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  1. SIERRADMAX Member

    joined: Jan 13, 2011
    175 posts
    RI
    I knew I had to clean the boiler but i wasn't expecting to remove the top and rear panels and see this....
    [IMG]

    Previous owner must have burned unseasoned wood and/or rarely cleaned it. Turbulators were a BEAR to remove. There's ALOT of build up in the tubes.

    [IMG]

    I used the 2" wire brush method but it doesn't get it 100% clean. Any ideas?
    #1

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  2. salecker Member

    joined: Aug 22, 2010
    197 posts
    Northern Canada
    Hi
    That looks awfull:eek:
    I checked mine this fall ,after a full season of burning last year,there wasn't anything in mine to warrent cleaning.I burnt only very dry spruce,there was some ash but no build up.
    I remember reading something about placing some raw potatoes under the nozzle in the lower chamber to loosen the build up,so far i havn't had to try it.
    Thomas
  3. SIERRADMAX Member

    joined: Jan 13, 2011
    175 posts
    RI
    It really needs a 2-1/8" pipe cleaner. Tough to find.
  4. mikefrommaine Minister of Fire

    joined: May 28, 2010
    1,312 posts
    mid coast maine
    Search the threads. I remember someone making a custom cleaning tool. I think it was a metal disc cut to the right diameter and bolted on to a flexible rod. Then spun with a drill. It basically cut the crap out.
  5. maple1 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 15, 2011
    1,948 posts
    Nova Scotia
    Can you use a hole saw the right size with a long shaft?
  6. SIERRADMAX Member

    joined: Jan 13, 2011
    175 posts
    RI
    I'll look into a hole saw. what are you guys using to re-seal the upper and flue plates?
  7. maple1 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 15, 2011
    1,948 posts
    Nova Scotia
    My dad uses a hole saw on his smoke dragon Kerr - although I think he's had a couple of bad sessions when the hole saw unexpectedly came off the shaft/extension. I think I'd be doing some welding on it, maybe.
  8. SIERRADMAX Member

    joined: Jan 13, 2011
    175 posts
    RI
    Hole saw didn't cut it. Anything 2" cannot clean the tubes perfectly. Here's how I did it: I purchased a 2" wire wheel brush to do an initial "reaming". I welded a 3' piece of 3/16" rod. Some people on here recommended using wire rope clamps and clamp the wire wheel to the rod. However, I felt hesitant to do so and have the wire wheel stuck inside the tube. I repeated the process with a 2" wire cup brush similar to this one.
    http://www.lowes.com/pd_323652-16878-323652_0__?productId=3195515&Ntt=wire wheel
    This does a good job at cleaning. I use a short piece of 2" I.D. pipe to help sleeve the brush into the tubes.
  9. Fred61 Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 26, 2008
    1,143 posts
    Southeastern Vt.
    This is something I would do if I had build-up in the tubes. In fact I've wanted to build one but haven't had the need because I don't get any build-up.
    Weld a disc, maybe a fender washer to a long shaft and on oposite sides screw steel square or rectangular rod so that they pivot when disc is spun. Like a fly ball governor on the old one lunger. Depending on the length of ths rectangular rod, you could scrub varying diameter tubing.

    fly ball scrubber 002 re-sized.jpg
  10. SIERRADMAX Member

    joined: Jan 13, 2011
    175 posts
    RI
    I'll keep that in mind next time.. Hopefully, It won't be as bad as this cleaning has been!
  11. maple1 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 15, 2011
    1,948 posts
    Nova Scotia
    That looks like one of those weed whacker things with blades on it.
  12. Fred61 Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 26, 2008
    1,143 posts
    Southeastern Vt.
    If you want to get real serious, save the next carbide saw blade you remove from your skil saw, slice it up so the teeth are on the OD of the flails. You might want to keep that contraption moving.
  13. Grovenburg New Member

    joined: Dec 9, 2011
    50 posts
    timangelaryan@comcast.net
    I bought mine used and it was about that dirty. I got a long 3/8 steel rod and a 2 inch wire brush for a drill at Menards. I used a wire clamp and attached the round wire brush to the rod. I then put the other end of the rod in my drill. I cleaned the heck out of my tubes and they were spotless in just a couple of minutes. It's now leaning against the wall next to the stove waiting for my next clean out.

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