Period Aga

[FamilyWiggs]

Well I think she's a a very lucky lady Robin.

Well Joce - I think that is something that finally everyone on PPUK can agree on! :lol:

 

[Penners]

Woah, there, FW! Just hang on a minute...

I'm going to need a lot more evidence before I'm prepared to cast my vote.

 

[worms]

Having researched it thoroughly I'll do the dismantling, reassembly and installation myself. They really are rather simple beasts.

Have you managed to track down any guidance on the internal insulation? Or is it simply a matter of packing as much insulating material in between the casing and the ovens/burners as possible?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Worms, Yes.

The internal spaces are filled with a fine powder (older models) or vermiculite insulation. There is then a layer of rockwool over the top and underneath the top plate.

I have a copy of a detailed eBook describing (with photos) the dismantling and re-assembly of agas. I paid £20 for it on eBay. I'll forward a copy of of it to anyone for a small donation to my hospital's charity link hospital in southern Ethiopia. PM me for details.

 

[Penners]

The internal spaces are filled with a fine powder (older models) or vermiculite insulation. There is then a layer of rockwool over the top and underneath the top plate.

The question of the insulation of a range is an tricky one. When we lived in Oxfordshire we had a Stanley oil-fired range, which had rather poor "bodywork" insulation. This presumably meant that it had to fire up more frequently, in order maintain its cooking and central heating temperatures. But it did mean that it was great at heating the kitchen, and for bum-warming.

In our last house we installed an oil-fired Esse ditto. This had much better internal insulation, so it lost far less heat. The downside was that we had to install a sizeable radiator in the kitchen, and I spent much less time leaning on the range's towel rail.

Which is best? I'm not sure....

 

[jocelyn plummer]

It's the external heat loss from our Cat enabled Esse that annoys me, when cooking at moderate to high on the guage it is viciously hot---- quite unlike my much mourned Aga with its tightly packed insulation. It has burned holes in the lid pads, in the e cloth, and you can fry an egg on the wall behind ( in fact I must try some scotch pancakes on the wall). When I turn esse down to low, then I can feel the familiar safety of the Aga temperature.I definitely would not want small children around the kitchen when I am rroasting a joint.

 

[Penners]

I'm astonished. Our Esse gave off a bit of "body" warmth, but it was very modest. I wonder what's different in the design of the catalytic model, as compared with our oil-fired one.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

It's the external heat loss from our Cat enabled Esse that annoys me...

I knew these solid fuel ranges could burn a variety of fuel - but cats? :shock: :shock: :shock:

Shh - don't tell Joce or 'Marm!!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

catalytic!!!!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

catalytic!!!!

Oh I see - you have to get the cat very drunk first? I guess that would make it more flammable! :lol:

 

[Penners]

Oh I see - you have to get the cat very drunk first?

Yup - you feed it gin and catatonic.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Penners]

Thanks, Joss. I know it was a mercy laugh, but it's nice to know someone cares.

 

[mm289]

Hi,

any update on the refurb of the Aga? I have an old regent in the garage which I am intending to restore for the farmhouse but got put off with stories of the cast iron warping when you try to re-enamel etc.

Also needed a new side panel where the boiler pipes exit as had rusted and struggled to find one. Finally, was worried that the rockwool looking insulation stuff might have been asbestos so kinda left it alone !!

Any experiences from people who have actually gone through the refurb process appreciated.

Thanks,

Paul.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Paul - I'm not able to pick up the Aga until the end of next month.

However, I've got my shotblasting kit all ready in the outbuildings I've found a good company that looks relatively cheap for the vitreous re-enamelling. I'll be buying new side panels and replacing things like the rope seals and lid liners. All in I think it'll cost me circa £1500, for something you can't buy for less then £3k.

I have done a fair bit of research lately, and have read that it can be hard to re-enamel Rayburns because they are prone to ward at the high temps needed (700-800 deg). Maybe it is worth Googleing "RE-ENAMEL RAYBURN" and see what comes up.

When I actually embark on this I'll post pics and updates.

Robin

 

[mm289]

thanks, I think the problem with the Rayburns is partly that they don't strip down to all the parts like and Aga does. been looking at the tradcookers site as reading this has re-inspred me to have a go!!

be good to see how you get on.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Try http://www.flame-works.co.uk/reenamell.html as well

 

[Gervase]

Can't be doing with those fancy Agas. Instead I took a trip down to Fishguard last Saturday to collect this little beauty:

It's from about 1910, made by O'Brien & Thomas of Upper Thames Street, and is in perfect working order. There's a similar one hidden away in the Sir John Soane Museum. I won't tell you what I paid for it, but I'm quite chuffed. It replaces a rather ugly woodburner in the kitchen and is the dog's danglers.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

That's lovely Gervase.

 

[skier-hughes]

Has anyone removed the thermometer from the door of one of these?
Mine has been registering 115' when it was off
Now I've turned it back on I suppose I ought to see if I can fix it for cooking purposes.....
The schematic shows two seals only, but the thing won't budge with gentle force or firm force or firm tapping. I'm wondering if it's 30 odd years of crap holding it in, or if I'm missing something, a mallet?
Paul, not sure how much comes apart on Rayburns, but again mine (OF22) is shown in hundreds of parts, well 137!!

Graham