Crusty wrote:
I have about 60 truss rod wrenches ... , only one hex with a short end and they'll have to pry that from my cold dead fingers.
If you would like to have a back-up for that treasured short-ended hex or you wish you had short-ended versions of OTHER sizes, here are links to a couple of US sources for 13 pc metric hex key sets made of Cr-V that sell for less than US$10.
Note that HF's Pittsburgh set and Princess's Grip set both feature ball ends on the long side.
I find Chrome vanadium is easy to work with. Shortening a hex key can be accomplished with a variety of tools fitted with an abrasive cut-off disk. Examples that can all get the job done include dedicated pneumatic/electrical cut-off tools, angle grinders equipped with a cut-off disk, rotary tools (Dremels and their clones).
Another tip is to use a torch to heat the middle of a hex key so that the hex at the end can be 'clocked' to a different position. This is for the situations where there isn't enough room to swing a hex key and it becomes necessary to switch back and forth between a regular and a 'clocked' hex key to get the fastener out/in. O/A, MAPP and propane torches will all do the job. I've never tried a butane torch, but expect that it would get this job done, too.