Restoration of Fireplaces?

[pieman]

I am looking to replace the two bedroom fireplaces in our victorian house. I have seen two identical fireplaces at a reclamation yard, but although complete are in poor shape, with years of gloss paint and the like. I am a bit sceptical about the process of sand blasting for fear of removing details in the iron work.

What would be your suggestions for the renovation of a cast iron fireplace to their original black lead finish.

Thank you.

 

[Gervase]

Look in the yellow pages for your local foundry and ask them if they can put the fireplaces through the shot cabinet (some might want you to get as much as you can of the paint off chemically first, as paint chips can muck up the shot recylcing filters). You'll end up with the fireplaces looking as if they've just been cast.
As for cost - how are your negotiating skills?

 

[jim_lewis1]

Hi,

to save yourself the hassle of sorting the fireplaces out yourself look around for ready to use ones.

EG Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200091732895&rd=1&rd=1

 

[Nemesis]

It's sad how many fireplaces are being still ripped out and sold on - lousy conservation. Sad too that some will have been removed illegally.

That one on ebay is the insert only, is missing the surround, and the bars too from what I can see. All thoes will cost extra to replace.

Why do you want to replace the ones you have?

Blasting - I'd be wary, even with cast iron, it does alter the surface finish and there is no going back.

 

[chuckey]

Get you self a scraper for metal(or even broken glass) and a metal marking out scribe and do it your self. The really old gloss is very brittle and flakes of easily. The original surface of the cast iron is incredibley hard and is almost impossible to scratch even if you want to. If you want the fire to be decorative only, make a new grate and fire bars out of birch ply with a jig saw and spray with "heat proof" matt black spray for car engines. it can look really great!
Frank

 

[pieman]

I don't want to replace mine, I want to reinstate the fireplaces that were pulled out in the 70's. I have two bedrooms that require fireplaces they will only be ornamental. I want two if possible the same slim bedroom style fireplaces.

Anyone have two surplus to requirement??

 

[Lime]

It's sad how many fireplaces are being still ripped out and sold on - lousy conservation. Sad too that some will have been removed illegally.

That one on ebay is the insert only, is missing the surround, and the bars too from what I can see. All thoes will cost extra to replace.

Agreed, but at least they are now being reused whereas before they'd be traded in for their scrap value.
IME getting missing parts replaced (that fit!) is almost impossible and modern cast iron of the quality needed is not readily available.
It is unfortunate but the restoration of these fireplaces to make them complete is likely to result in much more pillaging of removable fire parts from elsewhere.
No fireplace is safe!

As has been said, cast iron is very resistant to scratching as it immensely strong in conpression (much stronger than steel) but very weak in tension so fractures all too easily.

 

[skier-hughes]

To true,

We went to look at one house and it was a derelict wreck virtually. Nothing being done for about 70 years.
The previous owner had left it in his will that his nurse could stay in the house until she wanted to move out for the sum of £1 per year. This never changed and she stayed in the house for another 68 years, having to move out to a home at the age of 96.

On our next visit the back door had been kicked out and the three fireplaces all removed. Apparently someone had hidden inside during one of the visits and kicked their way out in the night along with fireplaces. :twisted: