How To Clean An Old Coleman Stove

BWH
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When it rains, information technology rains. Stoves that is. This past weekend saw 3 stoves come my way. One of those was from a Craigslist ad for a used Coleman 425 in "good working condition". When I called the seller I realized information technology was an elderly guy I'd bought a 1956 vintage Coleman 220 lantern from concluding year.
Anyway, his son had dropped a load of stuff off at his house to sell. The Coleman was part of the load. At showtime glance it looked pretty practiced - only minor rust on the top hinges and burner bowl. The pump even so pumped and the tank held force per unit area. It had an eleven/74 build date stamped on the bottom. He knocked $5 off the price, nosotros shook hands and the quondam gal came domicile with me.

At home I flushed out the tank with fresh Coleman gas and fitted a temporary replacement cap with a proficient seal. Pumped her upwardly, turned the valve, touched a friction match to the burner and in but a short while was greeted with a dainty blue flame. For a stove that hadn't been run in probably 20 years she was doing skillful!

After she cooled down I figured I'd attempt to clean her up. This is only the 2d 425 I've worked on so I didn't accept much feel in the cleaning department. The stove is dirty with soot and some minor food residual. I had a bottle of Simple Green at hand and decided to try that on a minor area. While the Uncomplicated Green did a chore on the soot and grease, it also did a job on the original pigment. I should accept known meliorate. Simple Green tin can be a fairly aggressive solvent on certain types of paint and alloys. Afterward cleaning only a pocket-size spot I stopped and tried uncomplicated window cleaner (ammonia based) on another spot. While it didn't attack the paint it also didn't exercise as skilful a job in removing the crud.

So... whatsoever recommendations for cleaning an almost xl year old stove? What'south a practiced cleaner to use to remove soot and grime without attacking the pigment? Evidently old soap & water? I was thinking of Dawn dishwashing detergent merely I wonder if it's going to be strong enough to handle the worst of the grime.

Thanks in advance!

Brian
I've had expert luck with skillful 'ol soad and water in the kitchen sink. Soap, as in Dawn dishwashing soap. It cuts through the grease without damaging the paint. Information technology doesn't get actually, actually bad stuff out, but it works on 99% of it.
Hope that helps,
sam
2nd the apply of dish lather, Dawn works well.
I have cleaned up many Coleman suitcases with just Dawn and h2o with fantabulous results. It won't fix rust and some soot is stubborn, but in general y'all won't hurt any pigment that is notwithstanding actually stuck to the metal and it volition clean upwards most stove type spills.

Compressed air is handy for drying out those nooks and crannies and blasting out clay etc. Only gotcha is to be careful with loose bubbled pigment and mayhap the decals.

Expert luck,

Jim Henderson
Bon Ami cleanser is good on nutrient residue, fifty-fifty the cooked on stuff. For really intransigent dirt, endeavor Barkeeper's Friend. It's been around for over a hundred years and works similar crazy. Non abrasive except for the water soluable chemicals in it including oxalic acrid. The "aroma" is not the most pleasant.
If you accept a big enough sink or container a skilful soak in hot, soapy water will loosen an amazing amount of crud. A toothbrush is good for crooks and nannies. A copper or stainless steel "Chore Girl" pad will scrub even some rust from the grill.

Which 425 did y'all get? They're all skilful, but I'm eaten up with curiousity. I've got a 1926 2 burner Coleman stove that fired up immediately after I refueled it. Information technology still works similar a charm with no maintanence but a general cleaning every one time in a while and a new fill up cap gasket every fifty or threescore years. Coleman stoves are every bit close to "every bit rugged every bit an anvil" equally whatsoever manufactured item I know of.

Craigslist is the greatest. Except for romantic relationships.

The online dating site relationships often result with a union. Craigslist dating too ofttimes results with a shallow grave. Caveat Emtor.

Gerry
BWH
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Gerry,
It's a 425E. Here's a shot of it running soon after I got it on my work bench. I cranked the valve broad open to get the second burner lit:

To get it running all I did was affluent out the tank (there was still some sometime fuel in it - probably at least twenty years old), oil the pump leather, add together new fuel, put on a replacement fuel cap with a good seal, and pump it up.

It fired right up and ran just fine. Probably the best $20 I spent all weekend.

Equally far every bit Craigslist goes, I'grand very careful when buying or selling. I NEVER concord to meet at my house when selling something. I ever attempt to meet at the nearby county authorities office complex where the marshall service has its offices. I too accept a son-in-law who's a local police officer and once or twice I've arranged for him to 'causally' drib by while I'm negotiating a auction. Not for intimidation, merely to ward off any potential evil spirits. That said, I've bought and sold cars, bikes, canoes, tools and lots of other gear via Craigslist and never had an effect with a buyer or seller. Some have driven hard bargains, simply they were OK people. You lot just demand to take proper precautions and exist smart nearly information technology.

Brian

Last edited by a moderator: Jun 26, 2022
Doc Mark SotM Winner Subscriber
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Hi, BWH,
Great Coleman, and in good condition, besides! Congrats on a fine purchase, and by the fashion, I like the mode you do business organization! Have intendance, and God Bless!

Every Proficient Wish,
Doc