# "Automatic" Allen wrench **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537 "2018-10-06T00:29:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/21 "2018-10-09T15:56:37Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Now I gotta go to Lowe’s and get bolt cutters. Wait - you’ve got to go to Lowes’ to get bolt cutters, so you can snip off the end of an allen wrench because you’re too lazy to go to Lowes’ to buy a hex set? Are you sure you’re not one of my children _from the future_? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/22 "2018-10-09T17:13:28Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Now I gotta go to Lowe’s and get bolt cutters. No, silly! Borrow them from your neighbor and never return them. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/23 "2018-10-09T17:39:46Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > No, silly! Borrow them from your neighbor and never return them. He is - that’s his neighbor Mr. Lowe. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/24 "2018-10-09T17:54:01Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Wait - you’ve got to go to Lowes’ to get bolt cutters, so you can snip off the end of an allen wrench because you’re too lazy to go to Lowes’ to buy a hex set? > > Are you sure you’re not one of my children _from the future_? Actually, I have hex sets and socket/hex sets coming out my ears. Makes it darn tough to buy hats. ---
**Author:** ![ohiomstr2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/82dd89/32.png) [@ohiomstr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ohiomstr2)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/25 "2018-10-12T11:38:22Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Actually, I have hex sets and socket/hex sets coming out my ears. > > Makes it darn tough to buy hats. Is there a Trump brand hex driver? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/26 "2018-10-12T11:54:46Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > A t-handle allen wrench is much faster than the tiny right angle wrench they include with flat pack furniture. > > Buying a set of T-handle is a good investment. I have SAE and metric sets. Yes, T-handles are definitely the easiest way to go if you have the clearance. Otherwise, you can buy a full hex insert bit set for $10. If you’re gonna try to cut a hardened steel allen key I’d suggest and angle grinder. You may be able to snap it easier if you put it in a vice, score it with a hacksaw and then use pliers/vice grips to break it off. Unfortunately, if you bend it at all, it may be useless in a drill chuck. Another tip - buy some Loctite thread locker to keep those screws form coming loose all the time. > [@ohiomstr2](#): > > Is there a Trump brand hex driver? Really!? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/27 "2018-10-12T12:30:46Z")
A set of ball-end hex drivers can also be very useful - like [this](https://www.axminster.co.uk/wiha-ball-end-hex-bits-4-5-6mm-950956?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyryf4fOA3gIVRTbTCh2NlQ0-EAkYCCABEgJ5QvD_BwE) - I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them for assembling every fastener, but they come in super handy for those cases where your only access to the screw is not perfectly axial to it. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/28 "2018-10-12T14:03:02Z")
> [@ohiomstr2](#): > > Is there a Trump brand hex driver? > [@Sparky812](#): > > Really!? [https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/60-in-1-Multi-Tool-Precision-Screwdriver-Kit-Metal-Household-Appliance-Maintenance-Electronics-Repair-Hand-Tools/2008044\_32888304884.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.21622f178Iln0K](https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/60-in-1-Multi-Tool-Precision-Screwdriver-Kit-Metal-Household-Appliance-Maintenance-Electronics-Repair-Hand-Tools/2008044_32888304884.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.21622f178Iln0K) ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/29 "2018-10-12T16:27:41Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > [https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/60-in-1-Multi-Tool-Precision-Screwdriver-Kit-Metal-Household-Appliance-Maintenance-Electronics-Repair-Hand-Tools/2008044\_32888304884.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.21622f178Iln0K](https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/60-in-1-Multi-Tool-Precision-Screwdriver-Kit-Metal-Household-Appliance-Maintenance-Electronics-Repair-Hand-Tools/2008044_32888304884.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.21622f178Iln0K) Ok… nice find.:o ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/30 "2018-10-13T01:51:11Z")
Pic-Quick sells multi bit hex screw drivers in inch and metric versions. The bits can also be used in a drill. Good quality and very handy screw drivers. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2018, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/31 "2018-10-13T03:11:46Z")
I bought a drill bit set for maybe $10-15 that comes with a hundred or so bits, including dozens of allen wrench bits. So I’d just use one of those allen wrench bits and a drill. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/32 "2018-10-16T12:11:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Sparky812** : > > Yes, T-handles are definitely the easiest way to go if you have the clearance. Wait, they’re top secret? On a need-to-drill basis only? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/33 "2018-10-16T12:53:14Z")
> [@Kedikat](#): > > Pic-Quick sells multi bit hex screw drivers in inch and metric versions. The bits can also be used in a drill. Good quality and very handy screw drivers. My dad was a distributor for Pic-Quic tools. Their multi-bit screwdrivers are extremely handy (especially the automotive one) but you will void the life-time warranty if you use them in a drill or any power tool. > [@Chronos](#): > > Wait, they’re top secret? On a need-to-drill basis only? 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/34 "2018-10-16T12:58:38Z")
I have hammered flat a Allen wrench and used it in a drill, it wasn’t perfectly straight but worked fine for it’s purpose. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/35 "2018-10-16T13:24:06Z")
The real question is, why are L-shaped hex keys still a thing? We all need to take a stand and refuse to use or buy these awkward and anti-ergonomic hellish things! Who’s with me?? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2018, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537/36 "2018-10-16T13:27:18Z")
Because it’s a cheap and easy way to make a usable tool, which even has multiple options for different levels of required torque. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-allen-wrench/822537.md?page=1)