Plasma gas fire DIY restoration - please help!!

newbie-house-buyer

Hello

Wondering if anyone has an advice for me... I'm a first time buyer (currently in the conveyancing process) and slowly picking up things for the new house. However, we are on a tight budget being FTBs...

We have purchased a Focal Point Flueless Plasma Gas Fire for our new home, 2nd hand from eBay. It was very cheap but has quite a few cosmetic problems.

We are obviously going to get the fire serviced and fitted by a professional but we would like to try and spruce it up a bit first. However, as well as being a FTB I'm also a FT-DIYer so I'm looking for some advice.


This is the fire (sorry, I'm a new poster so not allowed to post links - just put http:// infront of the text below to see the image)

i50.tinypic.com/8y70w1.jpg

So, the problems, or should I say challenges...

There a some small rust spots on the silver stainless steel surround:
i45.tinypic.com/2gvimqf.jpg

i46.tinypic.com/51sn74.jpg

There are also some small scratches on the silver stainless steel surround:

i49.tinypic.com/6fza0i.jpg

The black frame that surrounds the silver part also has lots of scratches. I think that this is stainless steel too, just has a coat of black paint:

i50.tinypic.com/344pqmq.jpg

i50.tinypic.com/34njuaa.jpg

The centre part of the fire was originally all black but now it has white patches:
i47.tinypic.com/ebc7iv.jpg

Does anyone have any ideas on:

- Is there anything we can use to get rid of rust on the silver stainless steel part?

- Is there anything we can do to minimise scratches on the silver stainless steel part?

- Is there a special kind of (fire resistant?) black paint / spray paint that we could use to restore the black frame?

- Is there anything that we can use to restore the black centre bit of the fire?

Any advice much appreciated!

Thanks

southcoastrgi

i wouldn't buy or fit a new one let alone a second hand one (death traps if they go wrong), have you measured the room you intend to use it in ? it must be a min of 30 cubic meters, if it's not you can't use it plus you will have to have permenant ventalation to outside this will depend on the fire but prob will be a min of 100 cm2

laurel7172

I wonder how easy it will be for you to find a professional willing to fit a second hand gas appliance? I would check that out before spending any more.

However, assuming somebody will fit it, with regard to the tatty black bits, I have successfully treated my brass gas fire with matt-black stove/chimenea (sp?) paint, which I think cost about eight quid delivered from Ebay. It comes in silvery colours as well, if you can't polish up the stainless steel and don't want to go all black. Follow the instructions carefully and make sure you "season" it with the windows open.

cyclonebri1

Listen to SCG, few would dream of fitting these new, let alone 2nd hand.

To explain the fumes are vented into your living space, abit like leaving the hob on full blast with no extractor, it's not a good scenario, block the vent one day because it's cold and the forensic team will be busy over the weekend.

Sorry for the morbid post, but......................

keystone

You've wasted your money to be honest. You should never, ever, ever buy a second hand gas appliance from anywhere whatsoever. You have no idea how its been treated and you have no idea as to whether its safe. The very best thing you can do with it is give it a float test.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Cheers

newbie-house-buyer

Thanks for the advice.

Yes I have confirmed with engineer that they will service the fire and yes the room is big enough.

The black stove paint sounds good and I've found some stainless steel restorer on ebay.

warmgas

Don't forget you will also need a permanent air vent fitting that communicates directly with the outside air. It will tell you what size you need in the manufacturer's instructions.

You have got the instructions haven't you?

muckybutt

I would also heartily recommend you get a carbon monoxide detector fitted in the room you are fitting the fire place in, costs a few quid, but whats a few quid if one day it saves your live's ?

BTW another way to polish up stainless steel is to use a kitchen scourer and some baby oil.

newbie-house-buyer

Okay great thanks for the advice.

Yes we have the manual. It is also available online here
focalpointfires.co.uk/files/usermanuals/Plasma,%20Platinum,%20Capella%20%20installation%20instructions%20C%20[EN].pdf

cyclonebri1

muckybutt wrote: »

I would also heartily recommend you get a carbon monoxide detector fitted in the room you are fitting the fire place in, costs a few quid, but whats a few quid if one day it saves your live's ?

BTW another way to polish up stainless steel is to use a kitchen scourer and some baby oil.

Point of fact?or argue?

Every co2 detector I have seen/fitted has said don't fit it in the same room as the appliance you are monitoring.
Seemed strange to me at the time but I welcome views;)

southcoastrgi

in the case of a flueless fire i would def install it in the same room, how many people fall asleep in front of the fire & never wake up so not much point in putting it in another room