My parents bought a Blaze King King (I think it was a KTJ302) new a long time ago, probably early 80s. Dad and I fed it by cutting a LOT of wood along with both grandpas who also burned wood. We had a '61 International dump truck and would fill it 3 times in a day. Dad would drop the trees and he and grandpa would cut off the branches while I marked the logs. Then they'd cut the pieces while I moved the branches. After the whole tree or trees were cut, we'd fill up the dump truck and one or two pickups. Then my life saving breaks would be the half hour ride back to the house. Unfortunately the dump truck allowed us to pull a lever and the truck was empty before I could refill the water jug and take a bathroom break! But I spent a lot of time with the family and learned to drive while back in the woods.
I remember the stove being able to burn all night by putting a couple logs in before bed, and easily all day after dad fixed it up in the morning before work. When my parents built a new house in 1996, they rented our old one to some friends. My dad didn't want them accidentally burning the house down so the wood burner was sold. I had planned on buying the house but a new job in Ohio made me think I wouldn't get the house, let alone worry about the woodburner. Things worked out and I got a job back home within 6 months and the renters finished their new house a year later. I moved from mom and dad's new house back into the one I grew up in. And for the past 8 years now I've been hoping to either buy back the original Blaze King or find a similar one.
After several misses on Craigslist and not seeing many on Ebay, I finally found one for sale a couple hours from home. It's a KTJ302 and from the pics appears identical to our old model. The seller accepted a deposit and I'm picking it up this weekend. Can't wait! It appears that it will need cleaned and painted. Does anyone have recommendations for preparing the metal (I have a couple sandblasters if that's the best way to make an even finish) and painting? I want it to have a factory type dull finish that doesn't have the shiney spots and blotches that rattle cans usually give. Anybody know of a way to avoid that?
Funny part is, back in the day my dad and grandpa had (and still have) Jonsered 451ev saws which are great little cutters. Dad always told me as a kid "you'll never find one of these" after they quit making them. Several years ago I happened to find one in great shape on Ebay and got it for a song. Dad said "nice buy, but what are you going to use it for?". Now he knows!
Craig
I remember the stove being able to burn all night by putting a couple logs in before bed, and easily all day after dad fixed it up in the morning before work. When my parents built a new house in 1996, they rented our old one to some friends. My dad didn't want them accidentally burning the house down so the wood burner was sold. I had planned on buying the house but a new job in Ohio made me think I wouldn't get the house, let alone worry about the woodburner. Things worked out and I got a job back home within 6 months and the renters finished their new house a year later. I moved from mom and dad's new house back into the one I grew up in. And for the past 8 years now I've been hoping to either buy back the original Blaze King or find a similar one.
After several misses on Craigslist and not seeing many on Ebay, I finally found one for sale a couple hours from home. It's a KTJ302 and from the pics appears identical to our old model. The seller accepted a deposit and I'm picking it up this weekend. Can't wait! It appears that it will need cleaned and painted. Does anyone have recommendations for preparing the metal (I have a couple sandblasters if that's the best way to make an even finish) and painting? I want it to have a factory type dull finish that doesn't have the shiney spots and blotches that rattle cans usually give. Anybody know of a way to avoid that?
Funny part is, back in the day my dad and grandpa had (and still have) Jonsered 451ev saws which are great little cutters. Dad always told me as a kid "you'll never find one of these" after they quit making them. Several years ago I happened to find one in great shape on Ebay and got it for a song. Dad said "nice buy, but what are you going to use it for?". Now he knows!
Craig