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Refinished Radiators

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PatrickNorth
PatrickNorth Member Posts: 26
in Strictly Steam
Had to share with the one audience on earth I know would really appreciate it!
I picked up these radiators about four years ago in Asheville, North Carolina. (I live in PA- the drive was worth it!) Piped them into my system two years ago and just this summer sandblasted and refinished them with linseed oil and mica. Just finished the entry tile this weekend (they flank the front door) and put them back in service!
Patrick North



Waherhot_rodPC7060OilfieldHippieGrallertIntplm.Erin Holohan HaskelldabrakemanDJDrewdanitheplumberbburdEBEBRATT-EddkoreggiPhil_17

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,373
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    magnificent!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,868
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    Beautiful! And good to hear from you, @Patrick_North .
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Grallert
    Grallert Member Posts: 644
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    Very Nice!!
    Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse manager,teacher and dog walker
  • LMCasey
    LMCasey Member Posts: 1
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    Absolutely magnificent! Thanks for sharing. One question, I'm not familiar with restoration with linseed oil and mica;
    could you go into some details about that and where you get the materials? Thanks!
  • JimP
    JimP Member Posts: 87
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    Fantastic. They look terrific. You have a perfect spot for the pair of them along side the door and painted paneling.
  • KAGM
    KAGM Member Posts: 3
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    WoW! They are beautiful. Love to see things restored on their second time around! I learn so much from you all just reading about the stories. Thanks.
  • Nick_Castrads
    Nick_Castrads Member Posts: 58
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    I've seen a lot of radiators in my life but never anything like this! Absolutely incredible.
  • PatrickNorth
    PatrickNorth Member Posts: 26
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    @LMCasey after sandblasting I primed with a red oxide rustoleum primer. The topcoat is good quality linseed oil (I use “Tried and True” brand and recommend it) and mica powder, mixed 10:1 by weight. This was a bronze mica, but many other tones are available. Mica powders are widely available at craft stores and such and online. I simply brushed on the linseed/mica mixture and over a few days, daub off any pooling excess with rags. Takes several weeks to fully cure but it’s reasonably durable, and most importantly, easily repairable. 
    PC7060
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,574
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    Nice. I would like to know the age of those. Any markings on them? Probably 1880s-1890s
  • PatrickNorth
    PatrickNorth Member Posts: 26
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    @EBEBRATT-Ed I couldn’t find any identifying marks on the castings. Originally they had cast feet that attached to tabs on the base with a small iron shim, like a tusked tenon. I only had one of four feet when I got them so I fabricated the bases. The backs have “pins” like an old indirect radiator.  I’ve only ever seen one similar style of radiator in years of searching and it had a very flat, relatively simple design. The cranes on these castings are a good 2” deep. I got them in Asheville NC but the seller had no information other than that they were salvag d. One had clearly been through a fire- I’m glad someone went to the trouble of salvaging them!
    Patrick
  • Waher
    Waher Member Posts: 252
    edited November 2023
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    I've seen a pattern similar to this before on bronze push plates that the Charleston Hardware Company used to sell reproductions of. Maybe whatever company originally made that casting pattern also made radiators?


    Erin Holohan HaskellPatrickNorth
  • scott w.
    scott w. Member Posts: 208
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    Wow!  Apparently these rads are one of a kind!  A real treasure.   Maybe some type of special order from a very wealthy person or made for the company president of a radiator manufacturing company.
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,538
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    Thank you!
    Retired and loving it.

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