6mm hex wrench

[zhenqing]

Does anyone know where i may be able to purchase a 6mm hex wrench with a "T" plastic or rubber handle to tighten the grip on my foils? Are these preferable to the common "L" shaped variety? I also have a foil that takes a regular flat bladed tool for tightening the grip. I recall having seen this item on some catalogue but can't remember where. As always, thanks for your feedback.

Zhen

[Tripper]

I picked one up at a local hardware store for about $4. It's a fairly small store so the bigger ones probably have them also.

MJTripper

[Gav]

My coach maade one with a T handle by taking a regular L handle, hacking a bit off, then joing a metal tube over the top. Finally he drilled a holle and put a bit of metal thou the hole and voila L shape handle becomes T shape.

I find it dosn't make much difference.

A friend of mine had an epee the had a bolt in the end that you could only adjust by using a flat head screwdriver. He got it from a vendor here who has a rep' for assembling weapons and bodywires out of whatever he has at hand. I believe it was Russian in origin and had a really odd tang.

Try anyone one who sells East European stuff - can't say I've seen very many though.

[RC]

Canadian Tire has them in stock. Perhaps a local retired Canuck can have one sent to you from the Great White North.

[Stryder]

On the counter of any hardware store you've all seen those 4 in 1 magical screwdrivers?
They have a reversable screwdriver head at each end of a chrome tube that is removed and flipped over then replaced into the handle.
The chrome tube is 6mm! Either at on or both ends. It isn't T shaped but it works just fine.

[Crash55]

Did you try going to Sears or any hardware store for that matter? A T-handle 6mm hex wrench should be easy to find.

If you wnat both a standard screwdriver head and a hex head in the same tool, try looking for a nut driver with changeable bits. I know Sears has 6mm hex sockets and I think the drive on the nut drivers matches the drive on the sockets.

[edew]

I prefer the L wrench for the leverage. The T's only benefit is its convenience when making multiple turns. Usually, I use the longer end of the L to do that.

[zhenqing]

Thanks guys! Edew, that's what i have heard from several people, that the "L" gives you more leverage. The "T" handle I recall seen had a rubber or plastic handle. It looked kind of nice but don't know whether it would do a better job than the plain "L" shape. So far, the ones i've seen on hardware stores don't have this type of handle (just the inverted isoceles, plain steel type) . I guess the whole idea is to use a tool that that can tighten the grip adequately so it won't come loose during a bout. The 6 mm Allen wrench that Uhlmann sells is the "L" shape type so it must be for a reason.

I really appreciate your valuable feedback on the subject and thank you for it.

[HilandDoug]

Wouldn't it be easier to order new pommell nuts from Santelli that allow you to use a screwdriver to tighten the nut? That's what I did, and I don't have to worry about my hex nut tightener wandering off...

[zhenqing]

Thanks HD...great idea! Didn't know those existed! Will the grip stay in place? Have you tried the adaptor and have been satisfied?

[BarryTice]

zhenqing --

I looked all over for a 6mm T-handle hex wrench and found plenty of them available -- in sets of metric wrenches. Nobody seemed to have them available individually, though you can get the L-shaped wrenches all over. I finally ordered one from Triplette.

-- b.r.t.

[HilandDoug]

By the way, if you order the nuts from Santelli, don't forget the lock washer, or you'll be tightening your weapon after every solid touch.