Look what I brought home today

[BoilerMan]

Picked these up from downstate, the guy had a 16 more, but they were all tall and the "Victorian" style with all the scroll work and curved tops. These were the smallest 4.

I'm going to sand blast them this weekend and paint with automotive single stage, an off white per the Mrs. request. You can see I have some bushings and the adapter to air pressure test before I invest any time in them. If they hold air overnight, then they'll move on to blasting.

These will be in the kid's bedrooms up stairs over the garage. They will each be fed via 1/2" copper fed reverse-return from 3/4" main from respective Caleffi zone valve.

I've already had a couple of people eye them, hmmmm, there are more, but I need to get (borrow) a bigger truck

 

[kopeck]

Son of a gun, I was just looking at Craig's list for some of those!

Looking for something simple to keep my sister's basement warm.

I guess I'm not looking in the right place.

K

 

[BoilerMan]

These were in a shipping container in South Hope, I can give you the guy's info, he wanted $75 per rad. PM me if interested, he is a friend of a frind kinda thing.

TS

 

[kopeck]

Ah ha, I think I know who you are talking about.

K

 

[goosegunner]

I bought 12 of those last year,just sitting in my pole barn at this point. Paid $20 each for four and $26 each for the rest.

Could you draw up the piping method you are going to use?

gg

 

[wardk]

That's a great score, ci rads are rare around here and sell for $10 a fin. I have two would like three more,

 

[BoilerMan]

Anyone in the Southern Maine area, there are more where these came from, but larger ones.

I'll draw up my piping scheme for this zone when I get a chance.

TS

 

[TomB]

Are you sure these are not STEAM radiators in stead of hot water radiators? There is a big difference. Best check this out before installing in your system. My $.02

 

[Bob Rohr]

Are you sure these are not STEAM radiators in stead of hot water radiators? There is a big difference. Best check this out before installing in your system. My $.02

I'd highly recommend installing TRVs on the radiators, homerun piping with 3/8 or 1/2" PAP. This fall I installed this pantry radiator on my wifes side of the bed. The thermostatic radiator valve works very nicely with the Alpha pump. It a temperature responsive valve that is proportional in output, whereas a zone vale is full on, full off. I supply it with no more than 130°.

I'm now trying out a new setback TRV that we manufacture. It has multiple setback options, economy, holiday, frost protection & party settings. An open window function, and a interesting limescale function that operates the valve at 13:00 everyday if it has not operated in the last 24 hours. The battery operated control also provides a nice backlite digital clock.

I was able to drill and tap this radiator to install an airvent up top and a couple 1/2" for the lower right isolation vale. I used a 1/2" drill motor and a NPT tap with a large cresent wrench. Cast iron drills and threads easily.

I'd pressure test them before you scrape and paint

 

[DaveBP]

Hydronic bookshelves.

Will the innovations never cease?

 

[BoilerMan]

Are you sure these are not STEAM radiators in stead of hot water radiators? There is a big difference. Best check this out before installing in your system. My $.02

Actually there is no difference. The old sheetmetal steam radiators with no internal connection are for steam only, but later the dead men used hot water ones for steam or hot water, making the old steam only rads obsolete. These however, were used on hot water, there are bleeder valves on the top, where as steam would have has the vent mid point, the old rads have tapping for either vent loaction. If it were two pipe steam there would not have been any vent installed.

I'd pressure test them before you scrape and paint

Thanks, in the OP you can see the test plugs/fitting I installed, they all held 40psi overnight, good to go.

These are only going in the kids bedrooms, if they were in the living space, TRVs would be 100% my choice.

They are all sand blasted and primed, awaiting the color choice of Mrs. TS

TS

 

[stee6043]

I'd highly recommend installing TRVs on the radiators, homerun piping with 3/8 or 1/2" PAP. This fall I installed this pantry radiator on my wifes side of the bed. The thermostatic radiator valve works very nicely with the Alpha pump. It a temperature responsive valve that is proportional in output, whereas a zone vale is full on, full off. I supply it with no more than 130°.

I'm now trying out a new setback TRV that we manufacture. It has multiple setback options, economy, holiday, frost protection & party settings. An open window function, and a interesting limescale function that operates the valve at 13:00 everyday if it has not operated in the last 24 hours. The battery operated control also provides a nice backlite digital clock.

I was able to drill and tap this radiator to install an airvent up top and a couple 1/2" for the lower right isolation vale. I used a 1/2" drill motor and a NPT tap with a large cresent wrench. Cast iron drills and threads easily.

I'd pressure test them before you scrape and paint

I wish I could find two or three of those pantry rad's. Those are neat...but impossible to find as far as I can tell...

 

[Shane N]

I'd highly recommend installing TRVs on the radiators, homerun piping with 3/8 or 1/2" PAP. This fall I installed this pantry radiator on my wifes side of the bed. The thermostatic radiator valve works very nicely with the Alpha pump. It a temperature responsive valve that is proportional in output, whereas a zone vale is full on, full off. I supply it with no more than 130°.

I'm now trying out a new setback TRV that we manufacture. It has multiple setback options, economy, holiday, frost protection & party settings. An open window function, and a interesting limescale function that operates the valve at 13:00 everyday if it has not operated in the last 24 hours. The battery operated control also provides a nice backlite digital clock.

I was able to drill and tap this radiator to install an airvent up top and a couple 1/2" for the lower right isolation vale. I used a 1/2" drill motor and a NPT tap with a large cresent wrench. Cast iron drills and threads easily.

I'd pressure test them before you scrape and paint

I want that radiator. It'd be perfect for in a bathroom. Put the bath towels on the shelves. Warm towels. Bliss.

 

[711mhw]

It's a shame that scrap prices are so high. I shake my head seeing dollars (and history) turned into pennies, watching truck loads of not only radiators going to the scrap yard.

 

[BoilerMan]

There are still some to be had, just have to keep your eyes peeled. Now those pantry rads...... well I think Bob has the corner on the market Bob, I think if you ever need any quick money, that pantry rad could find more than one home on here

TS

 

[maple1]

I think there would be opportunity for somebody to start making things like this again.

That pantry rad is something I've never seen before - there are likely all kinds of ideas someone could come up with on decorative metal things that radiate heat.

 

[BoilerMan]

You can still buy Cast iron radiators new. The market is almost non-existant though, as they are expensive and heavy. The majority (uninformed) of people don't think CI rads are any good or are ugly, and prefer baseboard, because they think it's "more efficient". There actually was a guy who thought I was joking when he saw them in the back of my truck and I told him I was putting them into my 3yo house. He said "Those things are so inefficient, why would you do that?" My response was that they are just old, and most people associate CI rads with old inefficient homes and heating units, and their big surface areas allow cooler water etc............. you know they rest.

TS

 

[Fred61]

I've not seen anything made of cast iron that matches the beauty and quality of the castings made years ago. Today's castings are porous, have voids, etc. Is it pride in workmanship or have the materials been recycled too many times. In the fifties we had a Monitor woodbox stove with gothic panels at hunting camp that was absolutely beautiful. The panels only needed to be wiped with a cloth and they shined like glass.

 

[mikefrommaine]

I like this one. It would be great in the kitchen as warming oven. Or the mud room as boot and gloves dryer.

 

[711mhw]

I've not seen anything made of cast iron that matches the beauty and quality of the castings made years ago. Today's castings are porous, have voids, etc. Is it pride in workmanship or have the materials been recycled too many times. In the fifties we had a Monitor woodbox stove with gothic panels at hunting camp that was absolutely beautiful. The panels only needed to be wiped with a cloth and they shined like glass.

You said a mouthfull! I've seen so much (I think) beautiful cast pully's, wheels and gears going to their grave, if those parts could talk! This country, or prolly this world will never make this stuff again.

 

[BoilerMan]

It's sad to say the least, that we have become a consumer-based people, not wanting things to be expensive or last more than a few years anymore. Throw it out and buy the latest (made in China) garbage that will be headed for the landfil in a couple of years anyhow. It's even hard to find a washer or dryer that will last more than 10 years anymore. I love my old two belt Maytag top-loader and will keep it and buy parts for it as long as I can. My parents had one (almost the same model I have now) that was 30yo before the transmission completly wore out. If I'd know then what I know now, I'd have kept it and replaced the trans and it's still be washing clothes. Porcelain enamel over 12ga steel made to last, nowadays it's the color and fancy LCD displays that sell it, all with plastic gears that make it actually work.

TS

 

[maple1]

I like this one. It would be great in the kitchen as warming oven. Or the mud room as boot and gloves dryer.

That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about.

If I had one of those here & one of those pantry rads, I'd almost have a lifetime get-out-of-doghouse-free card.

 

[wardk]

I like this one. It would be great in the kitchen as warming oven. Or the mud room as boot and gloves dryer.I love this , I'm definitely going on a hunt for old CI rads.