You'd think this would be simple!!!!!

[Mike Chini]

All I need is a 5mm (3/16"?) truss rod allen wrench to fit between the pick guard and the neck. Standard hardware store allen wrenches are too long. I've already been to the hardware store as well a FIVE different guitar parts stores and all of the major online retailers (MF, samedaymusic etc.) without any luck.

If anyone knows someone that carries these things, I will be eternally grateful!

MC

[GlennW]

Maybe you can find a cheap one (for the softer metal) and trim it with a hacksaw.

[Mike Chini]

Thanks Glenn. Yeah, I'm trying to avoid that. I was hoping I could just find an L-shaped allen wrench with a very short arm. Someone has to sell them!

[202dy]

Everyone grinds their own. Hard steel is a good tool. To make the arm smaller, cut it with a Dremel tool using the fiberglass reinforced cut-off wheel. The thin abrasive wheels do not do this job well. Finish up with a grinding wheel. If you have a bench grinder it even easier. It takes more time to get the tools than to do the job.

Bondhus makes a stubby allen wrench. While they are sometimes stocked in the hardware stores, stubbies are more of a specialty tool. You will probably have to go to a machine shop supplier to purchase them.

[Mike Chini]

Thanks 202dy. I'll order one of those Bondhus and in the meantime start grinding my own.

[Jaco D]

Would those ball-tipped allen wrenches which look like a "T" with the ballend bent like 15 degrees work? The guys on the floor of my local guitar shop use such a tool to make relief adjustments on the stuff they sell. Don't know if those are guitar-specific tools or they can be found in a specialized tool outlet.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by Jaco D

Would those ball-tipped allen wrenches which look like a "T" with the ballend bent like 15 degrees work? The guys on the floor of my local guitar shop use such a tool to make relief adjustments on the stuff they sell. Don't know if those are guitar-specific tools or they can be found in a specialized tool outlet.

Ball end hex wrenchs are standard and can be purchased at most good hardware stores. They're great in a pinch but used long term can "round out" a hex screw. Short arm tools are better and provide more leverage.