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Opening meter cupboard

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Ice_baby
Ice_baby Posts: 24 Forumite
Hi
This is probably a daft question, but does anybody know where you can get a utillity cupboard key the other way around to standard? The key I bought from RD was supposed to act like a spanner gripping the nut, but my meter cupboard needs something that will slot through the centre of the nut (like a large hexagonal screwdriver if such a thing existed).
Anybody any ideas where I could get such a key, or what it might be called? The person in RD just looked extremely blank when I asked.
Many thanks
Savings 586.58/8,000 7% (Target Jun 2013)
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Comments

  • jillymit
    jillymit Posts: 572 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I'm not 100% sure what you're after (what it looks like) but I usually find stuff by Googling images. It seems to be a lot easier to find stuff that way sometimes.
    HTH. Good luck.
  • jalexa
    jalexa Posts: 3,448 Forumite
    edited 17 March 2012 at 8:34AM
    Ice_baby wrote: »
    but my meter cupboard needs something that will slot through the centre of the nut (like a large hexagonal screwdriver if such a thing existed).
    Anybody any ideas where I could get such a key, or what it might be called?

    A flat bladed screwdriver of suitable size, or if "hexagonal", an Allen key of the exact size?
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Long nose pliers usually work on those hexagonal ones.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Hi,

    something like this?

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlQQhcObSnwIxfZJ4cYh3v_o7Vlzd_I7_FE9DHNJ83xT71JA_YEQ
  • if thats what it looks like, you want an allen key easily available,are you sure its not square,we get the square utility cupboards occasionly.I have never needed any thing like that myself to open utility cupboard
  • flashg67
    flashg67 Posts: 4,126 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    ClareEmily wrote: »


    Soory but I think that's the type the OP mentioned that wasn't correct - it is the usual type though!
  • Ice_baby
    Ice_baby Posts: 24 Forumite
    Thank you. The key posted by frugalmacdugal looks exactly like what I want.
    I'm pretty sure it's not square (I can't actually see the lock because it's inset in the wood door) I've tried using a screwdriver but it didn't catch and I didn't want to force it in case I broke it altogether.
    So I have ordered a large Allen key from amazon and hopefully that will do the trick. (tbh I never realized you could get Allen keys in different sizes, I thought the skinny ones you get from Ikea were all there were)
    Thank you all very much for your help.
    Savings 586.58/8,000 7% (Target Jun 2013)
  • lemontart
    lemontart Posts: 6,037 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    please do not use pliers or such, keys are easy to get from hardware stores, and from the gas transporter for your area.

    If you damage the lock you could jam it making difficult to access in an emergency not to mention making meter reading difficult which given the high price of gas you do not want to be getting estimated bills all the time and the lock is a item that you will have to pay to have replaced.

    An you are legally supposed to have access to the control valve.
    I am responsible me, myself and I alone I am not the keeper others thoughts and words.
  • jalexa
    jalexa Posts: 3,448 Forumite
    lemontart wrote: »
    An you are legally supposed to have access to the control valve.
    That is a good point. However from the OP's post it does not seem to be a "meter box or cabinet" being talked about but a "utility cupboard", possibly a space provided in a flatted development.

    From the post its clearly not a standard meter key which is required.
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