# Do you throw away the allen wrench from DIY furniture? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 22, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711 "2010-09-22T23:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/1 "2010-09-22T23:42:22Z")
Assembly-required furniture, exercise equipment, bikes, etc. all come with an allen wrench. At last re-organization of my kitchen drawer, I recall my accumulation was not less than five. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/2 "2010-09-22T23:44:27Z")
I toss them the second I open the little plastic package they come in. I have a much better set that you can grip comfortably. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/3 "2010-09-23T01:31:27Z")
I had to buy a set once when I moved because someone had thrown away the one that came with my bed and none of those I had left would fit. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/4 "2010-09-23T01:32:52Z")
No. I have a hard time throwing tools away . ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/5 "2010-09-23T02:30:06Z")
Yes. I have two sets of wrenches that stay intact (the individuals are connected) and really don’t have a use for stragglers. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/6 "2010-09-23T02:36:14Z")
Even if you do save it, years later when you go to disassemble that piece of furniture you probably won’t be able to find it. Maybe I should post a link to my thread about the incident that started with a fruitless search for an allen wrench and ended with an FBI raid. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/7 "2010-09-23T02:43:40Z")
All the DIY tools go in a large Rubbermaid box and kept separate from our regular tools. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/8 "2010-09-23T02:45:18Z")
I tape them to the underside. I have my own sets of allen wrenches but when I buy KD furniture it’s for a specific short term need and I usually get rid of it within 1-2 years. Instead of trashing it I try to see if I can give it away or donate it as it’s still almost good as new. I’m sure as heck not giving away my tools so whoever gets the piece gets the original wrench as well just in case they don’t have tools. ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/9 "2010-09-23T02:58:48Z")
I tape it to the underside of the furniture once it’s put together - it makes taking it apart to move etc. a snap. I should send that in to Heloise! ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/10 "2010-09-23T03:00:10Z")
…looks like I was scooped by a few minutes on this one… ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/11 "2010-09-23T03:11:13Z")
I throw them in the drawer–but I love the idea of taping them to the underside of the piece of furniture they came with, because you never know, maybe the movers won’t have that exact piece. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/12 "2010-09-23T03:12:41Z")
Nope. And I think I have a dozen of them, at least… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/13 "2010-09-23T04:41:32Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Even if you do save it, years later when you go to disassemble that piece of furniture you probably won’t be able to find it. > > Maybe I should post a link to my thread about the incident that started with a fruitless search for an allen wrench and ended with an FBI raid. I tape them to the item built. Same with garbage disposal wrenches. Just say no to FBI cavity searches. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/14 "2010-09-23T04:44:26Z")
I generally tape them, or put them in a drawer of that piece of furniture, or what have you. But I also have a set of metric and Imperial Allen wrenches, as well as hex drill bits (very very handy). ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/15 "2010-09-23T04:55:07Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > I generally tape them, or put them in a drawer of that piece of furniture, or what have you. But I also have a set of metric and Imperial Allen wrenches, as well as hex **drill bits (very very handy)**. Oh HELL yes - drill bits in hex and allen configurations/sizes are worth their weight in gold. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/16 "2010-09-23T05:18:11Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > > [@matt\_mcl](#): > > > > I generally tape them, or put them in a drawer of that piece of furniture, or what have you. But I also have a set of metric and Imperial Allen wrenches, as well as hex **drill bits (very very handy)**. > > Oh HELL yes - drill bits in hex and allen configurations/sizes are worth their weight in gold. Seriously, if you’re as much of an IKEA queen as I am, go and get some immediately. The next time you’re putting together (say) a bed, or a bunch of bookcases, you’ll thank me (and wonder how on earth you endured without them). ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/17 "2010-09-23T09:14:54Z")
I keep it only if it’s an unusual size possibly made for that specific piece of furniture. Otherwise, I toss it. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/18 "2010-09-23T11:39:34Z")
I keep it only because the tool box is normally closer than the rubbish bin. I use my own tools to put the things together. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/19 "2010-09-23T18:52:11Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > I tape them to the underside. Bingo – same here. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711/20 "2010-09-23T21:11:23Z")
Immediately drop it into the recycle bin. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-throw-away-the-allen-wrench-from-diy-furniture/554711.md?page=2)