An old cast iron bath trap

[john cushnie]

I have an old cast iron bath trap to disconnect, it is in a grade 1 listed building, they want to re enamel the bath within the room. The contractor doing the enamelling wants the waste removing which is badly tarnished etc so would need replacing but I am guessing it will not be something I can get off the shelf, I've taken an image of the trap if anyone can give me any advice that would be great. There seems to be 2 large nuts holding the trap to the waste.

 

[Madrab]

Oh my, you've picked a beauty there. Don't think you'll get that kind of waste/trap anywhere. Even getting it off without breaking it will be a challenge.

You'll need to find out what metal it is first to gauge how much force it will take then see what it's connect to in the wall, that would be the first job. Then you'll need to see if you can get a grip on those nuts. One holds the waste onto the bath, the other is a lock that tightens the trap to the shank of the waste. You may have to use heat and then tap those nuts round, clean the threads with a wire brush.

You may end up having to cut all that out though and then depending on the size of the waste, replace it with a modern equivalent, a specialist bath supplier may have something that'll do the job.

 

[Nige F]

OP can you post a picture of the waste inside the bath with a tape measure across it = and pic of the overflow inside tub too

 

[john cushnie]

Oh my, you've picked a beauty there. Don't think you'll get that kind of waste/trap anywhere. Even getting it off without breaking it will be a challenge.

You'll need to find out what metal it is first to gauge how much force it will take then see what it's connect to in the wall, that would be the first job. Then you'll need to see if you can get a grip on those nuts. One holds the waste onto the bath, the other is a lock that tightens the trap to the shank of the waste. You may have to use heat and then tap those nuts round, clean the threads with a wire brush.

You may end up having to cut all that out though and then depending on the size of the waste, replace it with a modern equivalent, a specialist bath supplier may have something that'll do the job.

Thanks for the reply, I may send your comments to the departments at work, conservators, holiday cottages, etc who want to save the bath. From my point of view I would put a new modern cast bath in.

 

[john cushnie]

OP can you post a picture of the waste inside the bath with a tape measure across it = and pic of the overflow inside tub too

I'm away on holiday now until the 23rd so will do when I get back, I noticed the over flow came out of the bath and straight into the wall at the tap end

 

[Madrab]

Thanks for the reply, I may send your comments to the departments at work, conservators, holiday cottages, etc who want to save the bath. From my point of view I would put a new modern cast bath in.

Hi John,

I'm not sure if you are a plumber or other trade, plumber I would guess, but there's no reason to trash the bath other than it would be the quickest and easiest option IMO. There's usually a way to do something, it all just comes down to time and money.

The trick with that bath is to see if replacements or alternatives can be obtained, that then drives how much care you need to use to remove the old pieces. If you can get replacements then all that stuff can be carefully cut off, if not then its disconnect the outlet of that trap and then get bath carefully on it's side so you can spend time carefully removing the assembly.

Of course, It all depends on how eager they are to retain the period features, how much time you have and how much they're willing to spend

 

[Nige F]

I'm away on holiday now until the 23rd so will do when I get back, I noticed the over flow came out of the bath and straight into the wall at the tap end

Well that's one less problem - some olde worlde overflows combine with the olde wastes. Then there is the plughole size, which may be similar to modern.

 

[john cushnie]

Between me being on holiday and the bath being a holiday flat Monday was the first day I could get back in, when I had an other look it seems someone has siliconed a modern bath waste over the original waste, after the contractor has finished re enamelling I'm just going to do the same and the customer is happy for me to do this.
Thanks for the advice all.