Cast Iron Style Radiators

[atlasfever]

Hello,

As part of georgian, 1st floor refurb, I need to install new radiators. I will not be installing modern ones, but the cast iron style/period versions.

Comments:
1. I have a preference for just buying new ones b/c I do not have the time to find reclaimed ones, and to go through a DIY process or via other specialists to make sure they are good, etc.

2. I had seen a few images of a chrome plated cast iron radiator (still old, victorian style, but super stylish in chrome and I'm not referring to polished metal). Unfortunately, the company does not make them anymore. So, does anyone know of a chrome plating service that I could contact? I imagine this could be a pricey endeavour, and maybe also too time consuming for me, but I thought to try. The cost of the period radiators is already staggering...

Thanks!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Have a look at www.theoldradiatorcompany.co.uk.

Also, further down in the forum was a discusssion with joce and chris about various radiators.

 

[88v8]

There are plenty of chroming companies, some good some bad. The rad would have to be very well prepared, then plated with copper, then nickel, then chrome, otherwise it wouldn't last long. It would probably cost more than the rad.
Edit your profile to show your location, then one might be abe to suggest a company to try.

There are also chrome paints which would give most of the effect at a fraction of the cost - again, preparation is important. Not sure how you'd get on spraying with an aerosol, you might find you can't avoid shadow, so I'd use a brush, and at the price it would be worth trying. No harm done if it doesn't work, the rad would have to be dipped as part of chroming prep anyway.

http://www.eastwood.com/liquid-chrome-paint-and-liquid-chrome-clear-howto-instructions
I think Frost or Moss will probably sell it.

Ivor

 

[PeterI]

http://www.paladinradiators.com had some interesting looking finishes we rather liked the gold one with polished highlights when we saw it in the flesh at the lpoc show last week. (However we've a long way to go before new radiators are needed)

 

[dans]

We got ours from Carron. They produce new cast iron rads. They look fantastic and give off a tremendous amount of heat!

http://www.carron.uk.net/pdfs/RadiatorBrochure.pdf

We have the polished princess which look fab.

 

[GhostyDog]

Can anybody read this?

 

[DJH]

High finish radiators were never too popular with me when I was installing them in another life. It was always down to me if they were scratched or marked say by other trades.

I remember once working in a private house where the client had a Louis XVI side table worth, we were told, about £250 K and the electrician had hopped up on it to fit the picture lights... :shock: :shock: :shock: I never saw him again....

Doug

 

[PeterI]

Might also be worth talking to the London Chroming Company on the old kent road (Went past there this morning on the bus) to see if they've done that sort of thing.

Given what the outside of the place looks like I was surprised to find they have a website at http://www.londonchroming.co.uk

 

[rogerh]

...The cost of the period radiators is already staggering...

Why buy new ones if you're going to have them stripped for chroming? I've bought eight or nine used cast iron radiators for anything from free to about £75 each from eBay, reclamation yards etc. and they've all been fine. I've flushed them out myself and pressure-tested them by connecting them to the mains and they've all been watertight and in use for the last three years without trouble.

Alternatively this company will provide the radiators and do all the restoration as well: http://www.townandcountrylifestyles.co.uk/castiron. (No doubt there are many others who'll do the same.)

 

[88v8]

Might also be worth talking to the London Chroming Company on the old kent road (Went past there this morning on the bus) to see if they've done that sort of thing.

Given what the outside of the place looks like I was surprised to find they have a website at http://www.londonchroming.co.uk

This company has a good reputation in the Classic car world.

Ivor