The Handloaders Bench Home
Home Search search Menu menu Not logged in - Login | Register

Attention: Due to an increase in spammers all new members start out as probationary members. You will only be able to start a welcome post in the welcome new members forum. You can reply to all other posts. Once you have reached 5 posts you will be a full member and can start topics. We apologize for the inconvenience but spammers are becoming a real problem. We are also experiencing problems with new members receiving activation emails. We are manually activating new members. Please be patient with us. We will activate your membership within 24 hours of registration. People planning to register for membership with The Handloaders Bench. We had to block gmail addresses from registering here for our member’s security and protection, because spam bots have been using gmail a lot to cause problems. You can use a free hotmail or yahoo address to register and receive the activation email. After your membership has been activated, you will be able to change your email back to your gmail address in your account under the menu button at the top of the forum. We are sorry for any inconvenience this might cause. HB Admin

Tough allen wrenchs?
 Moderated by: WildBill, OldStuffer
 New Topic   Reply   Printer Friendly 
 Rate Topic 
AuthorPost
 Posted: Tue Apr 10th, 2007 08:12 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
1st Post
wolfkill
Master Ballistician and Handloader


Joined: Sat Oct 14th, 2006
Location: Upper MN Is Where You'll Usually Find Me, Minnesota USA
Posts: 507
Photo: [Download]
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: rifle
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Ok I can understand the concept of the the allen wrench being softer than the screw but if I can't tighten down the screw properly before it turns to mush what good is it?

I'm trying to install a scope base on an air gun rail. The actual scope base is very heavy duty with nice big fat screws and the supplied allen wrench worked fine there but...the scope base stop is a separate piece that goes behind, the idea being it will absorb the pounding the air gun gives.



The supplied allen wrench mushed out very fast. I took my rotozip and cut off about 1/8 inch to get a fresh bite again but no go.

As you can see the screw is still good but the wrench is mush. 




Who makes good quality SMALL allen wrenches? I googled up nothing.

 


Last edited on Tue Apr 10th, 2007 08:23 PM by wolfkill



____________________
Notice to womenfolk visiting my cabin...the following comments will be ignored:
"There's mice living in my mattress."
"The outhouse is full."
"I smell something dead under the cabin."

http://buckmountainchateau.com


 Posted: Tue Apr 10th, 2007 08:49 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
2nd Post
Charley
Board Founder


Joined: Fri Sep 9th, 2005
Location: San Antonio, Texas USA
Posts: 6143
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: all of them
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

The small screwdriver sets sold by Hilti, Dillon, Sears, and others usually have good quality bits, including hex and torx. Except for the torx drivers included in Leopold mount and ring packages, EVERY tool included in a package deal is suspect to me. Often it is Chinese junk, too soft to be workable.

Buy drivers from Midway or Brownells, and you shouldn't have any problems.



____________________
STOP OBAMUNISM NOW!


 Posted: Tue Apr 10th, 2007 11:12 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
3rd Post
Mortis
Handloading Master


Joined: Sat Mar 3rd, 2007
Location: Oklahoma USA
Posts: 371
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Online

  back to top

Wolfkill.....

If you want hi-end allen wrenches... buy Bondus or Allen brand.  I use the dickens out of them daily.  And I use them with hardened screws. 

Any allen wrench will eventually roll the corners off.... but these seem to last longer them most.



____________________
"I Became Insane with Long Intervals of Horrible Sanity" E.A. Poe

"Arguing with a Marine is like wrestling with a Pig. Everyone gets dirty, but the Pig loves it."


 Posted: Wed Apr 11th, 2007 02:32 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
4th Post
sdb777
Board Founder


Joined: Sun Oct 16th, 2005
Location: Cabot, Arkansas USA
Posts: 2145
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: CRAP!! I can't pick just one
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

You can always heat treat your cheap wrench?  Blow-torch and a cup of water....

 

Scott (blowtorches are fun) B



____________________
"Handloadersbench.com, it's founders and staff, and UltraBB do not condone, and will not facilitate or otherwise aid in the commission of, any criminal act.


 Posted: Fri Jan 11th, 2008 09:22 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
5th Post
hardjeepguy
HB Pro Staff


Joined: Wed Jan 9th, 2008
Location: North Brookfield, Massachusetts USA
Posts: 33
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

I know this post is a little old but...... I work in the HVAC/R industry and nowadays almost everything is held together with allens and Torx head fasteners. After going through a lot of different drivers, I finally found Malco brand t-handle allen wrenches that have lasted well over a year, with daily use, and there's no sign of twist or stripping on any of them. I was hesitant when I bought them, but they haven't failed me yet, and I'm no saint when it comes to abusing tools.

                        Jamie

 

 



 Posted: Sat Jan 12th, 2008 02:18 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
6th Post
wolfkill
Master Ballistician and Handloader


Joined: Sat Oct 14th, 2006
Location: Upper MN Is Where You'll Usually Find Me, Minnesota USA
Posts: 507
Photo: [Download]
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: rifle
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Not an old post to me hardjeepguy.

Hey off subject but on our sister forum someone saying Mitt Romney running ad's up there saying he stood up to the NRA.

You hearing those ad's in the big MA?

What did you see with Mitt running your State? You can send me a PM if you prefer to not get political...worried about being a new guy and all.



____________________
Notice to womenfolk visiting my cabin...the following comments will be ignored:
"There's mice living in my mattress."
"The outhouse is full."
"I smell something dead under the cabin."

http://buckmountainchateau.com


 Posted: Sat Jan 12th, 2008 02:17 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
7th Post
saddlesore
HB certified Master Handloading and Ballistics advisor


Joined: Sun Feb 6th, 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
Posts: 790
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: 
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: 
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Back to the allen wrenches. Most  suppliued allen wrenches are pretty poor quaity, meant to besued once or twice and then chucked. Definitely Bondus or Alen are superior. What is not generally known is that usually by stipulating socket  headed screws, one automaticaly gets high strength 180K psi yield . That  is why you need better allen wrenches than say a std screw driver of hex head wrench qaulity. Generally you can put more torque on the hardware. Torx screws increase it even more



 Posted: Sun Jan 13th, 2008 03:47 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
8th Post
hardjeepguy
HB Pro Staff


Joined: Wed Jan 9th, 2008
Location: North Brookfield, Massachusetts USA
Posts: 33
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

wolfkill wrote: Not an old post to me hardjeepguy.

Hey off subject but on our sister forum someone saying Mitt Romney running ad's up there saying he stood up to the NRA.

You hearing those ad's in the big MA?

What did you see with Mitt running your State? You can send me a PM if you prefer to not get political...worried about being a new guy and all.


I didn't see any of the ads, as I don't watch much TV. I try to stay out of political discussions for the simple fact that I think they are all liars and cheats, and it only frustrates me to death. To me, voting is simply trying to pick out the least evil person to put in office.:troll: I've seen it too may times where campaign promises are made, and once in office they get to their "real" agenda.

 

By the way, did you find a decent set of wrenches to get the job done?

Last edited on Sun Jan 13th, 2008 03:48 PM by hardjeepguy



 Posted: Sun Jan 13th, 2008 04:47 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
9th Post
wolfkill
Master Ballistician and Handloader


Joined: Sat Oct 14th, 2006
Location: Upper MN Is Where You'll Usually Find Me, Minnesota USA
Posts: 507
Photo: [Download]
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: rifle
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

No.

I did buy a set with a lifetime warranty but they rounded out too.  Take a look at the 5/32 wrench it mushed out. 



Guess I'll try sdb777 idea of heat and water.

 

 



____________________
Notice to womenfolk visiting my cabin...the following comments will be ignored:
"There's mice living in my mattress."
"The outhouse is full."
"I smell something dead under the cabin."

http://buckmountainchateau.com


 Posted: Sun Jan 13th, 2008 05:06 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
10th Post
hardjeepguy
HB Pro Staff


Joined: Wed Jan 9th, 2008
Location: North Brookfield, Massachusetts USA
Posts: 33
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

WoW! Sorry about your bad luck. Does the wrench fit tightly in the socket head? That should not be happening specially with those good wrenches. Any possibility that the socket head is tapered, driving the wrench upwards as you apply pressure? After that, I'm fresh out of suggestions.:confused:



 Posted: Mon Jan 14th, 2008 04:32 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
11th Post
Rockydog
Administrator


Joined: Tue Jul 26th, 2005
Location: Wisconsin USA
Posts: 5176
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 8mm Mauser
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Wolf, Perhaps the scope mount has METRIC sized screw heads! Unless allen wrenches fit exactly they will round off corners very easily. I've got a set of metrics as well as standards and very seldon round one off. In fact the smaller sizes usually snap near the bend before they round off. RD



____________________
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson ~

Charter Member of the Society for the Hopelessly Nitrocellulose Addicted.



 Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 06:31 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
12th Post
scr83jp
HB Pro Staff
 

Joined: Wed Apr 23rd, 2008
Location:  
Posts: 26
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

I have an older set from sears and I've purchased some from Midway & Dillon bondhaus hex key sets and the set for my RL550B with bracket to attach it to the loader!

Last edited on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 06:34 AM by scr83jp



 Posted: Sat Dec 27th, 2008 07:01 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
13th Post
LilMag
Guest
 

Joined: 
Location:  
Posts: 
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: 
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: 
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Wolfkill, I will make a suggestion to you and that is to replace ALL of your Allen type screws with TORX screws. Yes, you will have to purchase a set to work on these too but it will be a lot better for you in the long run. I believe this is why Leupold went to such screw for their mounts and rings.:thumbs:



 Posted: Sat Dec 27th, 2008 10:15 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
14th Post
Timberwolf
HB Pro Staff


Joined: Mon Nov 24th, 2008
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 239
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: .338LM, 9MM, 40S&W, 38Special, 45ACP
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Mortis wrote: Wolfkill.....

If you want hi-end allen wrenches... buy Bondus or Allen brand.  I use the dickens out of them daily.  And I use them with hardened screws. 

Any allen wrench will eventually roll the corners off.... but these seem to last longer them most.

+2 on Bondus or Allen Brand.



____________________
MFWIC

Nice try = you suck spelled different.

Certified Armourer for Glock, SIG, S&W, Beretta and Remington 870.

Stercus Accidit = Sh*t happens in Latin.


 Posted: Tue Dec 30th, 2008 02:54 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
15th Post
jjb2
Handloading Master
 

Joined: Thu Jul 5th, 2007
Location:  
Posts: 1438
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: pistol
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

not to change the thread subject but where did you get that adjustable scope mount on your rws wolfkill??   it is true that the allen brand allen wrenches will hold up longer than most of em btw........

 

              LIFE IS SHORT.....



 Posted: Wed Dec 31st, 2008 01:59 AM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
16th Post
DesertMarine
Moderator


Joined: Wed Nov 12th, 2008
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 1407
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: rifle
My favorite chambering is:: 308 Winchester ...
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

December American Rifleman has a good article on mounting scopes.  Especially torquing of mount and ring screws.  According to the article Leupold recommends 28-inch pounds on the rings and 18-inch pounds on the bases.  People that make Talley rings recommend 20-inch ponds for the rings.  Maybe the softer wrenches will help in preventing over-torquing.



____________________
The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!
--Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of t


 Posted: Tue Jan 6th, 2009 11:08 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
17th Post
SlickRS23
HB Pro Staff
 

Joined: Mon Dec 8th, 2008
Location: Chicago Suburbs, Illinois USA
Posts: 47
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: pistol
My favorite chambering is:: 44 Mag
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

Hello,

Since I've asked  questions on this site, and received excellent advice, maybe I can return the favor.

I use allen wrenches and torx drivers every day as I am a Tool Maker. All of our carbide cutting inserts were held in with allen wrenches that are smaller then 1/8th of an inch and we had the same problem. We would buy packs of 25ct. of the 2 or 3 sizes we used, and toss them and grab a new one at the first sign of stripping. A 25ct. pkg. of one size was cheaper then a new set. We would purchase these at an Industrial supply house or J&L Industrial supply.

If you used a RotoZip to cut them, and they got hotter then you can comfortly touch, then the heat treat is gone as they are only case hardened. I would grind them very slowly, 1 to 2 seconds, and dunk it in water then grind a couple more seconds and dunk again and keep repeating until you reach a fresh edge.

Torx drivers are also a very good idea, as all our new tooling uses them. Just be caerful as there are Torx and Torx-Plus(slightly rounded corners) as the wrenches and screws do not interchange.

Maybe a small drop of blue Lock-Tite and snug them with a fresh wrench??

I hope this helps, Jeff



 Posted: Mon Apr 20th, 2009 07:56 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
18th Post
X55
HB Full Member
 

Joined: Thu Apr 2nd, 2009
Location:  
Posts: 12
Photo: 
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: rifle
My favorite chambering is:: 
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

RockyDog pointed out that maybe they were metric and a lot of them are. Easy to think you have the correct size but if it does not fit tightly then that may be the problem. Check very carefully. About hardening, don't over harden it or it may shatter when torquing . wc



 Posted: Wed Apr 29th, 2009 05:08 PM
   PM  Quote  Reply 
19th Post
Old Fart
HB Pro Staff


Joined: Fri Jan 30th, 2009
Location: East Of Pink
Posts: 166
Photo: [Download]
Are you a handloader?: Yes
Favorite type of cartridge to load?: I load everything!
My favorite chambering is:: 38 special, so versatile and fun to play with.
Status: 
Offline

  back to top

That's exactly why I keep a set of both on the bench nowadays.

Oh and the Bondus brand work great. A friend in the machine shop turned me onto them. They are tough as a boot as long as you use them the way they were designed to be used. That being said the first set I had I rounded off in a metric screw. 
See first sentence.......:confused:

Last edited on Wed Apr 29th, 2009 05:09 PM by Old Fart



____________________
"All my life I've had a bad case of the Fred's.

Fredrick Vanderbilt taste on a Fred Sanford budget."

NRA Endowment Member


 Current time is 03:48 AM
Top




UltraBB 1.17 Copyright © 2007-2008 Data 1 Systems
Page processed in 0.3537 seconds (13% database + 87% PHP). 30 queries executed.