Tether-ready designs – These Allen™ wrenches include an opening on the handle which can be used to attach a tether that can secure the wrench to the user or to a fixed object such as a scaffold. This feature helps prevent the wrench from accidentally falling into a work area and causing injuries or equipment damage. This feature is useful when the tool user is working on an elevated platform.

Our range of long-reach Allen keys are manufactured by leading brands like Irwin, Stanley, Bahco, GearWrench, Wiha Tools, Facom, RS PRO, and of course the original trademark designer, Allen. How would you use a long reach hex key?

Range of access – Allen™ wrenches that feature a hex ball end can allow fasteners to be accessed from angles other than directly in the same plane as the fastener. This can simplify assembly & disassembly in close quarter conditions. Like all hex wrenches, long-reach Allen keys are also sold with a variety of head and handle types for various more specialised applications - these can include: Pressure points – the hex design of the Allen™ screw distributes force from the tool against 6 surfaces compared with 4 for the Phillips head screw and 2 for the slotted screw. This makes it easier to loosen or tighten these fasteners and can make it less likely to strip or damage a fastener while loosening or tightening. Allen™ wrenches are available as individual keys of a given size but are also sold in sets that contain a range of standard sizes. Allen™ keys are identified as being either metric-sized keys in millimeter sizes or SAE (Imperial) sized keys in fractions of an inch or decimal equivalents.

Where the additional access provided by a long-reach hex wrench is needed, you'd use the more elongated side as the ‘driver', and the shorter side therefore becomes the handle that you turn to tighten or loosen the fastener. However, when a hex bolt is within easy reach and there's plenty of space to work in, long-arm Allen keys can also be handy used in the reverse configuration - the longer side can help provide better grip and torque when operating as a handle. What types of long reach Allen keys are available?Besides the common types described earlier, Allen™ wrenches are available with other features that improve safety or increase convenience for using the tool. This article will present information on Allen™ wrenches, what they are, their advantages, and the common sizes that are available in the marketplace. To learn more about other types of fastener products, see the list of related articles at the end of this article. What is an Allen™ Wrench? Non-sparking designs – While most Allen™ keys use an alloy steel or tool steel material in their fabrication, there are options available that utilize Beryllium Copper in lieu of steel. The Beryllium Copper material will not create sparks if the tool accidentally slips and strikes another metal surface. The non-sparking feature of this material makes these types of Allen™ wrenches suitable for use in applications where the presence of flammable gases or combustible liquids might exist. Yes, Allen keys and hex keys are essentially the same tools. They both refer to a type of wrench or tool used to tighten or loosen screws or bolts with hexagonal heads. The term "Allen key" is more commonly used in the United States and Canada, while "hex key" is a more widely used term internationally. These keys are typically L-shaped, with one or both ends featuring a hexagonal shape that corresponds to the size of the hexagonal screw or bolt head. They come in various sizes and are made from durable materials such as hardened steel or chrome vanadium. So, whether you call them Allen keys or hex keys, they serve the same purpose of fitting and manipulating hexagonal fasteners. When were Allen keys invented?