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  1. An Allen wrench is a small, L-shaped tool with a hexagonal cross-section, designed specifically for turning bolts with hexagonal sockets. People commonly use it for assembling furniture and bicycle repairs, as its unique shape allows it to access tight spaces and provide sufficient leverage.
    home.howstuffworks.com/allen-wrench.htm
    An Allen wrench, AKA an Allen key or hex key, is a small hand tool used to fasten screws or bolts with a hexagonal socket. Either end usually works, although some sets only have one end. This hexagonal shape provides six points to apply pressure to the fasteners, making them more efficient. It’s also nearly impossible to strip the fastener.
    www.familyhandyman.com/article/guide-to-allen-wr…
    It’s the L-shaped tool that takes the form of a hexagonal key. Allen wrenches are used to fasten hex screws into wood, metal, and even plastic.
    handtoolessentials.com/blog/tools/what-is-an-allen …
    An Allen key, also called a hex wrench or hex key, is a versatile hand tool designed to loosen or tighten screws & bolts using hexagonal sockets or heads. Its distinctive L-shaped or T-shaped design features a hexagonal tip that fits precisely into corresponding fasteners.
    www.electronicshub.org/what-is-an-allen-key/
    Allen wrenches (also known as an Allen key or hex key) are devices used for driving screws and bolts with inner hexagon-shaped sockets. The wrenches tend to be made from strong steel rods that are also hexagonal-shaped. They have blunt edges that fit into screw sockets of the same size.
    www.tigerfishtools.com/news/what-is-allen-wrench/
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    Hex key - Wikipedia

    A hex key (also, hex wrench, Allen key and Allen wrench or Inbus) is a simple driver for bolts or screws that have heads with internal hexagonal recesses (sockets). Hex keys are formed from a single piece of hard hexagonal steel rod, having blunt ends that fit snugly into similarly shaped screw sockets. The rods are bent to … See more

    The idea of a hex socket screw drive was probably conceived as early as the 1860s to the 1890s, but such screws were probably not manufactured until around 1910. Rybczynski … See more

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    The term "hex key" is best known as "Allen" in the English-speaking countries like the UK, Australia, Canada and the U.S. and in See more

    Hex socket screw heads are usually made by stamping the head with a die, plastically deforming the metal. Other ways to generate the … See more

    • Burton, Walter E. (February 1946), "Hold Everything", Popular Science, vol. 148, no. 2, New York, NY, USA.
    • Hallowell, … See more

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    Some features of hex keys are:
    • The tool is simple, small and light.
    • The contact surfaces of the screw or bolt are protected from external damage.
    • There are six contact surfaces between bolt and driver. See more

    Hex keys are measured across-flats (AF), which is the distance between two opposite (parallel) sides of the hexagon.
    Metric See more

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  4. How is an Allen wrench used? - HowStuffWorks

    May 17, 2024 · An Allen wrench is a small, L-shaped tool with a hexagonal cross-section, used for turning bolts with hexagonal sockets. It is commonly used …

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    • What is an Allen Wrench? | Different Types of Hex Keys

      Mar 5, 2019 · Learn the definition, history, and types of Allen wrenches, also known as hex keys. Find out how they are used for fastening hex screws in various applications and tools.

    • What Is an Allen Key? - OneMonroe

    • Homeowner’s Guide To Allen Wrenches - The Family …

      Sep 30, 2024 · An Allen wrench, AKA an Allen key or hex key, is a small hand tool used to fasten screws or bolts with a hexagonal socket. Either end usually works, although some sets only have one end. This hexagonal shape provides …

    • How To Use An Allen Wrench The Right Way - SlashGear

      Mar 5, 2024 · Learn the basics of using Allen wrenches, also known as hex keys, for various household tasks. Find out how to pick the right size, insert the short end, and rotate the long end of the wrench.

    • What Are Ball End Hex Keys Used For? - Teng Tools USA

    • How to Use an Allen Wrench Like a Pro - Popular …

      Apr 25, 2020 · Allen wrenches, which are also called hex-key wrenches or hex keys, have a hexagonal cross section to fit various machine screws and set screws that have hexagonal-shaped recessed holes.

    • Allen Wrench - Description and applications of use - Tutotools

    • Allen Key vs. Hex Wrench: What’s the Difference? - Fine …

      Nov 15, 2023 · An Allen Key, often referred to as an Allen Wrench, is an indispensable tool easily recognized by its L-shaped form and hexagonal (six-sided) cross-section. The Allen key is designed to fit perfectly into the …