Cast Iron Radiator Question

Good afternoon Guys,
So I have the radiator bug and I have been buying and selling radiators like crazy and keeping the neat ones for my self. I have a couple steam "only" cast iron fin style that I want to use for hot water. Now I know to make them work I have to tap each fin and put in a bleeder valve, however are these still going to be supper inifeciant or will they be just fine?

Thanks again,
Glenn

Are the sections connected at the top?

Me thinks they should be??????? If that's the case, only one bleeder center top outside fin.

Nope, they are steam "only" radiators. Not connected at the top. Like I said I know I have to put a bleeder valved in each section but even if I do that are these things still going to be supper inefeciant?

Thanks,
Glenn

Pictures please.
If they are not connected at the top and bottom of each section sell them and get ones that are. You are setting yourself up for a lot of work trying to install bleeders in each section...not to mention the ordeal of trying to bleed all the air out.

http://www.oldhouseonline.com/radiator-handbook/

If they are not connected at the top then they had to be on a one pipe steam system. Therefore you will have to remove the plug on the closed end to run it on hot water as well as adding a vent for each section.

Once you see the pictures you will understand. Pictures are below.

Thanks again,
Glenn

They are very nice, very ornate.
I can't see any way to convert them to hot water though. Maybe you need to install a steam system!

They can be converted to a hot water system by me putting a bleeder valve in each fin of the radiator. I have bought and sold a couple from NY that were done that way. What I dont know (as I never had any of them hooked up to a system) is if that totally kills there efficiency or not.

Thanks again on the looks comps by the way.

Glenn

i don't see how putting aa bleeder 0n each section will make it work , but i do know that you can tap each section 3/8 0r 1/2 " &connect each w/ soft cu. at the top and it will work

Oh yea???? Now you have my interest, as it sounds like a much better idea then a bleeder valve on each one. You said something about soft CU? I am assuming that what you are saying is that I drill, tap and put in a bushing into each section. Then run this soft CU between each one, and then drill and tap one of the top ends where I would put my bleeder valve just like on a regular hot water radiator?

Thanks again,
Glenn

I can't tell by looking at the photos. I just know in order to be used for hot water you have to have three things.... a way in, a way out, and a way to get the air out of any place it could get trapped. IF you could make them do that, then it's anyone's guess at efficiency. If the "in" and "out" make a path such that the flowing water bypasses the bulk of the radiator it surely won't heat as well as if the path flowed across every interior part.

Freddy,
That is a very good point which is why I thought if I put a bleeder valve on each fin I could drain the air out and it would be good to go. That said I like the idea of having them all hooked together so the water and air could flow between them. I am not going to use these as the main heat for the room. I want to install them mainly because they are so neat looking. I already have other radiators that will handle most of the heat load.

Thanks again,
Glenn

Drilling, tapping, piping each fin together is a tremendous amount of work for pretty but if that's what floats your boat...

I agree it is a lot of work. I wish there was a way to drill strait through all of the sections at once, tap them and then connect them.

Thanks again,
Glenn

What if you turned the radiator upside down, then filled it. Wouldn't that purge any air in the fins??