Cutting an allen key...

[Matt UK]

or hex wrench or whatever the hell they are called!

Doing some work on the car and I need to cut about 10mm off of the short end of the key in order to get access to a semi-covered bolt. I assume they are made of some sort of Chuck Norris type steel and a metal hacksaw is not even bruising it!

Any ideas?

Edited by Matt UK on Sunday 3rd July 21:25

[pinchmeimdreamin]

Angle grinder ?

[Redmax]

A Dremel if you've got one. Best tool ever so worth investing in one if you haven't.

[wobert]

A hacksaw will do the job....

[bamberwell]

vice ,grinder and a cutting disc

[freddytin]

Stick it in a vice then give it a sharp clout with a hammer . It should snap cleanly off.

[Marty63]

angle grinder to cut allen key

but

do you not have a selection of stubby allen bits in a socket set
used with a small spanner/adjustable often get into tight spots

might save you pharting about with grinder and losing fingers

just a thought

[thinfourth2]

wobert said:

A hacksaw will do the job....

Buy better allen keys

[wobert]

thinfourth2 said:

Buy better allen keys

A hacksaw will go through most grades of steel, including stuff thats been hardened.

[Matt UK]

wobert said:

A hacksaw will do the job....

Maybe I have very good allen keys / piss poor hacksaws. I'm just about scraping off the black paint.

The allen keys seems to have a concentric circles patten within the tubing, so presume they are treated / hardened.

[DanGPR]

wobert said:

A hacksaw will go through most grades of steel, including stuff thats been hardened.

Agree.

Just today managed to cut through a 17mm Halfords Professional spanner with an old hacksaw and a couple of blades. Took about 10 mins. An allen key should be easy , unless you arent very powerfully built...

[Nick3point2]

wobert said:

A hacksaw will go through most grades of steel, including stuff thats been hardened.

Hahaha that comment has made my day. A proper umbrako steel Allen key will easily stand up to a hacksaw.

[Nick3point2]

Another vote for a dremel, that what I've used in the past to do it.

[wobert]

Nick3point2 said:

Hahaha that comment has made my day. A proper umbrako steel Allen key will easily stand up to a hacksaw.

Maybe.....

It's Unbrako BTW ..... :-)

In the past I've sawn the heads off 12.9 high tensile cap screws using, admittedly, a new hacksaw blade, not the Junior type.

As others suggested, perhaps I have "crap" allen keys! :-)

[Matt UK]

Turns out that junior hacksaw will not win against halfords professional allen keys.

But it will cut the free allen key set I got free when I bought one of the boys BMX bikes.

Hurrah!

[hidetheelephants]

Angle grinder. If you haven't got one, this is an excellent opportunity to fill that void in your 'bloke' toolkit. You can get a cheapy one for £15-20.

[wackojacko]

Angle grinder worked when I had to cut one down.

[Z3MCJez]

Fill the gearbox with oil before you put it in the car ...

Jez

PS Ignore if you're not trying to do said task in a Caterham. If you are trying to put the plug back in having filled, use a stubby piece in a ratchet spanner - much easier than trying to use the <10mm protruding corner piece.

[AMST09]

Nick3point2 said:

Hahaha that comment has made my day. A proper umbrako steel Allen key will easily stand up to a hacksaw.

After cutting through a fairly sizeable padlock before, don't think an allen key would be a problem

[eliot]

Matt UK said:

Turns out that junior hacksaw will not win against halfords professional allen keys.

But it will cut the free allen key set I got free when I bought one of the boys BMX bikes.

Hurrah!

Thats because the free alen key is actually a bit of hexagonal shaped monkey metal
As you have proven, a proper alen key wont secumb to a hacksaw. Angle grinder will do it though.