Every house or apartment should have, if not a professional, then at least a standard set of tools. After all, with their help you can carry out any minor or medium-sized repairs yourself. The optimal set for each owner should contain: a hammer, a screwdriver, pliers and a set of hex keys, which we will discuss today in our article.
Every man, especially if he owns a car, knows that hexagons have become a necessary thing in everyday life: assembling furniture, performing routine car repairs, repairing household electrical appliances or electrical equipment.
In addition, in our time, to assemble most objects for human life, fastening parts specifically for hex keys are used.
Device
A classic screwdriver has three working elements:
- Lever.
Can be made of various materials. These are wood, metal, plastic, rubber. A handle made of powdered plastic is in great demand among professionals. This material has good strength data, which significantly increases the service life of the tool.
Another feature of the handle is its appearance. It should follow the shape of a clenched hand, which will create additional comfort when working. For an anti-slip effect, the manufacturer can give the element a relief or, for example, use rubberized inserts.
- Kernel.
This part of the screwdriver must meet the maximum strength data, because during operation the main force load falls on it. The technology uses high-strength steel. After stamping, the rods undergo additional hardening.
- Working tip.
Its shape varies. It all depends on the fastener slot that you have to work with. These are classic cross tips and more complex ones, in which even the edges of a star or hexagon are sharpened at certain angles. Tips with magnetic properties are popular, which further simplifies the work of screwing in fasteners.
As you can see, the simplicity of the device hides a number of features when choosing a suitable screwdriver.
Area of use of hexagons
Externally, a hex key resembles the letter “G”; for its production, high-quality rolled steel of a hexagonal section of different diameters corresponding to the size of the keys is used.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERATheir main purpose is to install and dismantle fastening elements with a hexagonal slot on the head. You can see in detail some of the hex key options in the photo.
Design types of hex screwdrivers
The most common version of this tool is presented in the form of an L-shaped hexagonal metal rod. Its torque is 10 times higher than its analogues. This tool can be found in a set of furniture fittings.
The quality of the L-shaped element speaks for itself. While in the classic model the handle can crack under physical impact, this tool is entirely made of high-strength alloy. The small size means it can also work in hard-to-reach places. It is worth noting that there is another type of screwdriver with two 90° bends made in the opposite direction.
The hex screwdriver is also found in the following versions:
- classical;
- in a set of screwdrivers with replaceable working rods;
- in a set of screwdrivers with replaceable bits;
- T-shaped.
Everyone individually selects one or another type of screwdriver for themselves; the main criterion remains the shape of the slot of the screws and self-tapping screws with which to work.
The types of tips should be considered separately in more detail.
Hex screwdriver
This modification is used in the assembly of furniture, household appliances, and cars. Designated HEX. There are options for screws with an internal hex slot. An additional designation for such tips is Driver. There may be more complicated options, for example, with a recess inside the hexagon itself. There are types of screwdrivers designed to work under high voltage. They are distinguished by a multilayer coating of different colors, one of which is insulating. If the bottom layer is exposed during work, this indicates that the tool is unsuitable for further use.
The tips of these screwdrivers provide a tight fit to the protruding hexagonal slots. Due to this, there is practically no possibility of tearing off the fastener head. Do not forget about the high torque, which is also an important distinguishing characteristic.
Key selection features
Any store selling tools will offer you a choice of several hexagonal sets, differing in content, manufacturers, price and quality. In order not to make a mistake in choosing, you need to have the necessary initial information about them.
A set of 12 hexagons or interchangeable hex heads for a screwdriver is suitable for avid motorists and professional furniture assemblers, and for domestic use a set of 5-6 keys will be enough for you.
But when choosing, be sure to check the quality of the tool and ask what material they are made of. The best raw materials for hexagons are considered to be tool steel or chrome vanadium alloy.
When purchasing keys, please note that the section may be different, in the form of a hexagon or a star, so you must know exactly which keys you need. It’s better to purchase two types in advance, otherwise at the most crucial moment the necessary tool may not be at hand.
With the question of manufacturers, everything is probably very clear. Hex sets from well-known brands are much more expensive, but you get an excellent quality tool that will last for many years.
A cheaper option is to buy Chinese analogues. Many will say that now most products are made in China, why not buy keys from this manufacturer. However, often a low price hides low quality, which means your work may be inferior.
In addition, you can damage the fastening parts, as a result of which you will have to purchase a new set of hexagons of different sizes and fasteners.
Hex screwdriver "star"
This tool is labeled Torex. The cross section of the tip is presented in the form of a star.
It is most often used in household appliances, cell phones, and radio equipment. The presence of such screwdrivers is mandatory in service centers. The fit between the slot and the tip is ensured as much as possible, and accordingly, the chances of tearing off the notch of the fastener head are minimized.
Main characteristics when choosing
First of all, it is worth clarifying the following points with the sellers:
- The material from which the rod and tip are made. As mentioned earlier, the raw materials must be of special strength. Otherwise, the rod may bend or break during operation. And the edges on the tip will quickly wear off. Check whether the working surface has a magnetic property or an anti-corrosion coating, which affects the service life of the tool.
- The handle should fit comfortably in your hand. This can be a T-shaped hex screwdriver or a classic version. At the same time, it is important to ensure ease of use, check for an anti-slip effect, and ask about the strength of the material from which it is made.
- Tool size. It is important to remember that the smaller the part you have to work with, the smaller the tool you should buy, the larger the tool, the larger the tool. This will ensure comfortable operation. The length of the rod is also selected based on the specifics of the work.
Be sure to check these points before purchasing. This will guarantee durability and reliability.
Screwdriver sets
A set of hex screwdrivers with interchangeable heads has become increasingly popular. Such kits are universal. They include almost all types of tips (from classics to stars), taking into account the most popular sizes. Therefore, a 2.5 mm hex screwdriver will definitely be present in the set.
The cost of such kits may vary. It all depends on the number of replacement heads, the quality of the material from which the tool and components are made, and the brand. Interesting sets where the screwdriver handle can change its position relative to the rod, which will significantly increase labor productivity.
You can purchase a set of L-shaped keys. The cost of such a kit is low, but the size range will help you easily select the necessary tool for any type of hexagonal slot.
Some features
Let's look at several features of the imbus key, some of which can be clearly defined as advantages:
- the advantages of the tool are simplicity, lightness, low weight;
- the contact surfaces of the bolt with the key are isolated from external harmful influences;
- the number of contact surfaces between the bolt and the tool is six;
- The imbus key can be used with headless screws;
- the screw can be inserted into the hole using a hexagon;
- torque is limited by the thickness of the tool and its length;
- can be used for very small bolts and heads;
- the imbus key is very cheap, which makes it possible to include it in the delivery package of products that require final assembly by the user;
- L-shaped instrument (in English-language sources called L-shaped);
- the key is extremely repairable - the edges can be straightened with a file or the damaged part can be cut off, and the rest can be used as new.
Electric screwdrivers
Using a screwdriver as a screwdriver is becoming increasingly popular. This is due to the maximum speed of work. Manufacturers have taken the path of reducing the size and weight of the tool while maintaining power. It is important to note that for fasteners with a hexagonal slot, the screwdriver is most suitable due to the tight fit of the tip and head. You can create a set of cue balls yourself, buying suitable ones gradually, or you can purchase them ready-made. It all depends on the need and financial capabilities.
The history of the creation of the imbus key
According to various sources, which, however, do not have documentary evidence, the idea of using an internal polygonal hole in bolt heads appears already in the 60s of the 19th century. But the production of such fasteners on an industrial scale was impossible due to the complexity of implementing a faceted socket in the head. Real embodiments of these ideas appeared only in 1908 in Canada, where P.L. Robertson patented a manufacturing method for making square socket screws.
In 1909–1910 William G. Allen patented a method for shaping screw heads around a hexagon . There have been published advertisements for the "Allen Safety Locking Screw" since 1910. It is unlikely that Allen was the first person to come up with the idea of an internal hex hole in the head of a fastener, but his patent for the manufacturing method and the finished product were most likely the first. Subsequently, the use of hexagonal recesses in fasteners developed and was used more and more widely.
Reviews
According to feedback, screwdrivers with replaceable bits are in great demand.
Various price ranges from Chinese production to German production are discussed. It is said that the handles can be of any design, both T-shaped and classic, the main thing is not to skimp on cue balls.
Those who professionally repair small equipment choose and recommend using only individual screwdrivers from well-known brands. Because such work is associated with small details and painstakingness. A high-quality tool makes the process of screwing/unscrewing fasteners easier.
The hex screwdriver has found wide application in modern technologies due to its main distinctive properties: high torque and tight adhesion of the tool to the fastener. These characteristics help to carry out any work quickly and efficiently. Which design and manufacturer to choose for a tool depends on financial capabilities and technical specifications. Where greater productivity is required, preference is increasingly moving towards power tools, but mechanical screwdrivers will remain in demand for a long time.
So, we found out what features a T-shaped hex screwdriver has.
Set of hex screwdrivers and their modifications
Screwdrivers of this type differ mainly in the diameter and length of the shaft, so a particularly wide-profile specialist will always have a whole set of hex screwdrivers with him. Standard screwdrivers come in diameters from 10 to 40 mm. They are selected depending on what kind of hardware will need to be screwed in or unscrewed. The size of the handle also depends on the diameter and length of the rod. If you have to work with small parts or elements, then both the diameter of the rod and the size of the handle will be small. Conversely, for large parts you will need a screwdriver with a large diameter and a large handle.
Recently, hex screwdrivers can be used not only manually, but also electrically. Such models do not have a conventional handle and have an attached electric drive. The design of such a screwdriver is not very different from a manual one. It also consists of a rod and a tip, but instead of a handle there is a special mechanism that connects to the electrical network. Instead of an electric drive, you can find screwdrivers with a mechanical or pneumatic device.
When screwing or unscrewing, you have to apply a lot of force. The adapted mechanism helps to facilitate work and thereby increase productivity. Typically, in screwdrivers of this type, the rod is not immediately attached to the handle-mechanism, but is inserted separately. Therefore, the design of the rod is such that at one end there is a hexagonal tip, and at the other there are special notches for installing a screwdriver into the mechanism.
