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  1. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    So I have an opportunity to get a 2003 EnviroFire Windsor for free. It has sat outdoors on a porch, under a tarp for several years and last year for a period of time, it was uncovered. The stove was not working, but physically in good condition when they got it. And that's the good news. The bad news is that the hopper has about a quart of rusty water sitting in it. The burnpot it rusty, but looks like it would clean up.

    My voices are saying pass on this one, but I hate to see a good stove head to the scrap heap. How say ye on this stove?
    #1

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  2. smwilliamson Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 28, 2009
    2,721 posts
    Southcoast, MA
    Do it! Do it! Do it!

    The Windsor is a fantastic little stove. Strip that baby down and rebuilt her. This is one of those stoves that you'll get and with a little elbow grease, that stove will go another 20 years....

    or...get it running and sell it off for $500 for a quick sale.

    Summer is coming and you of all people need a good ole project to take up some garage space. :lol:

    You have 5 months. What else are you going to? Besides, you can come here and share the rebuild pics.
  3. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    You haven't see our gardens or greenhouse. We are super busy during the summer. This would have to be a late fall project I think. My greatest concern is with water in/on the motors and control panel. I certainly am not looking for a money pit here. If I can get it running it would be for the greenhouse or for sale. But I would not sell it unless I knew it was working well.
  4. smwilliamson Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 28, 2009
    2,721 posts
    Southcoast, MA
    You may be surprised. Electrical stuff dries out. My phone falls into the sink or the toilet all the time. Always bounces back.

    Get the stove into a dry place like the green house. Remove the auger feed assembly and put it in the hopper to dry out. Maybe stick a kid on over the summer and see if they are able to do it. Kind of how I started, there's good money in repair and rebuilding if you find the right stove. I think you have.

    I can source after market parts for you, should you need anything. Things to consider...the Windsor is not made anymore or supported with parts. Any parts for that stove will be Empress parts. The basics will swap over no problem. Maybe a little tweaking. But that's why it is a project.
  5. BrotherBart He Who Moderates

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    21,941 posts
    Northern Virginia
    Remind me to never ask to use your phone. :lol:
  6. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    :lol: LOL :lol:, sounds like this is a potty line.
  7. doghouse Member

    joined: Dec 9, 2008
    165 posts
    maine
    Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  8. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    At my age you start wondering about hernias gained. :)
  9. imacman Minister of Fire

    Since it's free, I'd say take it, and fool with it in your spare time. If it looks like it will need a lot of $$ to get it in burning condition, then sell it for scrap.
  10. bogydave Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 4, 2009
    7,769 posts
    So Cent ALASKA
    For years I found it hard to pass up free stuff.
    I've spent 100s of $$ hauling stuff to the dump that I had good intentions to fix or re-build.
    Took me a week to get rid of junk to have room to build the wood shed.
    If it's a passion & you want to , great. But if it's just hard to pass up & your not sure, I'd pass.
    But if you need a project, sounds like allot of time & part & shopping for part. Might be fun.
    Unless you have room to store it a few years then decide, get motivated to do it or have time.
    I'm way to busy with my current stuff & the "honey do" list to add to it. (I'm learning free means spend money some how)
  11. Mt Ski Bum Member

    joined: Feb 23, 2011
    507 posts
    Big Sky, Montana
    Never pass up on a free stove! If it's free, you have nothing to lose! :lol:
  12. DexterDay Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 11, 2010
    9,055 posts
    NE Ohio
    X2.. BeGreen, Grab it.... May just need a lil TLC in the fall.
  13. Fsappo New Member

    joined: Apr 9, 2008
    3,551 posts
    Central NY
    Do eeeet, do eeet now! Get in the choppa!
  14. CygnusX1 Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 5, 2008
    303 posts
    Central MA
    Hey, for free, what's the worst that could happen?

    Be a good learning experience by working on it
  15. Snowy Rivers Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 7, 2010
    1,240 posts
    NW Oregon
    I would say this.

    Get it, take it all apart right down to the bare bones.

    Remove the motors and electrical panel and get them into a nice warm place.

    Clean the hopper well and then coat it with a rust kill product like "Rust Mort"

    Once the motors are dried well, check them out separately to make sure they work right.

    With the motors inside the cabinet, they should be fine.

    The wiring will do fine unless rodents got in and chewed on it.

    Solid state controllers are pretty tough. Just be sure the controller dries out good before you put the power to it.

    Repaint the cabinet if need be.

    What a deal.

    Good luck

    Snowy
  16. zrtmatos Member

    joined: Nov 26, 2012
    158 posts
    Connecticut
    So did you ever work on this stove?

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