Prevent radiator valve turning when tightening?

[Sgt. Pinback]

This will probably seem like a silly question to those of you that do this all the time. But whenever I am putting back a radiator valve with the copper pipe still inserted (usually after replacing a radiator), every time I tighten the nut that pulls the valve onto the radiator, it grips the valve, and wants to turn it. Obviously, I don't want this to happen, because it will bend the pipe. I usually end up holding it with Mole grips, but I'm not completely happy with this, as they seem much too rough to me. So, what does everyone else do? Is there a tool to hold them still?

[The Medway Handyman]

There is. Called Mole Grips :-)

Or drop a box spanner over the top.

[fred]

In article , Sgt. Pinback writes

The mole grips are fine if you wrap something soft, such as a rag, round the valve first to stop it marking the surface. On some fittings there will be enough of a flat for a simple adjustable spanner to stop it rotating.

[Sgt. Pinback]

Thanks for the replies. I just discovered that a piece of 22mm copper pipe with the end cut flat (i.e. not squashed by those rotating cutters) fits my valves exactly.

[YAPH]

I use an 'F' wrench.

(That's F as in the shape, not an initial letter of anything ;-))

[babbit61]

s all the time. But whenever I am putting back a radiator valve with the co pper pipe still inserted (usually after replacing a radiator), every time I tighten the nut that pulls the valve onto the radiator, it grips the valve , and wants to turn it. Obviously, I don't want this to happen, because it will bend the pipe. I usually end up holding it with Mole grips, but I'm no t completely happy with this, as they seem much too rough to me. So, what d oes everyone else do? Is there a tool to hold them still?

Yes its called a Radwrench, designed to do what you are asking perfectly, and nothing else.

[Brian Gaff]

So he has been sitting there with a radiator valve since 2012 then. Brian

[Andy Burns]

Yes it's a bit of a late reply, but useful to know and it doesn't seem that babbit61 is trying to *sell* the radwrench.

[DerbyBorn]

Andy Burns wrote in news: [e-mail]:

In 2012 I would suggest lubricating the nut.