Hex (allen) drivers with screwdriver handles

PardonTheWait · 16 Dec 2018 at 19:49

Hi all,

Just a quick one really. Can anyone recommend a good set of hex drivers, from say 1.5mm - 5mm with screwdriver type handles?

There are various on Amazon, eBay etc, but all I can seem to find is cheapo chinese brands.

I'm really looking for any semi-decent brand like Draper, Clarke etc, but preferably more in the Wiha, Wera, Bahco, Teng range. Happy to spend £20-30 odd or possibly more.

I also want an actual set, not bits for a handle.

There are quite a few good sets of nut drivers but I'm looking for Allen key replacements.

If anyone's got a decent set that they like, I'd love to know.

Edit: not looking for T-handles either, I have a set of them that are ok but the handling for what I want them for will be 10x easier with normal screwdriver handles.

Edit again! Found some at Farnell individually, may have to plump for these if they sell to individuals, I think they do - but still very interested in a set of 6/8

PardonTheWait · 17 Dec 2018 at 00:13

rexehuk said:
Wera.

/Thread

I've only ever broken one 'proper' screwdriver and it was a Wera! I bent one as well

I was abusing the one I bent though so it doesn't count.

I do like them though - Farnell sell them in all the sizes I want so I may end up going for them if I can't find them in a set. It's about £30 ex VAT though without postage.

I want to try Wiha or Facom, but they don't have all the sizes I'm after. Some of the screwdrivers we use at work are Facom, they're the larger ones and the only ones we use that aren't set up as a handle with replaceable blade, because a lot of our drivers are 1mm, 1.5mm etc or small JIS drivers because the stuff we repair is Japanese. I haven't had to replace any yet and there are quite a few in the workshop so I'm impressed with them.

PardonTheWait · 17 Dec 2018 at 23:45

Found a Kennedy set with all the sizes I want reduced to a tenner. No experience personally with Kennedy but as I said above I’ve actually broken a Wera Phillips screwdriver before without abusing it which put me off a bit. Hopefully a one off though.

If these are pony I think I will try Wiha. Or Teng, but those are even more expensive! For what I want them for I think probably only the smallest couple are at real risk of rounding off so if they go I will probably look to find flat-ended ones that are shaped all the way down the shaft so I can grind them off if the tips wear.

Can’t believe Allen head screwdrivers are so rare - I think Allen keys might be my least favourite tools of all time, and t-handle ones, while much better and good for applying a lot of torque, they’re just so awkward and fatiguing to use for smaller jobs.

Cheers chaps

PardonTheWait · 18 Dec 2018 at 22:50

I've already got a full halfords advanced socket set in the garage, got the bit driver handle also and all the bits, but I specifically am after a proper set of allen drivers, mostly for my 3d printer. It's not high torque so no need for t-handles or regular allen keys most of the time, and I find drivers so much easier than keys.

I reckon these will do me. But I had already seen the 1/4" set on sale and I am tempted for one for indoors because I only need the small things inside most of the time and my normal socket set lives in a roll cab so it's a pain running in and out to get tools if I need them. To be fair I could probably bring my 1/4" stuff indoors because it rarely gets used on the car, I have ratchet spanners for that and I'm getting a gearwrench AF ratchet spanner set for Christmas to finish the set off :cool: