little wenlock woodstove: tar on glass question

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little wenlock woodstove: tar on glass question
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alison
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Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 1:00 pm Post subject:
glass is easy to clean. In the morning, when the fire is out, get a damp piece of kitchen roll, dip into the fire ash and rub on the glass. It will come up sparkling.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 2:00 pm Post subject:
Thanks for this thread. I'll be looking at my Coalbrookdale later to check its glass. I also noticed mine appeared to have no rope anywhere, nor ever to have had.

ninat

Joined: 01 Feb 2009
Posts: 606
Location: Scotland

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 3:24 pm Post subject:
Can vouch also for the damp ash cleaning method

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 4:39 pm Post subject:
I'm guessing that cleaning the glass is less of a issue than how to keep it clear so as to see a bit of flame while the fire's in

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 7:16 pm Post subject:

thanks for all the repplies.

Idealy, I would like to be able to use the stove without having to regularly clean the glass. I dont mind every few burns, but any more than that sounds a bit much to me.

Richard: yes, we do run it on slumber quite a bit, closing the air intake down.

The third option I was thinking about, which I didn't write up in my initial question, is to use smaller splits of wood that burn faster, and run the stove with a more open air intake, with the intention of burning it hotter with a more complete oxidation. I think I'll try this as my next move. I did notice that it only started sooting up when I stoked up the fire with a few big chunks of ash and closed it down. (as an aside- the ash has quite a few knots in it, and may not have been totally dry in the knots...I heard a bit of hissing when I opened the door, hence this could have lowered the temperature quite a bit).

I'm not sure if gil has noticed this with her coalbrokedale: If the fire gets up to a high temperature and I close down the air intake, the fire will drop down to smolder, then after a while it will burst back into flames (I expect this is when the wood has given off enough wood gas to cause ignition). At this point, a big puff of smoke comes out from the spaces around the window. Its always done this.

So I'm going to keep the rope in place and burn it hot with plenty of air.

I'll let you know how it goes.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 7:33 pm Post subject:
Make sure you have some CO monitors in place when experimenting with fires.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 7:41 pm Post subject:
Or a canary.

lettucewoman

Joined: 26 Sep 2006
Posts: 7834
Location: Tiptoe in the Forest!!

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 8:01 pm Post subject:
never been able to get the ash trick to work with our stove...we use ceramic hob cleaner cos the glass is actually ceramic...works a treat!

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 8:02 pm Post subject:
I'm not keen on stoves with little windows in as I know it would niggle me that I have a little window but I can't see through it... well it does when other people have them Much better to just either have a solid door or an open fire. As the stove hasn't arrived yet though, I'll just sit here shivering.

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 8:31 pm Post subject:

James wrote:

burn it hot with plenty of air.

That'll do it

You'll romp through fuel though

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Sun Sep 20, 09 10:27 pm Post subject:

vegplot wrote:

Make sure you have some CO monitors in place when experimenting with fires.

good point.

jp

Joined: 09 Nov 2006
Posts: 302
Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 09 7:00 pm Post subject:
Lots of sensible suggestions so far (not sure about the canary - RSPB?). Main points I think are; run it hot & avoid keeping it in overnight use only dry wood (avoid pine which is rather tarry) ash is great Install CO monitor avoid leaks round the door don't overload the fire with fuel have you had the chimney cleaned - it might be sooted up (risk of chimney fire)

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 09 7:07 pm Post subject:
Agree with JP. P.S. They don't call Clearview that for nowt you know, buy yourself a better stove

Brandon

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 114
Location: mid wales

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 09 3:48 pm Post subject:

woodsprite wrote:

Agree with JP.
P.S. They don't call Clearview that for nowt you know, buy yourself a better stove

pity about the "afterthought lashup" boilers in them though...

Ratman2

Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Location: Saltfleetby in Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 09 7:36 pm Post subject:
My solid fuel stove has an 'air wash' and it's useless (the air wash, not the stove) Just clean the glass when it's cold with fine wire wool and lots of soapy water.

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