Tight Fit with Fasteners In order to create a reliable, tight fit with fasteners, our L-keys are slightly larger in size with narrower tolerances than most competitors that follow the ASME standards Two Measures of Tolerance Control We measure our hex key tolerances from point-to-point and side-to-side to ensure the highest standards of dimensional accuracy and consistency 8660 Steel We make our L-keys with 8660 nickel chromium molybdenum steel that’s heat-treated to 5458 HRC to produce tools that are hard, but not brittle Corrosion-Resistant Finish We coat all of our keys with a durable manganese phosphate finish that’s resistant to corrosion Clear Markings With the exception of the smallest sizes, Tekton L-key sizes are marked in two ways: with a high-visibility laser marking and a stamped marking (sizes 0.050 in., 1/16 in., 5/64 in., 1.3 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm are too small to stamp)
Tekton L-keys are made with 8660 nickel chromium molybdenum steel that’s heat-treated to 5458 HRC to produce tools that are hard, but not brittle. As a result, the maximum torque of the L-keys consistently exceeds the ASME standards for minimum torsion load and the ISO standards for minimum proof torque. The keys are coated with a durable manganese phosphate finish that’s resistant to corrosion. We precisely manufacture our hex key geometry on the large end of the applicable range, resulting in less slop in fasteners. The key tolerances are measured in two ways, from point-to-point and side-to-side, to ensure the highest standards of dimensional accuracy and consistency. With the exception of the smallest sizes, Tekton L-key sizes are marked in two waysboth with a high-visibility laser marking and a stamped marking. Tekton keys also have slightly chamfered edges (except the sizes that are too small to be chamfered) and a smooth top face to optimize engagement with fasteners.