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Attaching claw feet to cast iron tub

user-159421 | Posted in General Discussion on May 25, 2006 08:34am

We have recently refinished an old claw foot tub and are now wanting to install it in our new house.  The Tub is in great shape including the hawk feet.  The tub body has four tabs with holes, which of course are where the feet are to be mounted.  The problem is the tabs are not long enough to allow a bolt to be placed through the hole when the feet are attached.  I have two questions:

  1. What can I use to attach the feet to the tub: wire, pins, epoxy?  I know welding of CI is out of the question.
  2. Does the connection between the foot and the tub need to be rigid?  Anything other then epoxy would seem to allow the tub to rock a little bit.  And with the tub filled with water and a person does not seem to be a good idea.

Any ideas???

Thanks,

SLO Builder

PS  This was originally posted under the wrong folder due to a rebellious mouse!

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Replies

  1. bps | May 25, 2006 08:57pm | #1

    If the feet are of the correct design for the tub, they should not "rock". If they do then something is amiss. Also one of those suckers full of water and hide won't rock unless your really "rolling". Get my drift. Seriously the feet may not fit that tub.

    1. user-159421 | May 25, 2006 11:19pm | #3

      Thank you for both your and "calvin's" in put.  There is no practical way to tell if the feet came with the tub.  The feet were on the tub when we opened up the tub framing, which the tub had been in for years.  The old framing is what seem to keep the tub steady, cut again I'm not sure.  So I believe the feet are for the tub.

      Two of the feet fit perfectly.  The remaining two rock just a little bit.  There appears to a slight difference between the feet and sidewall of the tub.  However my goal is to some how secure the feet to the tub.

      In response to "Calvin":  The tabs on the tub are not open so bolting won't work.

      1. BungalowJeff | May 26, 2006 02:50pm | #7

        The claw foot tubs in my house had cut nails wedged in to tighten the feet in place....that's not a mistake, it's rustic

  2. calvin | May 25, 2006 09:04pm | #2

    The tabs should be open on one end.

     

    Put the bolt (with washer too perhaps) in the foot hole .  Leave it stick out enough that you can slide the foot onto the bracket.  Tighten if you can or get it "close" and tap it on with a mallet.  Once you lower the tub, it isn't going anywhere.

     

    Welcome to BT.

    A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    Quittin' Time

     

  3. GregGibson | May 26, 2006 12:03am | #4

    I know that, in some cases, you can weld cast iron.  If the legs are cast, you could try it, with a rod that's high in nickel.  Of course, the tub ain't portable.  You'd have to get someone in with a portable welder.  Might be a last resort.

    Greg

    1. ohmyohmy | May 26, 2006 04:38am | #5

      Why not just put some bead on the feet, then grind them to fit.I would even just MIG a few passes. Grind to fit, then flapdisc the welds to blend

  4. Ray | May 26, 2006 06:26am | #6

    You might try swapping the feet around to a different location.  Back in those days, castings weren't perfect, and one or more may have been ground to fit a specific mounting tab.

  5. Aaron | May 26, 2006 04:38pm | #8

    If you can't get a bolt down through the hole from the top, can you do it the other way--hold a nut and washer in place and bolt up through the foot?

     

    Aaron

    1. user-159421 | May 26, 2006 06:10pm | #9

      We have switch the feet from side to side.  The feet can't go front to back since they are different sizes.  The feet are numbered on the inside 1 for front 2 for rear.

        I was thinking of using a bent rod similar to nails.  As for welding, we of corse had the tub poweder coated prior to installation.  We didn't anticipate this issue since the feet seemed secured to the tub. If mechanical fastening doesn't work we'll haul the tub to a welding shop and have it welded and re-painted.

      Thanks to all

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