Replies

1. 
   Pd5190 | Dec 05, 2002 06:52pm | #1

   Elbow grease, and a good cleaning solution. Window cleaner will work to some extent. I no longer have to do this but I wonder how the new orange based cleaners would work.

2. 
   luvmuskoka | Dec 05, 2002 07:14pm | #2

   Ken,

   The keys to keeping glass fireplace doors clean are to burn well seasoned cord wood and keep the fire hot. Damp wood will create creasote as it burns (bad for the liner too), and letting a fire smolder will create a lot of creasote.

   I use a cleaner,  followed by glass wax made just for fireplace doors. It is available at quality stove shops.

   Ditch

3. 
   Mooney | Dec 05, 2002 07:43pm | #3

   Easy as one two three .

   Get about three paper towels . Wet two of them . Dip one wet towel in the ashes. Its pure lye solution with a built in grit for cleaning . Wet the entire glass and circular wipe . For areas around the door frame it may be necesary to use a razor scaper if you want to do a thourough job . Do the same with the second towel, and use the dry one to wipe clean.

   You can avoid this cleaning by burning a "hot fire " in the insert once a day until soot on the glass is gone . My insert disapates the soot at about 1000 to 1500 degrees. This fire is necesary to clean stove  as the same thing is happening to the walls of the stove and flue port. Violets must be burned each day.

   The more seasoned the wood and the drier ,  helps dramaticly. Also prewarm the wood in the house before burning as  it also helps disapate moisture from outdoors  and makes it easier to fire the box to necesary tempature. Since its necesary to get long controlled burns at lower temps , the soot is to be lived and dealt with each day. No on wants to burn wood up at 1500 degrees all day and night , so welcome to wood burning. From our cabin to yours ,

   Happy Holidays

   Tim Mooney

   PS. Some models work better than  others because of the air draft design on the glass during the burn . Firing the wood box wide open untill there are dancing flames on top of the wood before shut down of air ports tells you combustion levels are adequte for a constant burn of violates.

1. 
   Ken | Dec 05, 2002 07:56pm | #4

   Thanks, all. Going to add more wood to fire now. Getting carmel apple martini after that. What can I say, I took the day off! Neighbors all coming over with kids for first snow party -- we have the steepest hill in the neighborhood.

   Will get the glass wax after the snow is gone. I understand the hot fire part, but I don't like to burn it that hot all the time as it seems a waste of wood.

1. 
   Mooney | Dec 06, 2002 02:51am | #7

   "Will get the glass wax after the snow is gone. I understand the hot fire part, but I don't like to burn it that hot all the time as it seems a waste of wood."

   You either misunderstood or I did a poor job  explaining . Here goes again ;

   Once a day,  usually  first thing in the morning, burn wide open untill the glass is clean . That burn will also clean the stove. Usually takes an hour tops . Then turn it down for the rest of the 23 hrs in the day . Thats it . If you use glass cleaner and dont fire the stove it will build with cresote . You can have a flue fire and burn your house down . Weird  thing about  that is you dont get to choose the time it happens . You might be asleep.

   I see you ignored the ash cleaning .  Do you ever wonder why patients dont listen to you sometimes ? It happens on a regular basis with us too. Maybe you would respect a book that will tell you the same thing . You burn your kids up and I will be pissed at you.

   Tim Mooney

1. 
   Ken | Dec 06, 2002 03:34am | #9

   OK, appreciate the advise, thought I'd combine the firing of the stove with the added protection of the glass wax. Also tried to summarize two posts so as not to beat a dead horse. Bad idea.

   So that you know I least looked at your answer close enough to cut and paste, here's what I got:

   "Once a day,  usually  first thing in the morning, burn wide open untill the glass is clean . That burn will also clean the stove. Usually takes an hour tops . Then turn it down for the rest of the 23 hrs in the day . Thats it . If you use glass cleaner and dont fire the stove it will build with cresote . You can have a flue fire and burn your house down . Weird  thing about  that is you dont get to choose the time it happens . You might be asleep. "

   I obviously don't want a flue fire, and just had the chimney swept this year (after the first season of my use, don't know about the previous owner). Rather than read a book, I had asked the chimney sweep what he did. He said, "Nothing, that's why my woodstoves don't have glass doors on them. You can't keep them clean."

   Thinking I might get a better answer around here, I asked.

   Now that the dead horse smell is getting ripe, I'll move on to the next mistake I made, my nickname "Ken/MD" The MD stands for Maryland, something I added today as I saw another Ken around. The MD part comes from a custom at another site where people append their location so regional differences stand out. Also differentiates the names. I'll change it again, as I haven't had enough school to be called "Doctor."

1. 
   Mooney | Dec 06, 2002 04:03am | #10

   I just referenced one of my books. Ignition of cresote begins at 1000 degrees.[ I think I said that ] By the time it gets to 1400, its a clean burn . I didnt know about the 1400, but I knew by the time my stove reached 1500 the glass was clean. Sometimes if Im going to have comany at night I will burn  it out before they come . Usually its not too bad though untill I put the big logs in for the night burn and shut it down. The next morning it needs the big burn. Hers another deal that I read from the book. "Cresote on the fire wall insulates the box from heat transfer to the room ". This would in my mind also be wasting wood . I can see your point about being stingy with wood as I hate to burn a load quickly also. In the morning it needs a new set of coals though. This is the right time to get them while you are still there . Goes great with coffee and the paper sitting in front of that roaring fire  on a very cold morning !  Life is good !

   Tim Mooney

2. 
   Piffin | Dec 06, 2002 05:55am | #11

   Good explanation, Tim.

   Condensation of volatiles begins at about 425°F and re-ignition of creosote tars at as low as 525°F, depending...

   The hour of hot burn not only helps clean the glass but the chimney is the point you are making but the only good way to have the glass stay clean is in the design. Controlling the vortecs of induced air by a sympathetic design of the interior of the firebox and placement of the intakes and whetrher the ports preheat the air are all imnportant to having a good burn and clean glass. Most copycat amnufacturers just don't bother.

   Excellence is its own reward!

   "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

   The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

   --Marcus Aurelius

2. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 05, 2002 11:19pm | #5

   >> Violets must be burned each day.

   Volatiles?

1. 
   junkhound | Dec 06, 2002 02:48am | #6

   gave up 20 years ago (after an annealed pane broke even) and replcaed the glass with steel panelswith scottie dog 'connect the dots' outline.

4. 
   andybuildz | Dec 06, 2002 02:54am | #8

   Ken

        I have two wood stoves and Tim Mooney answered your question perfectly. Wood ashes on a damp paper towel.

   Be warm

           Namaste

                      Andy

   It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM