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Insulating a cast iron tub

| Posted in General Discussion on December 28, 2003 02:49am

We want to re-use a beautiful cast iron wall tub in our project and before I set the tub in place I had a thought. How could I quickly insulate it so that it does not get too cold in the winter? It is a 3 sided affair and I thought of contact gluing some insulation bats to it for a little insulation. The nook were the tub will be placed is completely sealed from the elements but has no insulation in the wall or floor. We are in Texas so the cold is not a serious problem here, compared to northern states. I mainly just wanted to keep the tub close to room temp so that it’s not too cold on your a$$ when you sit in it! Thanks all for your great advice so far!

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Replies

  1. TLJ | Dec 28, 2003 04:24pm | #1

    Because cast iron is a much more efficient thermal conductor than air, a 75 degree cast iron surface will feel much colder to 90 degree skin than will 75 degree air. So, insulating the tub will have no effect as intended. However, it may keep hot water warm longer.

  2. User avater
    rjw | Dec 28, 2003 04:35pm | #2

    I agree with Tim.

    I'd still cosider insulating, and for such a small volume I'd consider cans of foam, carefull applied in "lifts"

    _______________________


    Tool Donations Sought

    I'm matching tool donors to a church mission to Haiti - we're shipping a bus converted to a medical facility in January (we hope) and can fill it with clothes, tools and all sorts of stuff needed in that poorest of all countries. A few hand tools or power tools can provide a livelihood for an otherwise destitute family. Please email me if you have tools to donate.

    Thanks to Jeff and David and Jim and Rich and Steven and MArk for their offers!

    The list keeps growing

    At the moment, we're looking at shipping the stuff in February, 2004

    1. User avater
      wyowolf | Dec 29, 2003 05:52pm | #4

      can you tell me what is the brand name of this spray in foam?? is it Great Stuff?? or some other product... thanks....

      Frank

      1. User avater
        rjw | Dec 29, 2003 07:00pm | #5

        I use whatever is on the hardware store* shelf - but I try to stick to the "low expansion" stuff - it causes fewer problems when I use it from expansion (and it does expand a fair amount -that's why you want to apply it in "lifts"

        *That's "hardware store" -the small places you buy stuff and pay a little more and get access to people who actually know what they are talking about and can be a good source of information.

        You can get it at a big box and pay a little less, short term. Long term and "big picture-wise", shopping at the big boxes cost far more, INHO.

        _______________________

        Tool Donations Sought

        I'm matching tool donors to a church mission to Haiti - we're shipping a bus converted to a medical facility in January (we hope) and can fill it with clothes, tools and all sorts of stuff needed in that poorest of all countries. A few hand tools or power tools can provide a livelihood for an otherwise destitute family. Please email me if you have tools to donate.

        Thanks to Jeff and David and Jim and Rich and Steven and MArk for their offers!

        The list keeps growing

        At the moment, we're looking at shipping the stuff in February, 2004

  3. andybuildz | Dec 29, 2003 12:53am | #3

    What Bob said!

    My life is my practice!

    http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

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