3/16" radiator keys

[Wizard]

Anyone know where I can get 3/16" (4.8mm) radiator keys? I believe the size was rounded up when we went metric to 5mm and those keys are too big for the bleed valves on old radiators. Struggling to find one that is crystal clear in the description it is the old size.

Thanks in advance,
Terry.

[88V8]

Hadn't realised foreign systems of measurement had interfered even with rad keys.

Help may be at hand, although I think this one is for removing the valve bodies rather than the bleed valves
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAND-TOOLS-NE ... SwDNdVpQPd

and this one only seems to have one size of bleed key.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Radiator-Valv ... Sw8-tWZWMK

If you are really stuck I may have one in my plumbing box; we no longer have ch so no need for it.

V8

[Wizard]

Thanks or the helpful reply. Got a tip that an old clock winding key may fit and what do you know, it did. Happy days.

Fascinated by...

...we no longer have ch so no need for it.

Can you share more?

Terry.

[88V8]

Share.... progress... which too often seems to mean 'too many people' led me/us - mainly me - to leave the house on which I'd worked for 31 years and in which I'd installed gfch using cast iron rads - it was an old house and we wanted it to look old in all departments... and move to a C17 stone shack in the country, heated by storage rads and woodburners.
No more heat at the flick of a switch.
Oh well, it's what any sensible person would do once they're in to their 60s :}

V8

[sg31]

and move to a C17 stone shack in the country, heated by storage rads and woodburn

I renovated an old one like that in the 80's. Massive fireplace right in the middle, if you got the mass of that hot it would radiate heat for days. There was even a cast iron door in one of the bedrooms which gave access to the flue so you could smoke meat.

That was then, if I was doing it again I'd have Calor and a nice Vaillant. Who wants to wait a week for the chimney bricks to start throwing out heat before you can get warm.

[Mike4]

Anyone know where I can get 3/16" (4.8mm) radiator keys? I believe the size was rounded up when we went metric to 5mm and those keys are too big for the bleed valves on old radiators. Struggling to find one that is crystal clear in the description it is the old size.

Thanks in advance,
Terry.

Pleased you found a clock key to fit.

Must say I'm puzzled though. Surely a 5mm square rad key will still engage and turn the 4.8mm square head on the pin of the old imperial vent...

Are you sure your clock key isn't 5mm too?!