How to Restore Old Cast Iron Wood Cook Stoves
An antique cast iron cook stove will give any home a sense of rustic, old-world charm. Neglected or orphaned stoves will inevitably be covered in rust, but can be affordably restored on your own for installation in your home. A restored stove can be used for heating and cooling, or it can be simply an object displayed in the interest of history. Always inspect a stove for cracks or for rust that has eaten through the iron before acquiring it for restoration. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Metal polish
- #0000 steel wool
- Wire brush
- White vinegar
- Bathroom tub and tile cleaner
- Replacement bolts
Instructions
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1
Unbolt and remove any removable trim from the stove. Clean and polish brass, copper, or nickel trim with metal polish and #0000 steel wool. If the trim is riveted, remove the rivets with a hammer and chisel.
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2
Remove the rust from the stove. Remove light rust by scrubbing it away with a wire brush and white vinegar. A wire brush drill bit can be attached to a drill to accelerate the process. Have your stove sandblasted with carborundum or have it stripped by an auto stripper if the rusting is too extensive to remove by hand. If your stove has any ceramic parts, it cannot be sandblasted or stripped.
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3
Clean any ceramic parts with a bathroom tile cleaner.
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4
Apply an even layer of stove polish to the entire stove and allow it to sit according to the instructions on the bottle. Wipe and buff the polish after it has been allowed to sit, and apply a second coat. Leave the polish to sit again and then give the stove a final wipe and buff.
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5
Re-attach all trim, replacing the original bolts. Also replace rivets with bolts.
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6
Burn-off your stove after installing and before using. Open all of your windows and doors and turn on fans. Light a fire in the stove. The residual wax from the polish will emit a dark smoke. Step outside or wear a mask to prevent breathing in the smoke. Allow the fire to burn until the smoke ceases.
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