… and shortening, then reassembling again. Not car, but home heating, ca 1922.
A friend says he knows it can be done, and indeed, there is a hairline between each “rib”.
I’ve called local radiator “experts” and they don’t do anything besides repair leaks and try to talk homeowners into updating to Central heat and air. A big selling point of this house, for me, was that it still had the hot water radiator heat.
My goal- I want to replace a tall register blocking a window with a lower one from my old house, but the low one is way too long for the space. I would love to be able to shorten it to fit and manage not to create new problems such as leaks.
any help?
I’ve googled and not found anything helpful.
Replies
I've taken some apart and they were made in pieces. Lots of corrosion on the ones I messed with. I don't know how they were originally sealed. As long as the seal issue is addressed I'll bet you can do it.
Not much help, I know. But maybe the "bump" will help you get more responses.
I saw one recently that I hadn't seen before: a circular radiator that was installed around a large post in an old building in Trinidad, Colorado. Outside dimension was maybe a bit less than 3'.
I would think if you loosened off the bolt on the top and bottom (and or depending) you could take out some of the middle sections and put the end back on. I would think there is a gasket of some sort in there, you may be able to fabricate a new one yourself. That is what I would think.... But your right they should come apart, they didn't cast them to size, How to split them without breaking them, I would think there must be a male and a female end, probably rusted together, maybe a good soaking with penatrating oil, muriatic acid to clean it after. I'm not an expert merely speculating.
I'd begin by calling or visiting older plumbing supply houses and asking how it's done. Some old timer on the staff will probably know all about it, may even be able to put his hands on all the parts you need. If not, it's a good place for a referral.
Been trying to find those oldtimers lopcally and on the web and coming up blank.
Am hoping someone here knows an oldtimer I can contact...
Been trying to find those oldtimers lopcally and on the web and coming up blank. Am hoping someone here knows an oldtimer I can contact...
Yeah, I got that. But have you been into a plumbing/heating supply house, sat on a stool at the counter, and asked one of the people who pulls parts for the tradespeople all day?
If they don't know the answer, they'll know who you should ask. If you get good advice, go back in the next morning with a box of fresh donuts. One good turn, etc.
Haven't really had the time to sit on a stool and shoot the breeze, but it's worth looking into.Meantime, if anyone already knows an old-time radiator expert, send him my way please!
Haven't really had the time to sit on a stool and shoot the breeze, but it's worth looking into.
Meantime, if anyone already knows an old-time radiator expert, send him my way please!
So...did you type that standing up? Sounds to me like you seldom get off your chair, out into the working world.
?
Yeah, as a divorced mom who works at home, it is easier for me to check this website as often as I please while doing housework or doing stuff with my boy, than it is to drive around town hanging out "on the stool" at plumbing supply stores.To all you others, thanks! I'll print these out.
Yeah, as a divorced mom who works at home, it is easier for me to check this website as often as I please while doing housework or doing stuff with my boy, than it is to drive around town hanging out "on the stool" at plumbing supply stores.
What a load of self righteous, ignorant ####.
??
Just stating my situation. Not that I owe you an explanation for any of the time I spend here getting advice on the renovations I need to do.
What the heck is your problem?
What the heck is your problem?
Your disparaging remarks and insinuations about how tradespeople spend their work day.
I didn't see any "Insinuation" or disparagment, she was replying to YOUR suggestion she "Sit on a stool and ask the guys pulling parts all day"
WTF? You must really miss your trees.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Thank you.
Sorry...i typed out a rebuttal to him last night, but deleted it hoping he'd go away. I hope you got an answer you could use. I learned something from your asking the question, so thanks!
"Haven't really had the time to sit on a stool and shoot the breeze"
"than it is to drive around town hanging out "on the stool" at plumbing supply stores."
Sphere, These two remarks take a legitimate, well known approach to finding solutions for plumbing/heating problems and characterize in a way which reflects poorly on tradespeople. I'm surprised that you don't see that.
Lost my post..snow on my dish here...
No, she is not a "trades person" and I can't see the connection of going to Fergussons with a box of donuts. I'd come here if I had a question like that.
I think you some how had a mis-commo and it just went from there.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Well dang, Hon. If you want to get picky about posts, let's look at what you directed to me earlier:
"Sounds to me like you seldom get off your chair, out into the working world."That sounded pretty contentious, but I chose to ignore it and let you know what my schedule was and why, and silly me, I figured that would help you see why I was looking for answers here at BT, where I have generally gotten excellent advice and zero hostility in the past.I'm sorry you chose to read my original answer to you as disparaging to plumbers. It was not intended that way. You are projecting snobbery and condescension from somewhere else into my words, which were merely a slight paraphrase of your own. You aren't by any chance my ex posting under that screen name, eh?
You aren't by any chance my ex posting under that screen name, eh?
HA! Now that's funny. You might fit in OK at the plumbing supply place after all. Good thing, you're going to have to find a well stocked old one, to locate the parts you'll need for the radiator job.
While you're at it, you might ask for some hands on advice about how to put them together. That will reveal a couple of things, whether the parts guy is selling you the correct stuff and how they're supposed to fit.
So, not illogically we're back to my original suggestion, it seems.
Best wishes for achieving the outcome you're looking for with the radiator.
Go to this old house.com there is a article in the how to section on radiators.Also if you asked them they might be able to help you>
Edited 2/22/2009 9:13 am ET by mgard38
I found myself in situation almost identical to yours a few years ago on a job. In time I found myself at a local plumbing supplier that had a yard full of rads,,, all shapes and sizes. Some of them were so unique that they would rent them out as props.
I can't remember all the reasoning behind it,,,, but I was finally convinced that no one disassembled rads or otherwise even repaired leakers. This fellow would test for leaks and sell the ones that didn't leak,,,,, no repairs being made.
I also seem to remember the most popular ones($$$) were small ones and short ones.
However,,,, I do wish you the best of luck w your project, and if you figure out a way to get the rads apart and back together, make sure you let us all know here on BT.
Harry
I did just that a couple of years ago. There were four long "bolts" that held the sections together, I took those off and used a BIG crowbar to pop apart the sections that I wanted to remove. The sections had taper fits, male and female, where the water passed through them. They were in good shape when I took them apart, but I smeared a (very) little high temp RTV on the tapers for insurance. No issues ensued.
Did you try "vintage radiators"?
Here's a place that looks promising, that may share info. Purty...
http://radicalradiator.com/
And DIY from TOH: http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/relocating-cast-iron-radiators.shtml
Edited 2/20/2009 10:02 pm by splintergroupie
For starters, I'd try getting a shop that rebuilds car and truck engines, to put it in their "hot tank", for a day or two to boil out the corrosion. This will also remove any paint that is there.
A chunk of cast iron with rust, is pretty much the same whether it is a radiator from a house, or an engine block. And, old engine paint had just as much lead in it as the house paints, so the lead shouldn't be an issue.
There should be 4 through bolts that snug it together. IIRC, they go all the way through but don't enter the water jacket, so you should be able to get it into pieces by undoing them, even if you have to break the through bolts. Once the bolts are out, hardwood or plastic wedges are driven in to force it apart. I guess if you have access to a porta-power, a spreader ram would work well for the "forcing them apart" bit.
I'd recommend starting in the middle away from your end pieces, because if you break a middle, you're not at a great loss. As, you are shortening it, and will have extra middles when you are done.
The sections are put together with "push nipples". Google this and you will get some info. I've monkeyed with them on cast iron baseboards. You basically just clean the rust and junk away, apply some pipe dope, and bolt the sections back together.
I'd recommend testing your "new" radiator with water under pressure instead of air. In my experience, things can hold air but still leak when you put water to it. I was told that this was typical of old iron.
Wedge the sections apart with a tapered 2x4 and a small sledge, it's not that hard to do. Getting the nuts off the threaded rod is a little tougher, but if you are taking a few sections out just cut them and re-thread an end.
You'll want to pressure test it when you are done, the gauge sold for testing gas lines work well, any decent supply house will have them hanging on the wall behind the counter.
Old radiators come in two types. One is assembled with tapered push nipples and threaded rod. The other type is assembled with threaded nipples. I don't know of anyone that rebuilds threaded nipple rads. Others in the thread have told ways to try to rebuild push nipple rads.
Ask for help at this website http://forums.invision.net/index.cfm?CFApp=2
Your best bet may to be to find a used one that will fit your needs. E-bay is a source if you do not have any local sources. There are new ones that might meet your needs http://steamradiators.com/pricing.html
Around here sandblasting is used to clean them and then paint or powder coat.
Try a home fixture junkyard. The plumber on TOH goes to them all the time. They have piles of radiators, sinks, tubs, and things like that.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.