Autumn

Autumn

Monday, February 17, 2014

Almost Sunset

We've just settled in for the evening after a fine dinner of last nights leftovers. It's been a productive day. I cleaned the garage, and with my wife's help, climbed the ladder to the attic and made room for junk that's accumulated over the last few months.

After I cleared and organized my work bench I took out the next Coleman stove on my restoration list. She's another 425C, an older model with folding red legs. Oddly enough I can't find a date stamp on the ears. Strange. Anyway, another project is underway.

Warning - I'm about to post a string of pictures..a whole dadgum bunch, be warned.

Before I forget here's a few photos for Vicki. She, and another reader, expressed interest in the little Coleman 502. Vicki, here's mine with full  kit and papers. I also took a few pics of my tiny Canadian baby, a Peak.

Here's the 502 with the smaller of the two cook pans atop. The lid serves as a fry pan and the bottom as a deep pot. 

Above - she's tucked for travel.

Here's the small backpack Peak.

Since I found this little booger with a bit of fuel in the tank I set match to flame. I normally keep the tanks empty. It isn't good to store fuel in the stoves when they're stored.

Above, legs out.

Peak is a product of Coleman Canada. They're readily available on Ebay. When lit these little babies really roar and will boil a pot of water lickety-split.


I spent the rest of the day at work on the 425C. Here she is, in parts. One of the previous owners, obviously an Obama supporter, slapped a heavy coat of paint over the original finish. Sure didn't make my job any easier.

Above, my temp work table. Don't mind the Glock as I was expecting a Craigslist buyer. Hey, you never know...
Below, ugly isn't it. The body is beneath the lid, tank behind. 

Above, the tank partially striped. About a days worth of labor yet before it's ready for primer.

Above....underway.

It's a dirty job.

Several hours and two cuts and one skinned knuckle later we arrive here. The first coat of primer.

Now, let's change gears. Like many of you out there I keep strike anywhere matches in my preps...several cases in two different sizes. When it came time to fire the little Peak stove I went inside and broke out a small case of these...

Then proceeded to lite a match....it took four attempts to make fire. They fizzled, sputtered, glowed, but failed to flame. The fifth match worked.

Be warned. These matches have been sealed and stored under climate controlled conditions. Word to the wise.

Like I said, it was a nice day. The weather was perfect and with the garage door open the wind felt fresh and warm. I was able to take the generator out and freshen its fuel and put a load on it for twenty minutes or so. Then there was the fact I had a day off work and didn't even miss it. The time spent with my wife was priceless.

Now, I'm aware for many of you out there this restoration stuff is boring as all get out...sorry. If anyone is interested I'll try and document my progress on the restoration of this little camp stove. It'll take time as I will only work on her in my spare time - probably evenings after work and Sunday afternoons, Lord willing.

Take care, my friends.

Stephen

 











19 comments:

  1. Nicely done sir, and no I don't mind a bit. I miss having a little Coleman as a backup (apartment living sucks)...

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    1. Hey, Bubba, they're little...and, you live in an apartment. Get it. Set it on the mantle, or toilet tank....

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  2. What Old NFO said - I love watching the TLC you lavish on those projects, and the results speak for themselves. Please carry on!

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  3. Boring? That kinda stuff is what preparedness blogs are all about!!! I find it fascinating and motivating.

    Interesting about the matches. I have noticed the newer ones just don't store like the old ones did. I wonder if they changed something to make them modern day "New and Improved"



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    1. Thanks, Bubba. These matches are not up to snuff, that's for sure. I've had them for several years, vacuumed sealed. You'd think the suckers would fire on the first strike. Feels good to work on my stoves...soon I hope to begin a lantern. Lord knows I've enough to keep me busy for years.

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  4. Strike anywhere matches are no longer made like the old ones. They will only lite on the little abrasive strip on the side of the box. We have some of the old ones tucked away, sealed by our Food Saver machine. We have dry high desert climate, but no use taking chances. We used to be able to keep a couple of boxes of matches in an old coffee can and keep them for years. Now we can't get coffee cans anymore, either. Just that plastic junk.

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    1. Very true, nice lady, the new ones are not like the old because the government decided the good matches a safety problem for children...as usual. I still hoard/cache my old matches. We still have a source of metal coffee cans. They are available at our local Publix (like you Safeway) via their brand of coffee. I've been known to throw six or seven a month in the trash. Perhaps I should reconsider my behavior. Thanks, my friend.

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  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  6. I find your restorations very interesting. Please keep posting them.

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    1. I will, my dear friend. Thanks. I removed the other comment as it was a duplicate.

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  7. Thank you so much for the descriptions and photos. Now I know exactly what to look for. I have to agree with Old NFO's opinion of apartment living. It limits a person's options. And it is really difficult sometimes to find what a person needs that will work in this situation and won't take up too much of the available limited space.

    I have a secret weapon. It's called grown up children. If I ask them to find something locally, they always come through. They once spent an entire summer looking for dishes with chickens on them because I wanted some. I now have chicken dishes. I'm pretty sure they will be able to find one of the small stoves for me. Thank you again, my friend. You are awesome!

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    1. You have such a wonderful gift in your children. We have one son and never see nor hear from him. And, you are most welcome. Hope your evening is warm and enjoyable. Thanks, my dear friend.

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  8. Replies
    1. Heck, Rob...haven't done much, as yet, but thanks very much my friend.

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  9. I spent most of today working on a new digital timer for the external barn lights. It didn't work.

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    1. See, told 'ya to stick with analog. Dumb digital stuff....hey, two wires, brass switch. Done.

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  10. Stephen,

    Love reading your posts and viewing pictures of you restoring items. I hate to admit this but I've learned a few things from some of my blogger friends when they restore items, and make items.

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    1. Thank you, Sandy. You guys have a great evening...and fine trout you two caught.

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