Making an Allen screw ( Fast & Easy )

[@metallantik]

Happy New Year everyone 🎉🙂☃️🎊

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

Happy New Year!

[@notagunfreak8146]

That is really smart, i was sure the rotary broach was going to be needed, but pressing and heat is really clever!

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot 🙏❤️

[@KJ6EAD]

Sure, it's clever but ends up destroying by annealing a tool that costs far more than the part made. Speaking of heat, where's the hardening, tempering and bluing of the fastener; all I see is softness covered in cold bluing?

[@mandywithell]

Used to teach high school students heat pressing . They would file their own profile onto silver steel, harden and temper then do exactly the same as shown in the vid to produce socket heads individual to their choosing. Square, oblong, hex, triangular, oval........ Whopping the press tool in with a hammer, taking care, worked surprisingly well also, as long as work was securely held in a vice!

[@RaneMAJ-r8w]

Just wondered, how you do it...finally it was done with awesome results! - learned something new, thanks

[@metallantik]

Glad it was helpful!

[@frankvucolo6249]

Maybe, just maybe, he did it for the pure joy of it. That’s good enough for me. You can measure things in time and money - and sometimes you have to. But finding joy in life and in the things you do and make can’t be valued in time and money. Joy is priceless.

[@metallantik]

❤️

[@christophe8489]

I was always wondering how the Allen key could be cut out, that's brilliant thank you!

[@adambergendorff2702]

Awesome job, I love seeing custom created or recreated parts!

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot ❤️🙇

[@felgate11]

@@metallantik I was in Engineering all my working life - So I'd just "Borrow" them from work.

[@The-Fat-Kid]

Every Allen head bolt I ever came across with the exception of the Chinese ones that come with cheep furniture have been cap screws, grade 8 or better. This soft iron one may look the part but if you think to use it as part of a machine tool I think you will be disappointed. If it’s just for show you’ll get by. You will also find that when you go to use your Allen socket that the temper has been drawn. Use a cheep L wrench and just cut off what you need and buy a new one, They are usually available individually while the sockets usually come in sets.

[@tinaliebe5118]

It can be hardened

[@andrewwilson6085]

​@@tinaliebe5118I don't think you can harden mild steel to give the quality of high tensile fasteners such as genuine Allen screws

[@tinaliebe5118]

@@andrewwilson6085 yer it needs some special processing probably not worth it 👍🏻

[@The-Fat-Kid]

Mild steel can be case hardened but that would only make it more brittle and weaker. Unless you know the alloy even if it were a high strength steel such as a drill rod it’s not possible to get a reliable temper. This bolt like many products that come out of China will not stand up like the real thing. This exercise in lath work is good practice but the result is not usable except as an exhibit

[@tinaliebe5118]

@@The-Fat-Kid yap I agree with the 👍🏻

[@lornearland3018]

Lots of snarky people in here for no reason. As a non-machinist I was genuinely curious how a screw was made, specifically the slot for the bit, and now I have a better understanding. Thanks.

[@kinglouis6974]

Although that is how a bolt can be made , that is not how they are made in mass ! And say you have a bigger one And you can’t get one there is a proper tool and this guy kinda cheated … well . . Cheated ish A master machinist would not have done that And the bit at the end …. He painted it I’m assuming that was instead of hardening it properly

[@danmoreton1788]

Outstanding machinery skills. This video was a treat to watch.

[@Njazmo]

That's really not outstanding, he didn't do the threads with the lathe. But it was fast and easy.

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot ❤️🙏

[@BITTYBOY121]

Happy New Year ! - Great job ! - To finish that Allen screw, use your blow torch one more time to heat up that bolt to cherry red and then quench it in some oil - This will harden it and also give it that same black steel colour as that stuff you brushed on at the end of your video - Hope this helps - Well done - Bravo ! 👍👍👍

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot , ❤️🙏I will definitely use your advice 🙏

[@metallantik]

Happy New Year to you too 🎊☃️

[@BITTYBOY121]

@@metallantikYou are very welcome mate - Best of luck to you man, :)

[@BITTYBOY121]

@@metallantik 👍👍👍 😎

[@michaelallen1432]

Actually, I'd make it from a piece of 3/8 piano wire. I'd make the head on a jig or on the arbor press. That way I could use a scrap of metal to hold it and a piece of scrap turned down to hold the hex bit. That is a lot of heat way too close to the precision chuck. Id form the head first and do the threads as the last step. Once the socket head is formed, Heat it red as mentioned, then quench in oil. Then clean it off until it's silver again and heat it until it's straw yellow. When that's done, chuck it up in the lathe and cut the screw threads with a carbide tool. It will be too hard for the die, or at least it will cause excessive wear. Besides, if you're helping to make an Allen bolt, you probably want a good precise thread. Or possibly an odd sized thread for some particular application.

[@itsamemario8014]

Making a Allen screw (Fast & Easy) There was absolutely nothing fast and easy about that process, but I can tell you what is fast and easy, going to the hardware store and buying one, they cost sweet FA.

[@stigmautomata]

are you new to machining or

[@itsamemario8014]

@@stigmautomata or what? and no I'm not not new in fact I'm extremely old at the game, I started my apprenticeship back in 1967.

[@malcdellow]

It looks pretty good to me. Sometimes you need a special size or perhaps you live several hours away from a hardware store or perhaps it's a rush job and the store is shut out perhaps you live in the US and the hardware store only stocks imperial and you need metric. Lots of good reasons to make one. Probably the best one is "because you can".

[@malcdellow]

It looks pretty good to me. Sometimes you need a special size or perhaps you live several hours away from a hardware store or perhaps it's a rush job and the store is shut out perhaps you live in the US and the hardware store only stocks imperial and you need metric. Lots of good reasons to make one. Probably the best one is "because you can".

[@itsamemario8014]

@@malcdellow or perhaps you're some what silly and like wasting time and money, just to end up with an inferior product, yes definitely, there are lots of reasons, just none with any merit.

[@davidklodd4369]

Nicely done, sometimes I have to make a custom thread that is not off the shelf, make it from an oversized case hardened bolt, anneal then retemper.

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot ❤️🙏

[@timmontano8792]

Well done. I never would have thought of that pre-heated press fit thing. Now I'm a little bit smarter.

[@metallantik]

Thanks 🙏❤️

[@Keith-l2s]

Very neat. I'd be concerned about the heat transfer to the allen key/socket. I'm pretty sure it would lose most of its hardening after you've made a few of those.

[@BeeHiverson]

I don't think he is going to go into full production

[@tuberroot1112]

Part of the spec of an Allen screw is that it shall be made from high tensile steel. So you have made something which looks like an Allen screw, but isn't.

[@mode1charlie170]

He could easily heat treat the finished screw if he wanted to.

[@JohnJones-cp4wh]

@@snarkybuttcrack Judging by the swarf coming off, it looks like a bit of old iron fencing.

[@Luminous65]

​@@mode1charlie170 No he can't heat treat it. If it's low carbon construction steel he can't do anything with this

[@walsakaluk4630]

Art for art's sake.

[@MAsWorld1]

Good tips If you need a unique one right away! I’d probably heat treat it after if it’s an important assembly .

[@williamsantiago7303]

That was so awesome!! I can't wait to put my lathe together. That was so cool!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot ❤️🙏

[@bossman6174]

So that is why these bolts are so expensive in the store. Just kidding. Nice Vid . I learned something. Thumbs up. Thanks for showing this.

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot ❤️🙏🥰

[@shipsofscale]

Nice. I would have never thought of using heat and pressing

[@metallantik]

you're welcome ❤️🙂

[@daveys]

I thought that was a neat thing too. Not every job warrants making a rotary broach.

[@BlackSoap361]

Next, are you going to show us how to machine high-precision 8d nails?

[@darkfactory8082]

Nice work. I thought you'll use the rotary, but you did it the easy way.. =) Afterall this is the main industrial process in making those bolts.. Cheers.

[@CoolIdeasDIY-qv1nz]

Great job😉

[@metallantik]

Thanks ❤️

[@ED_T]

I usually make them fast and easy by exchanging some money for a box of factory made ones

[@jacqueso8424]

And when and if youre close to the hardware store that stocks it, you stock up for yourself especially if you are in habit of making items that may require those screws. Those things are made in bulk and in all imaginable sizes. I'll give some credits for the attempt. though the odds of requireing to make a once off is slim

[@growleym504]

Indeed. An hour of work to make one, vs buy for $2/ea or less at the big box store or on Amazon. No brainer, at least for standard sizes. Now for an odd size or proprietary thread pitch or something, sure, I get it. And TBH I never thought of press forging the socket, I guess because how do you keep the cooling and shrinking screw head from shrink fitting so tight to the hex key that you can't remove it. Now I have seen it and know it could be done if there were ever a situation where it could not simply be purchased. And yeah, every bit of an hour, when you add up all the setup times for everything. I hate it when people protest that it only took 9 minutes and 28 seconds in the video. It takes me that long just to pick out some material and get it centered in the chuck. EVERYTHING takes a lot longer than you think it will and time is too valuable to make standard size and pitch screws on the lathe.

[@railgap]

How dare you value your own time that high! ;D I gave up the big coffee can of random hardware long ago, too.

[@inktownfishing4505]

That was impressive and great skills to have. And now only 99 more to go...lol!

[@witoldstrom1115]

" Овчинка выделки не стоит " -- НАРОДНАЯ МУДРОСТЬ .

[@jamescopeland-j9l]

Oh sure nice equipment I live in the Philippines ,good luck doing that here

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot 🙏❤️

[@sungear]

This is a really interesting exercise. It also demonstrates the value of automation. I wonder if the hex driver is now annealed.

[@metallantik]

👌👌🙏

[@MrKotBonifacy]

_"This is a really interesting exercise"_ in futility. Also, neither fast nor easy - that is, when compared to picking up a bag of STANDARD allen bolts (like this one here) at a local hardware store. Granted, it shows you HOW you can make one "in a bind" (you need something out of your door by morning, and it's 10 PM and you just realised you've run out of bolts of needed size), or if you need some highly non-standard one (say, left-hand, fine pitch imperial thread in oddball sizing in a place that's not US), but then you'd have to cut the thread "on the lathe"), but other than that the only value of it is in "entertainment category", aka "but I can make a video about it and post it on YT". Yes, yes, I can hear you - EDUCATIONAL value - true, but then do you really think people who own a lathe DO NOT KNOW those simple operation? Although to be fair, that hot pressing of Allen bit is pretty ingenious idea, but if I were to do that I'd loosen the chuck first a bit so that the head could rest on the jaws (= no risk of deforming/ bending the stem) and pull out the bit ASAP with pliers, but other than that kudos to this guy for this simple and effective solution/ trick. Also, to make the issue clear, my gripe here is NOT about "how to make a STANDARD Allen bolt yourself" but calling it "easy" or "quick". "Fun", yes, maybe. "Easy"? Well, not "hard', that's sure. "Fast"? Aw, c'mon... Be serious, will ya? ;-) PS: And, last BUT NOT LEAST, that black oxidation on Allen bolts is merely a by-product of HARDENING them - so cold "bluing" them is of NO PRACTICAL USE, it'd be merely a decorative and useless thing. While "regular" bolts are in 5.8 class of hardness (or 4.8 in cheap Chinese products), Allen bolts HAVE to have higher hardness class - 8.8 minimum. You just can't find any Allen bolt out there in 5.8 class. Why so? Because they're tightened and loosened with Allen key, that's why. (Also, while at it - that knurling is purely OPTIONAL thing too.) This cute little screw here is made from ordinary low carbon mild steel as far as I can tell, so... Yep, back to square one - an exercise in futility. Nice try, but...

[@ronsanmartin]

ha sido muy interesante, yo le habría hecho el moleteado después, y no le habría echado agua para enfriarlo, creo que le has hecho microfracturas al echarle agua, pero el concepto es muy interesante y es un metodo que pienso probar, muchas gracias!

[@metallantik]

you're welcome . Thanks for the comment and advice 🙏❤️

[@davidparadis5748]

I just retired as a machinst at General Dynamics in Groton CT. after 47 years that bring back memories how I made threds back in high school. Norwich Tech

[@metallantik]

👌😍

[@bullfrogpondshop3179]

Is there a reason you didn't center drill before knurling, so you could support the piece with the tailstock during the knurling process? Also, why did you leave the piece sticking out of the chuck so much during the heating and forming process? To reduce the heat sink effect of the chuck? I was concerned that having that much sticking out would cause the heated bolt shaft to deform when all that pressure was applied. I understand the shaft wasn't red hot, but it was still hot.

[@metallantik]

Absolutely correct, but it was my first experience 👌👌

[@seahorseist]

Excellent video the pump is well made and works really well

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot ❤️

[@KarlKillers]

I enjoyed that, thank you! I am a Toolmaker but do almost everything on my cnc.......we are losing all these hand skills and "tricks"!!

[@danbirch8939]

Excellent instructional. Helps me to better learn how to use my lathe. Thanks!

[@metallantik]

you're welcome ❤️🙏

[@SirTodd]

this could be very useful, especially to create customized sizes. you could even create large bolts with a more common hex key head size.

[@TramJizzle]

So simple even a child could do it, this'll be on tv along with ShamWow and Slap Chop.

[@Jay73.69]

That's pretty slick

[@metallantik]

❤️

[@bobbaldwin984]

.. Good heavens ! ... Brilliant video . Thankyou :-)

[@metallantik]

Thanks 🙏

[@LeonardRodriguez88]

I'm never spending 50 cents on an Allen screw again! This is much more convenient!!!

[@flouserve]

No venden tornillos allen cerca de tu casa?

[@Diy_Cnc84]

This video is so interesting. Thanks😘

[@d1360rc]

Buen trabajo amigo, estoy empezando y me gusta ver todo lo que se puede hacer en un torno.

[@metallantik]

Excellent, good luck 🙏❤️

[@joaomachado1103]

Parabéns amigo, trabalho excelente. Qual o nome do liquido que você usa para escurecer o parafuso?

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

That was very interesting. Super well done! tHanks for the video

[@metallantik]

Thank u so much 🙏

[@markseibert6369]

Nice. You can make British Standard Allens, etc. I would suggest not pointing the torch at your chuck. I would not put the knurl in the chuck, as you marked it noticeably. Sure, start the die, but then move to your vise and using the proper size Allen to hold it in the vise, finish threading by hand. Heat treat for improved strength and durability.

[@metallantik]

Thank you for your tips 🙏🤍

[@CypressVintage]

Awesome job!

[@ToBeeOrNotToBeHoney]

Interesting idea, although I am not sure I want to be using a torch so close to my chuck.

[@twm4259]

I would have shielded the chuck with insulation

[@dimsum5567]

You can pee on your chuck at the same time

[@nsrvtqc]

My questions how strong is it and how long will it last?

[@independentvoice6686]

Very educational. Thanks

[@metallantik]

🤍🙏

[@georgeantonaros5580]

Great job !! 🤗

[@metallantik]

Thanks ❤️

[@new.handle]

Don't bolts get hot/cold tretmant to strengthen the metal? Because the easiness this metal was processed tells me this bolt is not for high torque application.

[@dzianisnavasiolau9503]

Great! Can I ask you, what the black liquid have you used in finish?

[@metallantik]

Thanks , it was Super Blue

[@kennethtencza9209]

Very nicely done

[@metallantik]

Thanks ❤️🙏

[@fattossa]

Thankyou i enjoyed watching your video.

[@metallantik]

🙏❤️

[@gustavohenriqueF1]

Muito legal. Esse universo da usinagem é fantástico.

[@woodyscrooby2454]

Great Job. Nice Work!

[@metallantik]

Thanks ❤️🙏

[@Umski]

Nice! I was wondering how you'd cut the hex shape into the head 😎 Guess depending on the application some hardening might be needed but I'll be keeping this method in my head for the future 👍

[@i_woke_up_in_a_new_buggati]

Now I know what to do the next time I lose a bolt! :D

[@ralphwaters8905]

Nice approach when special fastener geometry is needed, as long as you don't need grade 5 or higher...

[@campbellmorrison8540]

Interesting, I'm guessing that wouldn't do much for the hex socket, does it lose its hardening?

[@metallantik]

( Super Blue ) ❤️

[@wtchr6883]

Most likely

[@rockyrodriguez2351]

That’s a good idea if you can’t find an Allen bolt of your specification.

[@bretnmannn]

Great video, a induction coil heater could also be used if you don't have a torch and you could singel point on the lathe to thread instead of die thread also!

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot for your advice ❤️🙏

[@bruceschneider4359]

I have a need for a few 7/16-14 Stainless Allen Set Screws. Not available, not a high stress application. My question: 'How did you determine the pilot hole diameter for pressing in the hex. It appears that it is slightly larger than the distance across the flats.

[@The-Fat-Kid]

All sizes and threads are available-keep looking

[@777smitty4]

I want to know what you use to blacken the bolt that stuff works great

[@daviddaddy]

I'm going to need 2000 of those by tomorrow.

[@Armin_Huckleberry]

Tolle Sache. Auch wenn jemand meint zum Baumarkt zu müssen, soll er das machen. Ich als Neuling habe was dazugelernt. Ich arbeite oftmals in der Nachts an meinen Motorrädern. Da werde ich sicher darauf zurückgreifen. Zb bei Umbauten an Mechanik. Danke. Ich freue mich auf die nächsten Tipps.

[@vikashnathtiwari9794]

Very good and easy process tq upload video

[@metallantik]

🙏

[@MiguelChavezTrejo]

Good work bro.

[@metallantik]

🙏

[@tymz-r-achangin]

Easily got my thumbs up. So what is the hardness of the bolt? Did you happen to heat treat or rockwell it?

[@metallantik]

No, but it is better if it is done ، Thanks for the tip ❤️🙂🙏

[@davidsnyder2000]

Super clever technique 👍🙂

[@metallantik]

Thanks ❤️🙏

[@HomebrewHorsepower]

Fake it till you make it I guess. That cheese-grade bolt will break if you sneeze at it.

[@metallantik]

Maybe 🙂❤️

[@martinantill7077]

I would be interested to know how this method would affect the nature of the steel. Would it be hard, soft, brittle etc.

[@kdansari329]

Oh very nice idia👌👌👌👍 Thank you for uplodge ❤.

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot ❤️🙏

[@steven.h0629]

Impressive 👍😎✊

[@metallantik]

🙏

[@cramersclassics]

Awesome, what was dye or bluing used to make it dark? Just subscribed!

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot 🙏, it was Super Blue

[@denniselvy3528]

Allen screws are usually a higher grade of steel. What was the grade of yours

[@wsmc8275]

Soft.

[@anonymously241]

Grade 1

[@metallantik]

I don't know exactly, it was a rusty rod

[@stovepipe666]

Good job 👍

[@metallantik]

Thanks 🙏

[@rah4822]

They are called Socket Head Cap Screws or SHCS for short.

[@metallantik]

Thank u 👌👌❤️🙏

[@valterp528]

great work

[@metallantik]

🙏

[@steveburton2806]

Brilliant! Well done, what is the liquid you use to colour the screw with? Thanks

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot , it was ( Super Blue )

[@mariog1051]

This video is very well done but it shows making an "allen bolt shaped object", not a real allen bolt with the strength and hardness required

[@metallantik]

Thanks ❤️

[@keithreed5009]

Allen screws have rolled threads which are much stronger

[@richardkatzman1215]

Very nice!

[@metallantik]

Thanks ❤️🙇

[@alejandroalbert6479]

What liquid did you use to dye the screw black? The finish is perfect!! Thank you

[@deebee3901]

Fantastic! What is the black liquid at the end?

[@metallantik]

Thanks 🙏❤️, it was ( Super blue )

[@keithjohnson3883]

In a emergency I guess this will work, if you don't have access to the Internet or Amazon "You have to do what you have to do", but just remember it's not a grade 8 like normal cap screw Judging just by the way the material was tearing as you were machine, it looked like you were using something like low carbon 1018 hot roll. If you use a higher carbon steel (4140 or 4150 ) as your blank you can get away with heating the entire finished bolt then quenching it in either oil or water depending upon what type of material you're using, That should give you a little bit better results in a somewhat harder finished product (Till you can get the right bolt for the job). Especially If you have to spend that much time to Machine. (Check a copy of machinery handbook)

[@metallantik]

Thank you for your advice ، i will definitely use yourrecommendations 🤍🙏

[@اعطمراد]

Very elegant and beautiful👌👌

[@metallantik]

❤️

[@Rubbernecker]

Very nice!!

[@metallantik]

Thanks 🙏

[@steveclark..]

One concern I have is the transfer of heat into the hardened jaws of the chuck, would it be enough to ruin the heat treatment that they originally had? Only way to tell is to test them on a Rockwell hardness tester before and after you try this I guess.

[@llucnoro638]

Bery thanks bro thats is a veri God idea

[@metallantik]

❤️

[@carlosescalante29]

Te felicito amigo ❤

[@metallantik]

Thanks bro 🙏

[@ATthemusician]

Ive considered doing this for somewhat small allen/thumb screws. How to do you get a hex broach ror making the socket?

[@railgap]

you make it. :) I think This Old Tony has covered that, or one of the other Machine Shop Mafia here on YT.

[@gaildimick1831]

Smart, thanks

[@metallantik]

🙏❤️

[@RondeLeeuw]

Wouldn't heat treatment of the allen bit get ruined by pushing it into red hot steel?

[@meunomeeplissken3088]

No final, parece que é outro parafuso de qualidade maior .

[@metallantik]

🤦‍♂️

[@edwin3377]

What is the name of that stuff that you put on with the brush? Excellent job!

[@metallantik]

Thanks a lot , it was ( Super Blue )

[@edwin3377]

@@metallantik thanks

[@Mr_hydrogen966]

Sorry can i ask what did you put into it yo make it black😅

[@metallantik]

It was Super Blue

[@RobertS-blacharka]

Perfect!

[@DonAntoniodetucum]

Excellent

[@KyashanYosaBuson]

Hi! Very interesting video. I've just a question, if possible. What product did you use to color the metal at te end of the video?. Is it permanent on metal? Thanks 🤓

[@metallantik]

This is (super blue) and is used to paint the gun barrel

[@babaktiba]

Hi, what did you use to turn it into black color?

[@metallantik]

I used ( Super Blue )