Sandblasting radiators.
Adam Hughes
When I have new central heating installed in our house I am thinking of
reusing our 50 year old raiators. You know, the heavy cast iron type
that has been painted. I would like to give them a kind of 'modern'
feel. What is the best way to clean them, I was thinking of sand
blasting them. Are there any good effects that could be used to give
them a new feel. I don't know if bare metal will be attractive or
practical. If not, what could I cover them with.
Sand blasting ... where is a cheap,good service in the South London /
Surrey / Kent area? How much should I expect to pay per radiator (5
radiators)
Adam
Adam Hughes
Paul Matthews wrote:
.> As this is the DIY Group, what about getting/hiring a compressor,
gun, and
> tub of abrasive and doing it yourself. Blasting is great fun (For a while)
> and the grit gets everywhere :-)
>
> Paul Matthews
> http://www.triton.u-net.com
> paul...@triton.u-net.com
Good idea Paul, Got any tips.
Paul Matthews
On Thu, 24 Apr 1997 16:55:53 +0100, Adam Hughes <ad...@ms.com> wrote:
>Good idea Paul, Got any tips.
Try and get some enclosed area to work in :-)
I don't know hire prices, but a compressor realistically capable of driving
a blaster (8 CFM ish) is going to be nearly £200 to buy, and a gun about
£25. As I say, the stuff really gets everywhere. Try your local hire shops,
they may offer something quite decent, at not too great a price.
Alternatively, if you are seriously into DIY, a compressor can be quite
useful, particularly if you are into bikes or cars. Useful tool I have used
attached to my dads compressor (I'll be getting one of my own once I have
built the Garage to put it in) include the blaster, Spray gun, blow gun
(useful for cleaning oilways out), tyre inflators, Air brush.
If you are seriosly into the mechanics ideas, thereare air drills, air
ratchets, air saws, staplers , grease guns, polishers.....
Where are you? I may be able to amke some more detailed suggestions.
Paul.
Paul Matthews
On Thu, 24 Apr 1997 10:25:33 +0100, Adam Hughes <ad...@ms.com> wrote:
>them a new feel. I don't know if bare metal will be attractive or
>practical. If not, what could I cover them with.
>
Bare metal is probably not a good idea, the surface will probably look
rusty quickly.
>Sand blasting ... where is a cheap,good service in the South London /
>Surrey / Kent area? How much should I expect to pay per radiator (5
>radiators)
>
As this is the DIY Group, what about getting/hiring a compressor, gun, and
tub of abrasive and doing it yourself. Blasting is great fun (For a while)
and the grit gets everywhere :-)
Paul Matthews
http://www.triton.u-net.com
paul...@triton.u-net.com
Asher Hoskins
Adam Hughes (ad...@ms.com) wrote:
: When I have new central heating installed in our house I am thinking of
: reusing our 50 year old raiators. You know, the heavy cast iron type
: that has been painted. I would like to give them a kind of 'modern'
: feel. What is the best way to clean them, I was thinking of sand
: blasting them. Are there any good effects that could be used to give
: practical. If not, what could I cover them with.
I would think that bare metal would rust very quickly, even in an apparently
dry house. If you want a bare metal look then you could use chemical blacking
(used to get the very dark grey finish on guns (and metal work on elderly
motorbikes)). The stuff I've used (only for nuts and bolts, but I see no
reason why it shouldn't work on bigger things) was gun blueing cream which I
got from a gunsmiths. This is a (very toxic, BTW) blue paste which when
rubbed onto steel turns the surface black. The cream is then washed off with
water and a light oil (WD40 should be adequate for indoors) rubbed into the
surface. The oil will need to be reapplied occasionally.
It's probably not a good idea to lick the radiators after chemically blacking
them so you probably don't want to do this if there are any small children
around.
Asher.
--
Asher Hoskins | Finally, I'll add that adding small frogs
DoD #506 | to your coffee enhances absorption of
PGP key available | several psychogenic tannins.
as...@prl.research.philips.com | --- from alt.drugs.caffeine FAQ
Asher Hoskins
Paul Matthews (paul...@triton.u-net.com) wrote:
: [...about used for air compressors...]
: blow gun (useful for cleaning oilways out)
Another easy way of cleaning small oil ways out is to use a gas lighter
refill. Fit a tip that's bigger than the oilway, turn the refill can
upside down and press the tip down to open the can valve. The liquid butane
that comes out dissolves oil and the pressure of it blows crud out of the
oilway. Obviously only do this somewhere where there's adequate ventilation
(and no naked flames!), and be warned that things can get very cold. I've
successfully used this technique to clean out the oilways on several motorbike
engines.
Stuart Grant
If it is cast iron and not pressed steel, a good lustre can be
maintained indoors with a light rub with vegetable oil (Mazola) about
once a year. I once stripped the paint off a cast iron fireplace by
building a bonfire around it in the garden. Not recommended in smokeless
zones, though. I buffed it up with a wire cup brush, and liked the
result so much I decided not to black it. It hasn't rusted at all in 13
years.
Stuart Grant
Laurie Wing
The Artillery Section of Royal Armouries is currently grit-blasting old
iron guns and mortars and is making an excellent job of sorting out
things which have been lying around for generations. They are doing
the job in the open air; although the grit covers a few square yards
around the target, the precautions appear to be fairly light yet
sensible. On the other hand, I have tried grit-blasting in my back
garden and, although effective, was slow and a bit gritty (if you see
what I mean). However, my compressor is pretty lightweight and the
Royal Armoury people are using one of those which you see on raod works
- which you could probably hire. Another approach which I have tried,
is with a grit blasting attachment on a pressure washer - that's pretty
good (if not vicious) although as a preliminary, I would try
and chip off some of the paint with a needle gun. Final cleaning up
with a pressure wacher could then follow.
As for the final finissh, I seem to recall that in the inter-war years
(when cast-iron radiators were the norm and things were done properly!)
it was always reckoned that the radiators would only deliver their
potential if they were finished with a metallic paint. Thus, if you
visit an old house you will see the radiators finished in metallic
bronze - or some such paint.
Laurie Wing EMail lw...@clausent.demon.co.uk
Norman Billingham
Bear in mind that sand blasting is also regarded as a major health
hazard. If the grit is really going everywhere you need major
precautions to be sure non of it is going into your lungs. Cancers
caused by mineral dusts are a major problem
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Norman Billingham
The Chemistry Laboratory
School of Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Science
University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
Tel: (44) 1273 678313 Fax: (44) 1273 677196
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