I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the insertion of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.

TIA
Frank

On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:12:45 -0000, Frank Stacey wrote:

I can't find such things via screwfix.

Yes you can:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100193&ts=15807&id=18983

--
Nigel M

I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not
quite that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the
insertion of a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but
nobody knows the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.


It is almost certainly another kind of anti tamper key rather than the
classic hexagonal Allen key type. Any decent hardware shop should have a
suitable bit to fit.

Peter Crosland

Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's
not quite that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents
the insertion of a standard alan key. It may be a useful security
feature but nobody knows the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a
problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't
find such things via screwfix.

TIA
Frank

Whats "Alan" (Allan) got to do with it? ;-)
What type of central pin? a pic would be nice.

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the insertion of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.

I'm pretty sure you'll find one of those in this kit:
http://tinyurl.com/lmzp2 or
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100193&ts=15968&id=18983#

David

Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the insertion of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.

In some cases, just the right size of flat screwdriver can work.
In other cases, it breaks the pin off, and you can use a conventional
key.

"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote in message
. uk...
......

Whats "Alan" (Allan) got to do with it? ;-)
What type of central pin? a pic would be nice.

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite



Thanks Nigel M. Obviously I am not being imaginative enough with the
screwfix search engine.

Searching for "Allan" then "Alan" brought no luck - obviously? The second
failed to find anything but suggested I try "socket & hex" - which turned
up lots of Allen keys - but they are not designated as such but as "hex
socket set" and the like. I am no engineeer I guess I have just never seen
Allen key written down anywhere. No excuses really - just ignorance which
usenet helps me overcome.

Frank

In article
Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the insertion of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.

A plain hex socket is unusual for this sort of thing, Torx is more
common - are you sure it's not one of those?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43301

"Rob Morley" wrote in message
t...
In article
Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not
quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the insertion
of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody
knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.

A plain hex socket is unusual for this sort of thing, Torx is more
common - are you sure it's not one of those?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43301

My ignorance again - what is "torx" ? The socket I am concerned about is
certainly hexagonal and its within a fraction of a mm of 4mm across.

Frank

Go to Halfords. They will have it.

Go to Halfords. They will have it.

In article
Frank Stacey wrote:

"Rob Morley" wrote in message
t...
In article
Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not
quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the insertion
of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody
knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.

A plain hex socket is unusual for this sort of thing, Torx is more
common - are you sure it's not one of those?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43301

My ignorance again - what is "torx" ? The socket I am concerned about is
certainly hexagonal and its within a fraction of a mm of 4mm across.

Torx is sort of 6-sided but sort of wiggly around the edge - like a
cooky cutter.

The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote:
Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's
not quite that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents
the insertion of a standard alan key. It may be a useful security
feature but nobody knows the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a
problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't
find such things via screwfix.

TIA
Frank

Whats "Alan" (Allan) got to do with it? ;-)

praise alan ! (pbuh)

a pic would be nice.

steady on old chap, we all know where that mullarkey ends up :-)

"Frank Stacey" wrote in message
...

"Rob Morley" wrote in message
t...
In article
Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not
quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the
insertion of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody
knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.

A plain hex socket is unusual for this sort of thing, Torx is more
common - are you sure it's not one of those?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43301

My ignorance again - what is "torx" ? The socket I am concerned about is
certainly hexagonal and its within a fraction of a mm of 4mm across.

Frank


Torx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx

John

The message
from Ian Stirling contains these words:

In some cases, just the right size of flat screwdriver can work.
In other cases, it breaks the pin off, and you can use a conventional
key.

And, for future referrence, if you want a simple way to screw up a Torx
or Hex socket to stop someone undoing it - tap a tight-fitting
ballbearing into the recess.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Guy King wrote:

And, for future referrence, if you want a simple way to screw up a Torx
or Hex socket to stop someone undoing it - tap a tight-fitting
ballbearing into the recess.

Shhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! :-)

--
Adrian C

Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's
not quite that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents
the insertion of a standard alan key.

That' "allen" key. CK Tools do a set of Hex bits with holes, I bought a set
last week at my local (proper) tool shop for about £3:50.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

Frank Stacey laid this down on his screen :
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the insertion of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find such
things via screwfix.

The usual solution is to insert a suitable flat bladed screwdriver
alongside the pin and break the pin off by gradually prying the pin
from side to side.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:12:45 +0000, Frank Stacey wrote:

I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the insertion of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but nobody knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't find
such things via screwfix.

S.fix has them under security bits. They are sold as bits for cordless
drivers. Cat No 18983.

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html

Frank Stacey wrote:
"Rob Morley" wrote in message
t...
In article
Frank Stacey wrote:
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's
not quite
that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the
insertion of
a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature but
nobody knows
the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't
find such things via screwfix.

A plain hex socket is unusual for this sort of thing, Torx is more
common - are you sure it's not one of those?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43301

My ignorance again - what is "torx" ? The socket I am concerned
about is certainly hexagonal and its within a fraction of a mm of 4mm
across.
Frank

Try these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...it s&doy=17m3
they have hex, torx and a few others in the kit.
They do an even bigger kit if you want,
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...it s&doy=17m3

In message , Frank Stacey
wrote


My ignorance again - what is "torx" ?
The socket I am concerned about is certainly hexagonal and its within
a fraction of a mm of 4mm across.

The screwfix security set (previously mentioned) has both the 4mm hex
(Allen key) and 4mm Torx (6 splines) with the holes to fit security
fittings

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

In message , Frank Stacey
writes
I want to remove a bolt which takes a 4mm hex alan key - well it's not
quite that simple. The hex hole has a central pin which prevents the
insertion of a standard alan key. It may be a useful security feature
but nobody knows the wherabouts of a suitable key so it's a problem.

Ayone know if suitable alan keys can be obtained anywhere? I can't
find such things via screwfix.

It's a Torx Security bolt

--
geoff

Nigel Molesworth wrote:

On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:12:45 -0000, Frank Stacey wrote:


I can't find such things via screwfix.


Yes you can:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=100193&ts=15807&id=18983

and

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...29893&id=15297


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

break the pin off.