new member, what are all the bits for?

@Stanleysteamer Hammerrite rust remover gel is great for steel trivets and stove burners it’s basically citric acid in a gel so it adheres and can be scrubbed with an old toothbrush or similar but it is quite strong circa 5% so don’t leave it on brass for too long or it will go pink Stove restoration. Parts 1 to 4 is a great masterclass by @kerophile who makes his own citric acid gel

 

Finally found this which seems as you say to show my windshield.
Six variants of Radius 21

 

My cousin is a professor in the Metallurgy department at a university in Toronto. I'd ask him except I haven't emailed him for a decade or two!

 

Chelation is one of the best if not the best way to gently remove rust from steel, but it takes ages.
(I have been rust removing for 50 years or so. You do it a lot if you play with cars as much as I do. Welding rusty steel is a fool's errand.)
There are loads of different chemicals you can use as well as simple abrasive methods. I have a polishing wheel so i could buff them to a mirror shine if I felt like it.
I may only have started with this stove recently but I have been working with metals a very long time.

 

@Stanleysteamer

In car terms, you have the equivalent of a Series I Land Rover. As I am sure you are aware, the Landie's aluminium does not take to being worked. In the case of the stove, the brass does not take to being treated with certain chemicals. The result in both cases is cracking with further strain. Not every time, but it isn't possible to be sure that one injury won't create permanent damage.

The other similarity is the enthusiast's tendency to leave the battle scars in place.

 

Yep, Ammonia is a problem for Brass
Stress Corrosion Cracking of Brass in Ammonia

So to all of you who intend to soak your stoves in Brasso for four days, this is what you can expect.



So from now on I will clean it in a mix of white vinegar, baking soda and flour as per
How Can I Clean Brass With Ammonia? | WorldSupporter Blogs.

So can we move away from this now and on to something else like where I can get the proper windshield for my stove?

 

Part 2104 Optimus Spares Price List

 

Cheers mate!

 

Thanks @Firestarter they do one for £12 odd. I'll have a bash at starting mine outside before ordering one.
But thanks again.
The sun is out now, and there is quite a bit of wind so we will see!
Cheers

 

Good luck! Take a photo if it works.

 

Successful firing of the Optimus 00

Pics should be self explanatory.



Took it into a windy place while the meths was burning and the windshield seemed to be able to cope, but put it elsewhere for the rest of the test as it was easier to do and take pics.

And then I couldn't find my camp kettle so I got out the old Bukta pan set and boiled a small pan of water, about 450 mls



Rolling boil within about 4.5 minutes. Quite happy with that would have been a bit quicker in a kettle I think, also in a more sheltered spot.

The pan set dates back to when I was a small kid, so about 60 years or more, very comprehensive.


It was all we ever used to cook for a family of 4 on a two burner Campinggaz stove.

Nests neatly and weighs just over a pound.
Something else I found, my mother was a doctor and pinched this from her lab for meths.

Ideal for filling the meths burning ring on both the Tilley lamp and, as I realised, this stove.

Very safe, even if you knock it over or turn it upside down little or none comes out.


Yes, I know there is still Brasso on the tank, ;-( I was finishing it when the rain stopped so I immediately went out and did this.
It started raining again just as I turned it off.
So overall very pleased with it.
Oh and for anyone else who isn't sure a 17mm open ended spanner is what is needed to tighten the burner onto the tank. An 11/16 " will do at a pinch.
So onward and upward!
Thanks again for all your support!

 

Legs fold out, as in my avatar.

 

Yep they sure will, once i have freed them off!
Too keen to see if it fired up.

 

Jolly result!

 

Good to see you got her going. Always a good feeling.

 

@Stanleysteamer ,

Glad your 00 is working, and that things are progressing nicely! The 00 is a wonderful stove that covers lots of bases when camping, or hiking.

Just for fun, here are a few shots of our very first Optimus 00, which we bought back around 1989.







As you can see, once they are cleaned up, and well maintained, the 00's are simply outstanding stoves!! Now have have around 6 of the little powerhouse 00's, and think they are the Dog's B's!! Thanks for sharing your progress, and keep it up! You'll be very happy that you did, and you will find your 00 to be an outstandingly reliable companion for the outdoors!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

Thanks for all the kind words.
Yes i am very happy and yes, the legs are now free and working!

Next bit of research.....

We collect picnic baskets to go with our cars and I would dearly love to find one of those kettles and spirit burners that used to sit in the old wicker picnic baskets.

They occasionally come up in baskets but they are very expensive.

The later ones always have thermoses, which is fine.....
Thanks again for all the advice and encouragement!

 

If asked the question: if you could only keep one stove, which would it be? Many here, after recovering from the very suggestion, (the idea may cause permanent trauma) the 00 would be their choice. Glad to see yours up and running!

 

Well as I only have one, I'm glad it's the best one!!!

 

@Stanleysteamer

Congratulations on getting it going.

I must say, that is a very fine pot set you have.


Cheers

Tony