Vesta FJ from hell

Discussion in 'Fettling Forum' started by Remus1956, Dec 22, 2025.

  1. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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    I just realized that I seem to buy desirable stoves but projects in a sense... Others may call them train wrecks. We have ourselves another stove from hell.

    This one I will have to say is the sludge king... I've never seen gas so bad. I don't even think it's gas....it smells like tar.

    I'm in the middle of it now having a few days off....and at least this one isn't covered in bird shit like my last radius 43... But I suspect when the previous owner paints these stoves periwinkle blue I should see that as caution.

    The only thing I can see that's missing is the jet. That's not a problem as I found a substitute for one.

    This stove is glued together with resin...I don't know how to describe it.

    20251222_120317.jpg

    I couldn't move the knob for a while until I warmed it up... Then haha.... Well... The photo speaks for itself

    The wick is sludged up and just simply broke apart like chocolate
    20251222_110801.jpg

    Reaching into the tank I could grab the other side....also covered in shit...I mean sludge

    20251222_111840.jpg 20251222_113347.jpg

    I cannot blow air through this...so decided to take it to the vise and burn the shit out...

    20251222_113928.jpg

    The SRV in the cap was also glued shut...and had to warm it up but it came apart easier.... Rest of the parts seem ok.

    20251222_123444.jpg

    To be continued....I need to get something to rinse the tank out as it's full of sludge. Running hot water melted out a lot but want to clean it more

    More later!
     
  2. z1ulike

    z1ulike United States SotM Winner SotY Winner Subscriber

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    Yikes! That stove is in rough condition. I'd fill the tank half full of gasoline and shake it around to dissolve the sludge. Either that or use Acetone.

    Ben
     
  3. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Thanks @z1ulike I have a ton of acetone!
     
  4. PWDolkas

    PWDolkas Subscriber

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    An ultrasonic cleaner wouldn't hurt neither.
     
  5. Pharael

    Pharael SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Remus1956
    Putting the tank in hot water (not boiling) with the acetone in the tank, will loosen up the tar residue more effectively.

    Pharael.
     
  6. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @z1ulike @Pharael oh that worked. I ended up leaving the tank submerged in acetone. When I initially put the tank in, as I poured the acetone it was coming out the other side like coffee. I took it out to look at it about an hour later, and most if not all was gone, but the walls look "grimy" so I am going to drop some small nuts and screws in there, and shake the hell out of it with some acetone in it and rinse until clear.
    Believe it or not, but there is a vesta tank inside this jar....

    20251223_050331.jpg 20251223_050319.jpg
     
  7. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Tank after cleaning up and a coat of paint
    20251223_113216.jpg
     
  8. Pharael

    Pharael SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Looks like new.
     
  9. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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  10. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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    And no candling....
    Now to tackle the case
    20251223_134325.jpg
     
  11. Pharael

    Pharael SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Beauty of a flame!

    Going to have to send you some of my stoves for refurb.

    Pharael.
     
  12. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Pharael I was lucky.. You're know more than me on doing these!
     
  13. Migwar

    Migwar Lebanon Subscriber

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    Beautiful outcome and an efficient work.
     
  14. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Migwar thanks man...and I just finished it on Christmas morning!
     
  15. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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    So while waiting on Christmas dinner I decided to take the Vesta to an acetone bath and begin painting....

    Lots of pitting from the rust.... But got it all off.
    20251225_082630.jpg 20251225_082647.jpg

    After this I coated the legs in a high heat ceramic that I like to use.

    20251225_083144.jpg

    And the rest is just to assemble it!

    20251225_084237.jpg 20251225_084308.jpg

    I like to put a blanket of carbon felt under in case I need to preheat it.

    Here is the periwinkle blue house paint previous (with lots of under paint rust)

    Screenshot_20251225_084952_eBay.jpg

    Here is my after.

    20251225_084205.jpg

    All this needed was a jet which I subbed from a campus 5 stove (this stove was completely missing the jet)

    Screenshot_20251225_085824_eBay.jpg

    Thanks for looking!
     
  16. Migwar

    Migwar Lebanon Subscriber

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    Enjoy this beauty. Well done
     
  17. Pharael

    Pharael SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Super job :clap:

    Pharael.
     
  18. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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  19. ROBBO55

    ROBBO55 Subscriber

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    Great work and It's cleaned up nicely, congratulations :thumbup:
     
  20. Remus1956

    Remus1956 United States SotM Winner Subscriber

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