Wood stove pipe question.

I was reading the post about the woodstove chimney color, and a few people said to put a pop can or beer can in the woodstove, anyone know how this helps with creosote control? I though it was intersting.

Jay, I know nothing about how that would work, but I've heard of folks doing it. A friend swore by potato peelings - he'd throw them on a hot fire, and claimed they worked miracles. Personally, I'm skeptical on everything but a good old manual cleaning.

I doesn't mater because Oboma's EPA is going to outlaw all wood burners that put out more smoke than a ciggeret so we can all just freeze if global warming doesn't work.

(quoted from post at 20:37:47 02/17/14) I was reading the post about the woodstove chimney color, and a few people said to put a pop can or beer can in the woodstove, anyone know how this helps with creosote control? I though it was intersting.

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In the old days the old timers would toss in a tin can to be burnt up with the wood every few weeks. Something about the gasses given off while the tin was deteriorating over the course of a few days supposedly helped in the elimination of creosote. The old man always swore by it.

However, I'm a firm believer in burning only well seasoned wood and burning whatever you do burn very hot !! It could've been an old wives tale just like forcing kids to swallow a tablespoon of mineral oil every night at bed time...and a few drops of warm honey in your ear if you had an ear ache....

The way things are going in D.C. you will need a permit just to pass gas.

I was taught a teaspoon or 2 of table salt on a HOT fire would do same thing.

We have been useing Rutland Creosote Remover for about 15 years. It turns the creosote in to light brown color and won't burn (treat wood about every fifth load in stove). I still have chimney periodically cleaned and inspected.

My best guess is that once the aluminum burns it puts out a little more heat. I don"t know. I think the creosote buster products you get at the store contain an aluminum compound.

Rutland Creosote Remover contains N-Propl Alcohol and Manganese Nitrate.

Nah, that would put the abundant gas passers out of business, LOL!

...and a few drops of warm honey in your ear if you had an ear ache....

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FWIW, raw honey has so many good things in it that I'd buy the idea of it helping with an ear ache. When I get a real bad sore throat, nothing works better to sooth it than warm honey. It works great on cuts and burns and skin irritation. Good stuff, honey.

(quoted from post at 20:37:47 02/17/14) I was reading the post about the woodstove chimney color, and a few people said to put a pop can or beer can in the woodstove, anyone know how this helps with creosote control? I though it was intersting.

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I have tried things like that and found no difference in creosote build up. As was said, the best idea is to have good dry wood, a warm chimney and clean it often. The special logs and compounds might work, maybe, if the conditions are right, for some people in some circumstances. But the old fashioned manual way is assured to work every time.

I am an older person, and I seem to remember throwing a D cell battery in the fire on occasion to burn something or other, other than the battery.

Fred

I was interested about what that does as well. From observation of my set up and a few friends, one thing is clear, they are all different and people don't always use them the same, burn the same wood the same way.

The thing that gets me is, if in fact you do have a slight coating of creosote on most of the flue, is it really wise to put something in there that will burn hot and have it burn that creosote out ? I am assuming thats not what is supposed to happen when using the various things mentioned for the purpose, preventing it from burning.

Definitely true about keeping the flue temperature up, providing enough oxygen so it does not smolder, which even dry seasoned wood will do. I did that last week, forgot to open the vent on the door, nice 1 year seasoned dry elm in there, was smoking blue out the stack, quick little adjustment, almost clear again. I'm fortunate with this set up, I don't have to clean the flue, only getting a slight coating on the last 2 clay tile flue pieces at the top during a season. When I pull the pipe or open the clean out at the tee, on the bottom, its fine soot, and at the 90 where the clay tile flue starts, steel pipe ends, there may be a couple of handfuls of whatever it is, to remove. Part of this is that the stove will overfire easily if you put too much wood in at start up. While I do get that pipe hot glowing at times, its normally a hot fire, but not glowing hot. Boy I hate when it happens, I stand there, damper it down, it will back puff a little, cut the air and it settles right down, check the stack making sure theres no roman candle coming out. Thats probably what burns up any closer creosote accumulation if any is present. Flue temp really seems to eliminate creosote. I do use pine for kindling, yet the the flue stays clean. Talk to someone else with a stove and they have a regimented cleaning schedule, monthly or more, depending on what happens.

If your chimney is clean every morning when you fire up crumple up some new paper and throw it in the stove and open the draft and let it roar up the chimney and it will burn off any creosote from the day before.

Bob

There was an article and editorial in the Sunday paper on the ruling a few weeks ago.THERE IS NO current wood burning device being made that will pass,it is less then 1/2 of the best Pellet stove now being made.Plus they don't want anything out there now tobe Grandfathered in. They seem to want Gas tobe the only heat source.Or maybe gas-wind-solar powered electric.This might start the biggest war of all.

I see no one has mentioned throwing all your potato peelings in the stove to get rid of creosote.

Simple, the fire heats up the contents of the soda can or beer can to the point at which the can explodes thereby extinguishing the fire.
NO FIRE - NO CREOSOTE.

LOL !

It"s no wonder that too much legislation can"t pass the smell test. Same source.