need a tool

NYlakesider

NYlakesider

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Was looking for something in my tool box and I found a Allen wrench head (1/8) in a tool body that would go on a 1/4 " drive ratchet and/or extension. How long I have had it or where it came from I do not have a clue.

Hard to read but it appears to say Armstrong tools on it. I would like to buy a couple sizes of those for my gun work (hopefully not a complete set). I looked up the company and saw Amazon but I would like to see them before I buy. Or any other company make a product like I described above. Does any of the big box stores sell this product (Lowes, HD, Tractor supply, Harbor Freight)

Reason I do not want a full set is I want to buy only a couple sizes but multiples of the size I want. If this is possible. One for my tool box, one for my range bag and one for my wife's range bag.
 
Bullet Bob said:
Shoot, when I saw the title of this thread, I was all set to send you a couple of folks I know. :D
Click to expand...

A personal problem right? We always sent the new guys to the tool crib for a sheetmetal stretcher, left handed monkey wrench, left handed screwdriver. Lol.
 
I needed a 1/4" drive, 6mm Allen wrench 2" long to fit the action screws on my Anschutz target rifle. I would use a inch pound torque wrench to adjust the final pressure. Sears made one, it was only 9 or 10 dollars. So I bought a 6mm by 1/4 drive socket and epoxied a 2" section of Allen wrench it. Cost: 39cents for the socket, and 79 cents for the 6mm "long" Allen wrench!

Ivan
 
BigBill said:
You know Armstrong, Williams are top of the line industrial tools.

Make sure you buy good Allen sockets. Cheap ones will strip easily. Been there done that.
Click to expand...

Allens strip if they get on an angle. It is reversible if you cut the stripped piece off with a cut off saw. You then have new life. Socket adapters may be too short to do this more than once but IMO are easier to keep square.
 
Snap On gives you many choices of style. The difference is the length of the driver from the socket, I have small Allens that only project about 1/4" from the socket (very handy on tight screws) and others that are a couple of inches. They also have very long ones (about 6"), I have a couple of those in larger sizes. I bought those for specific jobs. I bought Snap On because I was in the business and my tools paid for themselves very quickly. I agree with buying high quality Allen tools, especially on small sizes. The cheap tools tolerance is too big and the material is too soft. A stripped Allen screw is not a fun thing to deal with (especially on the small sizes)
 
Bkreutz said:
Snap On gives you many choices of style. The difference is the length of the driver from the socket, I have small Allens that only project about 1/4" from the socket (very handy on tight screws) and others that are a couple of inches. They also have very long ones (about 6"), I have a couple of those in larger sizes. I bought those for specific jobs. I bought Snap On because I was in the business and my tools paid for themselves very quickly. I agree with buying high quality Allen tools, especially on small sizes. The cheap tools tolerance is too big and the material is too soft. A stripped Allen screw is not a fun thing to deal with (especially on the small sizes)
Click to expand...

Bkreutz brings up a very valid point .. especially with smaller size allen screws .. a cheap set will round them out much quicker then a good hardened set that is true to size and not a cheap set that is off even a few thousands will cause rounding out problems ..

I worked as a machinist for years and I have some that are 25 years old and still true to size and shape .. though have been retired 10 years so not much use in the last years .. the company I worked for bought Snap-On tools by the thousands ..
I have had set screws split before rounding out with a good quality allen wrench ..
 
Lowes and some Hardware stores do sell loose sizes, however many times you can find a set on sale fro only a wee bit more than individual pieces. I know you said you did not need the complete set, but it may be much more cost effective.

If these are tools you use often, get a high quality set. If it's a once a month or less type of usage you can go to the Big Box stores or even Harbor Freight. While I am not a HF fan (although some stuff they now carry is upgraded and made in Taiwan instead of China), for what you are looking for they should serve you well at a very nominal cost.
 
BigBill said:
A personal problem right? We always sent the new guys to the tool crib for a sheetmetal stretcher, left handed monkey wrench, left handed screwdriver. Lol.
Click to expand...

GaryS said:
Bucket of steam, Kaniffling Pin, Dodo button, 20 yards of shoreline, Metric Adjustable Wrench.
Click to expand...


Love the stockroom clerk's face when the new guy asks
for a sealant removal tool called a caulk sucker.


+1 on the Chapman, too bad the price went crazy.
 
BigBill said:
A personal problem right? We always sent the new guys to the tool crib for a sheetmetal stretcher, left handed monkey wrench, left handed screwdriver. Lol.
Click to expand...

The proverbial "Sky Hook' was one that those who thought they knew all there was were sent after .. .. Left handed screw drivers and sheet metal stretchers some were wise too .. ..
 
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