Need advice for a L. Lange wood stove

The house I purchased has a stove that looks just like this:

Vintage 1978 L.lange & Co Danish Cast Iron Wood Stove for Sale - Holidays.net

I've been running it for a few weeks and it has been fine. But my lack of knowledge might have gotten ahead of me. It has had ONE firebrick in it - broken, on either side wall (nothing on the floor). It's very small, so I don't even know what it needs (or would fit).

What does it need? I stopped running it until I got some advice. One more thing, I have purchased a similar size stove (a small Jotul) but it's back ordered and will come this spring. So, this stove needs to be okay for a few more weeks.

I did find some specs for it (if that helps?). I think these are them: Lange 6302A

Thank you!

 

Post up some pics of your stove. You can buy firebrick, but you probably need a size that might be non standard.

 

Do you need to see the inside? Because that's exactly like my stove. Right down to the same picture on the side. The specs are
Width: 16" (at the widest point) and 22.5 inches (from back to front)

 

A lot of the older stoves just had firebrick on the bottom (no idea about that specific model though) so you could buy a box at the hardware and cut it to fit...it cuts like butter with a cheap diamond blade in a angle grinder.
Or, you could just put an inch or so of sand in the bottom too...that was another way of accomplishing the same thing.

 

Here's the little stove, door open

 

So I really do need to cover the base of the stove. I guess I assumed that maybe the former owner knew something I didn't (and her single firebrick was sufficient.

Ah, well.

If I don't cut them to fit, but build as 'good' of a base as I can with the regular sizes - will that work for the next three months or so? I've been running it about 4 or 5 hours a day. (I realize you can't know for sure - but does it seem safe - and a good bet - or would you NOT do this). My biggest fear, of course, is safety.

 

I think in your case I would just go with the layer of sand...cheap and easy to replace if you scoop some out with the ashes.
Heck, you could probably do nothing and make it to spring...

 

How far is the stove (and pipe) from the wall?
You need 18" to combustibles on singlewall stove pipe...and many of those old stoves require 36" to the stove body itself

 

I just measured it, about 25 inches from the wall. There is metal sheeting (?) at the back. It's the raised layer (both the wall and the sheet are painted green).

I had it professionally cleaned a few weeks ago - and he checked the set up - so I assume it's okay. The base is kind of stupid (the mat meets the pretty stone). But when they deliver the Jotul, I'm going to buy a bigger fire mat and put the stone on top (so it's more decorative - and safer - I don't like the seam between the two).

He actually did a full inspection for the insurance company (they were a pain, they initially didn't want to insure me because I had a wood stove - they requested I remove it. Seemed odd to me since I live in Vermont. Everyone has a wood stove).

 

OK, so it has the heat shield...if done properly, which is spaced at least 1" off the wall, and at least 1" off the floor (to allow air flow) that allows the required distance to be cut in half (so 9" pipe and 18" stove)

 

How thick should the layer of sand be?

 

Inch or two...

 

thank you!

 

Just make sure there aren't air holes or slots in or near the bottom that need to stay exposed...I would guess the air control is on the door on this one though...

 

Yes, there are two

 

Welcome...let us know how it goes.
And some pics of your new Jotul when you get it in too!

 

It looks to be a nice old stove. Ok for now but the Jotul will be more efficient. What are the plans for the old Lange? I wouldn't throw it away as there are collectors of old stoves out there.

 

I'm very sorry to say, I got a rebate from the state and it requires me to toss the old stove. It IS pretty. But the tiny Jotul - I forget the price, but my rebate is 600.00 plus giving them back the Lange. (You know what will happen to it . OTOH, it's such a good deal for me - I'm just paying a tiny bit outright for a new stove.

 

Find an old crappy stove to give them and save the Lange.

 

If I was near you, I have a stove I would trade you for the Lange and you could give it instead.