What is an Allen key? The Allen key explained simply!

The Allen key (Inbusschlüssel) is a tool with a hexagonal profile used to loosen or tighten Allen screws. This tool is very widespread, especially with cheap furniture that is assembled by the buyer themselves. The Allen key is available in various sizes and designs, including so-called Allen bits for electric screwdrivers.

Etymology: Why It Is Called “Inbus” and Not “Imbus”

Many people refer to it as an “Imbus key”, but the correct term is actually Inbus key. The term is not a general word, but originally originated as a brand name or acronym.

INBUS stands for:

INnensechskant Bauer und Schaurte (Hexagon Socket Bauer and Schaurte)

The company Bauer & Schaurte developed and marketed the hexagon socket screw in Germany and coined the name “INBUS” for it. Over time, the brand name became a generic term for screws and tools with a hexagon socket.

The fact that many people say “Imbus” is because the sequence of letters is easier to pronounce in everyday life and the “n” before the “b” often sounds like an “m”. In linguistics, this is a so-called assimilation, in which a sound is adapted to the subsequent sound. The colloquial pronunciation has become so widespread that “Imbus” is frequently heard today – however, Inbus remains technically and historically correct.

If you want to be completely precise, you can even call it a hexagon socket key (Innensechskantschlüssel), because “Inbus” originally describes the design of the screw and not the tool itself.

Advantages of the Allen Key

This shape is popular for various reasons. Due to its six edges, the Allen key grips better than a Phillips screwdriver, and because of its simple shape of being purely hexagonal, it is easier to manufacture compared to a Torx. Although the Torx is also practically hexagonal, it is in a star shape. Anyone who owns a file and a metal rod can easily file an Allen key themselves, but not a Torx bit.

The possibility of cheap manufacturing has ensured that a simple Allen key is often included when you buy a piece of furniture or something comparable. This ensures that every customer, regardless of their own tools, can assemble the product.

Do Not Rely Too Much on Included Cheap Allen Keys!

However, a disadvantage of such enclosed keys is their usually thoroughly poor quality. A high-quality Allen key does not bend and does not break. Every now and then, a screw needs to be tightened particularly firmly, and a good Allen key must withstand this power transmission without breaking or bending. Such Allen keys, intended as a giveaway, are mostly made of cheap metal and are insufficiently hardened.

Steel hardening is an art in itself, because the required temperatures and cooling times, as well as the hardness and toughness to be achieved, differ greatly between the possible steels. Therefore, if you like to work with an Allen key more than just once, it is recommended to get a set of high-quality Allen keys and, ideally, also a high-quality set of Allen bits.

Using the Grub Screw with an Allen Key

On very many doors we find an Allen screw, in these cases a so-called grub screw (Madenschraube). This is a screw without a head that can be screwed in with the Allen key. This grub screw is mostly used to fasten the door handle. Since this screw has no head, it disappears almost completely into the drill hole provided for it.

There are, of course, other ways to attach a door handle. Old door handles were partly attached with a small steel pin that was driven in by force. However, the steel pin naturally protruded, otherwise it would have been difficult to replace the door handle without major interventions. Therefore, using a grub screw is the significantly more elegant solution – but precisely a solution for which an Allen key is required.

Your Locksmith Service with an Outstanding Inventory

At Locksmith Munich – Mario Pichelmaier, we know all about the added value of high-quality tools. With us, not only are the Allen keys of the best quality, but all of our tools are. What applies to DIYers also applies to a locksmith professional: buy cheap, buy twice. We therefore rely on high-quality equipment and professional specialized tools. For the hobby user, it may well be wise to purchase a tool with as many fields of application as possible, but anyone who works on locks every day like we do wants to have the best tool for every possible case. This is because many sources of problems that would occur with a tool that does not fit perfectly can be avoided in this way.

Non-Destructive Door Opening by Our Locksmith Munich

At Locksmith Munich – Mario Pichelmaier, we are particularly proud of our excellent rate of non-destructive door openings. We can therefore almost guarantee to open slammed or shut doors for you without the slightest damage. But even if it is a locked door, we will usually open it without leaving any damage behind.

Even in extreme cases, if the drill really has to be unpacked, we work very carefully and precisely. Our friendly locksmiths are excellently trained and understand their trade. Therefore, even in the unlikely event that a lock has to be drilled open, the resulting damage can hardly be detected afterwards. This is only possible, of course, because our staff is excellently trained on the one hand, and we only work with first-class drills and drill bits on the other. These allow us to perform particularly precise drillings.

Are you looking for a locksmith service that can be reached around the clock and is quickly on site? We work reliably and non-destructively at a guaranteed fixed price. Simply let us know briefly on the phone what the issue is, and we will calculate a fair and transparent fixed price for you. We guarantee you that this amount will not change anymore; with us, there are neither ominous additional payments nor subsequent price adjustments. The fixed price mentioned on the phone applies and includes all work for your order. Just give us a call and convince yourself of our quality.