The walls fell off my fire pot

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bluesmama4322
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Pittston stove

Post by bluesmama4322 » Sun. Oct. 13, 2019 7:05 pm

I have an old Pittston Stove, probably from the 20's? The walls of the fire pot had gotten slag-like stuff attached to them, and mostly I was able to chip it off. But suddenly this fall the entire wall on one side just cracked and fell right into the grates.

I attached some photos, one of the whole thing, one of the side that's just bare metal now, and one of the other side where the walls are still attached.

So can I still burn in this stove? Right now it's only wood, because you're just trying to "take the edge off" but come late November, I'll need to get the coal really burning to heat the downstairs.

And if I can't is it repairable?

Thanks everybody.
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bluesmama4322
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Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Pittston stove

Post by bluesmama4322 » Sun. Oct. 13, 2019 9:14 pm

Update: I'm told what I thought were the "walls" are fire bricks. I guess they all crack and fall eventually? Anyway I guess my question has now become, "Where can I get fire bricks for an old Pittston Stove?"

Thanks again y'all!

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Sun. Oct. 13, 2019 9:25 pm

Just go to a mason supply and ask for split firebrick.
Tractor Supply might have some also.


 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Mon. Oct. 14, 2019 6:18 am

Yes, the fireclay bricks for ranges eventually crack - enough that without a bed of coal to hold them in place, pieces can fallout. Sometimes the pieces can be glued back together using refractory cement. Then patch over the cracks with a coating of the same cement and smoothed with wet fingers.

Many range firebricks were not as thick as fire bricks sold for relining heating stove fireboxes. The original bricks were usually cast in molds to be about 3/4 to 1 inch thick. If you use bricks that are too thick then that doesn't leave as much room for coal in fireboxes that are already on the small side. Might not hold enough firebed to burn through the night, or produce enough heat volume to get high oven temps.

You can reline the firebox with "ram-set" type refractory cement. It's about the consistency of modeling clay and slightly sticky. You roll it out in sheets about 3/4 inch thick, using a rolling pin. Then cut it to shape with a knife and stick it to the cleaned walls of the firebox. Follow the directions for drying and slowly heat curing in place.

Some of this is also covered in the "Cookin" With Coal" thread.

Cookin' With Coal

Forum member "wilsonswoodstoves" (Wilson Mull 508-763-8942) has many old wooden firebrick molds he bought out from a company that cast replacement firebricks. He may have the molds for your range,.... or ones from another model range that are close enough to grind to fit???

Paul
Last edited by Sunny Boy on Mon. Oct. 14, 2019 8:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Post by mntbugy » Mon. Oct. 14, 2019 7:57 am

Call the number below. Ask if anyone is near you. You want Noxram AS45.

Do as SunnyBoy says above.

https://www.nockandson.com/

 
charlesosborne2002
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Post by charlesosborne2002 » Mon. Oct. 14, 2019 10:11 pm

franco b wrote:
Sun. Oct. 13, 2019 9:25 pm
Just go to a mason supply and ask for split firebrick.
Tractor Supply might have some also.
Yes TSC carries them, but not at my store--you can order them online.
Once you look online you will see many sources. Most are rated for 2100 degrees, but I got some at Amazon rated for 2800 degrees, and they were cheaper.


 
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Post by charlesosborne2002 » Mon. Oct. 14, 2019 10:16 pm

bluesmama4322 wrote:
Sun. Oct. 13, 2019 7:05 pm
I have an old Pittston Stove, probably from the 20's? The walls of the fire pot had gotten slag-like stuff attached to them, and mostly I was able to chip it off. But suddenly this fall the entire wall on one side just cracked and fell right into the grates.

I attached some photos, one of the whole thing, one of the side that's just bare metal now, and one of the other side where the walls are still attached.

So can I still burn in this stove? Right now it's only wood, because you're just trying to "take the edge off" but come late November, I'll need to get the coal really burning to heat the downstairs.

And if I can't is it repairable?

Thanks everybody.

20191013_185134.jpg20191013_185155.jpg20191013_190015.jpg20191013_185116.jpg
Has anybody ever used ceramic blanket material rather than bricks?

CM-Ceramics 24" X 12" X 1" 2400 F Ceramic Fiber Insulation 8 Pound Morgan Ceramics and Knife USA

https://www.amazon.com/CM-Ceramics-Ceramic-Insula ... B015GD0QCW

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Mon. Oct. 14, 2019 10:24 pm

Ceramic blanket is only good where there is no abrasion, as there would be with coal. It would be excellent as part of a baffle to reflect heat back into the fire.

 
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Post by Sunny Boy » Tue. Oct. 15, 2019 8:07 am

Yup, the ceramic blanket material is more like the consistency of quilt batting. As Franco pointed out, coal will shred it very quickly.

Where does work well is,.... I used it with my range only as the filler inside a heat shield box I made for the back side of the range so I could put the range closer to a kitchen wall and save some floor space.

Paul

 
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Post by Pauliewog » Thu. Oct. 17, 2019 9:29 pm

bluesmama4322 wrote:
Sun. Oct. 13, 2019 7:05 pm
I have an old Pittston Stove, probably from the 20's? The walls of the fire pot had gotten slag-like stuff attached to them, and mostly I was able to chip it off. But suddenly this fall the entire wall on one side just cracked and fell right into the grates.

I attached some photos, one of the whole thing, one of the side that's just bare metal now, and one of the other side where the walls are still attached.

So can I still burn in this stove? Right now it's only wood, because you're just trying to "take the edge off" but come late November, I'll need to get the coal really burning to heat the downstairs.

And if I can't is it repairable?

Thanks everybody.

20191013_185134.jpg20191013_185155.jpg20191013_190015.jpg20191013_185116.jpg
Your stove looks like a Pittston 904. Where abouts are you located?

Paulie

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