hello
Would love to have this oven going, as the chimney and flue are safe. As you can see from pics there is some rust. Aside from a wire brush, what is the best way to clean and give it some love without pulling it out to have it professionally restored.
Hi @mellis,
What a beauty of a woodfired stove. I've only seen a similar one once in my life while on a farm stay with a group of friends. It would be fantastic to see it restored to its former glory.
To start with, due to the age of the stove, I'd suggest it is likely worthwhile having it tested for lead, just to be safe. The metal itself is unlikely to contain lead, however there is some potential that coatings containing lead may have been applied in the past. It is always better to be safe than sorry in a situation like this.
Now, being a vintage piece, I'd be taking a very cautious approach to things. Being cast iron, starting with a wire brush is definitely the way to go. This should help to remove the majority of the larger flaky rust.
You could then use some steel wool or fine sandpaper to help remove the finer stuff. I'd suggest wearing a mask, gloves and eye protection while doing this just to be safe.
You can then use a rag with some methylated spirits to wipe down the surface and remove any dust or contaminants left on the surface.
I'd then suggest applying a very light coating of a high-smoke point oil such as canola oil to the surface of the cast iron to help give it a bit of a shine and protect the metal from oxidation.
This should be a good starting point for your cast iron stove.
Allow me to tag some of our helpful members to see what they'd do - @Noyade, @Dave-1, @TedBear.
Jacob
I grew up with one and my job was chopping wood for it. It also heated water for baths/showers - hence for a while you still needed it fired up in summer, until dad installed a supplementary electric water heater.
All as per @JacobZ - plus I'd be buying a cheap burnisher with wire/abrasive wheels that will work wonders on flat surfaces. Looking forward to the finished product.
Cheers!
Good Afternoon @mellis
A wire brush is the main tool I would be using as well :) Slow and steady ill get you there. A drill mounted brush would also work but due to its age I would take it very easy if you go that route. I am not sure what I would use to paint/coat it afterwards but would go with the suggestions already made.
Dave
Thank you all, looking forward to getting stuck in to it.
