Radiator covers??

[myxpykalix]

Has anyone made any radiator covers for anything like this? If so what material did you use? What it is, is copper tubing with fins on it for radiant heat.
What was over it previously was metal covers that wold take me a year to refurbish taking paint off of and they look like ****. To replace them is way too expensive at about $100 for a 4 ft section and i have hundreds of feet needed. Any suggestions about metal replacements at a reasonable cost, or what material to make something to cover it with would be appreciated.

[Chuck Keysor]

Jack,,,,,,,,,,,, in looking at the pictures, I can't figure out what I am looking at...……….. better pictures, or diagrams would be helpful. Thanks, Chuck

[skintigh]

I think I'm looking at a hot water base board radiator, is that right? And you want to replace the covers? If so, they aren't all $100 per 4 ft, you can get them for 1/2 or 1/4 as much depending on size and style:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/NeatHeat-4-ft-Hot-Water-Hydronic-Baseboard-Cover-Not-for-Electric-Baseboard-NEATHEAT4/203537675
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Slant-Fin-101403035-3-5-ft-30D-Fine-Line-Baseboard-Cover-Only?gclid=CjwKCAiA8rnfBRB3EiwAhrhBGren_V6X0lwjJ8W 8mM3wDxXOysC-oqXP0LIYgaAf5_l5QKlquDcSTBoCh94QAvD_BwE
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Slant-Fin-104003070-7-ft-Baseline-2000-Baseboard-Cover-Only?gclid=CjwKCAiA8rnfBRB3EiwAhrhBGiJBo1g6aFM6vwC Qsq8GMGokbUxi4mR1ox97nsq0vQeV_vwdkIwmDRoCntgQAvD_B wE
They might be cheaper at local plumbing supply companies as well and/or if you buy them in bulk.

But to answer your direct question: I did make some panels for a cabinet around a large radiator, there are here http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?24683-2-or-3-layer-Radiator-Grille

But that would take soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much sanding and painting for hundreds of feet that that it would be faster to refurbish what you have. I wouldn't strip them, I would clean them, sand the really bad parts and repaint them. I used white high temperature spray paint from Home Depot on some pipes and a radiator and it looks nice. Not perfect, but no one but me would notice.

[bleeth]

Although not using bot required designs I ran a shop in Seattle years ago that made them as part of their offering. We used standard sheet goods, such as MDF and/or quality cabinet grade plywood edge or solid wood banded. Just make sure you leave enough space between the covers and the radiator to avoid warpage and coat (paint) all surfaces, including the inside. Denser mdf, rather than light is better.

[myxpykalix]

Dave,
My thinking was along those lines. Actually what i thought was to get some thin metal, like flashing material, bend it like a upside down L to radiate the heat out the front which would be covered by a stamped metal covering with a mdf box around it. Basically think of a 5"x5" box made of mdf with a metal reflective inside. The picture is a side view. The radiant heat is simply a 3/4" copper pipe with fins on it that runs along the floor. Actually i could make the top with the stamped metal also to let the heat rise, possibly not having to use the reflective L shaped material inside?

[bleeth]

Your idea could work, but likely the inner reflector, which could act as a heat sink, increasing the temp in the space between it and the mdf more than it would otherwise.
I would leave that part out.

[myxpykalix]

Your idea could work, but likely the inner reflector, which could act as a heat sink, increasing the temp in the space between it and the mdf more than it would otherwise.
I would leave that part out.

Thanks....you saved me some time and money...

[myxpykalix]

The more i think about it the more it makes sense for the top to be open and have the stamped metal there also so that the heat can rise.

[pro70z28]

If you have the room, there's an advantage to building the enclosure taller if possible. With a vent at the top and inlet at the bottom, it will act like a flu. More height = more fresh air draw past the radiating fins.

[myxpykalix]

I'll definitely keep that in mind. I actually had not thought of that...thanks

[myxpykalix]

Your idea could work, but likely the inner reflector, which could act as a heat sink, increasing the temp in the space between it and the mdf more than it would otherwise.
I would leave that part out.

DAVE!
I was thinking of making a open face, open top box out of wood frame and using plastic lattice work? Will that look cheesy?

[bleeth]

Very Cheesy. And plastic lattice is PVC with a pretty low melt point.

[myxpykalix]

I have some pvc water lines fairly close and they actually don't even get warm. I would have made it tall enough so that would not have been a factor, but your opinion on the cheesy factor only confirms my thoughts too. If you can think of some other material that might work, please let me know. If i had access to my shopbot i could get some 1/4" corian and cut it...

[bleeth]

Check out this link and go with your favorite!
https://www.amazon.com/radiator-grate/s?page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aradiator%20grate

[Brady Watson]

Cheaper/Easier to just buy them (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=radiator+cover&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aradiator+cover) and be done with it.

[mark_stief]

Brady Have you ever known Jack to do something the easy way:confused:

[bleeth]

My post got edited by a ghost!
Deleted: Not cheesy = not cheap

[myxpykalix]

Here is the problem. I need about 200 feet of this stuff. So Brady, and Dave and "begrudgingly" Mark are all right. HOWEVER, in my defense i'll say...this is why we have shopbots and are creative because we figure we can make something better, faster, cheaper. Sometimes after lots of questions, research, trial and error you find out that when someone says "Cheaper/Easier to just buy them (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=radiator+cover&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aradiator+cover)" he's probably right......(grrrr!)

[bleeth]

So I stopped into the paint store and asked about a gallon. Got a price. Asked about 5 gallons. Got a SLIGHTLY lower price per gallon.
10'----200'. They both equal design time plus materials plus overhead plus profit. Not all that much cheaper per section after the first few.