Removing Rockwool

[HollyL77]

I'm really close to getting the stove all taken apart, but I'm stumped as to how to get all the rockwool out from the stovebox surround. I took the top panel off, but the sides and back appear to be welded in place. Has anyone else replaced all of the rockwool? How did you get it all out? The stuff around the oven is the worst--damp and smelly, and I'd like to replace it all.

[lowracer]

Fortunately I did not have to do this step. I will offer this advice though. Wear a respirator. Rock wool is not as nasty as asbestos but you still don't want it in your lungs. The MSDS for rockwool says it is carcinogenic if inhaled.

As for getting it out of the oven box, can you disassemble the oven box any further? That would be my guess. Failing that, an unbent wire hanger could get you part way there... A shop vac with a long anteater-like crevice tool might finish the job.

Wear the respirator! Remove your outer clothes immediately after working with rockwool and wash them separately from your other laundry. Shower off immediately after putting your clothes in the laundry. Don't take a chance with your lungs. Remember, if you can't breathe, nothing else matters.

[RobbiQuest]

Holly, please remind us: do you have a Model B or a Model C ??

By-the-way, you have my total admiration that you're doing this (what a woman!!) If I remember correctly, your stove was under some water with Katrina, right?

[bseavey]

Holly,

I replaced all the insulation when I renovated my stove. I did this several months ago so I'm going on memory. The front of the stove has to come off along with the cast iron oven front. The cast iron oven front holds the front of the oven racks. The back of the oven racks are attached by one bolt each, which needs to be removed. The oven damper in the back of the oven box has to be removed. Then look at where the oven get jet is. I can't find the proper name for it but the metal "tube" that the gas jet goes through from the service cabinet to the oven box has to be removed. This is the tricky part. You have the bend the metal flange so the metal "tube" can be pulled through the oven box. Bend the flange gradually starting at the "12 o'clock postion" and moving around in a circle. The "tube" will be able to spin in it's place as you progress, this will make it easier to remove it. Once this comes out, the oven box interior can be removed by pulling it from above. Take your time it can be done. My motto is, if it was put together it can be taken apart.

[chipperhiker]

Bill, can you tell us where you found a source for that much rockwool? I don't know if I'll have to replace the wool in my stove when I pull it apart, but just in case...

Thanks.

-Jenn

[RobbiQuest]

I bought mine from Stoveman. He sells it by the 2lb box. It's nearly identical to the original stuff (only clean and new!!!)

[bseavey]

I bought the rock wool from the stoveman. I forget how much I got, but I got enough to replace the insulation in the thermowell and to repack the oven door. I had some left over. For the oven I got new insulation from TOAC. Their insulation is meant for high temperature like the rock wool. However it was very thin and would have been swimming in the space between the oven box and the outer wall of the oven. It turned out that the original rock wool from the oven was in good shape. It was only crusty and greasy around the edges, so I reused some of it along with the new insulation from TOAC. It seems to be doing a good job and I've been enjoying cooking on my "new" stove.

[HollyL77]

Well, after much discussion my husband and I have decided to use a coathanger to remove as much as we can rather than disassembing any further.

Lowracer--thanks for the tip about wearing a respirator. Luckily we have two asbestos-rated ones that we've been wearing to remove our 1970's popcorn ceilings!

RobbiQuest--actually this isn't the Katrina stove (but I remember reading that post, too). It's a model B that's been in storage for 4+ years and it seems to have gotten a little damp.

Stoveman--can you tell me how many pounds I'll need to get from you to replace ALL the rockwool? If we're going this far we might as well replace the thermowell wool, too.

[stoveman]

Chambers claims to have used more than 50 pounds of rock wool in each stove. I think about 5# will get the thermowell and oven door. Never did a whole oven. The more you buy from me, the cheaper it is per pound.

And check out the Chambers Literature here:
[url="http://stores.ebay.com/The-Uncertain-Stoveman?refid=store"]http://stores.ebay.com/The-Uncertain-Stoveman?refid=store[/url]