Not all fasteners have a traditional Philips- or flat-head drive recess. Some of them have a hexagonal drive recess. With a hexagonal drive recess, you won’t be able to install them using a traditional screwdriver, nor will you be able to remove them with a traditional screwdriver. Instead, you’ll need to use a special tool known as a hex key. There are two primary types of hex keys, however, including short-arm and long-arm hex keys. What’s the difference between short-arm and long-arm hex keys?
What Are Short-Arm Hex Keys?
Short-arm hex keys are defined by their long vertical side and short horizontal side. As shown in the adjacent photo, hex keys have two sides: They have a vertical side, and they have a horizontal side. For short-arm hex keys, the vertical side is longer than the horizontal side. The exact length of these two sides can vary depending on the specific type of short-arm hex key. Nonetheless, all short-arm hex keys have a long vertical side and a short horizontal side.
What Are Long-Arm Hex Keys?
Long-arm hex keys, conversely, have an even longer vertical side. It’s important to note the vertical side is still longer than the horizontal side. Whether they are short-arm or long-arm, hex keys typically have a longer vertical side than their respective horizontal side. The difference between short-arm and long-arm hex keys lies in the difference between these two lengths. Short-arm hex keys have a shorter vertical side — though still longer than the horizontal side — whereas long-arm hex keys have a longer vertical side.
Choosing Between Short-Arm and Long-Arm Hex Keys
Now that you know the differences between short-arm and long-arm hex keys, you might be wondering which type is best. There are benefits associated with both types of hex keys. Short-arm hex keys, for example, allow you to reach fasteners in small and restricted spaces. If a fastener is located in a hard-to-reach place, you may need to use a short-arm hex key to reach it.
Long-arm hex keys, on the other hand, provide greater torque. All long-arm hex keys have a longer vertical side than that of short-arm hex keys. The vertical side, of course, is the part that you’ll grip and turn. With its long length, it will provide greater torque, thus allowing you to tighten fasteners more easily.
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