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Post by samanthar on Mar 6, 2021 16:23:58 GMT -5
Feeling frustrated and honestly downright angry at the disposable culture of the modern appliance industry, I was looking for other options and came across the idea of going vintage. I got hooked on all the positivity and enthusiasm of Chamber's owners and within a week I sought out and found a Chambers for sale that was within driving distance. 100 bucks and a few hundred miles later and I've got this thing sitting in my dining room waiting for me to restore it..... and now I'm feeling insanely overwhelmed. I worked on some of the chrome this morning but now I feel like mild panic has sunk in as I realize I literally have no idea what I'm doing. Anyone willing to show a new girl the ropes?
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Post by vaporvac on Mar 6, 2021 18:54:02 GMT -5
Samantha, welcome and please know that restoring this is within your capabilites. I did my first one mainly by myself reading the manual , although I didn't do as thorough a job as I did on subsequent ones. This was for the internals. I would start with the "smalls" cleaning them with Maas or a good silver polish and keeping everything bagged separately and well-labelled. Then I moved on to the grates, burners and griddle and cleaning out the oven, the baffle and service cabinet. Only then did I remove the panels. What model do you have? Do you have the service manual?
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Post by nana on Mar 6, 2021 19:23:14 GMT -5
A working Chambers is a joy to cook with. You won’t be sorry once you get it done!
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Post by cinnabar on Mar 6, 2021 21:41:38 GMT -5
Welcome, there isn't much you can mess up on these stoves if you are patient and keep after it. As always give a shout for suggestions, support, someone to complain too, we've been there.
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Post by mach12 on Mar 7, 2021 1:25:24 GMT -5
Welcome! It can certainly be overwhelming but you're in good company here and we'll be here to help you through it. Do you have a service manual yet? Which model did you get?
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Post by pooka on Mar 7, 2021 3:36:43 GMT -5
Welcome. You are traveling a well trod path. We think everyone should have a Chambers, but most are too timid to take the plunge. Some wouldn't have anything that doesn't have a warranty. But even something like that will become unrepairable in time no matter what. Nothing newer can out cook, or outlast a Chambers though, despite all their newer bells & whistles. My stove is from 1935 & nothing has gone wrong with it yet. They do require a little servicing once in a great while, but many have lasted a lifetime trouble free.
Like everyone is saying, take your time & do a little at a time. It'll help you to build confidence. There are plenty of us here to advise you along the way. A good cleaning is usually top of the list. Cleaning & greasing the control valves is a good idea too. There isn't much to go wrong with these old stoves.
Let us know what model you've got & where you want to go with it. Do you want a show piece like new, or just a working stove, warts & all? It doesn't have to be pretty to work right. Let us know where you are, & if your lucky enough, one of us might be willing to visit you to put you on the right track. I'm with you about the disposable culture, especially of modern appliances. It's become a rigged system designed to deflate your pocketbook. Some things are going to wear out & break, but not at the rapid clip they do. We're fighting an uphill battle there. People like us old fogies who dig the old stuff that's built to last are a rare breed. I don't buy anything new if I can help it. Much of my best stuff is older than me. Unfortunately too many will spend themselves broke to have the shinny new latest & greatest in endless succession. Spend your money wisely on the best, & you only have to spend it once.
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Post by chick0stick on Apr 22, 2024 13:11:37 GMT -5
Welcome. You are traveling a well trod path. We think everyone should have a Chambers, but most are too timid to take the plunge. Some wouldn't have anything that doesn't have a warranty. But even something like that will become unrepairable in time no matter what. Nothing newer can out cook, or outlast a Chambers though, despite all their newer bells & whistles. My stove is from 1935 & nothing has gone wrong with it yet. They do require a little servicing once in a great while, but many have lasted a lifetime trouble free.
Like everyone is saying, take your time & do a little at a time. It'll help you to build confidence. There are plenty of us here to advise you along the way. A good cleaning is usually top of the list. Cleaning & greasing the control valves is a good idea too. There isn't much to go wrong with these old stoves.
Let us know what model you've got & where you want to go with it. Do you want a show piece like new, or just a working stove, warts & all? It doesn't have to be pretty to work right. Let us know where you are, & if your lucky enough, one of us might be willing to visit you to put you on the right track. I'm with you about the disposable culture, especially of modern appliances. It's become a rigged system designed to deflate your pocketbook. Some things are going to wear out & break, but not at the rapid clip they do. We're fighting an uphill battle there. People like us old fogies who dig the old stuff that's built to last are a rare breed. I don't buy anything new if I can help it. Much of my best stuff is older than me. Unfortunately too many will spend themselves broke to have the shinny new latest & greatest in endless succession. Spend your money wisely on the best, & you only have to spend it once. What grease should be used for the control valves? And when you say control valves........what exactly are you talking about?
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Post by nana on Apr 22, 2024 16:47:42 GMT -5
The control valves are the valves that bring gas to the burners. Each burner has a (usuallyj chrome handle on the front of the stove and a thumb latch that you press down on as you turn the handle to open and close the valve to turn the gas on and off. I’m not knowledgeable about how to grease the valves, but if you look around on the forum I believe there are a bunch of threads and posts on how to do that. What model Chambers do you have?
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Post by donmattera on Apr 23, 2024 5:47:25 GMT -5
Welcome to the chambers group I have copies of the original manuals as well as most any part you may need I do have valve grease as well Feel free to contact me Don Matterastoveworks@gmail.com 401-742-7431
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