Custom wood covers for copper fin baseboard

woobagooba

Folks I've a two story 1910 reno underway. Nearly a full interior gut. First floor Weil McClean cast baseboard will be restored. Second floor more of a challenge due to new layout, combo of cast baseboard and radiators, new living space, etc. If money were no object we'd cast baseboard the entire second floor. But at $60-ish per foot, its a big number.

I came across a JLC article discussing wood enclosures for copper fin. I think this can be done for at most 1/2 the cast expense. And there is a local fabricator. It can be made to resemble the WM cast.

Question. Are wood enclosures for copper fin viable? Performance penalty versus typical metal covers? Convection is the main heat mechanism here, yes?

JLC article here ... https://jlconline.com/how-to/interiors/baseboard-heat-covers_o

Sample cover style ...




Thank you

hot_rod

As long as you can get air flow across the fins. Needs to be an opening below and above the fin for convection currents to move.

Ironman

Of course, no one knows what the btu output will be. And yes, there will be very little radiant output.

Matt_67

Also the back of the top will need to be sealed well to avoid dirt streaks on the wall above.

EdTheHeaterMan

I read somewhere that about 15% of the output of a Copper tube/Aluminum fin baseboard is radiant, 85% is the convection current. You may be able to design an enclosure that increases the convection current by making the enclosure a little taller and streamlining the interior surfaces to remove hard corners. But I don't see that happening. So I would size the system with at least 20% more elements. Even more, if you want to use lower temperature water.

I'm a fan if you have the $ to do it. You can make something much more decorative to blend in with the room's decor

Mr.Ed

mattmia2

Have you considered finding some good salvaged cast iron radiators and setting them up as hot water? The heat would be more comfortable than you would ever get from baseboard fintube.

HomerJSmith

A building contractor that I work with does it all the time without any draw backs. It gets rid of all the unsightly discolored shrouds (front plate and louver) and gives a nice look.

Brewbeer

Potential problem is the fin tube will want to run at a higher temp for similar output as the cast. You can adjust for that by running longer fin tube, but that cuts into the cost savings,

woobagooba

Thanks all
@mattmai ... used cast baseboard + refinishing will come in at nearly the same as new fin tube + new custom covers. Plus we have an issue that we must feed and return / loopback at the same end of one of the longer sections.
@Brewbeer ... yes thanks. We will need to go a bit longer on the fin tube.