To Paint or Not To Paint, That Is The Question!

[HawkinsHollow]

Reinstalling my ol trusty Englander 17-VL. Doing a little spruce up on it first. New door gaskets, new refractory boards, and new paint MAYBE! How important is it to paint? It had a little surface rust after a year of storage in our container. But green scotchbrite took care of that. It looks almost new. I worry about the fumes it will put off during its first 3 burns. It is out of the house right now so I am thinking of doing a couple of outdoor burns before I bring it inside.

Also I mentioned a couple small cracks up near the corner of the stove. These are in the outer layer of steel by where the blower would push out air. They are almost identical in size. Whatcha think about these? No idea when they happened. I’ve had the stove for 9 years.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Do those cracks extend into the firebox? I wonder if you could use some JB Weld?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

They do not. This is a secondary steel outer layer. Is JB weld high temp?

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

they now have a high temp version of JB Weld

 

[Whitenuckler]

The problem is with the heating and cooling the repair won't last. Could it be welded where it won't be noticeable and maybe JB weld in front?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Is it even an issue if it’s not in the firebox? I mean I don’t want it to get worse but it’s not like it’s leaking out combustion gases.

 

[Murray01]

Any idea how/why it cracked in the first place?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Any idea how/why it cracked in the first place?

Nope! I’ve used it for 9 years. June of 2024 took it out of our house for a renovation and left it in our shipping container for 1+ years. Noticed it when I was cleaning up some surface rust upon bringing it back into my shop. It is obviously stress fractures as they are almost identical. It could have happened the first time I used it or anytime since. Highly doubt it’s from moving it around. We are in TN so it’s not like we burn constantly from December until March. I think I’m just going to leave it and reassess in the spring if they are getting worse or staying the same.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Is it even an issue if it’s not in the firebox? I mean I don’t want it to get worse but it’s not like it’s leaking out combustion gases.

No, I would think you could just use the JB Weld and try it out. I guess if the crack progresses, it could be an issue. Cracks like to run in steel.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Nope! I’ve used it for 9 years. June of 2024 took it out of our house for a renovation and left it in our shipping container for 1+ years. Noticed it when I was cleaning up some surface rust upon bringing it back into my shop. It is obviously stress fractures as they are almost identical. It could have happened the first time I used it or anytime since. Highly doubt it’s from moving it around. We are in TN so it’s not like we burn constantly from December until March. I think I’m just going to leave it and reassess in the spring if they are getting worse or staying the same.

If the steel went down to -30C and then to +50C that will cause stress.

 

[Murray01]

Nope! I’ve used it for 9 years. June of 2024 took it out of our house for a renovation and left it in our shipping container for 1+ years. Noticed it when I was cleaning up some surface rust upon bringing it back into my shop. It is obviously stress fractures as they are almost identical. It could have happened the first time I used it or anytime since. Highly doubt it’s from moving it around. We are in TN so it’s not like we burn constantly from December until March. I think I’m just going to leave it and reassess in the spring if they are getting worse or staying the same.

Then I wouldn’t paint it until you reassess.

 

[nola mike]

I'd drill the end of the crack to keep it from spreading, dunno if I'd bother with the JB weld for something non structural.

 

[begreen]

It's an odd place to crack. The best fix would be to drill a small hole at the end of the cracks and then get them welded. If not welded then at least drill the small 3/32" holes. That should halt the further spread of the cracks.
I'd definitely paint it if you can do this in a 60º or higher environment with Stove Brite satin black paint. It will make the stove look like new and protect it for several more years. Give it a light prep with fine steel wool, vacuum and dust wipe with a tack rage, then wipe it down with alcohol. It will probably take 2 cans of paint for 3 - light coats. Put 6-8' of warm air duct on the stove for a temporary flue when firing it up outside.

If JB weld is used, be sure it is their extreme high temp version.