Can I wipe warm glass when I reload?

FionaD said:

I've never had any dark stains on my glass, just that slight fly-ash kind of haze.

...One year in with my stove and I have an area of very, very slight opaqueness on the very centre area of the stove window. It's only visible when I am right there, close by, looking at it. It's ringed with an area that is slightly coloured, in the same way as oil creates colour in water.. It's not a mark that can be removed in any way. It's now part of the glass. Any idea what that might be?

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That's the etching that's been referred to. It's where ash melted into the ceramic glass. It's common to see it front and center near where the primary air enters the stove. That slight white haze needs to be cleaned off of the glass just as much if not more than other build-up.

I wait for the stove to be in the coaling stage. I open the door for a while until the door temp is down near 140. (IR gun). If I have any brown glass I use "no-fume" oven cleaner to get that off, followed by regular glass cleaner to get the rest.

If I just have white haze, then I use only glass cleaner. Works good for me.

I did try that Rutland cleaner/polish. Not sure if I like it though. Too hard to polish off completely if stove is warm. (OK for cool stove) Leaves a silicone-like coating.

webby3650 said:

That's the etching that's been referred to. It's where ash melted into the ceramic glass. It's common to see it front and center near where the primary air enters the stove. That slight white haze needs to be cleaned off of the glass just as much if not more than other build-up.

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Oh what a bummer... Especially as I do wipe my glass every morning. I've always just used a damp paper towel and water, nothing else. well at least it's only visible from close up.

I find it much easier to clean when the glass isn't blazing hot. I wait until the coals burn down then open the door, I then lean a piece of metal ( half the size of the opening) against the opening to shield the heat from the door. After 10 minutes, it's cooled off enough to wipe without the rag sizzling..

Welcome,
I've had a Hampton H300 for 10 years. I clean the glass cold about once every two months or so. (3 times a season approx.) Mine never gets white ash on the glass? ... just brown creosote. If yours wipes off easy I would do it. I leave my creosote alone. It darkens on the left and right edges of the front glass and during a month or so it slowly increases and tints the center. It does burn off and peals and reforms but its not a big deal. I can still see inside. I clean mine cold using rubbing alcohol, a paper towel and steel wool lightly only on tough areas. Doing mine hot at 200 degrees would not be a good idea. Enjoy your stove!

Handy Daddy said:

My question is, when I reload and the stove is warm but not hot, let's say 200 degrees, can I wipe the glass with a rag? Besides the obvious of not burning myself or igniting the rag, will this damage or scratch the glass?

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Andiron127 said:

Welcome,
I've had a Hampton H300 for 10 years. I clean the glass cold about once every two months or so. (3 times a season approx.) Mine never gets white ash on the glass? ... just brown creosote. If yours wipes off easy I would do it. I leave my creosote alone. It darkens on the left and right edges of the front glass and during a month or so it slowly increases and tints the center. It does burn off and peals and reforms but its not a big deal. I can still see inside. I clean mine cold using rubbing alcohol, a paper towel and steel wool lightly only on tough areas. Doing mine hot at 200 degrees would not be a good idea. Enjoy your stove!

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I'm fascinated by how different this is stove to stove, and maybe wood to wood and who knows what else. I get a small brown spot only when a spit rolls over and the end stops right on the glass, which isn't often. Even then, I've yet to have a brown spot on this stove that didn't burn off in a few hours.

On the other hand, I get that sort of gray haze built up about once a week to the point I want to clean it off.

I have NO IDEA what the difference is, whether stove or wood or operator habits or climate or what. Do you?

gyrfalcon said:

I'm fascinated by how different this is stove to stove, and maybe wood to wood and who knows what else. I get a small brown spot only when a spit rolls over and the end stops right on the glass, which isn't often. Even then, I've yet to have a brown spot on this stove that didn't burn off in a few hours.

On the other hand, I get that sort of gray haze built up about once a week to the point I want to clean it off.

I have NO IDEA what the difference is, whether stove or wood or operator habits or climate or what. Do you?

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Good point gryfalcon. I don't know either, maybe firebox size and wood types influence it? The Hampton H300 has the air wash on the glass and I think a smaller firebox. Most pics on this site guys have a bigger set up then me. I actually like the old school Timberline models, parents had a 1978 Timberline with deer and forest mosaic on the doors. On my property in WV, I harvest oak, poplar, black locust and some birch. I feel I have to mix these together... They have different burn rates. Obviously the oak burns the best. Black locust I feel is not dry completely after a year. It smells aromatic outside.. Lol The young locust trees have nasty sharp thorns, I had to educate my kids.

I have a picture of my slow creosote build up. It forms and then peals off in sheets and burns. I just let it go, as long as I can see inside I don't care.

I dampen a rag with hot wTer and haven't had a problem since I've been burning now for about 10 years

Thanks for asking this question Handy Daddy, all of us wood burning noobs learn from these threads.

See below

begreen said:

That shouldn't be happening. Looks like the fire is burning too cool. Buildup like that is often a sign of damp wood or a fire starved for air.

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Yes, I think it's the wood... black locust. See comments above, it be since right after Thanksgiving since I touched the glass at least 17 weeks of build up.

begreen said:

The buildup can also also an indicator of what is happening in the chimney. It would be worth a check to see how it is doing for build up.

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I have it cleaned every year in the off season. Never had a problem, I seem to have this when I burn black locust. It so dense and hard wood. I cut down a huge tree the spring before last so it in the queue. (I have like 30 logs, it was 3 stories high)

begreen said:

I love burning black locust. When it is dry it is a great fuel, but it should burn hot, not cool. I usually see blue flames coming off of it. Kind of like coal.

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I know right, I normally don't have this build up, it been over 3 months since I cleaned the glass and you can see the progress. I don't think my locust is completely dry...hmmm. My Oak and Poplar are definitely dry and normally what I burn each year. Locust was a new treat this year... I'm thinking of stop burning the locust, save until next year...

I use straight white vinegar on a paper towel at the end of a burn cycle 150-200 degrees and it comes out perfect every time with minimal effort

ChadD said:

I use straight white vinegar on a paper towel at the end of a burn cycle 150-200 degrees and it comes out perfect every time with minimal effort

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Never thought of using vinegar. I'll try it. Thanks!

Oven cleaner. Small amount sprayed onto a paper towel then dab onto the heaviest grunge you got. Wait 10-15 sec and wipe clean.

ChadD said:

I use straight white vinegar on a paper towel at the end of a burn cycle 150-200 degrees and it comes out perfect every time with minimal effort

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I just used vinegar and a paper towel to clean my stove glass and it worked great. Thanks for the tip.

I've got some haze. Is it possible to get rid of it?

velvetfoot said:

I've got some haze. Is it possible to get rid of it?

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Not if it is etched.
How do you typically clean your glass?

As noted earlier, damp paper towel on warm or cold glass, maybe some ash. Maybe I'll try some of that Rutland stuff-I have some. Don't notice when damp, just after it's dried. Have never tried steel wool.

It looks good for a little while after cleaning, so I usually clean when I burn the coals down and empty the ashes every couple of weeks or so.