What we're obsessed with this week:

Storybook Homes!

Read more about the history of this one here.

This one is for sale!

This one is in our neighborhood!

How to fix a loose clawfoot tub foot.

Recently, one of our fans over on Facebook asked about fixing a clawfoot tub foot that keeps slipping off.

American Standard Clawfoot Tub with tapered wedge and set screw

Tub feet are typically first put on with the tub upside down. That way you do not have to fight gravity to set them in and you have full access to the screws. If the tub is already in place and you need to replace the foot it is going to be VERY difficult to do properly. There are a lot of different designs and mounting systems for tub feet.  The most common foot attachment method out there is a tapered wedge tongue with a set screw. To replace the tub foot in situ, you need to temporarily lift the tub up just a little higher than the foot when it is in place. (I've heard of using a car jack to do this, but be careful!) Place some type of wood blocks or similar to hold the tub up securely. Take the foot that has fallen out and loosen the set screw so that it does not drag across the bottom of the tub as you slide the foot back into pace. You will need a good rubber mallet to do the next part. Slide the foot in place as far as you can. Take the rubber mallet and hammer home the foot till it cannot go any farther. Do not use a regular hammer – the foot is cast iron and you can break cast iron with a regular hammer. Tighten the set screw tight. (Do not use a hex headed bolt for the set screw as you can tighten the set screw too far and break the foot.) Remove the blocks and set the tub down in place. 

Are you missing a foot or two on your clawfoot tub?  Check out our post on replacing missing tub feet!

Good luck to you!

Sincerely, Steve Smith

Manager, Ohmega Salvage

Favorite Item of the Week: Art Deco Style Chandelier

Our favorite item this week is an Art Deco Style Chandelier.  Isn't it lovely?!! 

Find it for sale on the Ohmega Salvage website under "Art Deco Lighting."

Favorite Item of the Week: California Art Tile

This week, our favorite new item in the shop is this medieval themed Cal Art Tile.  It features knights and castles and jousting!

Cal Art Tile was made in Richmond, California (just down the street from us) from 1923 until 1956.  We removed this mantel from a home here in Berkeley.  You can see the original schematic for the mantel below.

Here's what it looked like when we removed it!

This History of Ohmega Salvage

Steve Smith, general manager of Ohmega Salvage, explains the history behind San Francisco's longest continually operating architectural salvage company.

Yummy Tub Sets

I think these corner tub sets look like candy.  Yum!

Colored Corner Tub Sets from Ohmega Salvage

Painting the outside of your vintage clawfoot tub.

Vintage Clawfoot Tubs at Ohmega Salvage

The outside of the old tubs are almost always painted with house paint of some kind. The tubs, when originally sold, came with raw cast iron on the outside. When the person took the tub home, they usually painted it the same color as the wall of the bathroom.  If the tub was set close to a wall it was not usually painted all the way around. So, if your tub's paint is still in fairly good condition you can just repaint it before you set it into place.

You will need to do a good prep job before you repaint. If the paint has cracks, pits or is powdering or peeling you can scrub it thoroughly using a stiff plastic brush and a fairly strong concentration of T.S.P.  Make sure to rinse thoroughly as residue will effect the adhesion of the new paint. 

If the tub paint is in bad shape or is showing rust or there are simply too many coats of paint, then the best thing is to have the tub sandblasted or media-blasted down to the raw cast iron.  You may be tempted to do this yourself with wire brushes, sand paper, etc. but it is not recommended. The tubs are old enough that the bottom layers of paint are likely to be lead-based. It is better to let professionals deal with the clean-up of the old paint residue.  This is especially true if you have kids around.

To paint the tub yourself, be sure to use a good quality primer. Ask the paint store which one they recommend. Latex paint is better than oil in this case because it is more flexible. The tubs will expand and contract slightly when they heat up and cool down. To repaint, you can use a good quality latex paint.  Be sure to use either semi-gloss or gloss paint so that you have a surface that is cleanable. Flat paints do not work well for tub exteriors.  

Another option is to send it to a auto body shop to be painted with a car paint. Auto paints are designed to withstand  the elements and are more flexible than regular oil paints. They do not stick well to old house paint which is why they will not work unless you have had the tub sandblasted. 

Another choice is a epoxy paint.  This paint is also best when applied directly on the raw cast iron. You can do this one yourself if you would like. The down side to this paint is that it doesn't clean-up easily and has a lot of fumes. There are not a lot of color choices either.  The up side is that it is a very durable and flexible finish.  

You could also have the tub powder-coated by a professional. This is a powdered plastic that is blown on the tub and then baked on. 

It is best to take the feet off before you paint so that you can effectively cover all surfaces. If you like, the feet can be plated (for a metallic brass, chrome, etc. look), powder-coated, or painted as well. 


Where to get your vintage clawfoot tub?  Ohmega Salvage, of course!