Well first of I would like to say hello to everyone. I am new to this site and have been reading a lot of useful information, while i was waiting for my registration to get approved. I am totally new to wood burning and am getting ready to clean my chimney before this burning season. I thought it would be as simple as going up on the roof take the cap off the pipe and run the cleaner up and down the pipe a few times , then go in the house open the stove door and scoop out the mess. Well it is almost that easy except there is a shelf on the top of the stove made of fire brick and a ceramic blanket.Now I dont really want to disconnect the stove pipe if I dont have to .So can I take the shelf down , clean the chimney, then put the bricks and blanket back after I clean out the mess?Its a pretty simple looking setup , there are no bends in the pipe its straight up just that shelf in my way. What is the proper way? My stove is a country s(a)160 striker. Thanks for all your suggestions. Mike