Jotul Oslo with a cracked bottom! Can it be fixed?

[Jen Eastwood-Fisher]

We purchased a used Jotul Oslo F500 NR 103843. We thought we were getting a good deal at $600, especially seeing as we are on a super tight budget. We thought we asked all the right questions, including are there any cracks, fissures etc. We looked it over, but there was some ash in the bottom of it, so did the best we could. Shone a light around to see if any was coming through, that sort of thing.

We have started to refurb it. Giving it a thorough clean out. What we have found is a very well hidden crack in the bottom corner. We have now cleaned it right out and could see the extent of the crack, and how it was hidden.

I am wondering if it can be fixed, or the bottom replaced? Is it worth doing? It needs to be sound enough to meet WETT certification when installed, and obviously be safe to burn.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Oldhippie]

How old is the stove? Given you've already bought it and you probably can't give it back? Does it look like it is structurally compromised? I doubt the previous owners even knew it was there. It is probably the result of over-fire.

I'd be thinking stove cement just to seal it if it doesn't look structurally damaged. Is it cracked all the way through to the outside of the stove?

PS welcome to the forum. We like pics. More please, of the outside of the stove and the hearth you're going to put it on.. etc.

 

[mellow]

I would contact Jotul and see what they say on how to fix it or if it is no longer safe to use, they might give you a discount towards a new stove if it is not fixable.

 

[Jen Eastwood-Fisher]

Thank you Mellow, Jotul NA were useless, told me to contact a local dealer. The dealer wants to just sell a new stove as they don't do any work on old stoves. Not sure on age. Where would I find that out?

Oldhippie, The crack appears to be through part 8 of the exploded view, not through the sub bottom below that. So I guess that would make it the bottom plate that is compromised. Will stove cement adhere to caste iron?

Thanks~

 

[Ashful]

PM sent. Check your inbox. I think I have a possible solution.

 

[mellow]

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/welding-cast-iron.104016/

 

[Rock Crusher]

Where are you located? I have had good luck welding cast iron including pieces that welding shops said no to. If Joful's solution doesn't work please let me know.

 

[begreen]

That crack is most likely from using the ash pan door as an air supply. If this is done for more than a few seconds it can crack the base like that. Jotul certainly will not warrant this. The normal procedure is to replace the base and the grate if it too is cracked. Is it possible to return the stove?

 

[Jen Eastwood-Fisher]

It is not possible to return the stove. I have found out though all is not lost, and the part #8 (bottom plate) can be replaced. I am waiting to find out what the cost is to do this. I will let you guys know what the outcome is for this option.

 

[jotulguy]

I have done this repair before. It isn't all that tough. Basically you have two choices, carefully flip the Oslo on its top and take the base off from there or you can start at the top and take it down piece by piece. You will only need a 10 mm and a 13 mm socket. Once apart you must clean out the old stove cement in the joints. Recement when you put it back together and do your break in fires to drive the moisture out of the cement.

 

[Jen Eastwood-Fisher]

Sorry I am new to this, what are break in fires?

 

[weatherguy]

Sorry I am new to this, what are break in fires?

Small fires to drive out the moisture, usually only needed on a new stove but since you're replacing parts you should do it too, just light 3 small fires, maybe making the third one bigger then you can let it rip.

 

[stovelark]

Prob from running it with the ash door open. Its not that Jotul doesn't care (of course they do), its just they see this a lot. Its not a hard thing to do, you just have to be careful. I've replaced bases both from the bottom (with the stove on its top, as jotulguy suggests- its also how Jotul suggests doing it too) or breaking the stove down from the top. I would break it all down, note how things go and clean the side and rear panels up well. When reassembling, use plenty of furnace cement. When she is restored to her former glory, treat it like a new stove. 3 or 4 small fires, to let the castings get used to having heat applied. I did it every season to my Oslo, it always treated me well. The baseplate will run you a couple hundred dollars, it will be a well worth investment. The Oslo is prob the most popular cast iron stove in New England. Good luck with it.

 

[Oldhippie]

I have done this repair before. It isn't all that tough. Basically you have two choices, carefully flip the Oslo on its top and take the base off from there or you can start at the top and take it down piece by piece. You will only need a 10 mm and a 13 mm socket. Once apart you must clean out the old stove cement in the joints. Recement when you put it back together and do your break in fires to drive the moisture out of the cement.

...and if you are going to do something like this, you might find a chimney sweep kind-of guy or someone good with tools, to help with the effort.

The very act of tipping the stove upside down, (although it totally makes sense) isn't something for someone that doesn't feel at home around mechanical work.