I've just bought a lovely fireplace from ebay, now comes the hard bit - installing it. Thing is the 'lugs' are missing, so I'm now not sure how to fix it to the wall. Any suggestions? Someone sugggested No More Nails, not sure if I was having my leg pulled!! Also been told that you can't drill into cast iron (i.e. to fix new 'lugs') - is this right?
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Installing a cast iron fireplace
- Thread starter JacquiO
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Lime
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Cast iron can be drilled but it requires some experience and skill to do it.
Patience, sharp drills and a steady hand are the first requirements.
Many older fireplaces were held in place on either side by large clout nails with an offset head. The offset wedged against the side just enough to hold it. The plaster surrounding it then held it some more.
Obviously great care needed to be used when hammering the nails as any wrong move would smash the cast iron.
Patience, sharp drills and a steady hand are the first requirements.
Many older fireplaces were held in place on either side by large clout nails with an offset head. The offset wedged against the side just enough to hold it. The plaster surrounding it then held it some more.
Obviously great care needed to be used when hammering the nails as any wrong move would smash the cast iron.
Nemesis
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Have a look at the links from this other post on a similar subject, there is advice in fitting:
http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=68734#68734
http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=68734#68734
I've just had a look at your suggested websites - both very informative - thank you. Somewhere in one of the websites it said that 'pegs' can be glued onto cast iron grates using araldite for fixing purposes. As I still don't feel confident at drilling into cast iron but am now hoping to create my own lugs, I wonder whether araldite is strong enough to attach them to the fireplace (I appreciate that a fireplace is bigger than and therefore a lot heavier than just a grate). Any ideas?
Gervase
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Araldite is pretty darned tough. There's a similar two-tube epoxy stuff made by Plastic Padding specifically for metal which would be as good.
Penners
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I think my only slight worry about any adhesive in this application would be its temperature resistance. I presume you're going to use this fireplace for open fires? If so, then the iron could get quite hot, and the adhesive might degrade over time.
You could get new lugs welded on to the fitting by a specialist cast iron welder (some people will tell you that can't weld cast iron - that's not true, but it is a specialist skill).
Alternatively, how about driving some screws into the wall just at the edge of the fitting? Put a big washer around each screw, so that the washer overlaps the edge of the fitting. That should be a pretty sound fixing. The washers should then be hidden by the wooden fireplace surround that you will presumably be using.
You could get new lugs welded on to the fitting by a specialist cast iron welder (some people will tell you that can't weld cast iron - that's not true, but it is a specialist skill).
Alternatively, how about driving some screws into the wall just at the edge of the fitting? Put a big washer around each screw, so that the washer overlaps the edge of the fitting. That should be a pretty sound fixing. The washers should then be hidden by the wooden fireplace surround that you will presumably be using.
Penners
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One person's inspried ingenuity - another's bodge!
Nemesis
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Juat read the bit about Araldite.
It does fine with heat. Core plug on TR2 fixed with it lasted years!
It does fine with heat. Core plug on TR2 fixed with it lasted years!
Penners
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Although - in fairness - a core plug is also an interference fit, so it's difficult to know whether the araldite has been successful or not.Nemesis said:Just read the bit about Araldite.
It does fine with heat. Core plug on TR2 fixed with it lasted years!
Do they still fit core plugs to engines? I lift the bonnet of a modern car and I don't have the faintest idea of what I'm looking at - just a load of black boxes.
Nemesis
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No, I haven't a clue either. I don't understand any of it, and when it goes wrong it goes very wrong. And expensive.
The core plug on a TR is at the back near the bulkhead where you can't get at it to replace without engine removal. It in fact (when engine is removed!) simply is hammered gently into place.
As it's a part of the water jacket, over time it wears into holes. Araldite rapid smeared liberally over has given us many a mile more happy motoring in the past!
I do know someone who put a rod out of the block - and Araldited the lump of block back. It worked fine!
The core plug on a TR is at the back near the bulkhead where you can't get at it to replace without engine removal. It in fact (when engine is removed!) simply is hammered gently into place.
As it's a part of the water jacket, over time it wears into holes. Araldite rapid smeared liberally over has given us many a mile more happy motoring in the past!
I do know someone who put a rod out of the block - and Araldited the lump of block back. It worked fine!
Penners
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Good grief! :shock:Nemesis said:I do know someone who put a rod out of the block - and Araldited the lump of block back. It worked fine!
Actually, I've been pondering on your observation about Araldite and heat. It occurs to me that - when used to re-seal the water jacket in the engine block of a car - it's probably only being heated to about 85 - 90 degrees C (ie: the temp of the water). Do you think that a cast iron fireplace surround could get hotter than that? I suspect it might.
Nemesis
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I think it depends - I reckon around the edges it gets warm but not so hot.
Or it might char the wallpaper!
Or it might char the wallpaper!
Penners
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Good point.
David Dyer
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An epoxy resin like Araldite should easily cope with 150/200c there are other makes available that will go to 300/350c but not sure if they are available retail in the UK.
The car body fillers are usually polyester resin and do not cope well with elevated tempetures.
The car body fillers are usually polyester resin and do not cope well with elevated tempetures.
Guys, thanks for all your messages. As you can see, I don't log on often and was surprised at the number of messages! No, I wasn't intending on using the fire, it's a bedroom one and I just wanted it to be ornamental, but I guess I should consider whoever might move in after me! Araldite sounds great - may have a play with that, or try to find someone happy to weld new lugs on. Stripped the paint off just yesterday so a couple of stages before I get round to that - not enough hours in the day, aye.