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Silca’s Ypsalon is the fanciest Y-Wrench we’ve ever seen

with a custom Birchwood case and replaceable bits, the Ypsalon is not your standard shop tool

Silca Ypsilon

Silca Ypsilon

In its continued quest to elevate the work bench of home mechanics everywhere, Silca has introduced the Ypsilon Y-Wrench.

Ypsilon is a new take on an old standard delivered, as you might expect from the boutique company, in a custom Birchwood box designed specifically to encase the tool. Inspired by the brands HX-One Home Essentials kit of hex wrenches, the Ypsilonis quite possibly the fanciest Y-wrench you will ever own.

Silca Ypsilon

Silca’s adaptable take on the Y-Wrench

What makes the Ypsilon (which Silca helpfully suggests be pronounced ip.si.lon) different from the standard Y-wrench? Other than Silca’s usual flair for presentation, the new tool allows you to customize the Y-wrench to suit the task at hand. The ease of use and ergonomic benefits of the Y-wrench combine with a replaceable third bit slot. A 1/4″ bit collet with magnetic attachment allows for a wide range of bit heads to be used in conjunction with the fixed 4mm and 5mm hex keys.

Silca Ypsilon

With the proliferation of bolts and attachments found just on the bars of a modern mountain bike, having the ability to change the final end on the Ypsilon makes a shop classic adaptable to more mechanical tasks. 4mm and 5mm hex keys are common, but many shifter or brake mounts use torx keys.

Silca Ypsilon

Ypsilon construction

Silca has built the Ypsilon with a solid CrV steel spine for durability, but a lightweight composite body with ergonomic grips to provide comfort and control while using the tool. In addition to the fixed 4mm and 5mm hex keys, there is a standard 6mm hex bit and 14 smaller, replaceable bits. These cover a range of hex, torx, and screw bits, covering T8 to T30, and 1.5mm to 6mm hex keys.Silca Ypsilon

The Ypsilon and its replaceable attachments are housed in a customizable foam insert. They sit snugly in the foam, labelled for quick access when you need to change bits. Each bit is also labelled so you can easily see which one you’re using, and match it to its home in the Birchwood case. The case itself uses a small, but strong magnetic closure to stay shut.

Silca Ypsilon

Using Silca’s Ypsilon

When it comes to actually using the high end Ypsilon to work on your bike, it works just as a Y-wrench should. It makes tasks where you need more than one hex or torx, like adjusting brakes and shifter positions on a mountain bike bar, quicker by not having to switch tools.  Shop and traditional mechanics may not like the replaceable bits, but for the home mechanic that needs to use a range of tools, but not often all at once, it’s a nice compact option that will have you covered for most mechanical tasks.

Silca Ypsilon

The replaceable bits feel like they’re firmly set in place with just the magnetic collet. Having both the bit and it’s place in the wood case clearly labelled makes it easy to keep your workspace organized between tasks. The bits themselves look well made, and Silca insists they are made to a very tight tolerance to prevent rounding out of your bolts.

Silca Ypsilon

It would be hard to say the Ypsilon is a tool any home mechanic needs, but for those that like to keep their work space clean and aspire to a certain aesthetic standard, the Birchwood case does look quite nice

Silca Ypsilon

Silca Ypsilon Y-Wrench

Silca offers the Ypsilon in three different packages. The Ypsilon Home Kit includes the custom Birchwood box, housing a range of Hex, Torx and screw bits. The Home Kit retails for an extravagant US $108. If you don’t think you need a wooden display case for your Y-Wrench, you can get the Ypsilon in a travel kit. This includes the wrench and all replaceable bits for US $74, but no Birchwood box. For just the Ypsilon wrench with no extra bits, it’s US $36.

Silca Ypsilon