cast iron radiator sections

Jeffrey Anopolsky - Anopolsky Plg.&Htg. LLC.

To keep a long story short.I may be liable for the 4-cracked cast iron radiators a new home buyer is trying to move into.We were contracted to attempt to repair them.we made the repair for the sellers.my plumber forgot to go back and test them while the seller was still in the picture.new buyer moves in turns on the water...and look out its raining inside.anyway I have 4 richmond reccessed Cast Iron radiators.with 1 end section on each one cracked.tried to have my welder repair,to no avail.dimmensions 20"highx5"deepx2"wide.Ive been told richmond has been out for years.Ive looked in a Govenaile book but they look close but they do not match.does anyone have any info or ideas for this situation? cell phone.860-796-4452

Mike T., Swampeast MO

IF the welding attempt...

...didn't result in a "spider web" of cracking AND the bad areas are accessible AND not on a hard "line" in the casting, try JB Weld. Clean PERFECTLY first with wire brush, sandpaper, solvent, drill-driven wire brush, etc.

If the above conditions are true, you have a VERY GOOD chance of permanent success.

Brazing/welding cast iron is quite difficult. Two things I have heard that help greatly: 1) Heat the section to 500° or so BEFORE repair 2) Drill little "strain relief" holes at the VERY END of the cracks to prevent the "spider web" effect.

kframe

Couple possible solutions...

Simply bite the bullet, and replace the radiators for the homeowner.

Have them stitched or lead plugged (never a really good solution, in my opinion).

Welding cast iron? That's one hard process.

Use JB Weld. There's an article in, I believe, the heating Q&A section about using JB Weld.

AH!

Here we go. Here's the article I was talking about.

Go about 2/3rds of the way through it to find the section on repairing leaking radiators.

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=20