lexrex
Forum Management 
Posts: 822
|
Post by lexrex on May 25, 2010 9:25:38 GMT -6
A friend of mine needs radiator covers. I might fly out to visit him and build the covers with him, I figure maybe I can get him interested in the hobby.
Any of you guys done these before? I thought of two easy ways, one build an enclosed box and plunge route spaces, thus creating slats. Seems like a strong solution but I would need solid wood and would be kinda wasteful. The other would be to build a box and put two face frames on it, perhaps with a center stile for strength and then install slats. It would seem that a thick face frame and mortise and tenon slats would be best.
How would you do it?
|
|
|
|
Post by brburns on May 25, 2010 9:50:52 GMT -6
Well, I usually prefer using solid wood. But in this case, wouldn't the inside dry out badly due to all the heat? Ply may hold up better.
I would be hesitant to cover a radiator at all, but that's just me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leo's Daughter on May 25, 2010 11:39:16 GMT -6
This is a good topic for my dad (and one I will watch too because I'm curious), as we will probably need some for next year. I would be hesitant to cover a radiator except that we have the big cast iron steam ones (I assume the same ones you're talking about) and a 7.5 month old now, she'll be over a year when we turn the heat on! They get hot and they are hard (with some sharp corners), NOT SAFE! Maybe I'll help him make 'em!  |
|
lexrex
Forum Management
Posts: 822
|
Post by lexrex on May 25, 2010 12:15:57 GMT -6
LD, same issue! My friend has a newborn in the house and they have the same old iron radiators with steam heat. They get hot enough to burn an infant. I see a lot of wood options for purchase so it must work fine. I'm more wondering about the construction than the material.
|
|
|
|
Post by dcarter636 on May 25, 2010 18:47:00 GMT -6
What is a radiator cover? Is it just a solid screening structure, that looks like a small dresser sans drawers, with an open top and some big openings at the floor?
I know what cast iron steam radiator is and does although haven't seen one in use in decades.
|
|
|
|
Post by sachbvn on May 25, 2010 19:26:55 GMT -6
My grandpa made a cold air return cover for us many years ago.... just lap construction. Not sure if this is at all what you are referring to.
Zac
|
|
lexrex
Forum Management
Posts: 822
|
Post by lexrex on May 25, 2010 20:39:12 GMT -6
I forgot, not everyone hails from the northeast. I grew up in a house built in the early 1900's and it was steam heat. Radiator:  Cover:  |
|
JBark
WoW Member
Posts: 163
|
Post by JBark on May 25, 2010 21:00:54 GMT -6
I work in an unfinished furniture store and radiator covers are one item we sell. There is a guy that makes them in Philly that we fax dimensions to and he cranks them out for next to nothing. Really, the guy has not changed his price list in over ten years??? (No exageration.) They are a box, the front of which is a frame with a metal screen nailed on the inside. For extra cost he will put a stile in the middle and screening on the sides as well. Other options include shelving on the ends. One must be careful with measurements and placement of the pipe which in some cases needs a cutout.
|
|
|
|
Post by sachbvn on May 25, 2010 23:03:04 GMT -6
Cool Chris, thanks for the pictures.
Nope we dont have too many of those down here, some (I remember them in my old grade school) but not a ton. Never seen a cover for one before....the idea kind gives me the eeby-jeebies covering up a heat source like that....but having little ones and hot metal surfaces exposed is probably not real ideal either.
Zac
|
|
|
|
Post by brburns on May 26, 2010 6:10:52 GMT -6
If one was to incorperate a small fan in the bottom of one, it would probably really help the efficiancy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Beezlebub on May 26, 2010 7:24:06 GMT -6
I only touched a hot radiator once when I was a child,,,,,good lesson,,,,have not touched one since.  |
|
|
|
Post by rblusthaus on May 26, 2010 11:23:48 GMT -6
A few years ago in my old house, I made about 13 of those radiator covers, similar to the one pictured above. Made them from ply and solid wood edging, where needed. Made them in panels (sides, tops, and fronts) and connected them with 2 full length braces in the rear (going side to side and the top one high enough for the top to sit on) Made them a little oversize and inserted on the inside some rigid insulation with foil on one side (sides, back where I had room, and the top). Not so much for the insulation value (except for the top, as I wanted to put things up there wo worry about the heat) as it was to (re)direct the heat thru the open front.
Worked great and I would do it the same way again. New house has baseboards so not necessary at this time. Sorry, no pics.
I believe they sell metal ones also, if you want to go that route.
|
|
lexrex
Forum Management
Posts: 822
|
Post by lexrex on May 26, 2010 13:31:59 GMT -6
You guys have raised some good points. I am familiar with the ones with metal screens, had one growing up in our foyer. It makes more sense than slats because the little ones can/will put their hands in between the slats.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leo's Daughter on May 26, 2010 14:55:40 GMT -6
I think my dad had said that he would do some sort of metal screens... I was thinking of the finger thing too with the slats though I guess if the spaces were narrow and they were far enough away from the actual heater (so maybe they could get fingers or tips of fingers in but not whole hand and fingers wouldn't reach the heater)
|
|
Stretch
WoW Member
Mark Muhr
Posts: 461
|
Post by Stretch on May 26, 2010 14:57:58 GMT -6
You guys have raised some good points. I am familiar with the ones with metal screens, had one growing up in our foyer. It makes more sense than slats because the little ones can/will put their hands in between the slats. If you still want the slat look, you could just attach the screen behind the slats. All it would take would be some hardware cloth painted flat black and it would hardly be noticeable. |
|
|
|
Post by dcarter636 on May 26, 2010 16:51:44 GMT -6
I see that as more of an aesthetic thing hiding the unsightly radiator rather than a safety enhancement. I would think that covering the top would substantially reduce the volume of air heated and efficiency.
As mentioned above, a child will only touch a hot radiator once.
|
|
|
|
Post by Leo's Daughter on May 26, 2010 17:05:41 GMT -6
I see that as more of an aesthetic thing hiding the unsightly radiator rather than a safety enhancement. I would think that covering the top would substantially reduce the volume of air heated and efficiency. As mentioned above, a child will only touch a hot radiator once. As mother of a 7 month old I STRONGLY disagree with you! I have never had a problem with the appearance of my radiators, they are what they are, functional nothing more, nothing less. However, I do want to cover them for safety reasons! Even if she only touched it once not only would it hurt (A LOT) but it could seriously injure her. Babies have thin, sensitive skin that is more prone to worse burns than us and if you have ever touched one of those heaters you know they get VERY hot. As far as only touching once, that may be true of a child of 3 or 4 years but an 11 or 12 month old (even a little older) does not understand cause and effect well enough yet that they will never try it again. They also don't have real long memories! So no, I don't want to cover my radiators to hide them because they're ugly, if that were the case I would have done it 5 years ago when we bought the house. I want to cover them to protect my precious little girl!! |
|
|
|
Post by Leo's Daughter on May 26, 2010 17:10:43 GMT -6
You guys have raised some good points. I am familiar with the ones with metal screens, had one growing up in our foyer. It makes more sense than slats because the little ones can/will put their hands in between the slats. If you still want the slat look, you could just attach the screen behind the slats. All it would take would be some hardware cloth painted flat black and it would hardly be noticeable. I like this idea! Though I do wonder if it would further impede heat efficiency. I would probably go with just enough of a frame to hold the metal screen. |
|
Stretch
WoW Member
Mark Muhr
Posts: 461
|
Post by Stretch on May 26, 2010 17:33:34 GMT -6
If you still want the slat look, you could just attach the screen behind the slats. All it would take would be some hardware cloth painted flat black and it would hardly be noticeable. I like this idea! Though I do wonder if it would further impede heat efficiency. I would probably go with just enough of a frame to hold the metal screen. Once the heat leaves the radiator, it's in the room. It's gotta come out of the box some time. Having a box around the radiator might slow the heating of a cold room, but once the room is up to temperature it won't have any noticeable effect. |
|
|
|
Post by Leo's Daughter on May 26, 2010 17:36:47 GMT -6
I like this idea! Though I do wonder if it would further impede heat efficiency. I would probably go with just enough of a frame to hold the metal screen. Once the heat leaves the radiator, it's in the room. It's gotta come out of the box some time. Having a box around the radiator might slow the heating of a cold room, but once the room is up to temperature it won't have any noticeable effect. Good point.  |
|
