Refurbish or Replace '70s vintage 4 burner cooktop

[aquinob]

Originally Posted by Aage

If you get two, let me know

I was wondering about powder-coating it, too. That stuff is tough and will withstand heat, right? Anybody have any thoughts on that?

Also, I think the gas 'path' in mine needs looked at. I wonder if a rebuild kit for the burners exists (still?), and I have a sneaking suspicion that the on/off valve has a very slow leak.

Funny the thoughts that go through your mind during a long, hard-frozen winter!

I got a quote back on powdercoating the folding top, 65 bucks. He says its good to 400 degrees. I also asked about ceramic coating, that was double the price at 130. But that would take the heat, they use it on exhaust manifolds. So I'm thinking about it. I also have an ad out on the classifieds and got one response back about a possible donor cooktop in whole or parts. I'm still weighing the options, I could try a spray paint, but I just dont know how well it would hold up to the standard abuse that these tops endure.

[moparjohn]

Hi Bob, I have a stove top I just sent out to be polished, they sent it back, too much rust. Can I ask who is the powder coat/ceramic place you talked too. I would like to check them out. John

[perryg114]

I thought of powder coating and I think if it is good to 400F you will be ok even on the burner surround. The part that gets really hot is the grill/pot supports. I would go with a white gloss. I assume that price includes sand blasting the parts prior to painting? The powder coat does not have solvents in it. It is baked on in an oven.

Perry

[Aage]

Originally Posted by aquinob

I got a quote back on powdercoating the folding top, 65 bucks. He says its good to 400 degrees. I also asked about ceramic coating, that was double the price at 130. But that would take the heat, they use it on exhaust manifolds. So I'm thinking about it. I also have an ad out on the classifieds and got one response back about a possible donor cooktop in whole or parts. I'm still weighing the options, I could try a spray paint, but I just dont know how well it would hold up to the standard abuse that these tops endure.

I agree that a resistance up to 400°F should do the trick. I mean, unless you are some kind of super chef that is going to have the stove on a lot. We don't, but it needs to look nice. The previous owner took a can of cheap spray paint to everything that was rusty before he sold, and that pain made a mess of several things, including the stove.

$65 sounds like a great deal. There are several things to do on mine: the folding top (rusty brushed SS, both sides need done, but I think that may not matter), the piece that covers the inside of the stove and has holes for the burners, and the box it all sits in.

One of the places that does that here in Ottawa had a film of the process up on their site for a while, and the first step was a dip in a bath to get all the crap off all the metal. IIRC they then dipped it in another bath that gave the surface a "tooth" that the powder could adhere to, then a spray and bake process.

I would like a pale gray or silver-type look to it, glossy. I am hoping that colour is popular enough to be able to gang up with another job that is already going through using that colour. The oven is pretty big, so in comparison, the bits I need done are insignificant.

But: I won't other with any of that until I can get the stove in good, safe working order. It leaks gas if the flame is off but the main valve is on; not good. One or two burners have a 'dicey' flame. Has anyone dealt with that work? Looking for advice, and what to do...

For example how do you treat the black grilles that the pots and pans sit on?

[SL4BLLT]

SL4BLLT,

Where did you find that Dickinson?

for Belegedhel,

here is the link.
Marine Stoves, Cooktops, Ovens and Ranges

or try Discount Marine and Boat Supplies - Inflatable Sales - Defender


I do like the stove tops that aquinob posted. Its got us thinking for sure.

We looked into getting ours redone locally a few years back and by the time we went to do it, the company went out of business.

You hate to get rid of reliable stove, especially that has been around for 35 years when it still works, but is just worn out or weathered.

SL4BLLT

[reinergirl]

Have any of you tried Oxalyic acid to remove the rust? Works like a charm without any of the sanding marks.

Read about it here ( or google it!)

Oxalic Acid. Removing rust from Chrome the very best way! - VintageBMX.com

There are places that reporcelain the ovens, they'll even do your grates but its big bucks!

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by reinergirl

Have any of you tried Oxalyic acid to remove the rust? Works like a charm without any of the sanding marks.

Read about it here ( or google it!)

Oxalic Acid. Removing rust from Chrome the very best way! - VintageBMX.com

There are places that reporcelain the ovens, they'll even do your grates but its big bucks!

OK so, I suggested vinegar (acetic acid) and Shelly suggested oxalic acid. Maybe we are getting somewhere.

[Sneakinup]

In my last trailer (72 Overlander) my 4 burner unit looked worse than the OP's cooktop. I took it to a local powdercoater, had it sandblasted and coated. The grates were done in the (I forget the actual term) extra high heat coating. I lived in my trailer for 2 years and used it every day. Never had a problem with it peeling or flaking off. It looked brand new until the day I sold that trailer, 6 years later.

[Aage]

Well that looks real good, Sneakinup. Thanks for the photos. That's an encouraging note on powder-coating!

Did you do any work on the gas pipes and burners?

[aquinob]

Originally Posted by reinergirl

Have any of you tried Oxalyic acid to remove the rust? Works like a charm without any of the sanding marks.

Read about it here ( or google it!)

Oxalic Acid. Removing rust from Chrome the very best way! - VintageBMX.com

There are places that reporcelain the ovens, they'll even do your grates but its big bucks!

I do have some experience removing rust off surfaces. I have fixed up old tools before and have used a product for removing scum and rust off boat bottoms, very strong stuff and it works fast. Here are some pix of the table off my bandsaw before and after:



After




The problem is that the protective plating is now gone in that spot where it was rusted and if/when the top gets wet (its next to the sink), it probably will start rusting again. The power tool tables generally have a layer of wax and oil on them and never see any moisture (at least not intentionally) on them.

So all in all, I'm still on the fence with this. I'll wait and see if I can scare up a replacement unit with better cosmetics and if that doesn't pan out, I'll take a trip to the powder coater in Virginia Beach next week to talk directly and see if I want to go that route. Even going with the powder coat, I will probably be 80 to 100 in cost for the coating and other paints. Much more than that and I may decide otherwise.

[aquinob]

Originally Posted by Sneakinup

In my last trailer (72 Overlander) my 4 burner unit looked worse than the OP's cooktop. I took it to a local powdercoater, had it sandblasted and coated. The grates were done in the (I forget the actual term) extra high heat coating. I lived in my trailer for 2 years and used it every day. Never had a problem with it peeling or flaking off. It looked brand new until the day I sold that trailer, 6 years later.

That cooktop looks great. It looks a little different than mine in that it doesnt cover up the whole surface but just the burners. Is that a silver colored powder coat on the top?

[Sneakinup]

Yes, I did totally disassemble the cook top and thoroughly cleaned and tested everything... before I had it powder coated.

I used a high gloss silver powder that almost looked like a metal flake. It really looked like a brand new unit. I wish I had saved some "before" pictures, but it was really ugly.

I don't remember what it cost because at the time, I was in the aluminum extrusion business and had the powder coater that I used in business do it with some other items for work. I agree that if the cost to do it outweighs the cost of a new one, well... it might be worth replacing. Unless of course you want to keep everything original.

[aquinob]

I think I'm going to try to repaint this unit. Talked with my better half and it was her suggestion to fix it up too. I may try a silver hammertone finish on the top covered with a clear overcoat and see how that holds up. I think it would also show less dirt than a black finish. I'll post some pix when its done.

[Aage]

Hopefully you get a paint that will withstand the necessary temperatures...