We have inherited an old oil fired Rayburn.
Don't want to replace - works well, does all the hot water etc...
But the enamel exterior is pretty tatty, especially the end panel which has been scratched by a plumber fixing the hot water feed pipes.
Has anyone tried sprucing them up? Re-enamel, hamerite...???
From what I've read it's a massive job to renovate but I've no idea if you can touch it up (seeing as enamel is baked on).
Maybe it's part of the character!
A few companies specialise in refurbishing them. I think the side panels on a Rayburn are simply enamelled tin sheet as opposed to heavy cast like the fronts and tops (or the sides of an AGA. Thus they are not structural and you may be able to remove, end off to be refurbished and replace, without actually taking the oven out of commission for the whole time. You will probably have to take some bits off and replace in the removal process but without seeing which panel it is I couldn't say.
http://www.countrystylecookers.com/spares
probably buy a powder coated side here to match on an exchange basis??