Looking for woodstove advice

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I've asked a similar question in the past, so please bear with me on this one!

I'me dealing with a buildup on the inside surface of our woodstove's ceramic "glass" door. I don't believe that this is a creosote buildup; I've already had that, and dealt with it (thanks to other advice gained here!).

This buildup is a cloudy, white / grey cloudy looking substance that starts right in the middle of the door and is gradually getting thicker, and covering more space.

The old stand-by cleaners (windex, vinegar) aren't getting rid of it. It does come off with a razor blade, but I'm worried about scratching the surface of the ceramic door.

Any suggestions on what it is or how to get rid of it?

-- dan (dbuchner@fdxsupplychain.com), December 14, 1999

Answers

I hope someone answers because I would like to know what that build up is too. I have not heard of it before.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), December 14, 1999.

Glaucoma? ;>)

-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), December 14, 1999.

It's called stove crud, and a good way to get rid of it is with a single edge razor blade.

-- (stove@cud.com), December 14, 1999.

Not sure about the gray build-up, but
here are some tips. Some stove glass
has a coating on the inside that will
come off by scraping with a razor blade.
If you have the original manual read that
first. Most good stoves are designed to
self clean with a hot fire. Use dry wood
split into small pieces. Don't use the
damper.

As for the gray, what are you burning in
the stove? You should not use your wood
stove as a trash burner. Use only well
seasoned dry wood.

Oak and Ash produce a lot of ash when burnt.

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), December 14, 1999.


dan; something you could try in a small area is Rain X ,the stuff for glass windshields for cars. Put it on after you scrape the glass clean, hopefully it will not crack the glass, If that won't work ,check out the local glass dealer in your town and ask them for heat treated glass and give them the dimensions if the piece for your stove. hate to have a good fire and the glass door break open...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), December 15, 1999.


Sounds like the grey build-up is the beginning of creosote. I have this happen all the time on my fireplace insert's glass windows. A hotter fire will slow the build-up, but eventually it will get thick enough to be recognized as creosote. I don't worry about it. When I (or my wife) get tired of it, I just use a single-edge razor to clean it off. Use on of those little blade holder gizmos though...much easier on the fingers. Find em in paint stores, Lowes, for about 1$.

They make a solvent based cleaner, but I like the blade better. Spread out some paper to catch the crumbs, and scrape away.

-- Ninh Hoa (tech@univ.now), December 15, 1999.


Just speculation, but do you burn drift wood from the (ocean) beach in your wood heater? Could be salt...

ALK

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), December 16, 1999.


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