How can I fix a crack on the top of my wood cookstove?

[Astrid]

I have an old Waterford Stanley wood cookstove. Unfortunately it has a 6" crack on the top of it. It has been "welded" but the crack has buckled since then. When I light a fire in it, it doesn't really smoke because the seal is pretty good, but I'm kind of nervous using it a lot.
Has anyone ever repaired a wood cookstove and if so, what is the best way to do it? Would it be better to replace the top?

[poorboy]

I've patched old wood heating stoves using ashes mixed with salt and enough water to make a paste...seems to hold okay as long as you don't scrub or wash it..

[Bearfootfarm]

Drill a small hole at each end so the crack won't grow larger.

The only RIGHT way to fix it is have it welded

[Ross]

MIG or TIG welding should fix it.

[Txrider]

Originally Posted by Astrid

I have an old Waterford Stanley wood cookstove. Unfortunately it has a 6" crack on the top of it. It has been "welded" but the crack has buckled since then. When I light a fire in it, it doesn't really smoke because the seal is pretty good, but I'm kind of nervous using it a lot.
Has anyone ever repaired a wood cookstove and if so, what is the best way to do it? Would it be better to replace the top?

Might be easier to replace the top. Welding or brazing cast iron is a pretty much fine art especially on cast iron that may have embedded grease. Hard to get a good permanent repair that won't come back apart.

If you can find an old timer who can braze it or weld it and knows what he's doing it should repair well, but not many around these days.

[Old_Town]

I recently had a cast iron corn sheller welded. It repaired very well. The gentleman told me that old cast welded very well. He used MIG welder.

[taylorlambert]

Drill a hole at each end of the crack and grind out the bad weld. Then get a ton of fire wood to kepp it running over night. Build a fire in it and weld the crack up and keep the fire hot. while its hot take a ball peen hammer and peen the weld to stress reliev the weld. also put some dry sand in a pile on top of the weld a few inches deep. Then solwy let the fire down over night. Ive done this with alot of success after learning from some old timer welders

[Astrid]

Thanks for all the info. Do you know if Waterford Stanley makes replacement parts? I think they will be really expensive though.... I think the welding might make more sense.

[silverbackMP]

If it is cast you gotta find someone who REALLY knows how to weld cast. Takes a special rod to do it right and they've got to heat and cool the piece down exactly right.

I'd go for brazing.

[Old Vet]

Originally Posted by silverbackMP

If it is cast you gotta find someone who REALLY knows how to weld cast. Takes a special rod to do it right and they've got to heat and cool the piece down exactly right.

I'd go for brazing.

You can weld cast iron with Nickel rod or braise it. I like Nickel rod the best and do it the way that taylorlambert described. I have welded a lot of cast and that is the way I would do it.

[Txrider]

Originally Posted by silverbackMP

If it is cast you gotta find someone who REALLY knows how to weld cast. Takes a special rod to do it right and they've got to heat and cool the piece down exactly right.

I'd go for brazing.

I'd go for brazing as well, but mainly because I have the stuff to do it with.. The process is a bit more forgiving as well.

[Ken Scharabok]

I've had good success welding cast iron. I use both the oxy/ace torch and stainless steel welding rod. Heat the area to be welded to red with the torch. Then keep the torch on the end of the rod as it welds. As mentioned above, peen to lessen the tension and then cool weld down gradually. Some might liike to use a palm grinder to deepen the crack first. Always were safety goggles and tight fitting clothes when using any time of hand grinder or polisher. I also agree with drilling holes at both ends of the crack.

[o&itw]

It is not as "pretty" but cast iron seems to weld better with a stainless steel rod (wire).