Friend's Harman Mag Stoker Hopper Rotted Out

ad356 · Post by **ad356** » Sat. Oct. 31, 2015 9:25 pm

the guy that lives down the street has a mag stoker. apparently the stove is a 1997 year. the hopper is rotted out, it has holes in it and is pretty much un-usable. I told him he should go buy a replacement hopper. the price is over $300 and the guy is broke. is that the typical going price for that hopper. seems like allot of money for a sheet metal box. is this a typical problem? will my keystoker eventually do the same thing? is the keystoker hopper just as expensive? should I remove the hopper at the end of the burn season take it out in the garage and repaint the inside? mines not rusted badly but it has some surface rust. if I could do some maintence and prevent that from happening, well as they say a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sat. Oct. 31, 2015 10:01 pm

You betcha, at the end of each burning season--them thar stoves don't magically take care of themselves. Just ask your neighbor.

Stoker6268 · Post by **Stoker6268** » Sat. Oct. 31, 2015 10:06 pm

Think most rot out at some point. Mine was going on four years and starting to show serious signs of rust even though I took care of it. Got rid of it before it rusted through though.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sat. Oct. 31, 2015 10:08 pm

My hopper is original & stove was built in the 90's. Still in primo shape.

Stoker6268 · Post by **Stoker6268** » Sat. Oct. 31, 2015 10:24 pm

Think he's talking about the sheet metal hoppers that stokers use. Not the iron ones that we have an our Hitzer.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Nov. 01, 2015 5:19 am

Indeed S. I'm wonderin if a heavier hopper couldn't be made for thems with torches & such??

captcaper · Post by **captcaper** » Sun. Nov. 01, 2015 5:21 am

If I was him I'd sand it good..use epoxy and mat and or cloth made of epoxy and line the hopper. That would take any heat and get him back in business cheap. Easy to do as well.
I painted my 3 yr old Super Mag this past spring.. real good as I saw it coming.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Sun. Nov. 01, 2015 6:31 am

ad356 wrote:the hopper is rotted out, it has holes in it and is pretty much un-usable

Since $$ are an issue, depending how bad it is he could get some sheet metal and cut it to the shape of the hopper and screw those plates to the inside of his hopper to keep the coal from falling through the holes. I rehabbed a stove a few years ago with a holey hopper and I didn't want to spend the $ to replace it so I swapped the better hopper from my workshop stove and did the sheet metal to the bad one. I'm still using it in the workshop with no problems, same sheet metal band aid repair is in place. Before fastening the sheet metal he should clean it up best he can and put a coat of spray paint on it to delay the eventual complete rot out.

Or he could take it to a local sheet metal shop and see what they would charge to make up a replacement, I would bet it is a lot less than $300.

ad356 wrote:should I remove the hopper at the end of the burn season take it out in the garage and repaint the inside?

Yes, do this and it will last a lot longer. special attention to the throat area, inside and outside. That's where mine seems to show the most wear and tear.