My Lopi Freedom

[Freakingstang]

Since my newbie thread took a runaway train to south America, I'll attempt to do this again.

Little background, burnt wood since I was a kid. I bought a big house last fall with a wood eating monster (fireplace). After spending one winter with a very hungry oil furnace, and the last time I called oil was 3.88 a gallon. I called my insurance company, had my chimney cleaned and inspected, then I started researching inserts that would physically fit my fireplace opening. I priced a couple new ones, after having sticker shock and being a fairly broke home owner, I did more research. I fought through craigslist ads for a few months. Found this lopi freedom insert. It was manufactured 11-28-2001. Owner said they installed it, and used it for two or three years. He couldn't remember for sure. Then he rented the house out and was afraid someone renting would burn the house down, so he removed it. The ad had one small picture. I drove the hour to dads, picked up the trailer and head the hour to the sellers house.

I pull in and see a huge 60x100 shop with landscape company trucks and equipment everywhere. I walk up to the shop to see this lopi freedom insert sitting on a wooden dolley. The seller had it listed on craigslist for 800 bucks. I was down to 550 after taking to him numerous times. He just wanted it gone. Well as you can see from the pictures, it was in less than ideal shape. He told me it was stored in the shop on the phone. Once I was there, the story changed to it was outside on a pallet under a tarp for only a year. The firebox was full of water, (not full, but some). The box that contained the rheostat for the fans was badly corroded. I told the guy I wasn't plugging it in. He did, and they didnt work. So at this point I'm talking to dad out loud so the guy can hear me about all the money it's going to be to get it up and operational again. I kept saying I was very disappointed that it was outside when you told me on the phone it was stored in the shop. Dad chimes in and says this one new is about 1500, right? I said yeah something like that. he's trying to convince to buy a new one and not have to deal with the hassle of rebuilding this one.

As I was figuring and looking at the stove the guy says I can work a little on the price... I said what's a little? He said he could do 400. I would have paid that, But i said I'm not trying to be rude, but you told me this thing was clean, ready to install. The fans are going to cost me 3-400 bucks, the fire brick need replaced because it's all soaked, so there's another 150-200 bucks, plus the door gasket and the labor intensive hours to refinish it. I feel comfortable at 300. Any more than that and in getting in the truck. It was on the trailer 30 seconds later.

 

[Freakingstang]

So, i took the stove into the shop and started ripping it apart...



I thoroughly steamed cleaned everything with our 4000psi pressure washer/steamer...





I then got out the wire wheel onthe 7" hand grinder and went to town... I used my spot blaster on the inside to get rid of the surface light rust from the steam cleaning.

 

[BrowningBAR]

At $300 + a little bit of work and some parts and you should be sitting pretty.

 

[Freakingstang]

between Xmas and New years i got it all painted up. I used a product i have use before with oustanding results. it is made by the makers of POR15, it is their high heat line (1400 degrees) POR20. It only comes in aluminum color so i put on a coat of that and let it dry 24 hours (this is brush on paint). after 24 hours, I put on two more coats of POR15 "black Velvet" that is a 1200 degree paint and let it sit.

 

[Freakingstang]

while the paint was inbetween coats and drying I started polishing the brash door.

 

[Freakingstang]

I installed a new gasket from the local stove shop... cost me three bucks a foot for 6'.



I also got all new firebrick for it. Cutting the angle pices was quite fun. Sorry no pics of that. I am waiting to install the insert before re-installing the firebick.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Wow. Well done. How much did it cost you in additional parts and repair?

 

[Richprint29]

I installed a new gasket from the local stove shop... cost me three bucks a foot for 6'.

View attachment 88811View attachment 88812View attachment 88813

I also got all new firebrick for it. Cutting the angle pices was quite fun. Sorry no pics of that. I am waiting to install the insert before re-installing the firebick.

Nice job man!

 

[Freakingstang]

Got all the parts for the chimney liner.... Duravent 6" SS flex, 1/2" insulation and wire mesh.



Decided to do this downstairs in the basement since the weather has been so crappy the last coupleof days. I wrapped the insulation and taped it off quite well.. use the extra 10' I had leftover for the top part as a double wrap. Got the wire mess on and just need to get some clamps since they didn't seem to want to include them...Other than that, it is ready to slide down my existing chimney (10" metal) plenty of room from what the experts tell me... hopefully the next nice day out, I can drop it down the hole.

 

[coldkiwi]

Great looking job you did,are you going to put the surround panels on it or just put it in the hole like a free standing?

 

[Freakingstang]

the hardest part so far was using my little tractor to pick up the stove, put it on a wooden dolley and wheel it over to the FP...the dolley is about an inch higher, so it makes installing and removing this heavy pig a little easier. i've had it in a out a couple of times now checking fitmet, was trying to do a triple insulated 6" duravent from the getgo as I already had it and the stove shops said it would work if i could get it... well I thought I could and it wouldn't have been a safe connection above the smoke shelf, so I took out all that and ordered the correct liner.

If all goes well and the correct appliance connector comes in tomorrow it should be sitting in its new home fri or saturday at the latest, and yes i have the surround panels, just no pictures of them, as I refinished those too.

 

[webby3650]

Dad chimes in and says this one new is about 1500, right

I think the current price for this baby is around $2,800. Good find, and sweet job on the refinish.
In the pic the mesh isn't stretched. Just in case you didn't know, stretch that stuff as tight as you can get it when you get the band clamps.

 

[Freakingstang]

Wow. Well done. How much did it cost you in additional parts and repair?

I've got about 100 bucks in parts and paint. The paint is about 30 bucks a pint, but leaves a finish like glass once it fully hardens. It brushes on and will look like crap with brush streaks. After 24hrs, (if you are good and used a quailty brush) you'll have no streaks.. It will remain somewhat soft until it reaches 350 degrees to fully cure. That is when, if any imperfections are present disappear. The paint is awesome and well worth the investment. I've never had good luck with BBQ and stove paints. Just a little bit of time here and there for the elbow grease part of it.

The liner, insulation, mesh, fittings, thermometer, a napolean moisture (hydrometer) meter, etc I have about 850 in everything (plus the stove).

 

[Freakingstang]

I think the current price for this baby is around $2,800. Good find, and sweet job on the refinish.
In the pic the mesh isn't stretched. Just in case you didn't know, stretch that stuff as tight as you can get it when you get the band clamps.

I know, (on both accounts). Dad was helping me out... actually with the brass trim I think MSRP is well over 3K...

And on the mess, I just snapped a pic last night when i got it on.. Still have to stretch it and install the band clamps.

 

[webby3650]

I've never had good luck with BBQ and stove paints.

I had the same experience until I got ahold of some Stove Bright. It's a night and day difference over other, so called, stove paint.

 

[webby3650]

I know, (on both accounts). Dad was helping me out... actually with the brass trim I think MSRP is well over 3K...


Oh ya, good thinking on his part.

 

[fossil]

Yer "newbie thread" is right here:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/new-guy-from-ohio.102207/

 

[Boog]

Coming along nice there buddy. Maybe you'll have it ready for the temp drop again next week, sure don't need it the rest of this week!

 

[Freakingstang]

While painting an polishing everything, I decided to disassemble the fan assy. i immediately took the rheostat out of the system and wired the plug direct to test the fans, as I was positive the rheostat was corroded badly and needed replaced... still no dice... Following some wires I find this little switch (two wires, one in, one out). Has 110V on one side and nothing on the other. so I bypass this little switch and the fans work... sweet... research some more on the internet about this fan setup and find that some models came with a thermostatically controlled switch.... so I take my lighter and put it under this switch...after a few second from the heat of the lighter I hear a "click"... sweet, sounds like that was my problem.... wire the thermo switch back inline and pug it in (without the rheostat)...plug it in and turn the lighter on...warms up, click fan spins full speed... at this point I have disassembled the rheostat box that was riveted together and saw no corrosion inside, other than from the sheetmetal box itself. So I wire the rheostat back in...plug in, lighter on...click...fans work....then adjust rheostat and badda bing...thing works like it should... got a new junction box and replaced some of the wiring as I didn't like the stuff that was there.

So as it sits, stove is done, brick is stitting there with the rebuilt/cleaned fan assy ready to install once the insert is slid into its new home.. I don't think I did to bad, considering I really looked it over expecting the worse. hopefully I can have it installed and operational before noon on saturday for my inspection. Once that is golden, I have some wood to feed it and hopefully be able to save myself some cash this winter, even if it is supposed to be 50 this weekend.. I'll burn just because I can at that point! .

more pics of install coming as I progress.


-Freak
aka Steve

 

[Freakingstang]

Yer "newbie thread" is right here:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/new-guy-from-ohio.102207/

Well it got moved to the lounge or whatever because it got sidetracked... and you guys didn't like the photobucket links, so I just spent over an hour puttign this thread together with uploaded pics and whatnot.

 

[DexterDay]

Looking good Freaking....!!

Quality insert at a great price. Hope it serves you well for years and years to come.

 

[Freakingstang]

me too Dex, now I just need to find my way over to your place and borrow some seasoned wood....

 

[Dairyman]

Nice work Freak, you've turned a pebble into a gem. Can't wait to see it fired up.

 

[DexterDay]

me too Dex, now I just need to find my way over to your place and borrow some seasoned wood....

Come on and get a load. If you need it, its yours. You would do the same thing. As would most other members of this Forum. Pay it forward Bro. I got that 3rd 036 PRO, so I know you can pay me back in advise on how to turn it into a Monster!!

I have a Half cord rack of White Oak waiting for you. Im off this weekend? Just sayin.

 

[TradEddie]

Hope your house is big, or badly insulated, because our Lopi Freedom puts out some serious heat. I'm burning cherry, because if it's above freezing outside, oak or hickory will just drive us out of the room. Very nice work on the refinishing.

TE