What is the purpose of allen keys?!!

Posted by: Consciousmess on 05 January 2011

Hi all,

I might ask this question tongue-in-cheek, but it is one hell of a bugbear of mine. (The current frustration I have is that I have lost the allen key for my nSATs and read on the forum that 'tightening up the nuts' reaps great reward. My nuts are loose - if you forgive the pun - and I can't tighten them!!!!!!!)

So why do allen keys exist? Why can't manufacturers use screw drivers instead??!!! Granted, I have never been a DIY man and made the mistake a couple of years ago of fitting my own set of shelves..... drilling through to the other side in the hall way and leaving 16 visable holes.

Yours in need of help!

Jon

PS Why aren't they called 'Alan' keys? Then I could blame Alan.

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by backfromoz

Allen keys were developed for three reasons

1: they are a secure and reliable system for tightening up screw systems. Without the problems of screwdriver and phillips and posi drive heads.

2: enable dealers to apply 200 lbft of torque to loudspeaker drive units allen key screws. This enables them to reliably strip the threads and thus irreparably damage the speaker chassis and cabinet.
This is not a joke i have seen this done at a NAIM dealer. The chassis of the bass driver was craked and the cabinet damaged. I hasten to add not a dealer in this country.

3: to give hours of fun to NAIM Fraim users, when they have to do their weekly tighten up!!!!!

regards david

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by fasterbyelan

Apart from the very obvious reason backfromoz gives

, the following may be of help - Hex Key info

For me personally, apart from any mechanical advantages, they look far better than cross-heads, slotted screws etc etc.

If people are suffering from loosing 'nuts', then I would recommend the application of a thread locking material such as 'Loctite'. One of their low strength products used sparingly will do the trick and enable the bolt/screw to be removed with ease.

Karl

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by Derek Wright

That would be the antipodean variant of the Fraim - they command quite a price in Tasmania from what I understand

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by Dungassin

quote:
The current frustration I have is that I have lost the allen key for my nSATs and read on the forum that 'tightening up the nuts' reaps great reward. My nuts are loose - if you forgive the pun - and I can't tighten them!!!!!!!)

Serious answer : you can just pop into any DIY store and pick up a set of Allen Keys. I never bother to save the free Allen Key that comes with equipment. Just make sure you get the metric rather than the AF set.

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by garyi

Honestly I have so many allen keys, like hundreds of the things

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by Tony Lockhart

Allen keys allow a wide range of torque to be applied to a recessed slot in a flush fastener. A screw slot, with restricted access, would be a pain. And probably end up unusable quite quickly.

Tony

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by Dungassin

quote:
Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
Allen keys allow a wide range of torque to be applied to a recessed slot in a flush fastener. A screw slot, with restricted access, would be a pain. And probably end up unusable quite quickly.

Tony

Agreed. I have never seen an Allen Key bolt become unusable (unless you're foolish enough to use a key too small). Screws, however, especially Philips type, are very prone to developing knackered slots/holes.

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by winkyincanada

Allen keys are the among most secure methods of engaging a driver to the bolt. They work well with all sorts of ratchets and things, tend not to strip out or become burred. Allen keys are cheap (even good quality ones). What's not to like?

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by Dungassin

quote:
Allen keys are the among most secure methods of engaging a driver to the bolt. They work well with all sorts of ratchets and things, tend not to strip out or become burred. Allen keys are cheap (even good quality ones). What's not to like?

And if you REALLY want a screwdriver - well you can get them with Allen Key ends (I have a couple in my toolbox, but can't remember where I bought them).

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by Tony Lockhart

And of course, for the fortunate owner of the DBL, we have

Tony

Posted on: 06 January 2011 by tonym

Don't seem to have Allen bolts that big on mine Tony. Damn, I've been swindled!

Posted on: 06 January 2011 by Yeshpaul

It allows you to use a high torque fixing in areas where you could not get access using a spanner.

Posted on: 07 January 2011 by Roy T

Ask Tim Allen he who has an answer for everything.

Posted on: 07 January 2011 by Conortsun

Didn't Peter Tork, from The Monkees, also come up with a similar mechanical fixing to the Allen type? I bet he had a very competitive relationship with Tim Allen!? Leslie Philips must've hated the pair of them!!