BK Princess Inset CAT ?

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pete97

Member
Aug 29, 2006
125
Pittsburgh Pa
I have a BK Princess Insert. Last yr was the 1st season I used it. How often do I need to pull the CAT out to clean it?
 
I like to brush or vacuume the face about once every cord of wood burned and pull the whole thing out to inspect and vacuume around the other side once per year at the end of the burning season.
 
Now that I'm home for the day, here is how I like to clean the cats when I do an annual service on a Blaze King:

After the chimney is cleaned, remove the flame shield and open the bypass door.

Use your shop vac with a flexible wand and get up and round the bypass door.

Use a very soft brush to gently take any surface ash off of the cat face and gently vacuum with a shop vac.

Use a small air tank with compressed air and a blow gun to gently blow through the cat and push all the ash to the bypass door area. Keep your shop vac hose inside the stove to contain the mess and be careful!!!!

Use your flexible wand to vacuum the bypass door area and behind the cat again.

Visually inspect the cat for cracks etc. If everything looks OK your back in business!

Don't forget to replace the flame shield.
 
If I used my shop vac anywhere near my cat's face he would be in the next county by now, after he shredded my face.
 
Be careful with that compressed air, you can blow the substrate right off the cat. I like to use those low pressure air cans you use to clean keyboards and computer stuff.
 
Thanks for all the great info. I will not take it out unless necessary.
 
5 yrs at about 35 total cords of pine and spruce through it. The face has been brushed lightly and vacuumed twice each season. Still quick lite off. No smoke and dont see a need to pull it for heating season #6. If you have been feeding it dry wood, a light brush on a vacuum should be what it requires. Hope you have enjoyed your stove so far. Happy heating season #2 for you.
Cheers
 
My stove was caked heavily with creosote throughout when I got it. Even with that, I haven't done any more than North describes and have put 18 cord through it. The more susceptible part of the stove seems to be the door seal and catch adjustment. Without a good seal, the cat doesn't seem to light off like it should.
 
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