subject: The Proper Way of Refurbishing and Restoring Antique Stove [print this page] The Proper Way of Refurbishing and Restoring Antique Stove
In the past antique stoves is only a furniture in every American home until it vanished from the scene because of the coming of advance heat sources such as electricity and gas. These antique stove has made its major comeback when these wood stoves were refurbished and restored properly, they are priceless because of their historic and decorative design. So in case you have seen one in a estate sale or garage sale, forgotten and rusted now is the best time to restore these wood stoves and return it to life again.
Before undergoing restoration make sure that you photograph it until the end so that you have a compilation of how the antique stove was reconditioned. These photos will be your reference to help you as you put back the parts together again.
Here are simple steps on restoring and refurbishing your antique stove:
It is important that your eyes are protected so you need a goggle and dust mask. Then start removing the removable areas of the stove like the chrome inserts, doors and the top stove plate. You removed the doors easily by raising the cotter pins on the pivot straight up and then lift the doors off.
Using a mild soap and a scrub brush clean the stove. To do overall cleaning use a medium sized scrub, followed by smaller brush to cleanse the detailed parts. Clean the stove from the interior and outside and let it dry completely.
Take the chrome or nickle parts to a chrome plater professional and have them replated.
Removed the accumulated rust by brushing the areas with rust. You don't have to completely removed the rust, just brush it so that the whole area is evenly fair for the stove blackening.
Using the steel wool to scrub the separated parts and stoves. Make use of the fine bristled steel brush to eliminate any rust that remain in the area.
With the use of towel and stove cement fix any medium or small sized cracks. In case of bigger holes or cracks in the stove barrel, bring the stove to the welder and have the cast iron sealed and blazed.
Check the antique stove grates to asses if it is still functioning. Repair using stove cement if needed or replace it with reproduction parts which is available on online antique stove part distributors.
Apply the stove black paint on the outside of the wood stoves, make sure to complete all the low relief specified parts. Let it dry and put a second coating for a deeper black area colouring. Let it dry overnight.
Over the black paint put a coat of stove polish. Make sure that you will be using a soft cloth in polishing the entire area. Do it until you get a bright shine, particularly to the upper relief parts.
Put the wood stoves together again. For the chrome parts make sure that it was done properly and reinstall the parts to the antique stove. Put up some fire on the stove and let it burn so that the polish and black paint will cure and will become permanent.
