Originally Posted by
FiftySix
Not pain free. Sharp allen wrench edges tend to really bite the hand at high effort. That ratchet is much easier on the hand, even though the leverage is the same.
One of the things I do for work is change out guillotine knife blades (on customers hydraulic cutters) using 8 mm or 10 mm T-wrench allens. These blades are usually 30" to 65" long. I hate following up behind someone stronger than myself, because the high torque snap release of an allen wrench in the hands is something I dread. You feel it to the bone.
I prefer a socketed ratchet too. Definitely a lot easier to loosen bolts (I use that to loosen, and a torque wrench to tighten).
The blades you are describing sounds a lot like what we use to cut coils of steel at work. Do you work in the steel industry by chance? I can only imagine the amount of torque needed to secure one of those babies!