Are Allen Wrenches And Hex Wrenches The Same?

Are allen wrenches and hex wrenches the same? Nowadays, there are many instruments to choose from. This article is aimed to help you figure out the difference between an Allen wrench and a hex key. The short answer is “

there is no difference

”. Really, these two names can be used interchangeably.

What is the difference between Allen and hex?

There isn’t one.

Allen wrenches, and hex keys are the same thing

. “Allen” is simply a brand name.

Why is a hex wrench called an Allen wrench?

Hex keys are also known as Allen wrenches.

In the early 1900s, the Connecticut-based Allen Manufacturing Company launched its own branded hex key, naming it the “Allen wrench.”

Today, hex keys are often referred to as Allen wrenches.

Is an Allen wrench a hex bit?

The terms “hex wrench” and “Allen wrench” refer to the same tool

: an L-shaped hexagonal device designed to fit and drive bolts and screws that have a hexagonal socket in their heads.

What is another name for an Allen wrench?

A

hex key

(also, Allen key and Allen wrench) is a simple driver for bolts or screws that have heads with internal hexagonal recesses (sockets).

What can I use if I don’t have a hex key?

Sometimes you can use

small types of flat headed screwdrivers

as an allen wrench by putting the end in the socket so that the 2 edges of the screwdriver work as leverage in the hole to turn it. A wider socket on the bolt or nut, use a wider flathead screwdriver.

Is Allen head the same as hex head?

A hex key, also known as an Allen key or Allen wrench, is a small handheld tool that’s used for for driving bolts and screws with a hexagonal socket. They are available in many different sizes, though

they all have the same hexagonal-shaped tip

.

What are the different types of Allen wrenches?

• L-Style Allen Wrenches. This is the standard Allen key and is easily found anywhere. …
• T-Handle. This is a popular tool, mostly used in motorsport applications. …
• P-Handle. …
• Folding Hex Key. …
• Ratcheting Drivers. …
• Torque Wrench. …
• Allen Screwdriver. …
• Ball Hex Sets.

What does an Allen wrench look like?

The Allen wrench itself is

a small L-shaped wrench with six sides

. If you look at a cross-section of the Allen wrench, it looks like a hexagon. Since the Allen wrench has such a specific shape, it can only be used with items especially designed for it.

Why do hex keys have ball ends?

The Allen wrenches or hex keys with a ball end simply

make it much easier to work in tight spots

. Many people have asked the question about why do Allen keys have a ball end but not all of them do have one.

Are all Allen keys the same?

However, while

the basic applications and qualities of Allen key sets don’t vary that much from brand to brand and product to product

, there is a bit of potential variety in exactly how to use a hex key properly, depending on which type and format of tool you decide to buy.

What is a hex socket?

A ‘hex socket’ is

a socket designed to fit the head of a hexagonal fastener such as a nut or bolt

. Hex sockets are also referred to as ‘6 point’ sockets as six points are formed where the internal walls from the hexagonal recess meet.

What are Allen key screws called?

Socket Head Cap Screws

, which are also known as Allen head screws are stock items at Lightning Bolt in many materials sizes. These screws come with a hexagonal cross-section socket in the head and require an Allen wrench or hex key to drive them into material and secure them into a structure.

How do you remove a hex screw without a hex key?

Find a Torx screwdriver with a head the same size as the screw head or slightly larger. Tap it into the socket and then push down as you turn the screwdriver counterclockwise

. A Torx screwdriver bites better than an Allen wrench and may provide the grip you need.

How do you remove an Allen screw without an Allen wrench?

1. Try to find a standard screwdriver that fits snugly between two of the points of the screw. It should fit with no wiggle room. …
2. Get your hacksaw. Put a small toothed blade on the saw. …
3. Use a standard screwdriver that fits the groove you just made snugly.

What does a hex bolt look like?

Hex bolts have

small threads and a smooth shank

, and may be plain steel for interior projects or stainless steel or galvanized for exterior use. Wood screws have a threaded shaft and are used to attach wood to wood. These screws can have a few different times of thread.

Is hex same as Torx?

No, they are two very different tools

. The Allen wrench or hex key, as it is sometimes called, is a hexagon shape, that is why many refer to them as hex keys. The Torx key has a star shape. So if you are trying to use an Allen wrench on a Torx screw, it won’t work, and vise versa.

What is the most common Allen key size?

Many brands now offer two or three different sizes of three-way, but the standard

4, 5 and 6mm

three-way remains the gold standard.

Are all Allen wrenches the same size?

Allen wrenches come in both SAE fractional-inch sizes and in metric sizes

. The wrenches can be bought individually, but it’s always best to buy them in sets, which are more economical and include all the most popular sizes.

What is SAE hex key?

Chapman MFG makes 12 SAE hex key (sometimes also referred to as “inbus key”) bits. Hex keys are

used to drive bolts and screws

and are often found in machinery and construction settings.

How can you tell the difference between a metric and standard Allen wrench?

The standard wrench uses the imperial system, and its units are in inches and incorporate fractions. On the other hand, the metric wrench uses the international system of units, and the measurements are in millimeters. Also, the numbers are whole, making interpretation an effortless process.

Can you use a drill for Allen wrench?

Can I put an Allen wrench in a drill?

Yes

. You can cut off the branch of the L-shaped hex key.

Are metric and imperial Allen keys the same?

Imperial and metric wrenches aren’t really interchangeable

, so owning a set of each is smart, not redundant — and besides, they don’t take up much room in a toolbox.

How many different size Allen keys are there?

Adding to our precision sizes, the common SAE Allen wrench sizes are

1/16′′, 5/64′′, 3/32′′, 7/64′′, 1/8′′, 9/64′′, 5/32′′, 3/16′′, 7/32′′, 1/4′′, 5/16 “, & 3/8′′

.

How many sizes of hex keys are there?

You can get

two types of hex key sets

: standard key size and metric key size. Standard typically comes in 1/8 inch, 3/32 inch, 7/64 inch, 5/32 inch, 3/16 inch, 1⁄4 inch, and 7/32 inch. Metric sizes most often come as 2.5 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm.

What size are hex bits?

10 piece sae hex bits size include

1.5mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm

. 10 piece metric hex bits sizes include 5/64 inch, 3/32 inch, 7/64 inch, 1/8 inch, 9/64 inch, 5/32 inch, 3/16 inch, 7/32 inch, 1/4 inch, 5/16 inch.

How do I know my Allen bolt size?

To measure the diameter of screws and bolts, you

measure the distance from the outer thread on one side to the outer thread on the other side

. This is called the major diameter and will usually be the proper size of the bolt.

What size is a number 4 Allen wrench?

What are the 3 types of socket wrenches?

• #1) Ratcheting. Ratching is the most common type of socket wrench. …
• #2) Flex Head. There are flex-head socket wrenches that have a swiveling head. …
• #3) T-Handle. One of the most basic types of socket wrenches is the T-handle. …
• #4) Nut Driver. Another type of socket wrench is nut driver. …
• #5) Gearless.

What are the 4 different types of sockets?

Considering the standard sockets, you can find four common types, and they include

3/4 –inch, 1⁄2-inch, 3/8-inch, and 1⁄4-inch sockets

. Most of these options mentioned above come with bits that would fit Torx screws.

Are all socket wrenches the same?

Having different socket wrench sizes will allow you to operate different socket sizes based on your particular needs

. Most ratchets use a geared drive. Gearless options use a rolling bearing, which can help you make greater changes with less effort.

How do you screw a hex bolt?

How do you fasten a hex bolt?

What is an Allen?

When jurors cannot agree on a verdict and report this to a judge, the judge may issue further instruction to them to encourage those in the minority to reconsider their position

. These instructions are known as an Allen charge or, more casually, as a dynamite charge.

What is a hex screw?

Hex Cap Screws are

fasteners featuring a hexagonal, six-sided, head with a washer face on the bearing surface and a chamfered point

. Commonly used in construction and machine assemblies, hex cap screws are one of the most common fasteners used on the jobsite today.

What is Allen wrench used for?

An Allen key or Allen wrench is also known as Hex key. This is a small handheld tool used for

turning bolts and screws which have hexagonal sockets

.