How to add sections to an aluminum radiator

Sometimes, in order to increase the thermal output of a heating radiator, it is necessary to add several sections or assemble it from two parts. You can do this work yourself if you are careful and follow the recommendations of specialists.

Will need

To cope with this operation, we will need the following materials and tools:

sections of aluminum radiators;
steel nipples for twisting sections;
paronite gaskets for the nipple;
nipple wrench with working head and wrench;
knife;
grinding disc.

Since the internal diameter of the nipples, like all its dimensions, is standardized and equal to 25 mm, the working head of a do-it-yourself nipple wrench should have a length of 30-35 mm, a width of 23 mm and a thickness of about 6 mm.

Radiator section assembly process

First of all, we prepare the curled surfaces of the sections. To do this, remove the paint from their ends: first scrape them off with a knife, then lightly sand them by hand with a sanding disc.

We lay the sections on a flat horizontal surface, connecting the parts to each other, taking into account that the left section will have a left-hand thread, and the right section will have a right-hand thread, which is repeated on the connecting nipple.
We put paronite gaskets (not paper!) on the connecting elements and twist them with one or two threads, for example, onto the left section with the left thread of the nipple at the top and bottom.

Then we move the right side of the radiator close to the free sides of the nipples and pass the nipple wrench through it until the working part of the tool enters the nipple, which is designed to connect the two sections, and grabs the oppositely placed protrusions inside the connecting element.

Alternately tighten the upper and lower nipples, making sure that both threaded connections are captured. If this does not work, then you need to start twisting again. The fact that the process is proceeding as expected is signaled by a gradual decrease in the gap between the sections.

Before final tightening of the connection, it is necessary to adjust the gasket with your fingers so that it is positioned symmetrically relative to the nipple being tightened. For final tightening, use a wrench.

If we assembled the two parts correctly, then the gap between them will be exactly the same in width as between the other sections, and no one will guess that the battery is assembled from two halves or several sections have been added.