BUELLER"S Offical Radiator cover thread...LOL

[bueller]

Hey everyone,

Didn't know if I should list this under DIY or Nudibar because it isn't fish related... Well... Kinda, it is kinda the same method I use to build Fish tank stands..well anyway. For All of us that have those Old Cast Iron Radiators [ which I love ] and want to cover them up..well here's a Thread for ya...

I recently Just did my kitchen over and this is the last thing that needed to get done...well, My wife has been busting on me to do something about it...LOL

After looking online into custom Radiator covers for my home and seeing the Prices :Yikes: I decided to build one myself and had the camera with me so I thought I would document it so if anyone else wanted to do the same they can check out the thread....Trust me after you go searching for covers and see the prices..you will be willing to try it yourself..

O.K ...Here we go.

I needed to build an opening for 57 in wide[ inside ] , 22 in high, 13 1/2 deep.

I used up all the scrap wood I had laying around to get where I am so far:tongueani which was great on the pocket!!

I ripped a 1x8x8 pine to 4 inches for the top & bottom { STILE } of the face frames and 3 inches for the sides { RAIL } and Kreg them all together:

Here is the Front face frame all together:

I did the same thing to the sides of the cover * NOTE * don't forget to add the 3/4 thickness of the front face frame when you make up your sides for your total depth. My total Depth was 13 1/2 so I made the the sides 12 3/4

Next I had to make a jig to cut the sides so that they would go flush to the wall from the floor molding..here's a picture..You'll get the idea:

SWEET!!! Nice fit!

Next i kreg the sides so I can attach them to the front face frame, Kinda like I would do for a fish tank stand:

NEXT:

I am going for that classic colonial look so I will be going with stright lines . I decided to go with 1 1/2 strips of pine for the face grill...NICE with an ogee style accent on the face, I am going to router out 3/4 of meat by 1/4 deep top and bottom leaving a total of 14 inches for inside the face frame... Here's a few pictures

then I put the ogee classic profile on the edge:

Looking SWEET to Me..The Mrs is Happy as well & and That's a good thing

NEXT:

I put the 1 1/2 strips on the frame leaving a 1 inch gap in-between each...GET-R-DUN

Now, I just needed to attach the sides to the face of the cover:

This is what I got done so far... I will post more of the process as i go which will be Quick due to the fact I don't have heat in my Garage...

 

[tosiek]

nice work as always Bueller =0) Amazing what you can do with a few very simple tools out of your garage.

 

[tosiek]

Im in process of doing this in my own apt but a little differently.

Adding a top with a grille, closing off the side and front panels, and cutting out the bottom of the front panel decoratively makes the radiator cover much more efficient in heating for longer and controlling the amount of heat released.

Arhcitectural grille has "in stock" grille sizes rather descently priced for what your getting. All aluminum drop in slotted grilles. I picked up my 12" grilles i used on my tank for about 15$ a piece.

Or you can always slot the top using a router/table saw.

 

[Awibrandy]

Beautiful, beats any radiator covers I've ever seen! Wish I had the tools.

 

[bueller]

Cool,

The reason i am not opening the top, this radiator never get's really really hot and the kid's can sit on it for dinner..sort of like a bench. I didn't open the bottom [floor] because all that does for me is have stuff roll underneath it. My wife does not like the modern look.

Post some pic's , I would like to see your idea's as well..

 

[bueller]

Thanks!

I couldn't believe the prices of radiator covers...the metal one's i saw went for about $300.... and They look BUTT ulgy...

I wanted something like a traditional colonial look, forget about what they wanted for them...STUPID CASH... That's when I said... I'll give it a try

 

[grknyer]

nice work as always Bueller =0) Amazing what you can do with a few very simple tools out of your garage.

+1 on the workmanship and as far as the tools go he had the most important one on hand which was the BEER!!! :givebeer:
Looks great John!!

 

[junglebase]

Hey John... your worksmanship is always impressive...i agree with those radiator cover prices.. they are way up there....

 

[bad coffee]

Nice work!

I noticed it took you about one beer to Kreig the face frames together. Sounds like a good pace to me!

B

 

[Keith P]

Looks great!

 

[bueller]

I noticed it took you about one beer to Kreig the face frames together.

LOL, it being so warm & nice outside didn't help..

I will post more pictures by this weekend, Would like to have it ready for stain & poly in two weeks...we'll see

Bueller

 

[KathyC]

Beautiful design & workmanship John ..as always!
Can I come by and hang out in your garage? :flirt:

 

[bueller]

Hey everyone,

First off, Kathy, you can hang in my garage anytime ...

DAY 2... working on my radiator cover for my kitchen!!!! I need to get this thing done ASAP..due to the weather.....I think i need to go to more warmer states.

Well, it's all about the trim... The foundation is done now let's pretty it up

here's a few pic's of today's work:

Classic ogee style for the trim:

Trim out the bottom:

Sizeing up the corner;

FINISHED BOTTOM PROFILE :

Now, let's start the top profile, I wanted to match the bottom:

Next trim to the Profile:

I wanted to do some ind of molding around the opening of the cover to give it a finished look & found this molding that was perfect!!! Check it out!! How's it look...I'm happy with it:

GIDDY UP!! I"M HAPPY & LOOKING SWEET!!

Noe I did the Top with a ogee edge to finish off the profile...

HERE IS MY BIG HELPER IN THE PROJECT

AND THESE TWO WERE A PAIN IN THE BUTT...LOL..:

 

[tosiek]

Again really nice work Bueller. Makes your eyes pop out like this :bigeyes: when you see craftsmanship like that pop out of simple tools from a garage.

By the way, for the people looking to do this and go to buy wood, try to use dried out woods when your getting into the softer/sappy woods like poplar/pine around heated areas. Its usually what your going to find in alot of solid wood suppliers and home depot, alot of wet wood sitting outside still bundled up. Let it sit for a few weeks open and in a warmer/dry place usually after you open and start sizing the wood.

 

[bueller]

thanks,

I do agree with you with the wood...Pine, ect. But as long as you use a good glue with putting it together it should hold up....Plus I"M out of here in a few year's and pine is fine for the sale of the house...LOL

P.S: you know what they say....It's not the Tools ...it's How you use them...LOl

Bueller

 

[bueller]

I got some time today to finish up the cover, here's a few photo's of the dry fit before staining/poly:

finished the side molding's

BEFORE:

AFTER...UNFINISHED

I locked the cover using a 1x4 on the back so baby's can't pull it on themself.

IT FIT LIKE A GLOVE! NICE AND TIGHT AGAINST THE WALL'S:

 

[bueller]

PLAYING WITH THE CAMERA TODAY, When I did my kitchen over I had a old custom made cabinet next to the refrigerator, half[ left door] is a iron board in front of where the chimmey is and the right door is food storage.

Anyway, when I went to have a front made up to match the rest of my new cabinets they wanted like $1000 to make the face frame & 2- doors. I amost fell to the floor ... I said frig that, so I made my own face frame and door's out of pine figuring I would have some kind of mural done....hint hint...[ My sister-n-law is an artist ]. I dropped a few hints to her of what we wanted to do, So when we went away for vacation this summer & she surprised us and came in and did this Mural for us while we were gone...AWESOME!!!! just what we wanted!! We did get the Family price

TOTAL SAVINGS..$ ALOT

But if anyone is looking to have something like this done just let me know and I'll pass on her phone number to you.. she does all types of murals for homes/ faux finishes...all that stuff

Here's a few pictures:

BEFORE:

AFTER :

 

[noelskii]

i liiiiiiike!!!

 

[bueller]

My Finisher came in today and stained the cover for me...will poly it tomorrow and I"M DONE !!!

 

[masterswimmer]

JF, not surprised at all. I know your woodworking ability.

Nicer than any POS for sale in 'specialty' shops. Kudos, again.

R