Anyone know where I can find an extra long 5mm hex key at a decent price. I found this one on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Bondhus-5MM-Ex.../dp/B002KADRSK

With shipping, it looks a little pricey. I need a minimum length 8 inches.

I went to Advance auto parts and they had a 5mm socket that required me to also buy an extension. Again, it was pricey.

try "allen key"

curious to why you need one so long. the pedros p handles are pretty long but i don't think they are 8 inches. bondhus 15364 or 15564 this one is the loop style handle which is flexy

I too wonder why you such a long one. I believe if there is a Sears near you they should have a normal size and long one (about 5" maybe) at a decent price.

PS never buy cheap allen wrenches. you don't want cheap ones getting worn and stripping brake lever screws

Buy a 1/4" square drive 5mm allen bit socket and attach it to whatever length 1/4" square drive extension you need.

Thanks, HillRider. I think this is what the Advance autoparts guy was suggesting. The bit socket was $5 and the extension was another $10 or so. Trying not to sink too much money for tools for this project.

I am trying to take apart a suspension fork and see if it needs grease or if it has a bad spring or one of those bushings. The way to unscrew it is from the top down.

If it needs an 8" X 5mm hex key...it's likely not worth saving.

I'd look for a little 1/4" kit - you could prolly score one for $20 or so. If you're not going to use the stuff regularly, cheap crap like that is generally okay for a few uses... such kits usually contain Torx bits and whatnot, so should continue to come in handy for quite a while...

Buy a decent quality bit socket but the extension can be a $2 flea-market special. I see all kinds of "Made in China" tools at the local flea market for ultra low prices. For non-demanding, infrequent use they are adequate.

Try to find someone with an old Manitou fork allen wrench...they were 5mm and about a foot long, if I remember correctly.

expect to pay maybe 50 cents for a flea market chinese extension. 2 dollars can get you a good old school made in the usa ratchet, if you look hard enough. williams 1/4 drive hex bit sockets are about 32 shipped on ebay. lisle 3/8 sets are about 20 on ebay. if you have a 5mm socket you can cut down an allen wrench and silicone/weld/pin the bit in the socket

take the one you have and add leverage ... the hole in the end of a crescent wrench is a good add on leverage
on the long end of the allen L wrench
reverse the long side in and you can grab the short end with the jaws.

Bondhus tools should be at your local Auto Parts stores/hardware ,
so you don't have to get everything from Amazon and pay shipping.

That's just what I've done to make my own set of hex bits. However, you can't cut a good hex key with a hacksaw as they are too hard. I use a Dremel with a cut-off wheel and dip the hex key in cold water frequently to avoid runing the temper from the cutting heat.

You can say that again!

I learnt the hard way. I will never ever buy cheap Allen wrenches again.

You can use plasticine tools without destroying anything; you just have to be sensitive enough to know when not to crank any harder.

Of course, sometimes that means the fastener is too tight for your pretend tool, but that beats wrecking the fastener to find that out...