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Old 01-15-2019, 02:35 PM
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justonwo justonwo is offline
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Default Truss rod head between sizes?

Guys, one of my guitars (Brondel) has a truss rod hex head that seems to be between sizes. I don't think it was ever rounded out, as it was only ever adjusted by Laurent or me.

9/64" is too small but it will (dangerously) get the job done. 5/32" is too big. 3.5 mm and 4 mm are also too small and too big, respectively.

Seems like either my hex wrench size isn't accurate, the truss rod head is rounded out, or I need a between size. Fortunately, I don't need to tighten it now. I just had to loosen it. But I wouldn't want to tighten that truss rod with a 9/64" for fear that I would round it out.

What would one do in this case? Buy a 5/32" and start sanding it down until it fits?
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Old 01-15-2019, 03:34 PM
charles Tauber charles Tauber is offline
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Contact the maker, and verify the correct size. It’s very unlikely to be a non standard size.
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Old 01-15-2019, 03:47 PM
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justonwo justonwo is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by charles Tauber View Post
Contact the maker, and verify the correct size. It’s very unlikely to be a non standard size.
4 mm. My 4 mm is too big. Weird.
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Old 01-15-2019, 05:22 PM
charles Tauber charles Tauber is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justonwo View Post
4 mm. My 4 mm is too big. Weird.
It isn’t uncommon on some inexpensive Allen keys to have a burr on the end of the key, making the key just too large. Sometimes just knocking the burr off with a file is all that is needed.
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Old 01-15-2019, 05:27 PM
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I have a few sizes of these gripper wrenches. They are tapered on the end and designed for worn allen nuts.

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tool..._Wrenches.html
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Old 01-15-2019, 05:38 PM
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justonwo justonwo is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by charles Tauber View Post
It isn’t uncommon on some inexpensive Allen keys to have a burr on the end of the key, making the key just too large. Sometimes just knocking the burr off with a file is all that is needed.
In this case, I tried a ball end 4 mm as well. Both very slightly oversized.

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Originally Posted by bnjp View Post
I have a few sizes of these gripper wrenches. They are tapered on the end and designed for worn allen nuts.

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tool..._Wrenches.html
THIS is genius. Problem solved. Order to be placed.
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Old 01-15-2019, 05:40 PM
surveyor surveyor is offline
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I think they are called "socket head" allen wrenches. Try one of those.
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