Top of Nashua stove is rusted and pitted

[dominick]

Hi guys,

I'm new here and new to wood burning stoves in general. I recently bought a house that came with a Nashua stove and it's been very useful this past winter.

I have noticed however that the top of the stove is starting to rust and is starting to get pitted (there are a couple of little craters). I've done a bit of late night googling and people have recommended stripping the rust with something like a wire wheel and then to paint it or using a stove polish.

What would you all recommend I do here? Sand the rusty areas, leave the pits alone, and apply some stove polish? I've attached some photos -- let me know what you think!

Thanks

 

[begreen]

Take a wirebrush to it first to get off the coarse rust. A wirebrush wheel on a drill can speed things up. Then steel wool down with a medium wool. Vacuum up the dust and wipe down with a tack rag. Then wipe it down with alcohol. Spray with Stove Brite Satin Black paint. This will take about 3 light coats (2 cans?) It will look like new afterward. Do the painting in a very well ventilated space at >50º. Wearing a vapor mask is recommended.

Afterward you will need to bake in the paint. This is best done outdoors or with the house windows wide open and an exhaust fan blowing out a window. Do a small fire and take the stove up to about 300F, then let the fire die out. Do a second fire that takes the stove top up to 500º. It will smoke a lot at that temp as the paint bakes.

 

[Woody5506]

Begreen has it right if you want to just get it done at home. If you want in my opinion the best way to fully clean and prevent those pits from getting any bigger, bring the stove to someone who can sand blast it.

Those pits don't look too bad though if you get after them soon it should come out just fine. I've blasted other stoves at our shop that were far worse, and probably nothing a wirewheel would be able to handle effectively.