Hey all... I'm working on my Desca, and I want to take the filter out to clean. The only problem is that, I can't exactly remove the filter without considerable effort. The tank has kinda rusted through, but I've added JB Weld to fill the holes; it seems to be working. Now, anyone know how to take off this plug? Help?
Ok, I was able to partially disassemble the Desca, and I was able to shove a 4.5mm brush into the the filter area. I was also able to use a steel brush on the tank, and found several small holes in the tank. JB Weld should work to fill those in. Hopefully, by tomorrow, it should retain liquid, and burn alcohol. More to come!
This is what a Desca 1 Burner stove looks like after it has been torn apart, paint removed, and JB Welded... The tank has been sealed, and pressure tested; no leaks!!! Anyway, I used Jasco to remove the paint, and I'm probably going to use Krylon High Temp Grey for the colour. If someone has an idea of what would be a better high temp paint that I can obtain in the USA, please let me know!
If grey is not your first choice of colors, check out an auto parts store and look at the engine block , exhaust manifold paints. Many different colors from 550F to 1200F.
I've painted it, and it's a nice copper colour! In the PNW, we have a chain of stores called Bi-Mart, and they had a good selection of Rustoleum Brand High temp paint. I still have to keep an eye on the tank, just in case the JB Weld fails. I did find the industrial grade version of JB Weld, but it's a bit pricey at the moment! Still also thinking about using CLR on the inside of the tank to get rid of the rust. Since I started on this project, I think that I've become well-versed in this model of stove; I'm no expert, I can tell you, but it has been a learning experience! For those of you naysayers that have bad mouthed the Desca, once you finally clean out the gravity feed system, it puts out some serious heat! Oh, I have a wick from a lantern (the flat type, used for paraffin/kerosene lanterns...) that I cut in half. Does anyone think this could be used in lieu of the mop string? I ask, because I made a copper coil pressure stove, and it seemed to work. Will it work in this application is the question indeed! Photos coming!
This is a collection of the completed Desca einflammig sport spirituskocher! It's still a work in progress (if the tank leaks; so far, so good!), should it be necessary!
How the #&*% did you get the tube cleared? I've got some kind of steel wire or such inside, suspect I'll have to take a drill to ream out the tube. Murph
Got the tube cleared on mine, had to take a 1/4" drill bit 12" long to get 'er done, but boy, did it clean out the crap! Murph
At first, I tried to use vice grips to twist it off, but to no avail. I ended up getting a torch, and heated the nipple to glowing. It came off with my multitool after it cooled. I pulled out the filter holder, and it was nasty!!! The filter was rotting away, and the filter tube was rusty, as was the tank! The tank also had several small holes, and alcohol leaked; not good!!! So, I used some Jasco to remove the paint, and sanded it down. I then used CLR to clean out the rust, and it did a fairly decent job. I needed to replace the wick, and I tried using flat kerosene lantern wick... it didn't work so well. It was suggested that I use fibre glass for the filter, but at the time I didn't have any (or so I thought... I had some heater fibre glass filters from Wal-Mart that I forgot about...) fibre glass to use, but I trimmed up some fibre glass and wrapped it around the filter holder, and placed it back into the tube... It worked! The problem now, is that the burner flutters (the flame fluctuates up and down!!! Any ideas why this is?), and I'd like to fix that!!!
Here's a new problem... the burner sputters, and flutters. I'd like to know what causes this. Any ideas?
You must have a "newer" model. I have 2; an older one, and one I picked up in Germany that was made in 1989... The one made in 1989 doesn't have the nipple on it like this one has. Which means, when I rebuild it, I'm going to have to drill it out as well!!! Damn!!! I'd really like to know what the hell is causing this thing to flutter now!!! I've cleaned out the tank at least 4 times, and it still flutters!!! It isn't burning blue, instead it's burning orange, like there's water in the line. Anyone know how to solve this problem?
