Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

What is a radiator made out of???

Fred Rappuhn
Fred Rappuhn Member Posts: 107
I have power washed CI rads before and the next day you will see a surface rust.



I have this one rad.didn't rust at all, even  after taking down to bare metal, and after sitting out doors all summer long.



The metal looked a dark metallic gold like color.  Did they ever make rad. out of different metals than CI?



I am thinking bronze?????  Or am I nuts???

Comments

  • Mike Kusiak_2
    Mike Kusiak_2 Member Posts: 604
    Bronze?

    Try putting a magnet on it and see if it sticks. Never heard of a bronze radiator, but I guess anything is possible?
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,357
    Just good paint

    If a magnet does not stick it is bronze. I think the old bronze paint simply did not get washed off.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • Fred Rappuhn
    Fred Rappuhn Member Posts: 107
    passed the magnet test

    Passed the magnet test!!



    Magnet stuck, just must have been real good paint, took off many layers old paint but this wouldn't come off. So I thought I was down to bare metal!!



    Thanks.
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,852
    is THIS your Grandpa's radiator???

    Little known fact, there are 4 different grades of cast iron. In the GOOD ol' days, when iron pipe was first making its debut, there was a pipe which was used in closed loop heating systems that was considered nearly indestructable. It was called mallable iron.



    I suspect you've found a mallable iron radiator!



    http://info.lu.farmingdale.edu/depts/met/met205/castiron.html



    ME

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Fred Rappuhn
    Fred Rappuhn Member Posts: 107
    Good stuff

    Well, house was build in 1917, some of these rads had so much paint that the detail was a pleasant surprise after power washing.



    So of the new CI after you power wash, you can have a coffee and watch the rust appear!!
This discussion has been closed.