"Self-sufficiency does not mean 'going back' to the acceptance of a lower standard of living. On the contrary, it is the striving for a higher standard of living, for food that is organically grown and good, for the good life in pleasant surroundings... and for the satisfaction that comes from doing difficult and intricate jobs well and successfully." John Seymour ~ Self Sufficiency 2003

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Dover Stove info

I discovered that this posting from 6 September 2010 had somehow been used to create a link to a porn site.  Bloody cheek!  And I'm not into, nor writing, a porn blog, and have absolutely no desire to facilitate such an activity.  So, I have deleted that blog posting, and am reposting it here, under a different heading.

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Following my Dover stove posting the other day, a reader contacted me for information, and it occurred to me that I have something that not many other people have - namely a diagram of the Dover stove, detailing all the components.

So here it is. My apologies, the picture isn't that clear but I hope it gives information to whoever needs it. I always like as much information as I can find - helps me operate an item to its’ full capability.



(nos. 48 and 49 don't apply - but everything else does.) Happy Cooking :-)

Update:  I have given the basic instructions on how to operate a Dover stove here.

Update: 26 April 2014:-  Ndebele Stoves now have a webpage - please click here to be directed to it if you require any spares :)


As this blog posting was being used by nefarious people, I deleted the original posting.  On reposting it I decided that I would also repost the comments and replies as there is some information there which may be of interest / assistance to future information seekers :)


22 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness this stove is awesome! Where did find this? Is this vintage or possible to purchase new?
  2. The stove is freely available in South Africa. But it weighs a ton!

    If you were really interested in purchasing one I can give you the contact details of the factory which re-conditions them - bear in mind that you'd probably have to get to the US by ship - airfreight would cost the earth!

  3. hi Dani I have found a Dover stove in a place called Dassiesfontein. They sell them brand new and their details are as follows:

    028 214 1475 or email dassies@mweb.co.za

  4. Lioness - Welcome :-)

    Yes, I know Dassies sells them, but Negosiegat in Barrydale also does, and they are much cheaper. Plus they deliver, free, within a 50km range :-)

    Their contact number is: 028 572 1120

  5. Hello, I dont know if this thread is still live but Im' in Kenya, found a desperately neglected Dover No.6 and am trying to restore it for home heating. I haven't been able to trace any local knowledge so a few odd questions coming up. First off, is it definitely coal (not wood) and can I use briquettes (various materials) and/or charcoal? I am missing oven shelf, oven soot door, grate and bricks internal assembly and the front cleaning door. I can have these made in mild steel and new firebricks, will this work? Will firebrick cement work as a metal to metal sealant when I re-assemble?. Loads more questions but I just need to know If I have a stove or an unusual new plant shelf . Thanks.
  6. Carol - Welcome :)

    To answer your questions:
    It is definitely a WOOD burning stove - NOT coal. (and dry wood too!) Coal would burn too hot, and would therefore burn through the side walls / grate chop-chop :)
    The oven shelf you could possibly have made out of mild steel - as long as it can take +/- temps of 150 - 300oC
    The oven soot and fire cleaning doors should be made out of cast iron, due to the heat produced by the fire.
    Grate - this should DEFINITELY be out of cast iron.
    The side walls (bricks) are made out of cast iron in my one, but could probably be made out of firebricks.

    My most important suggestion is that you phone Ndelbele Stoves on 013-932 1376 or e-mail: stowe@lantic.net They manufacture the stoves and may be able to sell you the spares :)

  7. Hello There
    We just bought a second hand Dover stove (welcome)
    THe only thing is that it dosent have any plates.

    Do you know where I could get some please
    I think ours is a number 7

    Estelle


    Replies


    1. Estelle - Welcome :) I'm not sure where in South Africa you are. If you go to my 2009 Eco Choices page situated at the top of my blog I give the contact details of the three Dover Stove suppliers in South Africa that I know of. (http://ecofootprintsa.blogspot.com/p/2009-eco-choices.html and then scroll down the page to Cooking and Heating)

      I have a feeling that Ndebele Stoves in Gauteng may be of assistance to you :)

  8. Hello Dani
    Jeepers - That was a quick responce lol
    Sorry - Im in Capetown
    Estelle

    Replies


    1. Estelle - Your best then is Dassiesfontein (just passed Caledon) or Negosiegat in Barrydale.

  9. Hi, I've got a Dover stove that we purchased with our new house. We want to move it into the living room for heating. Do you think this is a good idea? I am a bit scared of soot and smoke smell in my furniture - does it let off a lot of smoke? It is currently in the entertainment area, which is a complete waste as we never spend time there. The living, dining and kitchen is open-plan. thanks

    Replies


    1. If you are prepared to have the initial smoke from lighting the stove in your lounge??? It can be quite hectic. Reckon the only way it would work is if you have it within a recessed chimney area, which would hopefully draw the smoke up and out of the room.

      Why not leave it where it is, and use it for cooking your meals - ditch the Escom oven and cook in the Dover (in winter) or a solar oven (in summer).

      Otherwise I reckon you'll have to get a specific wood burning stove for lounge use - I wouldn't recommend using a Dover there.

  10. Hello Dani
    Good to read up on the Dover. We have a Welcome Dover with a chimney .We have used it once but smoked us out of the house.
    What did we do wrong?? There seems to a a small handle which moves back and forth,
    Please help..??


    Replies


    1. Anonymous - Hi and Welcome to my blog. Could I ask you to please contact me via e-mail (dani at ecofootprint dot co dot za) with your contact number or address. I'm near you and will phone you / pop round :)

  11. Hi there,
    Wow, just what I need. I brushed my Dover stove clean and burnished the shell, taking all the parts out as I went. It seemed simple enough but now I cannot seem to reassemble it!
    Please mail me that diagram to mark@wcats.co.za as when I enlarge it, it gets blurred...many thanks.
    Mark


    Replies


    1. Mark - hope it enlarged OK?

  12. Hi Dani,

    Great website, you actually inspired me to recently buy a completely neglected one.

    As I am fixing it up I've got a couple of questions: have you installed firebricks on the side?
    Where do you fire the wood, left and/or right?
    Any other tips?

    Thanks,

    Pieter
  13. Pieter - Welcome :)

    If you're restoring a neglected Dover stove, don't forget the stove putty (click on the Dover stove label on the right hand side of my blog for more info) to seal any cracks / openings and prevent smoke from escaping into the room. Also, make sure that you install the stove in a recessed alcove with a chimney or get an expert to install the freestanding chimney. That way, hopefully, you don't get a smoke filled room when you light it like we did. The galvanised chimney pieces are NOT meant to be used on their own, they MUST be installed in a chimney. This is because the galvanised steel contracts and expands during use, causing the pieces to separate. Stainless steel, however can be used on it's own, and the insulated stainless must be used externally.

    The fire goes in the left hand side smaller cavity - above the grate. The right hand side on is the oven LOL No, I didn't install firebricks, just the normal cast iron "lining" pieces (#'s 10 and 11 in the pics above).

    Tips - again - check out the Dover label...
  14. Amazing - I have been searching FOREVER for a diagram like this. Thank you so much. My firebricks and grid above the aspan are broken (not sure how it happened - just inherited the stove) so I'll get in touch with peeps you've suggested to see if they can help with parts.
    One question, I see you mention that charcoal can get too hot for the stove. Do you think a wood like Kameeldoorn would burn too hot as well?
    Thanks again and awesome site! Will be on it a lot as we've just moved into a new home?

    Replies

    1. thewanderers - Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and for your kind words about my blog. You are more than welcome - I'm so happy you've found my posting useful.

      No, RMan reckons that kameeldoring won't be too hot. The problem with producing too much heat is that the parts of the burn pit will burn through that much easier and will thus need replacing that much sooner.

      By the way, contact details for Ian of Negosiegat in Barrydale can be found here: http://www.barrydale-online.co.za/shops/13-shopping/56-negosiegat.html I see his web page is no longer available, but his phone number should still be active.

    2. Unfortunately none of those contact details work. Emailed the peeps in Dassiefontein so will just have to wait for a response form them. Thanks again.

    3. thewanderers - Sorry, those links were valid at the time of publishing them. Yeah, Dassies has a lot of spares, but they are the more expensive option. And I've battled to get a reply from them via e-mail. Have seen some Dover stove "suppliers" on Gumtree - maybe they can also help?



15 comments:

  1. awesome site.i live in summer greens milnerton and have a small holding in Vanwyksdorp.i bought a dover in wellington many moons ago, and recently got a battered one from the locals.i am going to restore that one for my house in cape town.you guys helped a lot
    thanx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Douglas - Welcome - and thanks for your kind words and taking the time to leave a comment.

    S'funny, we looked at property in Van Wyksdorp before we bought here - VwD was just that bit too far for weekend trips from Cape Town :)

    Good on you - refurbishing something which is completely usable - instead of trashing it :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi I have a Dover coal stove and im looking for someone or a company in Cape Town or surrounding to have it refurbish.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown - Sorry, I do not know of anyone who does refurbishment of Dover stoves. By the way, Dover stoves are wood burning, not coal. Coal would get too hot and damage / warp / burn through the cast iron.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi. Check with Fire Place, 14 Stokery Road, Wellington. Phone 0733764126 or 0734213608. i just bought one from them. Collecting tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi danie. I have dover no. 8 stove. How does the oven works because all the heat is going up the chimney. Is there something missing as transfer the heat to the oven. Nice site.

    Regards Clive.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi danie. I have dover no. 8 stove. How does the oven works because all the heat is going up the chimney. Is there something missing as transfer the heat to the oven. Nice site.

    Regards Clive.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Clive - I have tried to reply to your comment personally but for some reason Blogger is playing up and won't allow me to post a comment.

    If you look at the Dover stove diagram and the list of parts, part 36, the damper rod is what controls the heat into the oven. Pulled forward, it opens the oven damper (part 34) vent and circulates the heat round the oven section. Closed, the oven damper vent sends all the heat round the top cooking surface and up the chimney. Perhaps if you removed the cooking plate rings on the right hand side of the stove and look at the action of the vent as you move the damper rod backwards and forwards, you will understand. If there is no vent, then you purchased a faulty Dover stove.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi
    I am going to restore my old Defy Dover 73S Coal Stove.
    After cleaning all the dirt and a bit of rust, can I paint the inside of the stove with NS7 as well???
    I would also like to know where On Cape Town Westcoast I can purchase Coal to burn in my stove please.

    Thanks

    Debby

    ReplyDelete
  10. Debby - Are you sure that your Dover is coal burning? Most Dover stoves are wood burning. I'm afraid I have no idea where you could purchase coal. Not sure if it is even legal to burn coal in urban area's anymore...

    Insofar as painting the inside of your stove with NS7 - no. First clean off all the rust with a wire brush. After removing the rust dust, spray with a heat resistant, fireplace paint (if required) such as Spray on Flame Proof Coating made Sprayon Products (Pty) Ltd. Make sure that you light a good, HOT fire (well ventilated so preferably do this outside) to burn off the paint fumes before using the oven / stove.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi I want to refurbish my dover no 8. Do you get a paint to re do it. Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mariette - As per my previous comment, you can use a fireplace paint which is specifically manufactured for high heat application.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Dani, There is a shop in Parow that sell Dover Stoves and spares. It is Snowparts CC, 36 West Street, Parow East. Tel 0219302288. It is near the Parow Shopping Centre.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jakkie - Welcome - and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Thanks for the info - posted for everyone to see :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi, great page! I just found an old dover in the Swazi mountains. Needs a bit of work but I hope to make it work before it gets cold... thank you all for sharing your experiences!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment - it makes my day and removes the "loneliness' of sitting at my screen blogging supposedly to myself ;) I try and reply as quickly as possible so please forgive me if sometimes my response is delayed.