T Handle Hex Keys

[silva]

It's quite possible that the T handle by design, due to its length and thus leverage (sideways on the insertion not the tensioning/loosening of the bolt), is a cause of extra tool or bolt head wear, compared to the minimalistic short arm design of an L handle.
And the I of the T needs to be that long because the handgrip protrudes in 2 opposite directions, which thus requires 2 times the working space (a drawback inherited from the handgrip choice) so inability to turn closer to the bolt head with more chance things in the way.

So far I never needed a T key. For my last bike I had to buy torx (Magura brakes mount and rear cog mount), the dealer chosed to sell me a T but it proved as worthless for both since I had to take parts of the bike in order to be able to turn it and the risk of cogs (every flip) bolt head damage was too big.
Instead I bought a small ratchet with bits, which layout closely resembles an L key. I put tool and bits in a pill tube and keep it with the bike.
Later on I replaced the cogs torx rounded head bolts with cilindric hex ones, so that in case damage > tool slips, I have a last resort of an external grip tool.

From what I've seen (not limited to bikes), price is a useless quality indicator.
Cheap minimalistic tools (ex IKEA) fitting more snug and less wearing than expensive big tools with big sturdy (yes, good quality...) plastic hand grips and gold or silver color-coated metal.
Because they put the extra bucks in the appearance -instead- (=not added) of the job.
Looking good on the sales page and on a shops work table. It they use these themselves, is another question.

 

[wafter]

Thinking about it, T-handle drivers could be useful in applications that require significant torque and the fastener's access is limited - at the bottom of a long counterbore or behind a lot of other components that the tool needs to be threaded through - hence preventing the short arm of an Allen key being used.

Again this would be a special-use situation and still might be more effiicently solved by long interchangeable 1/4" drive bits and a T-handle holder or socket in a ratchet. If the tools see heavy use and require period replacement this would also a more cost-effective and less-wasteful approach than replacing the whole tool.

 

[Tom B]

It's quite possible that the T handle by design, due to its length and thus leverage (sideways on the insertion not the tensioning/loosening of the bolt), is a cause of extra tool or bolt head wear, compared to the minimalistic short arm design of an L handle.
And the I of the T needs to be that long because the handgrip protrudes in 2 opposite directions, which thus requires 2 times the working space (a drawback inherited from the handgrip choice) so inability to turn closer to the bolt head with more chance things in the way.

So far I never needed a T key..... [snip]

A good point actually.

I find that the T-Keys are by their nature a bit springy if cracking off tight bolts a situation the gats worse as the keys get smaller.

Like cheap tools I hate crap fasteners and have a box of squillions of quality fasteners that I swap out.....

But I use them because they're nice to hold, easy to find on the bench / rack and usually the tasks i'm using them for dont need to be really tight and usually access is good with the T key. When working on, say, the car or with the really tight stuff, i tend to use the ratchet hex bits.


Don't even get me started on cheap knock off screw Jubilee clips made of chocolate. Even the quality brands can be dubious these days!

 

[oldandslow]

My dad was terrible for buying cheap tools. I'd pay a fiver for a spanner and he'd buy a whole set. The difference was I'd then have a spanner whilst he had simply wasted his fiver on some paperweights.

There has been the odd exception, a couple socket headed spanners I bought in the 80. No maker's name just the country of origin "India" not particularly a nation associated with fine tools but I used them a lot for decades and they are fine.

Conversely, my Dad was an engineer. When I, as a teenager getting keen on bikes, wanted to buy a packaged toolkit from a local shop with one of my first holiday pay packets, he quite rightly advised me to go for quality tools instead. Unable to afford those, and thinking that the rather basic kit matched what I wanted, I bought it anyway.

The small adjustable spanner remains one of my go-to tools, fifty years later. (Though some of the others broke years ago.)

My T-handles are a mixture of Park and some smaller, good ones that I bought from Rick Green Cycles, just up the road from that other shop, decades ago. Can't remember the brand but may look when I get chance.

 

[newts]

I have a couple of Proxxon T handle hex wrenches been in regular use for many years. Also have a set of Wera L hex keys that I've been using daily for about 15 years & are better for high torque than the T handle type (might just be better steel in the Wera keys).

 

[Profpointy]

Conversely, my Dad was an engineer. When I, as a teenager getting keen on bikes, wanted to buy a packaged toolkit from a local shop with one of my first holiday pay packets, he quite rightly advised me to go for quality tools instead. Unable to afford those, and thinking that the rather basic kit matched what I wanted, I bought it anyway.

The small adjustable spanner remains one of my go-to tools, fifty years later. (Though some of the others broke years ago.)

My T-handles are a mixture of Park and some smaller, good ones that I bought from Rick Green Cycles, just up the road from that other shop, decades ago. Can't remember the brand but may look when I get chance.

Back in the day, when I needed a socket set to fix up my dad's hand-me-down non-runner Cortina, I bought the cheapest set I could find; a Kamassa far East set in its green tin. It was great. Everything worked and nothing broke. Some years later it was nicked from my car, along with the car, though I did get the car back. Bought another identical set and it was utter cack. Ratchet broke within a week, sockets failed, tommy bar bent. Bought Britool for many years subsequently, often secondhand, and they were really excellent. The they got taken over by Facom, who are themselves a good make, but sadly they then turned Britool into their cheap and nasty brand.

 

[Cnnchi]

I have that exact Draper set and use it constantly - they’re fine for my needs.

Only slight downsides- The stand is quite annoying so I don’t use it, and I struggle to tell the tools apart easily. I’ve seen other sets where each handle was a different colour, I keep meaning to get some paint to add some colour to them.

For the money it’s a no brainer, if you manage to round off one or two of them, then those are the ones to buy individually from Facom or wherever - they’re the ones you’ll use the most.