Shaker repair

Hi all, just found this forum looks great! I'll try to make a long story short. I have been living in this house for about 12 years and the old "Ideal Vecto Heator" made by American Radiator Co. was in the laundry room in basement and it being so heavy I never took it to the dump. I'm glad I didn't cause I cleaned it up and using it burning wood/biobricks. I'd like to fire it up with coal but the middle shaker is broke in two, its triangular in shape the two other shakers shake down ok, middle one I position it ok for wood burning. Where could I get it repaired or replaced? I tried a coal stove dealer, stove is so old maker probably out of business. Also what size coal recommended, fire box is about 12x12 by 7 deep inches, 6 inch pipe to 7 inch masonary flue, draft is real good. Any hel greatly appreciated.

These guys might be able to help, you might just have to find someone to weld something up or re-design it for for a newer type shaker grate more readily available....

http://www.stovepartsplus.com/

I weld cast iron just about everday at work and think if you found a good local welder you could get that fixed no problem. If he doesnt like welding cast tell him to use MG-289 rod, its really easy and doesnt require alot of extra effort. Good luck. Jim

Thanks for the replies, I checked the store site and sent them an e-mail also thanks for the welding tip I didn't know you could weld cast iron, I guess the type of coal is probably preference/experience/etc. Tks. Rick aka sigs48

Your stove probably is a pre-1950 unit. American Radiator Company merged with Standard Sanitary to become "American-Standard", a company still around today. I doubt you would be able to get new replacement parts for it, but the grate can be welded.

http://www.americanstandard.com/CompanyHistory.asp

Welding cast iron is not difficult, welding a shaker grate to last is a little different story. The grate and piece you are welding should be brought up to about 800* and welded at that temperature. It should be allowed to very cool slowly too.

As to coal size: probably nut, maybe pea. Get a few bags of each and experiment.

Once you find you can burn coal properly in the stove, read some of the posts on barometric dampers. A stove in the cellar has a lot of chimney above it, therefore good draft as you mentioned. It's probably too much draft for coal, so between now and next heating season install a good quality baro. Field Controls model RC is the one most forum members use.

woodcoal thanks for the history on the stove I was wondering about that I was thinking around 20's or 30's
coaledsweat I was thinking that- will a weld hold up to a coal fire, thanks for 800 degree suggestion
rberq thanks for size info I'm finding this forum has alot alot of info!!

sigs48 wrote:woodcoal thanks for the history on the stove I was wondering about that I was thinking around 20's or 30's
coaledsweat I was thinking that- will a weld hold up to a coal fire, thanks for 800 degree suggestion
rberq thanks for size info I'm finding this forum has alot alot of info!!

Cast is very hard and expands and contracts differently than steel. There is also a linear grain in steel (similar to wood) which gives it some flexibility. Cast has a grain like a sand castle and will not bend without cracking. If you don't heat the whole thing up, when you weld it, the cooler mass will draw the heat from the weld very quickly and create a very brittle spot where the weld meets the casting. By heating it up, the weld cools at about the same rate as everything else, very slowly allowing the welded area some additional strength.

Roger that coaledsweat tks

I took a casting to an 'old-timer' welder a few years back... He set the casting in front of a kerosene 'salamander' heater, when the casting was a dull red, he pulled it out and welded it, then put it back in the flame of the kerosene heater, for about another 30 minutes or so,, it seemed to me that he wanted the bright red from the weld to become dull red like the rest of the casting... Then he slowly moved the casting away from the heat,, about 8" at first, 15 minutes later about 12-14", then later about 24", then eventually let it get to 'room temp'..

That weld never broke... Not an easy process, but it works...

Greg L

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Thanks Lsfarm I have a local sheetmetal worker who did some work (this stove) for me I'll contact him , let you all know how I make out, hopefully be ready for next winter or the rest of this one the way its going.