cast iron bathtubs are heavy sons of bitches

Jul 10, 2007
12,041
3
0
400 pounds, nowhere convenient to grip, blunt edges pressing against your fingers = extremely hard to move.

but they sure are nice.
:)
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
Yes they are. My plumber mumbled some curse words under his breath when we told him we wanted an iron tub in the upstairs bath.

And yes they are nice.
 

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
81
400 pounds might be a gross underestimation.

I had to tear one out of a bathroom once upon a time - and we had to bust it up to get it out. I've got a nice scar from that escapade. PSA: if you're going to try to sledgehammer apart a cast iron tub, make damned sure you wear eye protection: the ceramic shards fly at mindboggling speeds. And be extra careful when hammering near already-broken bits - that shit's sharp.

I'd guess we had somewhere closer to 600-700 pounds.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
I removed one from my upstairs bathroom remodel.
It was way more than 400lbs. Probably 600-700 like rivan said.

I didn't know you could break it apart with a sledge, so we slid it down the stairs on cardboard. I left it on the porch and posted it on Craigslist for scrap.
It was gone in 20min.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,642
5,751
146
We modded our Kohler cast iron with insulation foam like you use around windows. I applied about 2" of the stuff all over the back and the bottom, everywhere but the areas it rests on. It does stay warmer quite a bit longer.
 
Jul 10, 2007
12,041
3
0
400 pounds might be a gross underestimation.

I had to tear one out of a bathroom once upon a time - and we had to bust it up to get it out. I've got a nice scar from that escapade. PSA: if you're going to try to sledgehammer apart a cast iron tub, make damned sure you wear eye protection: the ceramic shards fly at mindboggling speeds. And be extra careful when hammering near already-broken bits - that shit's sharp.

I'd guess we had somewhere closer to 600-700 pounds.

I believe I saw something like 385 pounds on the crate.
it's a kohler.
 

Lean L

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2009
3,685
0
0
If it's close to 600 pounds, you better invite a few people over to help carry it. I suggest TridenT. :)

Idk I'd think if there were 10 of you and tboy, that bathtub would almost move. Strength in numbers.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,179
12,708
136
there's a good business here for old cast iron tubs. Many people just put them out for scrap or sell them for cheap.

They are then stripped and refinished/restored and sell for $1200+ each to people restoring Victorian style homes here or for people who prefer a cast iron tub.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,336
136
In laws owned an antique store. Moved more that my share of clawfoot tubs. Family fun.

Our house still has the original 1937 double washboard sink, similar to this but with one large sink.
3n93p43lb5V25Q45W3b52ed9bafba4ac01250.jpg

It's one of the reasons we haven't renovated yet.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
How exactly are they better?

Hold a porcelain coating is big thing.

Dense and sturdy is an added bonus.

I swapped out our laundry room sink from plastic which you could never get clean to a cast iron Kohler and I can wash my greasy hands in there and it's perfectly white medical grade when done... wife no longer bitches at me so it was worth the $650.
 
Last edited:

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
81
I believe I saw something like 385 pounds on the crate.
it's a kohler.

Yeah, the one I pulled out was original to the house, somewhere in 1880/1890s. The owners had looked into getting it repaired but opted against - had a huge crack running up from the drain.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
How exactly are they better?

It doesn't split or crack like acrylic and it doesn't stain(or at least as easily). The tub will be one of longest lasting items in the house.
 

SphinxnihpS

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
8,368
25
91
If it's close to 600 pounds, you better invite a few people over to help carry it. I suggest TridenT. :)

You want Trident dead? I wouldn't even let him cut my grass.

I took out the old cast iron tub when I moved it and replaced it with a new cast iron tub. The old one was about 500lbs and was 3/4" longer than the stall, so I had to cut out the drywall just to free it (was going anyway). It took some doing to get it through the hall, down the stairs, and into the dumpster. I did it myself, so I had to make a snow ramp to get it in the dumpster. Luckily it was winter.

The hardest part was reattaching the drain line to the new tub. I had to go buy a special old-school drain trap, and get the tub in the perfect spot then go around to the plumbing access mouse hole and perform great contortions to get the threads to line up and screw together.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
You want Trident dead? I wouldn't even let him cut my grass.

I took out the old cast iron tub when I moved it and replaced it with a new cast iron tub. The old one was about 500lbs and was 3/4" longer than the stall, so I had to cut out the drywall just to free it (was going anyway). It took some doing to get it through the hall, down the stairs, and into the dumpster. I did it myself, so I had to make a snow ramp to get it in the dumpster. Luckily it was winter.

The hardest part was reattaching the drain line to the new tub. I had to go buy a special old-school drain trap, and get the tub in the perfect spot then go around to the plumbing access mouse hole and perform great contortions to get the threads to line up and screw together.
Our front door weighs about 4000 lbs 10' x 8' all iron with 1" glass installed it by myself...leverage, pulleys, rollers and taking it slow.:p
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
It doesn't split or crack like acrylic and it doesn't stain(or at least as easily). The tub will be one of longest lasting items in the house.

I don't know what my tub is made out of but I thought it was porcelain. If its acrylic, then whatever - it certainly doesn't have any problems with cracking or anything else.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
I don't know what my tub is made out of but I thought it was porcelain. If its acrylic, then whatever - it certainly doesn't have any problems with cracking or anything else.

It's not real hard to tell. Cast iron tubs have an unmistakeable sound and solid feel to them when you wrap your knuckes against the sidewalls.

Fiberglass or acrylic tubs take 5-10 years to start developing cracks in the bottom.