Hi everybody, a long time ago I found a rare Primus 12a tank, full steel, with the center of the bottom plate completely rotten and heated by the rust. Many bits were missing, no riser and burner, no filler cap, no trivet supports and only a few bits of the original cast iron trivet. Here some images when I found it: During the past weeks I started to hope to bring the stove back on fire, so as first thing I found an usable filler cap, some supports of the correct height and I managed to create a riser tube by soldering together some spare bits by broken stoves. A replacement Primus roarer for this model was the easiest part to find. Fortunately I then found an exact cast iron trivet as was the original, so this luck let me trust in this restoration. Then the worst part: the tank bottom. As said the center was completely rotten so I decided to cut a whole circular area eliminating the worst material up to the more solid steel. A couple of pin holes on one side of the plate needed to be fixed too. As patch I desoldered the bottom tank of a cracked 54 and with some scissors I have cut the patch, 1 cm larger than the removed area to allow a good wide area for the solder. Once cleaned the parts and tinned the soldering went very smooth. I tried to make a good looking fix considering the rarity of the stove. Well this is the story, this is the result:
Additionally: for a long period I have been thinking about the originality of this rare stove. Was cutting part of it the right thing to do? Better leave it as a relic? Then I realized that repairs are part of the history of these stoves so I decided to proceed and be part of its long history of almost 115 or more years. In the end I did a good thing because the stove now works again. Next steps: Find a correct filler cap (it should be the early one with the stove designed on it) Make a new riser identical to the original. Nicola
Fabulous and challenging restoration, and well worth it for such a rare stove. You have done absolutely the right thing. Ian @Nicola Francesco Elia
@Nicola Francesco Elia The work of a great orthopedic surgeon. It was the right prescription. I saw s healthy stove completely restored. I'm feeling good! You did a really good job !
@multi-cho Ahahah thanks! The patient needed only 1 minute of pre heating therapy to return to run again Nicola
