I'm trying to find a suitable bleed key for my radiators but am having
difficulty finding the correct size.

The main square hole is half an inch across while the inner square
'valve' (ie the square 'rod' that needs to be turned) is about three
sixteenths of an inch across.

Most keys I've found state they are for, for example, 1/2 inch, 3/4 in
and 1 in valves. Are these stating the overall diameter of the key or
the central cut-out that fits the inner square 'rod' ?

Sorry that the description uses some nosensical words - I'm not
exactly up on radiator valve descriptions.

galaxi wrote:
I'm trying to find a suitable bleed key for my radiators but am having
difficulty finding the correct size.

The main square hole is half an inch across while the inner square
'valve' (ie the square 'rod' that needs to be turned) is about three
sixteenths of an inch across.

Most keys I've found state they are for, for example, 1/2 inch, 3/4 in
and 1 in valves. Are these stating the overall diameter of the key or
the central cut-out that fits the inner square 'rod' ?

Sorry that the description uses some nosensical words - I'm not
exactly up on radiator valve descriptions.

Those old windup clock keys are the same size as the radiator bleed valves,
3/16th.

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 18:17:21 GMT, "The3rd Earl Of Derby"
wrote:


Those old windup clock keys are the same size as the radiator bleed valves,
3/16th.

Would that be the same as the key at the bottom of this page:

http://www.mackay.co.uk/acatalog/Cat..._Keys_442.html

or how about these:

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=119551

Which, most unhelpfully, doesn't say the size (unless it's assumed
that they're all the same).

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
galaxi wrote:

I'm trying to find a suitable bleed key for my radiators but am having
difficulty finding the correct size.

The main square hole is half an inch across while the inner square
'valve' (ie the square 'rod' that needs to be turned) is about three
sixteenths of an inch across.

Most keys I've found state they are for, for example, 1/2 inch, 3/4 in
and 1 in valves. Are these stating the overall diameter of the key or
the central cut-out that fits the inner square 'rod' ?

Sorry that the description uses some nosensical words - I'm not
exactly up on radiator valve descriptions.

I'm not sure what keys you've been looking at, but what you need is
something like this:
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...11409&id=16909

The working part is a 10mm (or thereabouts) rod with a 5mm square hole in it
to fit the central pin of the bleed valve. Any decent hardware shop or PM
will sell you one.

Some radiators have removeable bleed screw assemblies, where the whole thing
screws into a boss on the end of the rad, and with the bleed pin in the
middle. The assemblies have a thread on the outer diameter - typically 1/2"
BSP (which is actually about 3/4" in diameter) - which is maybe where the
reference to 1/2" etc. valves has come from - but they all have the same
sized pin in the middle, as far as I know - and that's the only bit you need
to worry about.
--
Cheers,
Set Square
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

galaxi wrote:
On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 18:17:21 GMT, "The3rd Earl Of Derby"
wrote:


Those old windup clock keys are the same size as the radiator bleed
valves, 3/16th.

Would that be the same as the key at the bottom of this page:

http://www.mackay.co.uk/acatalog/Cat..._Keys_442.html

or how about these:

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=119551

Which, most unhelpfully, doesn't say the size (unless it's assumed
that they're all the same).

The second and last brass keys are the correct type.
The second url is also, but you will have to email about the size.
I would say they are the correct size for radiator bleeding.

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 18:39:41 -0000, "Set Square"
wrote:

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
galaxi wrote:

I'm trying to find a suitable bleed key for my radiators but am having
difficulty finding the correct size.

The main square hole is half an inch across while the inner square
'valve' (ie the square 'rod' that needs to be turned) is about three
sixteenths of an inch across.

Most keys I've found state they are for, for example, 1/2 inch, 3/4 in
and 1 in valves. Are these stating the overall diameter of the key or
the central cut-out that fits the inner square 'rod' ?

Sorry that the description uses some nosensical words - I'm not
exactly up on radiator valve descriptions.

I'm not sure what keys you've been looking at, but what you need is
something like this:
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...11409&id=16909

The working part is a 10mm (or thereabouts) rod with a 5mm square hole in it
to fit the central pin of the bleed valve. Any decent hardware shop or PM
will sell you one.

Some radiators have removeable bleed screw assemblies, where the whole thing
screws into a boss on the end of the rad, and with the bleed pin in the
middle. The assemblies have a thread on the outer diameter - typically 1/2"
BSP (which is actually about 3/4" in diameter) - which is maybe where the
reference to 1/2" etc. valves has come from - but they all have the same
sized pin in the middle, as far as I know - and that's the only bit you need
to worry about.

Why do Screwfix describe it thus :--

Radiator Valve Key
For loosening and tightening radiator valves

Why not just say it is a bleed key or something for bleeding
radiators instead of what they say .

Stuart






--

Shift THELEVER to reply.

The3rd Earl Of Derby typed:

galaxi wrote:
I'm trying to find a suitable bleed key for my radiators but am
having difficulty finding the correct size.


Those old windup clock keys are the same size as the radiator bleed
valves, 3/16th.

That's helpful except clock keys run from No- 1 to No- 25
A No 11 will fit a rad bleed valve,
but the only one that measures 3/16 is a No 9
;-(


-

In article ,
galaxi wrote:
I'm trying to find a suitable bleed key for my radiators but am having
difficulty finding the correct size.

Have you actually bought one from B&Q etc? They're not exactly expensive
and fit all bleed valves I've come across.

--
*If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 10:15:59 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
galaxi wrote:
I'm trying to find a suitable bleed key for my radiators but am having
difficulty finding the correct size.

Have you actually bought one from B&Q etc? They're not exactly expensive
and fit all bleed valves I've come across.

I've got a multi-purpose one, it just doesn't fit two of my radiators.

Thanks to all for their help.