Cast iron radiator crack

subybaja

subybaja

E. Spengler
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
54
Messages
2,411
Loc
Spenard Ak
Basement remodel in (slow) progress, and my wife wants a radiator...

We have hot water baseboard, and here in Alaska that's the standard. Everything in the state was built post-50s, so iron radiators basically don't exist.

I found this little one on Clist. Some lady had it powdercoated and was using it as a plant shelf.

I plugged it up and put 50psi to it...and got a couple leaks. To my surprise the joints between sections seem tight, but it's got a couple cracks.

I don't have TIG, just MIG and oxy/acetylene. I'm no fabricator, but I did work as a bench jeweler for a long time, so I know how to handle a torch, flux, and solder.

I see two possibilities for repair- JBweld, and MuggyWeld solder. I know AsSeenOnTv products don't always work like the demos, but I've had good luck with the aluminum solder...

https://youtu.be/taL2IAHkwjM

I'll grind back the powder, and V out the cracks...

Radiator.jpg
RadiatorCracks.jpg


RadiatorCrackBig.jpg


Or just forget it and buy one of these ugly things from HD with a 10yr warranty:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pensott...-Radiator-Package-in-White-HD20-24D/304957126
whites-pensotti-baseboard-floor-hd20-24d-4f_1000.jpg


WWIBB do?
 
Seems like a good opportunity to meet your fellow irate member since the northern4x4forum days.

Cant guarantee that I’ll fix it, but it won’t be as bad as you trying to mig a cast radiator :flipoff2:
 
I like fixing busted stuff, and am stupid enough to value my time at $0/hour, but I think I would buy one that didn't get frozen and crack, since I wouldn't want to deal with leaking water in my living room.

Can't you just remove and toss the cracked sections?
 
Muckin_Slusher said:
I like fixing busted stuff, and am stupid enough to value my time at $0/hour, but I think I would buy one that didn't get frozen and crack, since I wouldn't want to deal with leaking water in my living room.

Can't you just remove and toss the cracked sections?
Click to expand...

That can be done, the trick is getting the sections to lock back together afterwards. Need the special tool that they make to compress them from what I understand.

Aaron Z
 
Looks like the cracks are more or less in center of long sides, i.e. in between fins where you really can't reach them. Undoubtedly they're full of crap as well, and potentially you have a strained area extending above and below the actual crack as well as similar damage on other fins.

Doubtful you could get a reliable fix without complete disassembly and welding.
 
Brazing would be the only option I'd consider. Make sure to stop drill the cracks end.
 
Brazing for the win. As said drill the ends of the cracks so they don't grow as you heat it up. Tig would be nice but I have a feeling you would be getting a lot of contamination out gassing as you welded which tig wouldn't play well with and there is no practical way to make sure the inside of the cracks are clean.
 
Could prolly lock n stitch them. I've done it on cast iron blocks, heads, and cast aluminum.
 
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