Thread: T-handle holders?

I'd make my own, but that's just me. My handywork when making tool holders is pretty basic, though. My cleco holder is a lovely piece of 22 guage steel with three dozen holes drilled in it. Rudimentary but effective.

Yeah I tend to do better on my own, and based on the response I got - I won't assume it's cause everyone has too many suggestions to combine into 1 post

You know, if you'd just go ahead and learn to weld, you could make all sorts of tool holding gadgets.

Someone must be working on a GS with all those Torx.

Nice set of tools. I need to get some myself!

You might want to rephrase your comment though....at first I thought you meant your aging and awesome wife, lol! With statements like that, you might not be getting many tools in the future!

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

Thanks to my aging and an awesome wife, I now have some new t-handles

Craftsman 7 pc. T-Handle Torx Screwdrivers - Model 46410 at Sears.com

Craftsman 4 pc. T-Through Torx® Handle Key Set - Model 46411 at Sears.com

Craftsman 7 pc. Metric T-Through Handle Ball End Hex Key Set - Model 46384 at Sears.com

They include some bizarre plastic holder things which I've already tossed in the recycling bin and am now in the quest for some real holders. I was going to make my own out of Al u-channel and just bolt them to the edge of my tool cart...but thought I'd see what /if the mechanical types here have to recommend to me.

Thanks...

Originally Posted by G-ForceJunkie

I like the Bondhus stuff.

+100.... Bondhus stuff is my favorite here...

Originally Posted by seamus

You know, if you'd just go ahead and learn to weld, you could make all sorts of tool holding gadgets.

don't think I haven't already started with this discussion..."I wouldn't even have to ask if..."

Oh and by the way, I recently realized (2 days ago) my neighbor was employed by some kind of vacuum system company and is some kind of crazy welder. He had to (I'll say 'bond' cause I don't know if it was regular welding) stainless and Al tubing and manifolds as most of his day to day grind. This can only be a good thing for my welding future

Originally Posted by G-ForceJunkie

I like the Bondhus stuff. The stand for the T handles is a pretty nice molded plastic piece, perhaps it could be duplicated in hard wood or a block of plastic with a llittle cutting/drilling/sanding.
T-Handles

I love Bondhus stuff, all my other non-standard stuff is Bondhus Balldrivers mostly. Gotta say I really like the new Craftsman though...I think they may be using Bondhus shanks or something, because the heads have the same fit and beveling as the other bondhus. Or they really paid attention to detail. I will look into sourcing some of their holders...I do like them.

Originally Posted by DUX

Someone must be working on a GS with all those Torx.

Nice set of tools. I need to get some myself!

You might want to rephrase your comment though....at first I thought you meant your aging and awesome wife, lol! With statements like that, you might not be getting many tools in the future!

Hey you missed the 'an awesome wife' I left it there for a reason

Yeah, working on you could say...I'll have to setup some threads about my Elka and Micatech installations recently.

Originally Posted by Baketech

+100.... Bondhus stuff is my favorite here...

I couldn't agree more. Though no place around me sells em in-house, all the Bondhus stuff I have has never even threatened needing replacement.

..but I do really like the new Craftsman stuff, alot.

btw - thanks gents, I appreciate the input

I don't know why I didn't think of this before

Bondhus Torx or Star Tool Stand 17934 *Free Ship - eBay (item 280348905665 end time Jun-21-09 06:39:23 PDT)

That placed seemed to be the cheapest between what I wanted (met and torx stands) with combined shipping...so I bought a couple. Will find a way to attach them to my tool cart

This might be a really dumb question but why is it that T-handles are usually complete sets of T-handles in all the different sizes rather than one T-handle and interchangable bits?

I would think that you really just need 4 T-handles, one with 1/4" drive, one 3/8", one 1/2", and one that fits screwdriver type bits? Then you don't take up near as much room on your work bench or in your tool cabinet.

They make both types, but swapping bits impedes progress imo. I have 3-4 3/8" ratchets that I typically use when in a project, just equip them with varying sockets as I go. The full t-handle wrench sets are nice since you don't have to waste time digging, you just grab and go.

The other thing with T-handles is a handle for a 8mm hex when used on a 2mm hex, would be vy. easy to snap the fastener...so I think thats why they are all varying sizes.

Originally Posted by slickwill

I would think that you really just need 4 T-handles, one with 1/4" drive, one 3/8", one 1/2", and one that fits screwdriver type bits? Then you don't take up near as much room on your work bench or in your tool cabinet.

Please don't blaspheme in a tool thread...

You actually need both...

Originally Posted by Baketech

Please don't blaspheme in a tool thread...

You actually need both...

I thought maybe he just left his pc logged in and his wife was using it?

Originally Posted by Baketech

Please don't blaspheme in a tool thread...

You actually need both...

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

I thought maybe he just left his pc logged in and his wife was using it?

I wish I had that excuse. It was just a thought I had. I'm a tool junkie and my collection is growing as fast as my budget will allow but the concept of a completely separate one for every size was a little foreign to me. I always see them packaged that way when related to motorcycle use but have never seen them available as just drive units like I described. I was sure they were out there but was wondering why I'd never seen them.

I grew up with my dad never having a single set of T-handle anything, my grandpa had a huge tool collection and didn't have any. The neighbor up the street had three giant Snap-On chests full of tools and he didn't have either. They were something I didn't grow up using so are a relatively new idea to me.

Originally Posted by slickwill

They were something I didn't grow up using so are a relatively new idea to me.

No problem dude, me too

I oddly grew up with the 'bit switchable' means of everything, which is why when I found something like t-handles, I was good to go

I'm not going to add to the blasphemy by suggesting I'm a Toolmaker, but that is where the predilection for T-Handles stems from. Because so much tooling came to be assembled with socket head cap screws, the ubiquitous Holo-Krome T-Handle index sets were once as common on the bench as a machinist's vise. This bled over into the motorsports world long ago, and has recently made a strong push into the hobbyist/home tool market...

Not being a Toolmaker or a Master Mechanic, I don't have the brass to keep mine out on display...instead they reside in a drawer of my rollaway, until they are brandished in a brazen display of shock and awe...

Originally Posted by Baketech

Please don't blaspheme in a tool thread...

You actually need both...

Sockets with each size

Originally Posted by Baketech

I'm not going to add to the blasphemy by suggesting I'm a Toolmaker, but that is where the predilection for T-Handles stems from. Because so much tooling came to be assembled with socket head cap screws, the ubiquitous Holo-Krome T-Handle index sets were once as common on the bench as a machinist's vise. This bled over into the motorsports world long ago, and has recently made a strong push into the hobbyist/home tool market...

Not being a Toolmaker or a Master Mechanic, I don't have the brass to keep mine out on display...instead they reside in a drawer of my rollaway, until they are brandished in a brazen display of shock and awe...

I'm just a home/hobby user and I've wore out a couple sets of T-Handles. They're the shiz.

deep thoughts:

why does the bondhus set include a 5mm that has a smaller t-handle than the 2, 3 or 6mm?

at least it's easier to find that way.

Originally Posted by G-ForceJunkie

Usualy those with the smaller handle have a ball end, and they give you a smaller handle so you cant turn them as hard. The ball ends break off easier.

Or strip out the (junk) bolt...

Bondhus is frequently asked why two of the handles in the ball end T-Handle set are “shorter”. The explanation is simple.
Bottom of the page...

Forgot to mention, I really like some of the Wiha stuff too...

And btw, if you have a set of T-Handles, then you also need one of these...
http://www.wihatools.com/400seri/40010ser.htm

Originally Posted by Baketech

Because so much tooling came to be assembled with socket head cap screws...

Totally OT, but last week we were at a (industrial) surplus store that had obviously got the socket head inventory of some shop, and they had a bunch of SPS Unbrako. I bought every box of 1/4", 5/16" and metric stuff they had. 100 piece boxes up to 1" length were $2.00. I was like a kid on Christmas...

I have a couple Wiha t-handles in Torx for the BMW and they are real nice...and who doesn't have the Wiha magnetizer?

On that note, SSG, another option you could consider is magnetic tool holders.

I have something kind of like this screwed to the wall for pry bars and extensions:

KD Tools KDT3155 17in. Magnetic Tool Holder at BrandsPlace.com

If I had the space to put another up, I'd put some of my T-handles on it.

Originally Posted by Baketech

Bondhus is frequently asked why two of the handles in the ball end T-Handle set are “shorter”. The explanation is simple.
Bottom of the page...

this is NOT accurate. Most of mine are ball-ended but only the 5mm (in every set I've seen) has the smaller handle.