Single pipe cast iron radiators for hot water?

Jonathan Villeneuve

I have a few questions that will help me decide on whether or not to proceed with my plan. I just purchased (private sale) for $7 a piece some antique cast iron radiators. After reading some of your website, I discovered that they are single pipe (joined at the bottom) and do not easily convert to hot water. I would like to place them in my house, which I am renovating. It has a hot water system. They really look great and we are trying to save some money. I hope you can give me some guidance.

How easy/hard to drill and tap each cast iron section for a bleed valve? Can I do it without disassembling the radiators? Am I going to end up breaking half of the sections or all my taps?

If I do succeed at the bleeding conversion, how much less efficient will these be versus a double push nipple radiator?

Am I correct in assuming that I can place my water inlet where the old inlet is and the outlet in place of the old plug at the other side of the radiator?

Anything else I should be aware of? Websites, etc?

Am I crazy? I still have to pick them up, pressure test, sand blast, and paint and modify these? Should I just leave them on this guys lawn and look at this as a $50 life lesson or can these become the beautiful pieces that our house needs?

Thank you in advance,

Jon

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Should I just leave them on this guys lawn and look at this as a $50 life lesson...?

Probably, but since you DID agree to buy (and I presume haul) it would be rather tacky to leave them on his lawn.

If you don't see threaded rods running horizontally across the radiator they CANNOT be disassembled.

It's not particularly difficult to tap for a bleed valve as long as you can find a reasonably flat area and keep the drill bit and tap PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AND NEARLY PERFECTLY PERPENDICULAR.

Even if you succeed in installing a vent in each section I don't want to imagine the bleeding nightmare of an entire house filled with these...maybe one, but not a whole house!

Believe me, you're not the first to make this mistake! At least you didn't discover the horrid reality in your driveway AFTER hauling them from the 3rd floor of a building 60 miles away!

Jonathan Villeneuve

Thanks Mike,
I talked to the guy and he said no problem with leaving them. He also offered me my money back. Sometimes things just work out.

Jon

Geno_4

Don't give up

Keep looking. Maybe you'll find some you can use. You'll be warmer! Aren't old houses great?
Geno