Went to a yard sale; they have a Coronado wood cook stove for sale for $200. I'd like to know if anyone here knows anything about this brand and if it's a good price. The stove is rusty on the inside but sound, as far as I can tell. What do you look for when examining an old woodburning stove? Would appreciate any ideas, experience, opinions. Thanks!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), November 02, 2001

Answers

I always take a flashlight when looking at wood cookstoves. I have my husband stand in the back of the stove and shine the light around the oven to check for leaks. Check the top to see if the lids, etc. are cracked or worn so that the lids will not sit properly. Check the grates in the firebox to make sure they work and are not cracked. They may be warped. There should be a shaker tool for you to check that the grates work. If there is a water resevoir, also check that for leaks and rust. Make sure all the parts are there! If it does not have a lid lifter, or grate shaker, those can be purchased at places like Lehmans but other parts may be harder to find.

We just purchased another cookstove and the resevoir has a tiny hole that my husband will repair. We spent about 25 minutes going over the stove to make sure everything was OK. Also, when you are transporting the stove, remove warming ovens and resevoir. If you can remove base do that also. Remove lids and all removal parts so they do not get damaged.

Remember, these stoves are heavy. Tomorrow we are going to pick up the stove we just purchased and will have 3 other men to help my husband. If you think cast iron pans are heavy, well a cookstove is that much more so but wonderful to cook on.

I do not know anything about that make of stove, but someone else on the forum may.

$200 is a good price!

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), November 02, 2001.