Bught a new Catalytic. Questions on install?

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bogydave

bogydave

Minister of Fire
Dec 4, 2009
8,426
So Cent ALASKA
I think the old was is metal & the new one is ceramic.
Which is better?
Should i put in the new one & save the old one as a spare as the woodstove guy said it was still good, (My plan)
Front & back side were both plugged with ash.
New one has larger hole & may plug up less.

Wife in a hurry to get the stove going, down to 70 in here :lol:
Which one is the new one? :)
 

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How many years on the old one? The old one appears to have a lot more surface area (smaller cells). I'd clean it up, gently, and put it back in.
 
Definitely save the old as a backup if it still has useful life.
Be careful with the ceramic....thermal shock can easily crack it.
 
The build up seems to be right on the surface? Won't a good hot fire burn it off?
 
looks like a job for the paint brush and vaccum. why ya changing it out?
 
I was told BK has stopped using the steel cats because they plugged up easier than the ceramic. I wonder if the steel lasts longer than the ceramic, but just require more maintnance than the ceramic? My 2 month old insert came with ceramic, all the inserts they had in stock had ceramic. My 8yo King has the origional ceramic and is a little slow but still works.

My dads 1 month old King came with ceramic.

I would keep the old cat for sure. Clean itusing the instructions that are in the owners manual. The Condar website has instructions too.
 
Wife got so cold I had to get it going.
So I used the new one, figure $330, should put it to use.
WOW, what a difference, I could turn the stove stat to 3 & had flames, cat temp to 3/4.
Haven't been able to do that since i burned the spruce on medium setting.
I vacuumed out the old one & will keep as a spare, since it may get warm again & I'll try to burn on a lower setting.

Old one was in about 8 months of 24/7 burning, first time I took it out. (New Last December) Fire store guy said it was still good,
but I liked the larger holes in the new ceramic one so I bought it.
I can take it out for cleaning & have the old one if ever needed.

He said "IT JUST NEEDS CLEANED", ;-P so I guess I'll put that one the "PM list" & clean it better (new one too) Got 2 spare gaskets while I was there to, for future cleanings.

Tried big hot fire for 3 days & the old one but would not burn itself clean, it looked like it was plugged with gray ash, front & back, just 30% of it was open. (my fault)

I would have been fine for years if I had too but the fine smaller hole plug easier & today while I let the fire go out & clean it, my Wife was getting cold, (house was down to 70 :eek:).
Having a spare is not a bed thing. I had to go to the store to get a new gasket anyway, liked the new style better
& having a back-up is just in my DNA, (old maintenance man habits I guess) Spare parts on hand makes me feel good

Could have got one online for $275 + $43 for 2 days shipping ($318 tot) The $12 more, here, helps local store & I have it now) Even though
I know the old one would have worked fine. It cleaned up fine, but now I can give the new style a good test
 

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Dave, just out of curiosity, how soon do you close the door after a reload? Does the fire look something like this? I am curious if the source of the buildup is operational differences or just a difference between the SS and the ceramic as I don't see any of that. I hit the face of the cat with a toothbrush every few weeks but that is it.
 

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bogydave said:
Wife got so cold I had to get it going.
So I used the new one, figure $330, should put it to use.
WOW, what a difference, I could turn the stove stat to 3 & had flames, cat temp to 3/4.
Haven't been able to do that since i burned the spruce on medium setting.
I vacuumed out the old one & will keep as a spare, since it may get warm again & I'll try to burn on a lower setting.

Old one was in about 8 months of 24/7 burning, first time I took it out. (New Last December) Fire store guy said it was still good,
but I liked the larger holes in the new ceramic one so I bought it.
I can take it out for cleaning & have the old one if ever needed.

He said "IT JUST NEEDS CLEANED", ;-P so I guess I'll put that one the "PM list" & clean it better (new one too) Got 2 spare gaskets while I was there to, for future cleanings.

Tried big hot fire for 3 days & the old one but would not burn itself clean, it looked like it was plugged with gray ash, front & back, just 30% of it was open. (my fault)

I would have been fine for years if I had too but the fine smaller hole plug easier & today while I let the fire go out & clean it, my Wife was getting cold, (house was down to 70 :eek:).
Having a spare is not a bed thing. I had to go to the store to get a new gasket anyway, liked the new style better
& having a back-up is just in my DNA, (old maintenance man habits I guess) Spare parts on hand makes me feel good

Could have got one online for $275 + $43 for 2 days shipping ($318 tot) The $12 more, here, helps local store & I have it now) Even though
I know the old one would have worked fine. It cleaned up fine, but now I can give the new style a good test
Click to expand...

A good shop vac with a brush attachment works wonders on a clogged cat.. If you burn wood that tends to leave fluffy ash you'll see a blockage like that.. If anything I would think the steel cat would be harder to clog because the wall thickness is much thinner that the ceramic wall thickness.. I vacuum mine every time I have a cold stove which may be 2-3 times per winter.. I get much less fly ash with oak than I do with soft maple or Ash.. A strong draft and windy conditions will cause more light ash to be drawn into the cat.. There is a procedure for deep cleaning the cat as well which involves an old pan, some vinegar and water..

Ray
 
I had vacuumed it several times, but didn't pull it out to vacuum it.
Pulling the Cat & cleaning it, I need a new "Cat" gasket which I have 2 of them now ($19 ea), is important &
NOW I know the symptoms.

It was also plugged thru several hole & the back side was also covered. (never cleaned thoroughly since new)
I don't get a cold stove thru the burning season, starting it in Oct & shutting it down mid April.
But knowing the importance now , i'll do it more.
Well worth the effort, It is amazing how much less wood I am
burning & how well it heat the house. (compared to the old BK I had)

I've almost got the learning curve "Learned", now. The education cost some $$ but education ain't free.
Still ahead in overall cost, still amazed by the stoves heat output & efficiency, still believe the catalytic is the best way for me to go
& there are probably other things yet to learn.

SolarAndWood: I get a good raging fire going, & feather the door so it don't start "woofing" & the pipe out of the stove don't get red hot,
all depending on how many coals were in there * etc. Then I close it & let it burn for 15 min with the bypass open, (typically the cat probe is well over the "active" temp)
then close it & let it burn on high for about 15 min & turn it down in .5 increments.

Last nights burn was the best I've had in a several weeks. The plugged cat was the main problem, & it all started after I burned spruce for
a 5 day stretch during a warm spell. I think it gives off more ash & I didn't notice it slowly becoming plugged.
I know it throws sparks out the door when it's open & can burn your leg. This "throwing sparks" must be getting sucked into the Cat, & slowly plug it.

Hope others learn from my experience, check & clean the Catalytic combustor regularly. & recognize the symptoms.

PS: the middle picture in the 1st post is the back side of the cat (so both sides can get plugged)
 
bogydave said:
I had vacuumed it several times, but didn't pull it out to vacuum it.
Pulling the Cat & cleaning it, I need a new "Cat" gasket which I have 2 of them now ($19 ea), is important &
NOW I know the symptoms.

It was also plugged thru several hole & the back side was also covered. (never cleaned thoroughly since new)
I don't get a cold stove thru the burning season, starting it in Oct & shutting it down mid April.
But knowing the importance now , i'll do it more.
Well worth the effort, It is amazing how much less wood I am
burning & how well it heat the house. (compared to the old BK I had)

I've almost got the learning curve "Learned", now. The education cost some $$ but education ain't free.
Still ahead in overall cost, still amazed by the stoves heat output & efficiency, still believe the catalytic is the best way for me to go
& there are probably other things yet to learn.

SolarAndWood: I get a good raging fire going, & feather the door so it don't start "woofing" & the pipe out of the stove don't get red hot,
all depending on how many coals were in there * etc. Then I close it & let it burn for 15 min with the bypass open, (typically the cat probe is well over the "active" temp)
then close it & let it burn on high for about 15 min & turn it down in .5 increments.

Last nights burn was the best I've had in a several weeks. The plugged cat was the main problem, & it all started after I burned spruce for
a 5 day stretch during a warm spell. I think it gives off more ash & I didn't notice it slowly becoming plugged.
I know it throws sparks out the door when it's open & can burn your leg. This "throwing sparks" must be getting sucked into the Cat, & slowly plug it.

Hope others learn from my experience, check & clean the Catalytic combustor regularly. & recognize the symptoms.

PS: the middle picture in the 1st post is the back side of the cat (so both sides can get plugged)
Click to expand...

Dave I bought interam cat gasket material here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390107226853&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT .
The shpping was reasonable and the gasket material is sold by the foot.. Ten feet was under $20.00 shipped.. He also sells 3" wide interam gasket material.. The seller states he ships via UPS however mine was sent by USPS..

Ray
 
raybonz said:
bogydave said:
I had vacuumed it several times, but didn't pull it out to vacuum it.
Pulling the Cat & cleaning it, I need a new "Cat" gasket which I have 2 of them now ($19 ea), is important &
NOW I know the symptoms.

It was also plugged thru several hole & the back side was also covered. (never cleaned thoroughly since new)
I don't get a cold stove thru the burning season, starting it in Oct & shutting it down mid April.
But knowing the importance now , i'll do it more.
Click to expand...

Dave I bought interam cat gasket material here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390107226853&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT .
The shpping was reasonable and the gasket material is sold by the foot.. Ten feet was under $20.00 shipped.. He also sells 3" wide interam gasket material.. The seller states he ships via UPS however mine was sent by USPS..

Ray
Click to expand...

Thanks,
Wow, thats pretty cheap, even with shipping.
I'll order some. Supported my local store enough. :)
 
bogydave said:
raybonz said:
bogydave said:
I had vacuumed it several times, but didn't pull it out to vacuum it.
Pulling the Cat & cleaning it, I need a new "Cat" gasket which I have 2 of them now ($19 ea), is important &
NOW I know the symptoms.

It was also plugged thru several hole & the back side was also covered. (never cleaned thoroughly since new)
I don't get a cold stove thru the burning season, starting it in Oct & shutting it down mid April.
But knowing the importance now , i'll do it more.
Click to expand...

Dave I bought interam cat gasket material here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390107226853&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT .
The shpping was reasonable and the gasket material is sold by the foot.. Ten feet was under $20.00 shipped.. He also sells 3" wide interam gasket material.. The seller states he ships via UPS however mine was sent by USPS..

Ray
Click to expand...

Thanks,
Wow, thats pretty cheap, even with shipping.
I'll order some. Supported my local store enough. :)
Click to expand...

You're welcome Dave! It's a good idea to get extra for maintenance purposes (the shipping is still $5.00 ) .. I got a hell of a deal on a S/S cat on e-bay too and NO local dealers sells those ONLY Condar and for much more than I paid..

Ray
 
raybonz said:
bogydave said:
raybonz said:
bogydave said:
I had vacuumed it several times, but didn't pull it out to vacuum it.
Pulling the Cat & cleaning it, I need a new "Cat" gasket which I have 2 of them now ($19 ea), is important &
Click to expand...

Dave I bought interam cat gasket material here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390107226853&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT .
The shpping was reasonable and the gasket material is sold by the foot.. Ten feet was under $20.00 shipped.. He also sells 3" wide interam gasket material.. The seller states he ships via UPS however mine was sent by USPS..

Ray
Click to expand...

Thanks,
Wow, thats pretty cheap, even with shipping.
I'll order some. Supported my local store enough. :)
Click to expand...

You're welcome Dave! It's a good idea to get extra for maintenance purposes (the shipping is still $5.00 ) .. I got a hell of a deal on a S/S cat on e-bay too and NO local dealers sells those ONLY Condar and for much more than I paid..

Ray
Click to expand...

Shipping to Alaska wasn't clear, sent them email for clarification.
Darn, I NOW have a good clean spare SS cat , live & learn :)
For Cats, I should be good for several years.
Will order some 2", then can clean & check it more frequently.

Thanks
 
bogydave said:
raybonz said:
bogydave said:
raybonz said:
bogydave said:
I had vacuumed it several times, but didn't pull it out to vacuum it.
Pulling the Cat & cleaning it, I need a new "Cat" gasket which I have 2 of them now ($19 ea), is important &
Click to expand...

Dave I bought interam cat gasket material here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390107226853&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT .
The shpping was reasonable and the gasket material is sold by the foot.. Ten feet was under $20.00 shipped.. He also sells 3" wide interam gasket material.. The seller states he ships via UPS however mine was sent by USPS..

Ray
Click to expand...

Thanks,
Wow, thats pretty cheap, even with shipping.
I'll order some. Supported my local store enough. :)
Click to expand...

You're welcome Dave! It's a good idea to get extra for maintenance purposes (the shipping is still $5.00 ) .. I got a hell of a deal on a S/S cat on e-bay too and NO local dealers sells those ONLY Condar and for much more than I paid..

Ray
Click to expand...

Shipping to Alaska wasn't clear, sent them email for clarification.
Darn, I NOW have a good clean spare SS cat , live & learn :)
For Cats, I should be good for several years.
Will order some 2", then can clean & check it more frequently.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Dave I just reread the shpping information and the seller says he only ships to the lower 48 states.. Maybe he will ship to Alaska for a little extra? Sorry I didn't see that before.. I have never shipped anything to Alaska so I have no idea what it costs to do that..

Ray
 
Dave when you installed the brand new cat did you have to use a new gasket? or do you only need to replace the gasket when putting the old one back in to clean it?
 
I am pretty sure they are a one timer. Yours came out in one piece? I thought (NEW) they went in a little loose and expanded a tad with the heat. I could be wrong. I have never had mine out, Possibly cord #35-37 going through it now.
 
north of 60 said:
I am pretty sure they are a one timer. Yours came out in one piece? I thought (NEW) they went in a little loose and expanded a tad with the heat. I could be wrong. I have never had mine out, Possibly cord #35-37 going through it now.
Click to expand...
havent taken it out yet. but dont want to take it out and then not be able to heat the house for a couple days if i cant get it right away unless a shop has the gasket material in stock somewhere.
 
bogydave said:
raybonz said:
bogydave said:
raybonz said:
bogydave said:
I had vacuumed it several times, but didn't pull it out to vacuum it.
Pulling the Cat & cleaning it, I need a new "Cat" gasket which I have 2 of them now ($19 ea), is important &
Click to expand...

Dave I bought interam cat gasket material here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390107226853&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT .
The shpping was reasonable and the gasket material is sold by the foot.. Ten feet was under $20.00 shipped.. He also sells 3" wide interam gasket material.. The seller states he ships via UPS however mine was sent by USPS..

Ray
Click to expand...

Thanks,
Wow, thats pretty cheap, even with shipping.
I'll order some. Supported my local store enough. :)
Click to expand...

You're welcome Dave! It's a good idea to get extra for maintenance purposes (the shipping is still $5.00 ) .. I got a hell of a deal on a S/S cat on e-bay too and NO local dealers sells those ONLY Condar and for much more than I paid..

Ray
Click to expand...

Shipping to Alaska wasn't clear, sent them email for clarification.
Darn, I NOW have a good clean spare SS cat , live & learn :)
For Cats, I should be good for several years.
Will order some 2", then can clean & check it more frequently.

Thanks
Click to expand...


I'm a big fan of having a spare catalyst around.
 
Great thread guys!
Maybe this weekend or next I'm going to let my bk go down..then paint.
Mow I'm thinking I should get a gasket and pull it to check things out.
She really seems to be working great..like to keep it that way.
I'm burning some 2 year old ash,maple and not sure what else..man what a diff over one year wood.
I have some locust and red oak for latter!

I been doing 24 hour burns or longer and before I reload I burn what wood is left and a lot of coals on high for a few hours.
Talk about a blue flame..almost seems like I'm burning real coal at that point.
I rake it forward and the glass gets really hot...hotter then the stove top doing that..anybody else doing that and seeing what I'm seeing?
 
One more question when you guys clean your pipe do you pull it off the stove to clean by the cat door?
I didn't and it was harder to flip the lever the first 3 or 4 times...seems ok now though.
 
HotCoals said:
One more question when you guys clean your pipe do you pull it off the stove to clean by the cat door?
I didn't and it was harder to flip the lever the first 3 or 4 times...seems ok now though.
Click to expand...
i assume you have a straight shot from the stove pipe to the cat? id slide it off to clean out the stuff you knocked down the chimney?
 
Yeah..straight up all the way. I made sure the by-bass was open before cleaning..but I knew I should have probably pulled the pipe..just wondered if you guys with the bkk do.
 
I hear they make a slip joint for making it a easier job?
 
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