Baby bear make over

[WeldrDave]

These are images of my Baby bear project.
With help from coaly and another, I added a baffle which i'm sure will help heating. After I looked closely at her while she was at parade rest, you could see day light around the 6" pipe in the back for the flue pipe. I have to say the welding was "horrible" on this stove, so I corrected a few things and added some things as well. On the lower top, I did something some will find strange but I added a "pot rail" on each side. There is a story but won't go there now, it keeps hot things from falling off, "and not from an earth quake" She still has a bit to go and I'm looking fwd to installing her this spring for next winter.
The things you don't see is I sand blasted the door and stove before paint so more to come.

Dave

 

[coaly]

A Baby Bear with sea legs. Amazing.

Legend has it that Hesston in Kansas welded the flue pipe on the inside, before assembling the back to the stove.
They made the most boxes and sent them to licensed fabricators for finishing and door fitment.
(secondary air holes around the flue collar may be a good idea) That's the hottest part of the stove with no baffle....

 

[WeldrDave]

Thats funny you mention sea legs, I have a very dear friend who put a stove on his boat, "not sure what brand" and he and his wife happen to be around nova scotia about now. They wanted to sail a north trip for the winter, I love to sail but thats a bit extreme for me.
I'll get into the pot rail later, but as far as the welding issue, I only had about 3" of weld holding the 6" flue in place., so you see what I did on the back. I've already started to look at my Mama bear close, she is next on the make over list but she doesn't look nothing like the Baby.

When all is said and done, I'm gonna drag Grandma out in the next year or two and give her the once over, she deserves it, she has been steaming along for the last 20 years or so.

 

[raybonz]

Nice work on the stove and great looking welds!

Ray

 

[WeldrDave]

Thanks much Ray!, It's my first go at it doing stoves and having fun... Ships are more up my alley but finding this very therapeutic.

 

[raybonz]

Thanks much Ray!, It's my first go at it doing stoves and having fun... Ships are more up my alley but finding this very therapeutic.

Wood burning is addictive Did you do the welding as the flue collar looks great.. I was in the Navy 75-78 then drilled in reserves 78-80..

Ray

 

[WeldrDave]

Yes, I was a Navy Hull tech, 8 years, 85 to 93, was a HP boiler, steam welder, all pressure hydraulic and became a CWI/CWE, graduate of hobart welding tech, Did ship yard inspection, hull work then decided to go back active in the USCG.
Thanks for the kind words!

 

[WeldrDave]

A couple more pictures, paint still drying on front view.

 

[f3cbboy]

hey dave - that really came out nice!! you did a good job!

 

[WeldrDave]

Thank you very much!, I just finished her up, all but the new spring handle coming from woodman's pictures attached.

I received some great advice here, couldn't do it with out help! Great people here to learn from.