Hi everyone, new to this hobby but have managed to get hold of an early Rippingales stove (Like this one in the Gallery) I have a few questions to set me off bringing it back to life. Firstly, what fuel would the 2 burners run on …. Methylated spirit or other? Both burners’ fuel tanks have a few rust holes in them, which I would like to repair. The biggest is about 5mm (1/4 inch) in size. How and what can I use to fill the holes to retain the fuel, for a long term solution. I will initially clean the fuel tanks and the burner bodies with “evapo-rust” to remove the rust from them. Any info gratefully received. Thanks in advance.
Stove? Oven with burners underneath? Photos would clarify. Paraffin’s the fuel. Soft solder and tinplate patches for the holes. Gently sand (by hand) around each hole or patch of holes to provide a clean base for flux, then solder. Sanding may reveal more pin-holes. Some might suggest an automobile fuel tank sealer such as POR-15, which is a resin poured into a leaky tank. The larger holes would have to be patch-soldered first, or the resin would simply trickle out through them. Essential preparation for use of the POR-15 is to follow the manufacturer’s advice on how to deal with the interior of the tank before pouring in the resin. This entails the use of caustic chemicals and flushing agents, which the manufacturer sells as a kit. It doesn’t come cheap! Wicks that haven’t been used for years are best replaced. The proprietor of Base Camp, Mike, stocks wicks and happens to be an authority on Rippingilles with a collection of his own.
