In a 1925 home, a determined homeowner took on what many saw as a hopeless cause: reviving a rusted, century-old bathtub. When they first shared their plans on Reddit five years ago, the response was nearly unanimous—ditch it. But removing a 300-pound cast iron tub wasn’t just impractical; it felt wrong. Stubbornness, a shoestring budget, and a love of old things fueled what became a remarkable transformation.
Stripping Back the Years
The first step? Undo decades of neglect. Using Citristrip, the homeowner removed three layers of latex paint, revealing the original lead-based coat beneath. That required a specialized lead remover—an $80 splurge. With the help of a friend, the heavy tub was flipped to access the underside, where patches of rust were filled with auto body filler. Then came the finishing touch: a layer of epoxy boat paint, chosen for its durability and already on hand from another project.
Even the claw feet got a second chance. Sawed off at some point in the tub’s history, they were cleaned, treated with rust neutralizer and clear coat, and finally reattached using JB Weld.
Mixing Old Charm with New Ideas
To complete the revival, the homeowner installed new plumbing fixtures and freestanding supply lines—one of the few parts handled by a professional plumber. A hand shower was added, cleverly mounted to a window bracket, and the curtain now runs on a hospital-style ceiling track rather than a typical hoop, giving the space a sleek, functional edge.
Flooring scraps left over from a kitchen project found new life in the bathroom, and the custom-mixed paint—blended from odds and ends during the pandemic in April 2020—adds a unique touch to the walls. The entire project cost just $400, with most of that going toward hardware and plumbing.
From Rust Bucket to Showpiece
Now fully restored, the bathtub gleams—a proud centerpiece in a room once written off as dated and dreary. Comments poured in from the r/centuryhomes community: “It’s gorgeous!” “Spite projects are the best!” and “This makes me want to tackle my own tub!”
A Testament to Grit and Imagination
For the homeowner, this wasn’t just about a tub—it was about reclaiming history, one stubborn step at a time. What began as a “stupid backbreaking” task is now a daily reminder that even century-old cast iron can shine again, with just enough patience, ingenuity, and grit.
