In this previous post Cony C helped me by identifying this stove as an “Imperator” made by Aktiebolaget Järnvägsmaterial /Stockholm https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/help-needed-with-identification-of-this-kitchen-stove.33339/ What I didn’t show was the replacement leg a previous owner had made. Whilst it is functional and they went to a lot of trouble welding two pieces of steel together ‘IT IS UGLY’ compared to the original pressed metal leg. Whilst the frame of the stove is cast iron the original legs were pressed metal. So here is how I made a new leg in the original style. Firstly on paper I did a rough tracing of the existing original leg as a template. It was rough because of the curves in the leg. I made sure it was oversize so adjustments could be made later on. I then traced the template onto a piece of steel tube. The tube was similar in thickness and diameter to the original leg. This could have been done from a flat sheet but using a tube made it easier. Cut the rough leg from the tube with an angle grinder. The next step was to form a step in the leg where it attaches to the stove frame. For this I found two pieces of heavy gauge steel pipe of appropriate diameter. The smaller pipe was slipped (hammered) into the larger pipe. To form the step I started with a hammer and formed the basic shape. I then used a piece of copper bar with a square edge to make the angles in the step sort of square. This also smoothed out the hammer marks. The legs are not straight. To produce the curve I used the mandrel from a hydraulic pipe bender and formed the curve. Rather than hitting the steel with the hammer the half round timber was used. This helped minimise hammer marks in the steel. As the leg tapered the curve increased so I used smaller mandrels. From then on it was a matter of comparing the new leg against the original leg and making adjustments. More grinding, more hammering, more bending. When I was happy with the leg it was time to drill the mounting holes in the leg. After removing the old paint from the leg and the frame I painted both legs and frame with high temp enamel and cured at 200 DegC. Here are the legs fitted to the frame. When I have finished fettling I will post the completed stove in the reference library.
