What kind of epoxy is uesed to repair cast iron radiators

Keith Stouffer

I read in one of your articals that epoxy might stop leaks in radiators, if so I would like to know the type and brand. Thank you

S Ebels

???

Hot water or steam? It'll make a difference as to what you can use. I've seen engine blocks patched with J-B Weld and I think they have a high temp version available now.

Wild Bill

radiator repair

I have had some success on steam radiators with Hercules Pro Poxy, it should be available at any good plumbing supply house.
Bill

Christian Egli

With glue, remember, less is more

Reading from a book by Kenneth Swezey here is a cement that can be used to patch holes in cast iron.

40 parts iron filings, 10 parts sulfur powder, 1 part sal ammoniac, 20 parts Portland cement

Mix dry ingredients then add some water with a drop of dish washing liquid until you get a thick paste.

It says the cement sets very quickly and expands into a solid mass. It works by electrochemical reaction, the sal ammoniac makes the conducting solution.

Here is another recipe for a caulk.

Powdered manganese dioxide and raw linseed oil mixed into a thick paste.

Apply on warm pipes but take pressure off. After 24 hours, the oil will be absorbed and the cement very hard.

The hole has to stop leaking before either of the two methods can be used, which is obviously easy to do with steam. For water, you have to drain the system.

Sounds exotic.

Anyone having successes with such procedures? We have had many astounding results with mixtures of sodium silicate (water glass) and calcium carbonate (slack lime) and Portland cement.

With epoxy, the surface preparation is of the highest importance, more so than the brand. Since preparation is difficult, results are often disappointing.

tommyoil

Try to find

a product called Devcon Liquid Steel. Clean mating surface is critical no matter what you use. The Devcon is a two part epoxy that you need to mix accordingly. Have had success with this stuff on both steam and hot water. I must emphasize that this will be a temporary repair, however it may last forever. You never know. Two years ago I stuffed a hole in a boiler with steel wool and poured Devcon over the top as a way to get the boiler running for the weekend. It still runs today. The homeowner says it "works fine" and refuses to replace it. I had her sign a release form absolving us of any future liability.