Restoring Victorian cast iron fireplace

Tiger_greeneyes

We've found a cast iron fireplace beneath some lovely woodchip (!) wallpaper and half a vat of white gloss paint.

We've removed the wallpaper and exposed the tile inserts (perfect condition!!) and are in the process of stripping the gloss off the cast iron with a heat gun.

However - there's thousands of tiny flecks of white paint that are proving difficult to remove. We're not too sure what we should be using to remove them - is a wire brush ok, or should we be using a liquid paintstripper?

Once we've got the flecks off, should we be using some sort of black paint on the cast iron, or is there a polish (or something else) we should be using to restore it's lustre?

We'd be eternally grateful if someone in the know would help us clueless types :rotfl:

sleepymy

If you can separate the cast iron piece from the rest you could get it sandblasted. We did that with ours, the guy primed it for us to makes sure it wasn't left bare for too long as it would rust easily apparently. Hubby gave it a coat of mat black metal paint and it looks gorgeous. Make sure that your primer and topcoat are heat resistant if you're intending to ever light a fire in it.

Tiger_greeneyes

Thanks Sleepymy

You've reminded me that I've got some matt black stove paint somewhere, that'll be perfect. I've been trawling the net (I searched for matt black stove paint!) and found this:

http://www.bricksandbrass.co.uk/diyelem/fireplace/fpclean.htm

It's under 'cleaning' fireplaces rather than restoring, hence not finding it earlier.

Did you find any tiles with yours too? We were lucky enough to find the inserts (cheek tiles) - a lovely pattern with three different coloured tulips on each one. The hearth tiles are really intricate too - and absolutely perfect. There was concrete on half of them but I managed to clean it off

sleepymy

Ours came out of the cottage I was born in, it was a very old 4 roomed working class cottage so no lovely tiles I'm afraid. Yours sound beautiful. I can't imagine why anyone would cover up a fireplace like that!

We re-opened the fireplace in our lil council bungalow and put it in with an electric fire basket (real coal type) because we can't have an open fire atm. I think a fireplace really makes a room so much more cosy and homely.

I've also inherited a beautiful cast Iron bed that we used to sleep in as kids so I'm waiting to get it sand blasted and painted cream for the spare room :cool:

Tiger_greeneyes

I've no idea why people cover these things up but I'd rather that than lose them altogether. My mum's husband would have put a hammer through it

Your cast iron bed sounds gorgeous! We used to have them as kids too - along with the horsehair mattresses! I can't imagine sleeping on one of those mattresses now though, how uncomfortable.

I like the idea of your electric fire basket - we've got a fireplace in a room that we can't use - it might well be the answer for us

sleepymy

I bought the fire basket from John Lewis, it was about £150 but tbh I could have probably made it for less! If you are handy (sounds like you are) you should find a local supplier of Burley fire baskets and have a good look at them. It's basically a grate with a fiberglass cover and a bulb stuck in between with some coal put over the top. I had to put some red crepe paper under the coal as the fiberglass was white. Just keep it in mind if you ever decide to put one in.

I can't wait to get the bed sorted. Gonna do the whole country cottage look with lovely throws and lots of pillows ... minus the horsehair matress :shocked:

Tiger_greeneyes

I like John Lewis I just wish I could afford to go there these days - not until we've finished the building works here, that is

I know you can get cast iron fire baskets for about a third of the price elsewhere. I like your idea of using the crepe paper, very inventive!

Your cottage sounds like it's going to look lovely and cosy when you've finished. I can't think why you're not keeping the mattress though :rotfl:

Debt_Free_Chick

Tiger_greeneyes wrote: »

However - there's thousands of tiny flecks of white paint that are proving difficult to remove. We're not too sure what we should be using to remove them - is a wire brush ok, or should we be using a liquid paintstripper?

Wire wool dipped in anything that dissolves paint e.g. paintstripper, white spirit etc.

The cast iron is pretty robust and the matt black stove paint will hide any blemishes. But I'd be inclined to use a specialist stove paste/polish rather than paint.

ormus

you can use almost anything on cast iron. youre very unlikely to do any damage at all.
i too cannot understand why anyone would cover these things up.
my stepson has just moved into a victorian terraced house. the 2 main fireplaces are fantastic. but covered in layers of white gloss!
itll take him days to sort it out.

Tiger_greeneyes

Thank you for the link Debt Free Chick - that's fantastic! I'll use that instead I think - it's purpose made for the job so has to be the best option

Ormus - I don't envy your stepson. We used a heat gun on the majority of it but then found a can of Strypit paint remover in the shed (typical!) so we're going to try putting that on the last bit. It's got lots of ornate detailing so it may well be easier to get the paint out of the crevices.

It'll be worth it when it's done

Tiger_greeneyes

Here's the 'before' piccy if anyone's bored enough! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/completelybonkers/Cam027.jpg