Cleaning creosote out of a Jotul Oslo F500

[David S. Lynch]

I've owned many Jotul stoves. This will be my 4th. I bought one used for $400, but the previous owner under-fired the heck out of it, and it's coated with creosote. I know can clean most of it out, but are there any tips or issues I need to be aware of? What about the non-catalytic piping?

Will a thorough cleaning and then a hot firing take care of most of the gunk?

I appreciate any tips you have for me! Thank you!

 

[begreen]

That's a good deal. Yes, clean it out the best you can., then a hot fire or two should burn off the remaining sote. Be sure to do a couple smaller fires first, then go for it.

 

[pen]

As BG said, but in reality, a HOT fire really isn't necessary. Just a series of fires that the stove was meant to see.

 

[begreen]

Good point pen. 650F stove top should be more than adequate.

 

[BrotherBart]

"Hey Bubba. Hold my beer and watch this!"

Make sure that chimney is really, really clean first.

 

[firefighterjake]

Better to buy an under-fired, gunked up with creosote stove than a stove that has been run hard and over-fired in my own opinion . . . as others have said, clean it out the best you can, start out with a few smaller fires and then run 'er like usual.

 

[David S. Lynch]

Thanks for the advice, folks. I'll probably do the first few firings outdoors, as I'm also going to replace all the fiberglass rope and give it a fresh blacking.And yes, the stove pipes are the first thing I'll clean!!

 

[EG GREV NED MIN ELD]

Thanks for the advice, folks. I'll probably do the first few firings outdoors, as I'm also going to replace all the fiberglass rope and give it a fresh blacking.And yes, the stove pipes are the first thing I'll clean!!

When you fire it up outside, put a few lengths of pipe on it, it will draft much better than without any.
Be careful setting it up outside, it gets enjoyable. I have a jotul 118 that I keep outside with a few chairs around it. Boil syrup on top and make hickory charcoal in it. It is now a staple to our patio furniture. Although the wife calls me a hill-billy, I take it as a compliment

 

[David S. Lynch]

OK, I cleaned out everything on the stove with the exception of the tubes. Replaced all the fiberglass rope. I am on my second firing to burn off the fresh stove black. But I can't get the stove to draw!

I have a length of stove pipe on it (https://www.dropbox.com/s/uvkcgeafmbfrvma/StovePipe2.jpg?dl=0)
I am burning dry wood.

I can get it started by opening the ash drawer, which should act like a ram jet and this practice should be avoided, though in this case, the air flow isn't that strong. Once the stove is hot and the pipe is drawing, if I close off everything, the fire is choked out inside a minute. And that's with the air valve wide open.

I checked the air valve and the rear intake and it all seems clear.

I've fired my old Oslo outside with no pipe in similar weather and it still drew well enough.

What could I be missing? If the tubes at the top of the firebox have creosote in them, could they be the problem?

Or is it simply the temporary stove pipe isn't long enough to set up a good draw?