Park AWS-1 Y-Shaped Hex Wrench...a no-brainer
02-01-20, 09:09 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Park AWS-1 Y-Shaped Hex Wrench...a no-brainer
I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier. After struggling with the "pocketknife" version of Park's AWS-10 hex wrench set (which never allowed for enough torque and always got hung up on some component as I was trying to turn it), I just invested $13 in the AWS-1, which has the three most used hex wrench sizes for my bike (4mm, 5mm, 6mm) arranged in a "Y," which enables me to squeeze into some tight spots and to use the two unused wrenches as handles. I thought the Park AWS-10 was the hex tool-to-end-all-hex tools, but now I don't think I will ever use it again.
Last edited by Papa Tom; 02-06-20 at 08:05 AM.
Likes For Papa Tom:
02-01-20, 09:31 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Up
Posts: 4,695
Bikes: Masi, Giant TCR, Eisentraut (retired), Jamis Aurora Elite, Zullo, Cannondale, 84 & 93 Stumpjumpers, Waterford, Tern D8, Bianchi, Gunner Roadie, Serotta, Serotta Duette, was gifted a Diamond Back
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 305 Post(s)
Liked 2,038 Times
in
604 Posts
that was one of the favorite tools at the bike shop when I worked at one 30 years ago.
Likes For woodcraft:
02-02-20, 04:32 AM
#6
Droid on a mission
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Palm Coast, FL
Posts: 1,005
Bikes: Diamondback Wildwood Classic
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 280 Times
in
195 Posts
We do that with all multi type wrenches.
__________________
JoeTBM (The Bike Man) - I'm a black & white type of guy, the only gray in my life is the hair on my head
www.TheBikeMenOfFlaglerCounty.com
JoeTBM (The Bike Man) - I'm a black & white type of guy, the only gray in my life is the hair on my head
www.TheBikeMenOfFlaglerCounty.com
02-02-20, 09:50 AM
#7
Generally bewildered
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 3,037
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 6.9, 1999 LeMond Zurich, 1978 Schwinn Superior
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1152 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
251 Posts
I think that the key is whether you have to fiddle with changing bits or folding out stuff, or use a dedicated tool. Probably the more you wrench on things, the more the dedicated tool makes sense.
I just bought a set of loose Wera ball-end wrenches. About twice the price for Bondus or Elkind, half of P-Swiss. Also got a harbor freight version of loose wrenches (which is half again cheaper than Bondhus, but has a reputation for bending and breaking). The nice thing about loose wrenches (or t-handled) wrenches is that you don't have to fiddle with changing bits, or folding things out and folding them in to get them out of the way. With the folding multi-tool you reach for one tool but you have to fiddle with the folding stuff. The Tri-wrench seems to be a nice compromise. Eight of nine tools you pick up are covered by the three bits, and so you are generally reaching for one tool. No folding or bit changing.
The Silco Ypsilon is a y tool with changeable tips. But if you change the tips a lot, this may be less convenient than the dedicated y tool. And if you set it up with fixed tips, then why not buy the dedicated AW-1 tool? I think if I owned a shop, I'd definitely have each workstation equipped with a couple (AW-1, AW-8) y tools. For the less common screw heads I'd have a driver with 1/4" hex replaceable tips. Blue Point (Snap On's cheaper, but still good, import brand) has a great ratchet screwdriver with interchangeable tips.
I was intrigued, looking at the site for the Silco y wrench, to learn of their "torque tube". I found the set below that has what I think is a "torque tube" The Silca T-Ratchet plus Ti-torque kit. Expensive (about 100 bucks). Anyone ever used it?
I just bought a set of loose Wera ball-end wrenches. About twice the price for Bondus or Elkind, half of P-Swiss. Also got a harbor freight version of loose wrenches (which is half again cheaper than Bondhus, but has a reputation for bending and breaking). The nice thing about loose wrenches (or t-handled) wrenches is that you don't have to fiddle with changing bits, or folding things out and folding them in to get them out of the way. With the folding multi-tool you reach for one tool but you have to fiddle with the folding stuff. The Tri-wrench seems to be a nice compromise. Eight of nine tools you pick up are covered by the three bits, and so you are generally reaching for one tool. No folding or bit changing.
The Silco Ypsilon is a y tool with changeable tips. But if you change the tips a lot, this may be less convenient than the dedicated y tool. And if you set it up with fixed tips, then why not buy the dedicated AW-1 tool? I think if I owned a shop, I'd definitely have each workstation equipped with a couple (AW-1, AW-8) y tools. For the less common screw heads I'd have a driver with 1/4" hex replaceable tips. Blue Point (Snap On's cheaper, but still good, import brand) has a great ratchet screwdriver with interchangeable tips.
I was intrigued, looking at the site for the Silco y wrench, to learn of their "torque tube". I found the set below that has what I think is a "torque tube" The Silca T-Ratchet plus Ti-torque kit. Expensive (about 100 bucks). Anyone ever used it?
Likes For rosefarts:
02-02-20, 07:01 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Likes For Papa Tom:
02-06-20, 09:34 AM
#13
PBP Ancien (2007)
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 358
Bikes: Cannondale CAADX (for commuting), Cannondale CAAD12, Cannondale CAAD12 Team CNCPT, Giant Contend 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Liked 156 Times
in
106 Posts
My AWS-1 already has coloured accents on it. Great tool.
02-06-20, 10:18 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ha! Now I gotcha. Funny you should mention that, because my eyes have gone to the trash in the past year. They are so bad that I can barely find the TOOL, let alone any specific wrench on it. I can still read the fine print on a sign from a mile away, though!
Likes For Papa Tom:
