Technical Box ol Allen Keys

Got a huge mess of Allen keys. It’s getting old trying each and every one to find the one that fits. What do you guys do to keep this organized?

 

When I am bored, I try to match sets
that have holders and then throw
the extras in a plastic Folgers coffee can.


Jim

 

Thats all you gotz?

I just bought some more that gotz holders since my shop is to far to walk from my house

I like the kind that are attached to a socket best , put them in a socket rack or holder for organizationizm

.

 

I might just go ahead one day and drill out a block of wood with the correct hole to fit each one and label them. The time wasted fumbling looking for the right one is getting ridiculous not to mention the frustration level. Haha! I did partially organize my loose nuts/bolts/screw a couple months ago.

 

Give The Neighborhood Kids A Hobby Lining Them Up By Size And At The end Of The Day You Will Have Half As Many To Organize...

 

I have a tool chest like this and I have the small drawer in the top dedicated to allen keys/wrenches, without a doubt I can honestly say half of them are in the drawer, the reast of hem can be found ****tered in some of the other drawers and on the work bench. HRP

 

My wife buys a lot of stuff from Amazon that has to be put together. These "little "projects" come with ***orted Allen wrenches for the hardware. So I have an unlimited supply of the metric sizes...... plus some flat, one-time-use spanner-style wrenches for metric nuts. I can't just throw 'em away when I'm done because _"TOOLS"_ , right?
I have a couple of small parts organizers with little pull-out hoppers; one is full of Allens and another full of flats.
I tried scanning 'em with my laser IR temperature gun to see if that could tell me the sizes, but no joy. They all read the same.
Surely there must be some organization somewhere that wants these wrenches to send to Chinese orphans for when they're older and go to work.

 

Blame it on IKEA.

 

Of course here in Canukistan we have to be fully equipped for both metric and imperial stuff which just makes it more challenging. It gets real interesting trying to figure out half the time if you’re dealing with metric or imperial hardware.

 

That looks organized to me. Same system that I have had for 60 years and counting....

 

I've got a few full sets of each in their original factory holders. Then the rest are in a zip lock bag, and those are used for the times I need to bend, cut, or otherwise mutilate one for my needs.

 

Kind of like working on a late model car where part of the fasteners are Metric and the rest are standard. The pan on an AOD trans has Metric embossed in the middle of the pan.

 

In a toolbox drawer I have standard and metric sets in holders and 3/8" drive standard and metric sets, (which in a cordless make quick work of furniture ***embly). The drawer has various size loose allens (to replace any damaged or lost from the sets) as well as sizes larger than what come in the sets. Any of those cheap allens that are included with household stuff that require ***embly go right in the trash.

 

Organized chaos?

 

I'm old school I use a metal Folgers or Maxwell House one I inherited with my dad's Allen wrench collection.

 

Get the socket set versions. I stopped fumbling around with those years ago.

 

I’ve a few sets of SAE and metric in the holders, but like @trulyvintage above, I’ve a clear plastic container with all the loose ones.
Over the years I go to the plastic jar first.
I’m notorious for losing things.
I figure dipping into the jar will keep my sets intact

 

... all my wrenches are on wrench racks, all my sockets are on socket racks. makes finding the right size much easier.

 

I buy plastic boxes ands put them in it. When I get too many, I buy another box.

 

Exactly...but haven't had to resort to the "spares" but perhaps once or twice in the last 50 years...should just toss them.

 

Have a couple sets that are in their own box, or sleeves.
When I inherited a bunch of number taps and dies, I spent an afternoon identifying them and putting them in par***ioned parts organizer(like a clear tackle box).
Each compartment is labelled so easy to grab and go. Imagine, same could be done with allen/hex key wrenches.

 

I have two complete imperial sets and one metric set and a large lucky dip box. Every now and then some smart **** dip **** makes a hex screw an oddball size (why) that doesn’t fit metric or imperial standard size in my sets , so it have to resort to the large lucky dip box and hope , keep on trying till we get a Winner or a weaner.

 

You Da Man !!!!!

 

What you have is Traditional

 

I have the sockets on rails, and a set of T handles. That covers 99% of my needs. The odd time when I need a "regular" one, I typically keep them near where I use them.

Also, my T handles were in a case that didn't fit my tool boxes, so I designed and 3D printed these racks. They are mounted to a 3D printed French cleat, so I just pick the rack up and take it with me. The racks can stand on their own as well.

 

My drawer looks like Ziggster's just more aligned with me being a little ocd!

 

This is just wrong.

Gary

 

I was about to lose it today with these damn things. I have a few screws/setscrews on my dual carb setup. Couldn’t find the one I needed even though I had it yesterday. Ended up swapping that set screw with a socket head cap screw, and guess what - I had no freaking Allen key that would fit. I was about to toss the whole mess over the cliff into the lake. I had to take an oversized one, and grind it down using my grinding wheel. Holy hell! Wasted almost 30 mins…

 

I straightened this drawer a little for the photo.