Restoring My Wehrle 112 Acme Sunburst Baseburner

 
jubileejerry
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Baseburners & Antiques: Wehrle Acme Sunburst 112, Hot Blast wood/coal burner

Post by jubileejerry » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 12:28 am

Lightning wrote:Jerry, what a master piece! I'm curious about the reaction that people have, that have never seen anything like that before. That is, after they pick their jaw back up off the floor.. :lol:
I'm getting some people in the door who have heard about it and want to see it working. One guy even mentioned he couldn't see any smoke out of the chimney when he drove in but remembered I told him Anthracite doesn't smoke so he came in anyway because it was a cool day and he figured I must have it going. In general people really like it. Some have their problems on their minds and looking at an old stove is not on the schedule, or they just don't care about such things.

 
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Post by coalnewbie » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 6:32 am

Jerry Masterful! I just wish I had the patience to restore my Red Cross Garnet 48 to that standard. One thing that I notice with the mica stoves is that the radiation power is greater through mica windows. You say you can feel the radiating power 30' away and I agree. It warms old bones like nothing else.

 
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Sunny Boy
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Post by Sunny Boy » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 6:45 am

coalnewbie wrote:Jerry Masterful! I just wish I had the patience to restore my Red Cross Garnet 48 to that standard. One thing that I notice with the mica stoves is that the radiation power is greater through mica windows. You say you can feel the radiating power 30' away and I agree. It warms old bones like nothing else.
I think the shape of the reflectors in that nickel plated bonnet must contribute to that, too. I think it would be interesting to see what that stove looks like when viewed with a thermal imaging camera.

It sure looks terrific with a regular camera !!!!

Paul

 
coalnewbie
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Coal Size/Type: Rice,
Other Heating: Heating Oil CH, Toyotomi OM 22

Post by coalnewbie » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 7:15 am

I think I need to practice starting the fire to avoid soothing the mica. After the coals were going good there wasn't any more soot.
Unless you are very careful, wood is a disaster with those stoves. William has gone as far as to say it destroys them. I start mine with a full bag of plain charcoal brickettes and get it really roaring then add coal and then fill up the hopper. No window soot ever. I have two really hard winters with mine and at times that stove was flat out. The radiating power was awesome but metal parts of the stove did not get that hot - all the heat just radiates away. I do clean the windows from time to time as you suggest. Now I am getting ready for my third winter and all the windows are perfect. There is mica and mica. A thick Brazilian source is best I have found. My theory is that reported mica stove problems is inferior mica or lack of care or allowing wood to come within a 1000 miles of that stove. Wood is for making furniture if you own a mica stove. Jerry you are inspiring me to make a video of mine running flat out --- the bad news is it's nearly a December morning and it's 55*. Where the hell is winter, I urgently need a stove fix. The cat is pi$$ed off.


 
jubileejerry
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Post by jubileejerry » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 7:46 am

coalnewbie wrote:
I think I need to practice starting the fire to avoid soothing the mica. After the coals were going good there wasn't any more soot.
Unless you are very careful, wood is a disaster with those stoves. William has gone as far as to say it destroys them. I start mine with a full bag of plain charcoal brickettes and get it really roaring then add coal and then fill up the hopper. No window soot ever. I have two really hard winters with mine and at times that stove was flat out. The radiating power was awesome but metal parts of the stove did not get that hot - all the heat just radiates away. I do clean the windows from time to time as you suggest. Now I am getting ready for my third winter and all the windows are perfect. There is mica and mica. A thick Brazilian source is best I have found. My theory is that reported mica stove problems is inferior mica or lack of care or allowing wood to come within a 1000 miles of that stove. Wood is for making furniture if you own a mica stove. Jerry you are inspiring me to make a video of mine running flat out --- the bad news is it's nearly a December morning and it's 55*. Where the hell is winter, I urgently need a stove fix. The cat is pi$$ed off.
William told me that the first time I came on the forum. I've never put wood in it, but have learned to use a charcoal starter that looks like a piece of chimney with a handle on it. I use an electric charcoal starter instead of lighter fluid so I don't cause soot that way either. After the charcoal has turned white I add some coal until I get it all cooking. I found it even helps to put an 18" piece of black stove pipe on top of the charcoal starter to make an even better draft through the hot coals. Once it's all going, I pour it in the Wehrle. After my fire is established, whenever I shake it down or add new coal I take it out of baseburner mode and open all the doors. That helps keep the dust from collecting on the mica. I got mine from India. I'd be interested in knowing what company you found in Brazil. Mine is all smoke-colored, but I like that. It's .007" thick but really clear.

 
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Photog200
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Post by Photog200 » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 9:16 am

Very beautiful stove and you did an awesome job of bringing it back to life. Thank you for sharing the video, it was awesome to see the stove in action.

Randy

 
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Post by coalnewbie » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 9:34 am

I use an electric charcoal starter instead of lighter fluid so I don't cause soot that way either
Lighter fluid is low M Wt HCs and smokes bad but starter gel does not. I will try to get you the info on the Brazilian source but you seem to have found a superior product already. If I had to point to a weakness of my mica stove I would have to say the ability to run super low in the shoulder season. So right now my Our Glenwood No 9 is just ticking over in the dining room. When I start mine I had better mean it as it chucks out an unbelievable amount of heat. I just love watching it burn.

 
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Post by nortcan » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 5:31 pm

Very nice video thanks for sharing it on the forum.
You made a wonderful job on the restoration plus you did come back to show us the result and it's super. Too many times someone comes on the forum with a lots of ideas, questions.....about an antique stove and about the restoration of it and then no more post from them....Gone with the wind ;)


 
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Post by Sunny Boy » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 6:44 pm

nortcan wrote:Very nice video thanks for sharing it on the forum.
You made a wonderful job on the restoration plus you did come back to show us the result and it's super. Too many times someone comes on the forum with a lots of ideas, questions.....about an antique stove and about the restoration of it and then no more post from them....Gone with the wind ;)
Maybe they didn't follow advice closely enough and the stove restoration didn't turn out as well as that Wehrle and your stoves, Andre.

If only it was easy to do as beautiful a job of restoring them as you two did, there might be more of them willing to show how well it turned out. ;)

Paul

 
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Post by scalabro » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 7:18 pm

Matchlight or its equivalent is the only way to fly. Zero soot & I can have a full 40 lb load of stove size going full tilt in under an hour.

 
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Post by joeq » Sat. Nov. 28, 2015 8:19 pm

I'll 2nd that. :)

 
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Post by Hoytman » Wed. Feb. 01, 2017 2:19 pm

wsherrick wrote:Beautiful, magnificent, exquisite!! What other words can describe how this stove turned out.
The best part about it is that it is doing what it was made to do.
I think it is also neat that it is in a public space. What an educational tool on many different levels. It exposes people to coal heat, history, base burners and discussions about their design and operation.
What an eye opener for the average uninformed Joe.
Amen brother William!!! Every word you posted!

This is exactly the type of information I've been looking for. Thank God for people so thorough and willing to share their knowledge. I just wished I had someone as thorough, interested, and talented that lived closer to me with whom I could learn from and share this new found interest.

I still want a Glenwood...but I'd like to find a stove like that to re-store it to its former glory. That would be a great project for my son and dad to help me on. A nice ol' Favorite perhaps...since they were built within an hour of my home...that would compliment a few of my skillets.

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