How to Refinish a Cast-Iron Heat Stove

A cast-iron stove can add elegance to a room.

Cast-iron wood-burning stoves have the potential to add a touch of antique class to a kitchen or living room, either in a suburban home or a rustic cabin. A sensible way of acquiring such a stove if you are on a budget is by buying a discarded one. Given their simple, sturdy cast-iron construction, there will be no question about the stove being in good working order. Still, stoves of this kind will certainly be rusty and require substantial refinishing.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Chisel
• Wire brush
• Medium- and rough-grit sandpaper
• Hand sanding block
• Stove and fireplace cement
• Pail
• Putty knife or small mason's trowel
• Power hand sander
• Old rags

Instructions

1. Chisel away the cement that is used to seal the seams on the stoves. Use light taps from the hammer and take your time. Your chisel is harder than the cast iron of the stove. Strong blows could cut the iron.

2. Remove any cement that cannot be chiseled away with a wire brush and a hand sanding block using medium-grit sandpaper.

3. Mix a batch of stove and fireplace cement in a pail, following the manufacturer's directions regarding how much water to use. Apply the new cement to the seams of the stove with a putty knife or small mason's trowel. Allow this to dry overnight.

4. Examine the rust on the stove and determine if the surface needs to be sanded. In some cases, the rust might have damaged the iron so severely that just polishing the iron will not return it to a smooth finish. In that case, use a power hand sander and rough-grit sandpaper to remove the rust. Even the surface out with medium-grit sandpaper. Wipe down the surface of the stove, inside and out, with a damp rag to remove dirt, cobwebs and other debris.

5. Apply at least one coat of stove polish using a fresh damp rag. A stove with a lot of surface rust may require two or even three coats. Smear a big dab of polish on the rag and slowly rub it into the surface of the iron, taking care to get into all the crevices.

6. Allow the stove polish to dry for at least four hours. Overnight is preferable. Then buff the stove to a fine finish with a fresh rag.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use regular cement to seal up your cast-iron stove. It is not treated to handle the intense heat the stove will generate. It will crumble away, leaving the seals exposed and creating a fire hazard.

References

• eRummage.info: How to Restore a Wood Burning Stove
• Mother Earth News: Antique Stove Wood-Burner Restoration