https://stream.echo6.co/videos/watch/d948b96c-ebde-4035-b5ca-5e4769789d4a This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to save an old, but elegant, cast-iron bathtub. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse Cost: About $400 to $600 Time: 4 to 6 hours Difficulty: Hard. This is a job best left to a professional tub refinisher Steps: If the outside of the tub has been painted, use a paintbrush to apply a thick coat of paint stripper to the surface., Once the stripper has softened the paint, scrape off the paint and stripper using a 3-inch-wide putty knife., While wearing a dual-cartridge respirator, brush a thin coat of hydrofluoric acid over the entire interior of the tub. The acid will etch the surface, ensuring a good bond with the new epoxy finish., While waiting for the acid to etch the tub, use small files, dental picks and sandpaper to clean all paint and grime from the tub's claw feet., About 30 minutes after applying the hydrofluoric acid, scrub clean the interior of the tub with lots of water and paper towels., Repair chipped enamel by first using a rotary tool fitted with a grinding stone to grind away any black carbon stains and to rough up the enamel around the perimeter of the damaged area., Wipe the repair clean of all dust, and then fill the chipped area with auto-body filler., Allow the filler to harden, then sand it smooth with 220-grit sandpaper, followed by 320-grit sandpaper., Use a high-velocity, low-pressure (HVLP) paint sprayer to apply three coats of epoxy primer to the interior and exterior surfaces of the tub. Wait for the primer to dry completely before proceeding., Use the HVLP sprayer to apply an epoxy topcoat to the interior and exterior of the tub. Allow the epoxy to fully cure before moving the tub or installing the faucet, spout and other hardware., About This Old House TV: This Old House is America's first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes—one step at a time—featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information, so that whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you'll know the right way to do things and the right questions to ask. Our experts Norm Abram, Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey, Roger Cook and host Kevin O'Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://bit.ly/34RYEP5 Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite How to Refinish a Claw-Foot Tub | This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:41:22 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://stream.echo6.co https://stream.echo6.co/client/assets/images/icons/icon-512x512.png https://stream.echo6.co/videos/watch/d948b96c-ebde-4035-b5ca-5e4769789d4a All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://stream.echo6.co/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.