How to attach wood to top of old radiator
#1
How to attach wood to top of old radiator
I have an small old non working heating radiator that I would like to re-purpose into an end table. I have a nice piece of wood 1.5 inches thick to use as the top, but I am really at a loss as how to attach the wood to the radiator itself. Any ideas?
Last edited by PJmax; 04-09-19 at 05:22 PM. Reason: resized picture
#3
Actually, I am going to snazz up the radiator itself and then simply attach a rectangular piece of wood to the top, kind of like I was making a bench seat out of it, except this radiator is too small for that, but you get the idea. I wondered if I could use some sort of brackets that would wrap around the upper part of the radiator and attach to the underneath side of the wood, but don't know how I would actually be able to tighten things down in such an arrangement.
#5
I'd probably just attach an apron (4 sided rectangle of trim... like a 1x2 or similar) to the underside of the top, it wouldn't have to be much, so that it sits over the edges of the radiator like a cap. A few dollops of silicone or construction ashesive on the radiator would keep it stationary.
#6
I thought about that, and that may be what I end up doing. My original vision was for something like the benches in this picture, but I have no idea how they fastened the wood to the radiators.
Last edited by PJmax; 04-09-19 at 05:25 PM. Reason: resized picture
#8
Yeah they may have welded some big flat steel plates to the top first, then screwed up into the board.
#9
Member
Duct strap slipped between the radiator top and the bolt. Screwed to bottom of wood top.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Basset-P...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Basset-P...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
#11
I thought about brackets attached to the radiator, but how in the world would I screw into cast iron? Welding brackets onto the radiator is outside my level of expertise and pay grade, although it sounds like fun and would no doubt do the trick. The duct strap I also pondered, but wondered how I would cinch it tight enough so that the table top would not wobble.
#12
Member
If you start with a slightly longer piece of strap, you can tighten up by screwing into holes closer to the radiator. Attache the two ends as tightly as possible then screw into a closer hole on each side to tighten.
#13
The apron or cap idea should be suffiicient. The sides of the top slab should not overhang by more than a fifth (20%) of the radiator footprint width Otherwise, assuming and imagining the perfect top fastening, accidental imperfect weight loading of the items put on the "tabletop" could cause the whole thing to tip.
On the other hand, the ends of the top slab should extend at least a tad beyond all end projections below such as pipe connections to prevent tripping and stumbling over said projections.
On the other hand, the ends of the top slab should extend at least a tad beyond all end projections below such as pipe connections to prevent tripping and stumbling over said projections.
#14
Some good ideas folks - thank you. If I opt for the slab with cap approach, what type of adhesive would work well to help fasten the slab to the radiator?
#15
A few dollops of silicone or construction adhesive on the radiator would keep it stationary.
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#16
I've come up with a new idea.
Thinking of getting an 8" X 12" steel plate, either 1/8 " or 3/16" thick, drilling some perimeter holes, screwing it to the underside of the wood slab, and gluing or JB Welding, etc, that to the top of the radiator.
What do you think? I can get the plate inexpensively but not sure what thickness to get.
Thinking of getting an 8" X 12" steel plate, either 1/8 " or 3/16" thick, drilling some perimeter holes, screwing it to the underside of the wood slab, and gluing or JB Welding, etc, that to the top of the radiator.
What do you think? I can get the plate inexpensively but not sure what thickness to get.
#18
I've got the radiator spiffed up and the bowling alley slab which will be the top sanded and Danish oiled and the metal plate attached to the underneath side. Next step will be attaching the two together. I will post finished pics.
Last edited by PJmax; 11-12-19 at 08:36 PM. Reason: resized pictures
Norm201
voted this post useful.