Rough 'n' Ready Radiator Valve Handle

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As detailed in the text, this design fits the specific type of radiator valve spindle pictured perfectly. Unfortunately, it's unlikely to fit the more common type where the wheel head is retained with screw fixing. Now, let's get started... One of my radiators was missing its valve handles (or wheel heads) on both ends. Since the rad sits in a small entranceway and is underneath a decorative cover, it's never really bothered me - apart from the annoyance of having to use pliers every time I need to adjust it! Handle packs are available for standard UK valve spindles, which are normally held in place by a small screw. However, the spindles on this particular radiator are a different type and the standard handles don't fit. I'm pretty sure the correct type can be easily obtained but I could never be bothered enough to search through all the standard ones to locate the right ones. But I needed to adjust it yesterday, and became frustrated trying to make delicate adjustments using pliers. So out came my trusty vernier calipers, and this is my quickly designed solution. It's still a little loose on the valve head (I considered adding some pimples where it engages the valve mechanism), but it actually sits in place well enough for my purposes and, as it's behind the decorative cover most of the time, I decided it was good enough. Although both valves are identical, one is commonly referred to as a "lockshield valve". This is because, after the heating system is properly "balanced" (i.e. no single radiator on the system is hogging all the available heat), the handle is replaced with a non-functioning cap (or shield) to prevent accidental changes. Although I did design one of these covers (and it's still in the attached SketchUp file), in the end I just printed another handle, because both valves are concealed behind the decorative cover in normal usage anyway. But look at all that dust on the flutes at the bottom of the radiator!! It's surprising how it accumulates. But the perfectionists amongst you needn't worry; I wiped it all off, with my trusty microfibre duster, before putting the decorative cover back on the rad!