable money

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wera-EMPTY-Clip-Holder-for-9-Hex-Plus-Blacklaser-Allen-Key-L-Keys-Set-950-SPKL-9/164173793367?hash=item2639854857:g:dZsAAOSwfHZeo-oA

but it is possible that the wera keys that normally go in it have sleeves that make them fatter than normal so ordinary keys won't be a good fit.

Loose is not good; I have at least one set of keys in a worn holder. I keep meaning to do something clever (eg with a soldering iron) to make the keys a tight fit in the holes again. I am reminded that I have done no such thing every single time I hold the thing upside down and whatever I'm doing is accompanied by the musical tinkle of falling allen keys.....

cheers

Allied to this does anyone know where to get a neoprene or similar pouch for multi tool, pump, tube, levers etc

Look up small neoprene pouches and you might find something as I have...

Cheers James

Not sure why you'd want it in a pouch, are you carrying it with you?
The only allen key pouches I've sen come with the set, Draper do one. There's no shortage of tool rolls on Ebay that would probably do, I've just had a glance, there's pages of them. Or depending on the size of the largest, they might go in one of those zip up CD holders, this sort of thing with the innards removed
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/48-CD-DVD-ST ... SwvItbWgcT

I use an old darts pouch.

Brucey cheers I had no idea anywhere sold them as a separate thing. I have already got that Wera one lying around somewhere from the set I bought. I can try it but I wanted something to keep the keys in as opposed to them being exposed and possibly falling out.

EDIT: Tried it, normal hex keys won't fit it.

They could do all sorts with allen keys like embed a ball bearing (or two) down the length so they could be properly clipped into a metal holder. The holder could just have hexagonal holes just about big enough to fit the key, with a sealed off end so, the keys could stand up in it but be firmly held with the sprung ball bearings.

Managed to find pics of that pouch thing I am using, but it doesn't close up properly like this one (that has the original keys in it) and the press stud is missing on mine... the pouch is old, probably bought in the late 1980's or early 1990's...

Manc33 wrote:Managed to find pics of that pouch thing I am using, but it doesn't close up properly like this one (that has the original keys in it) and the press stud is missing on mine... the pouch is old, probably bought in the late 1980's or early 1990's...

With a velcro closure, that sort of thing is ten minutes work with a sewing machine, if you know anyone who has one. Or if you found a local tarpaulin maker (In normal times) with that as a sample, and asked with a smile they'd probably do it while you wait from an offcut for a drink.

I'm assuming you carry your allen keys with you.

I have a smallish saddle bag slung under a b17 and space is at a premium.
After going over my bike (Synapse) I soon realised that there's only three sizes of allen screws on it so why carry a full set?

Rather than split up a set (workshop wall / tool box) I bought the three needed and elastic band them to the double ended
screwdriver that also lives in the saddle bag.

This "tool kit" weighs about half what some of those multi tools do.

Paul G

I have got that Topeak Alien III tool for out and about but I started wanting only Bondhus allen keys if possible, so I got a Bondhus Gorilla Grip (Red) that has metric 2mm to 8mm but that doesn't have the really small and really big ones on it. Still it's probably the best solution, albeit "missing" a 1.5mm and 10mm.

In fact those are so cheap I might get another one so I've always got one on the bike and always got one for home use.

The sales blurb on those claims 900 inch pounds! That's just over 100Nm which is absolutely insane and 2.5 times more than even the cassette lockring or bottom bracket cups. Thing is I don't think they are lying.

This penknife type one weighs 169g - compared to the loose set of the same sizes that's 118g.

You don't really need a full set with you though do you? If I carry the sub 3mm keys, they go in the puncture repair plastic box. Then I might carry 4/5/6mm and possibly a double ended 8/10mm spanner. That's it. If I need 8 or 10mm keys, I'll stop and harangue someone as they're sizes you'll often find in garages.

The 3 bigger keys are retained with a bit of old inner tube slipped over the plastic puncture repair box. Keeps them all together and stops them rattling around.

you don't need to carry heavy tools on the bike. No point in carrying 10mm allen key unless you also have cone spanners for shimano hubs, since 10mmAK is only needed for the hollow bolt inside shimano freehubs?

8mm AK is used on crankbolts and for that you only need a short tool



lots of options here because the 8mm hex is also used as a drive size as well as a key size. Simplest and cheapest is to cut a length from a long series key and to work it with a spanner. The bit above has a 1/4" hex on the far end so it can be worked with a 1/4" hex drive tool. On the road you arguably only need to be able to retighten a loose bolt well enough to get to proper tools, so full torque isn't required.

More than one way to skin a cat and all that.

cheers

.

gaz wrote:

Manc33 wrote:Still it's probably the best solution, albeit "missing" a 1.5mm and 10mm.

Could you get one of these?

Solves one of those requirements. IMG_20200517_110901~2.jpg

Hey that's the lost adaptor for my original cool tool !!!

Where did you get it from.???

I'd pay good money to get another one.

Cheers James

Ps 10mm is used on FSA chainsets btw Brucey!

Jamesh wrote:Hey that's the lost adaptor for my original cool tool !!!

Where did you get it from.???

I'd pay good money to get another one.

What sizes are the ends?

Jonathan