It seems that concentrating on range cookers for a while seems to be attracting them. Until a couple of weeks ago we’d never heard of the Wellstood Two (or WD 36) stove, and then having just put one in, out of the blue we are very kindly offered another. This second one has had a somewhat harder time than the first, having been outside for over three years, but these things are incredibly resilient, and after a bit of a superficial clean, it is probably usable, though the boiler is most likely done.
The initial idea was to use it as spares – and we may still do that if dismantling reveals significant rot, but I am very tempted to completely restore it – it is such a nice colour, although it would need completely re-enamelled. I just love the idea of giving it a new lease of life.
and here is what you are left with once all the outer casing is removed. This is off for shot blasting next week, then we will be ready to begin re-assembling with new bolts and fittings.
A whole new line of work for you, Stephen
I used to have that model and still miss it – such a very good, even cooker. Alas it was destroyed when we did a year’s house exchange and those we swapped with ran it flat out on anthracite all winter, burning out not only the boiler but the whole firebox. The boiler was super efficient too, handling six salvaged old fashioned cast iron radiators with ease. The oil fired Stanley that replaced it more than twenty years ago is a good workhorse but can’t remotely compete with the efficiency and evenness of the little Wellstood. I hope you can save it and give it a new life.
Yes this one has had a lump of the firebox burned out by over-heating but luckily it is only one spot so is repairable. I’m going to send the frame for shotblasting and see how it holds up. I was a bit worried because the old Doric had heat pass right around the oven, but this is a cast iron oven heated from above, and I wondered whether it would warm evenly but it seems great. Just having a taller hob is a novelty – 6″ higher than the little Doric.
Sorry me ole mate but the inner Oven is sheet steel and the outer, which you mentioned, is the cast iron you made mention of.
If you start sand blasting it, you will soon find out if you need to replace the INNER Oven as they were not made with thick sheet steel. Probably about .8 of 1mm.
If you do end up replacing the inner Oven, I strongly suggest that you DO NOT use stainless steel instead of mild steel sheet.
The reason is, stainless does NOT transfer heat like mild steel does, therefore you will not get the Oven up to the same temperatures as mild steel sheet will give you.
I know its a couple of years since you and Kathryn wrote on this web page but it still might be worth me mentioning it for you and other Wellie owners.
You may appreciate a photo or two of what I do with sad, dilapidated cookers however, I dont see anyway of sending them .
Feel free to reply with an address and I;ll get to it sometime on the near future.
Best wishes
We are looking to remove ours but keen to do without breaking. Do you have any removal instructions you can send me?
What was the update on the restoration?
Hi Chris – is it a Wellstood? If so, then undo the screws on the top, usually 2 at the front. Remove the box where the flue comes out the top and you should be able to get the top off easily. Take the doors off. Undo any water connections. At this point the range is just sitting there, and is just very heavy. I’ve levered them up onto a low trolley – its the only way you’ll shift it without dismantling completely, which you should avoid. If its been there a while, getting it apart without shearing anything off is hard going.
Got any pictures? You can email me at stevepbyrne [at] gmail [dot] com
Cheers, Steve
As Steve mentioned above, is about right.
1….. Remove the Flue
2…. Drain the pipes into the Hot water cylinder. There might be a separate system in that HWC that purely circulates water from the Wellstood’s Boiler, through the Radiators (if you have any) and HWC.
3…. Disconnect the top and bottom pipes to the cooker.
4…. Lift off the 4 Doors, Hot Plate, Grate, and maybe the Smoke Box (aka Flue Receiver Box.
5……Use a Jimmy Bar, Crow Bar or what ever you have to prise the Cooker up to be able to slide a couple of pieces of 1/2″ or maybe 3/4″ pipes under the 4 edges of the Cooker Base.
The Cooker is supported by only the edges on the Base of the cooker so I use one piece of pipe which is wider than the cooker and 2 smaller pipes which support the edges of the cooker.
Then its just rolled out into the kitchen and swivelled on the popes , to the direction I want it to move.
The larger the pipe diameter, the easier it will roll.
I often put bits of thin MDF chip board down on the floor, so as to not mark the floors varnish or lino when I want to heave it a particular direction.
A Wellstood weights about 330 kilos but after the weighty doors and hot plate etc, are removed, its a whole heap lighter.
It’s not difficult for even me. on my own and I’m 68 yo.
It’s just setting up with the right bits and pieces and taking your time.
Sometimes lifting the Flue is the biggest issue to deal with.
I have clamps made up to help me but Ratchet Tie Down Straps can work wonders. I will often lift a heavy flue with a series of them.
Attach one end to the Roof Trusses and the other end is wrapped around the Flue
I use another couple to slowly lift it clear of the cooker.
Really,…. it only has to move 50mm to 100mm upwards (2″ to 4″ for then Yanky fellas) to enable the cooker to be able to be lifted up to enable it to sit on top of a few pipes so as it can then be rolled out of its original sitting place.
By the way,
If any one has one of these beauties, I STRONGLY recommend that it ALWAYS has a FULL SET of Refractory Fire Bricks in the Fire Box.
We all call water which is boiling, as being HOT!
Well cookers Fire Boxes are commonly burning at between 500º and 650º C plus.
I have measured one fire box at 720º C and it was burning old Man Pine! Coal would be even greater!
Cast iron can deal with high temperatures but those temperatures on thinner cast iron, is what destroys them. Good grade of Fire Bricks usually are rated to about 1400 degrees. They PROTECT the cast iron structure of the Fire Box, which should not be able to be seen, becasue of Fire Bricks
Its the same reason as to why there is a Fire Door Protection Box attached to the inside surface of the Fire Door. It protected the nice enamel of the Fire Door.
That Fire Door Protection Box should have 2 different types of insulation in that box, to again reduce the heat to the actual Door. That way you can touch the door to open it.
That Protection Box component, is a part that is a commonly replaced component of the Wellstood and most other types of cookers.
Does anyone know someone who might be interested in one of these stoves? We have moved into a tenement in Glasgow and have one that looks in good condition.