Is renovating an old cast iron radiator a DIY job?

[ikearns]

Greetings and salutations to all

One room in our 1902 house is being ripped back to the floorboards and the paster with a view of redecorating back in a Victorian style (or at least themed - we will be obviously need to allow for electrical sockets etc) however one thing I hate is the modern radiator that is sitting on one wall.

I personally would like to replace with two smaller cast iron radiators and I can see these are regularly available from auction and sale sites after being pulled from schools and older buildings. May question is that is this renovation an intermediate DIY task which is doable for a home DIY'er?

My idea was to get a couple of rads, remove top and bottom valves, flush them out and let them dry. Plug valves and air pressurise to 4-5bar to test for leaks etc and then if that is all okay then attach new valves, strip and install.

I have likely made this sound all to easy but would welcome helpful comments on if anyone has done this or can point out the less obviously things to be aware of.

Cheers!

 

[just pumps]

Cast iron will quickly start to rust if you leave it to dry, other than that as long as the gaskets don`t leak when you pressure test go for it. Do a wet pressure test not dry with air.

 

[ikearns]

Do a wet pressure test not dry with air.

Other than normal tap flow I dont have a means (I dont thing so anyway) of putting water under sufficient pressure to test

 

[Jackrae]

If the cast iron fails under air pressure the effect will be explosive with lots of shrapnel flying about. The only safe way to do any pressure test of a vessel (and a radiator is a vessel) is to use water. If you fill the radiator with water (100% full) then you could connect a car type foot pump to to the top tapping and put a miniscule amount of pressurised air onto the water. Not totally hydraulic but reasonably safe.

 

[ikearns]

If you fill the radiator with water (100% full) then you could connect a car type foot pump to to the top tapping and put a miniscule amount of pressurised air onto the water. Not totally hydraulic but reasonably safe.

Ahh I like it, will definitely be doing that

 

[ikearns]

Aside from the above pressure testing then I presume everything else is about getting a suitable thermostatic valve on one side and an open/shut on the other?? Oh and a bleed valve on one of the top points??

When stripping the paint off is just ordinary paint stripper products is sufficient?

 

[Jackrae]

Or visit your local shotblasting company

 

[ianmcd]

as above get it shotblasted then repaint

 

[Terrywookfit]

Get it blasted and powder coated.

 

[Hot&Cold]

Get them leak tested

 

[durhamplumber]

personally would like to replace with two smaller cast iron radiators and I can see these are regularly available from auction

Look hideous,like being sat in an old school