After spending last Sunday sanding and wire wheeling the rust off of old stove parts, I think I'm just about ready to start reassembly. I should be happy about this, but I'm actually dreading it. When I took it apart last spring, I put all the hardware into little labeled baggies and took photos of how things were put together. Yet somehow, about a year later, none of it looks familiar. I feel like I'm reading a map in a foreign language. I'm sure it will come together fine, especially since I have a very detailed service manual and great directions from someone who has done this before, but I'm still feeling very intimidated.
My only two remaining tasks for the stove are to disassemble, clean, and reassemble the broiler box and Thermowell. The Thermowell will be easy. The broiler box has lots of moving parts. Sigh.
If I can escape from work a little early tomorrow, I'm going to take the stovetop and handles to a plating shop to be rechromed. I'm really excited about this part, since it will provide the most visual impact to the finished stove. I'm a little nervouns about entrusting my precious stoveparts to a stranger, but it seems they're the only local plating shop that does a show-quality chrome finish. I'll definitely need to see some examples of their work before I turn over my stovetop.
I also plan on shipping out my stove burner heads, drip pans, and burner grates to IPE in Missouri tomorrow. Turnaround time is currently around 2 weeks, which gives me enough time to get the rest of the stove in order. Hopefully.
And, last but not least, John the handyman is coming over tomorrow to frame our "new" wall. We're closing off where the PPOs opened the hall closet into the office. So, no more dysfunctional closet after tomorrow! Yipee! By the time I get home from work tomorrow afternoon, he should be finished. How cool is that? I still feel like I'm cheating when other people work on my house, but I'm evem more excited that the stuff is getting done. Sometimes DIY is less important that just being finished with the stupid project already. I'm sure that those of you who have had projects drag on (and on... and on...) can relate.
Pictures to come!
3 comments:
the Glad John is making it over. What a difference that will make. Now just get the drywall hung and get the skimcoater over and it's all downhill.
Sorry to comment on an old post, Di, but I just bought a vintage Chambers myself and I'm looking for tips. Would you mind posting or emailing any resources that have been helpful to your restoration work?
Josh - I can't find the e-copy of the order of tasks in the restoration, but I'm almost positive it came from somewhere on the message boards at this site: http://www.chamberstoves.net You can also get the service manual there. I downloaded a copy from another Chamber site.
I hope your restoration moves along faster than mine. My stove is still in pieces in the garage. Having a baby kinda threw a wrench into my restoration work!
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