Help With Hearthstone Phoenix 8612 Rebuild

[Handmade]

Hi,
My Name is Tim and I am new to both wood heat and this forum. First I will apologize in advance for a long post! I am a very mechanically inclined and can fabricate as well (mig, tig, arc and metal shaping). Over the past two years I have built a house with my own two hand with the intention of using wood to heat as much of the house as possible.

Fast forward to yesterday, I found a 2000 vintage Harthsone Phoenix 8612 for sale on CL. I meet the guy and purchased the stove for almost 1/8 of new asking. The stove has a couple of issues (questions included):

-The secondary air tubes and manifold were sitting in the main body of the stove when I got it along with some broken fire brick. I have seen the parts diagram and currently have the soap stove off the top of the stove. Can anyone provide a picture of the air secondary air tube and air manifold on a stove that is functional. I would help me a ton getting this back together. See link to parts diagram I am using: http://www.hearthstoneparts.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=8612

- The ceramic board that goes between the cast iron top and soap stone is n very poor condition. Is there a cheaper option than the replacement shown in the link above (parts 51 and 50)

-There was either a hi temp glue or mortar on the back of the fire bricks in my stove. What is that material and were do I purchase it?

- The stove has been sitting on a covered porch in northern Michigan for 2 weeks. Surface rust has started. I have downloaded the operation manual from hearthstone, they suggest stove paint. Is there any other coating the experienced members here use on their stoves? Seems like stove polish is a good option?

Thanks in advance for the help and patience.....

Tim

 

[begreen]

Welcome. I don't have this stove but perhaps this video will have an approximate view that will help. Otherwise I would start with your nearest Hearthstone dealer and look at stoves there. If you can, speak with their repair person who may be able to walk you through the process and may have good directions for replacing or repairing the secondary rack.


I'm not sure what cement they are using. It may be a refractory cement if it is white in color. I believe this stove should have soapstone inside, not conventional firebrick. Is that what you are seeing?

I wouldn't use stove polish. Wire brush down the rust, then use steel wool to smooth out the pits. Wipe with alcohol and paint with Forest Products Stove Brite paint. You might ask the Hearthstone dealer which color to use. A common stove color is metallic black.

 

[Handmade]

Welcome. I don't have this stove but perhaps this video will have an approximate view that will help. Otherwise I would start with your nearest Hearthstone dealer and look at stoves there. If you can, speak with their repair person who may be able to walk you through the process and may have good directions for replacing or repairing the secondary rack.


I'm not sure what cement they are using. It may be a refractory cement if it is white in color. I believe this stove should have soapstone inside, not conventional firebrick. Is that what you are seeing?

I wouldn't use stove polish. Wire brush down the rust, then use steel wool to smooth out the pits. Wipe with alcohol and paint with Forest Products Stove Brite paint. You might ask the Hearthstone dealer which color to use. A common stove color is metallic black.

begreen,
Thanks for the reply, I watched the video and it answered a handful of my questions. First, there was no baffle that came with the stove. I assume the previous owner discarded it for some reason. Secondly, the sides and top of the stove are obviously soap stone, did hearthstone intend this to be exposed to fire in the firebox? There were a number of additional pieces of fire bricks in the fire box of the stove when I got it, 6 in total not accounting for the bricks for the sides and back. Looking closer at the parts manual I am assuming that the soapstone is always in contact with the fire in the fire box? Fire brick is used to insulate the cast iron rear and bottom of the stove..... Someone please correct me if this assumption is incorrect! At this point I have the entire stove cleaned using a wire brush and steel wool. its prepped for stove paint.

My biggest hurtle is what insulates the stove above the secondary air tubes. I will contact hearthstone or a dealer tomorrow to hopefully get this information. This has turned into a bit of a puzzle, I guess a good challenge doesn't hurt.

Thanks for the advice,
Tim

 

[begreen]

Some stoves are all soapstone, but it looks like the Phoenix uses some firebrick. The baffle board that sits above the secondary tubes is c-cast ceramic board and an essential component.

 

[countybrown]

begreen,
Thanks for the reply, I watched the video and it answered a handful of my questions. First, there was no baffle that came with the stove. I assume the previous owner discarded it for some reason. Secondly, the sides and top of the stove are obviously soap stone, did hearthstone intend this to be exposed to fire in the firebox? There were a number of additional pieces of fire bricks in the fire box of the stove when I got it, 6 in total not accounting for the bricks for the sides and back. Looking closer at the parts manual I am assuming that the soapstone is always in contact with the fire in the fire box? Fire brick is used to insulate the cast iron rear and bottom of the stove..... Someone please correct me if this assumption is incorrect! At this point I have the entire stove cleaned using a wire brush and steel wool. its prepped for stove paint.

My biggest hurtle is what insulates the stove above the secondary air tubes. I will contact hearthstone or a dealer tomorrow to hopefully get this information. This has turned into a bit of a puzzle, I guess a good challenge doesn't hurt.

Thanks for the advice,
Tim

I own a Phoenix and love it. I will get you a number of pictures tomorrow of what the inside looks like. The entire inside is lined with fire brick like you mentioned. The baffle in the Phoenix is a bit different than it shows in the video and it also has a ceramic baffle blanket that goes on top. I just replaced the blanket in mine this year, and the dealer told me it should be done every 5 years or so. I have never had the secondary tubes out, but I will be sure to get pictures of their position when installed for your reference.

My Phoenix is a bit newer (2006ish), but I would assume they are very similar. Let me know if you have any other questions about the Phoenix and I will see what I can do to help you out.

 

[Polarbear]

I have the phoenix as well. The side soapstone is exposed to the fire. The back and bottom are covered with fire brick and there is a row of fire brick above the secondary tubes. Then there is a ceramic blanket above the firebrick. In our stove the ceramic blanket was in bad shape and has been removed. We ordered a new one from Brighton stone but never installed it. I'm interested in it's purpose and if it will make a difference in how our stove runs. If anyone can comment on that. I've never seen the ceramic boards so I can't comment on them, I'm not sure if they are above the firebrick or above the ceramic blanket.

 

[countybrown]

Not sure if you still need these pictures or not, but I took a few for you. Hopefully they will help you with your rebuild.

4 bricks on the bottom around the ash grate. 4 bricks in the back. None on the sides. 5 make up the baffle, plus the ceramic blanket.

The secondary tubes are tied into the "rack" that holds the baffle bricks in place. Never had the secondary system apart, so I'm not sure how it's held in place.

Hope these help. Let me know if you have any other Phoenix questions. Best of luck.

 

[countybrown]

Also, in regards to your question about the brick adhesive:

The only brick that are cemented in (that I know of) are the bottom 4. A few years ago, I noticed one of mine was no longer cemented down. I asked my dealer about this and he said it was no sweat. Apparently they are really only cemented in place for the purposes of shipping. He told me to just leave it be.

 

[Handmade]

Countrybrown,
That's is exactly what I needed. Those pics give me enough detail go complete the stove. I am thinking many of the firebrick that came with the stove are not original that threw me!

As for the ceramic blanket, they are not required foe operation according to tech support at harthstone.

So this is where I stand now. I wish I took before pics this stove cleaned up very nicely!

Thank you all for your help

Tim

 

[countybrown]

Great news. Be sure to post pictures when you get it finished and installed. I'm sure you will enjoy the stove!

 

[begreen]

The blanket may not be required but it should improve burn efficiency.

 

[countybrown]

So, OP I'm wondering the status? Did you get your rebuild done? Install done yet? What's the scoop! ?

 

[pbrady1776]

Hi, I found this thread very informative. I'm completing my first rebuild and had a question about the top of the stove under the soapstones where the three ceramic boards are. There is a groove around each ceramic board that had a build up of something solid (some sort of cement?). It didn't appear to ever have a gasket there and the parts diagram doesn't indicate anything. Can anyone tell me if there is supposed to be something there? Picture attached for reference

Thanks for any help.

 

[webby3650]

Can't tell from the pic, typically it's just slag furnace cement from assembly.