How do you get your creosote buildup off feed tube Englander 25PDVC?

I've been burning WalMart Trebios, just to try 'em, and they leave a lot of creosote - hardened carbonized crust- on the lip of the feed tube. I scrape with a screwdriver, and use a hammer/screwdriver to chip this stuff off. I'm getting frequent squeeking from this buildup from the auger. It's a PITA. Has anyone used a small dremel with hardened steel bit for this job? Scraping is hard, so is chipping, because of the awkward position of the tube lip inside the burn pot. Any useful suggestions?

emery boards, like folks do their nails with. get the cheap ones that look like a popsicle stick with sandpaper on it, slide it in between the tube and the auger and work it around, just do that when you do your normal cleanings to keep it from building up so much

If you have creosote there is a problem and you need to find the problem. Cleaning it off will do nothing to fix what is causing it. I would bet $5 it is not just the pellets making the problem.

Eric

carbon buildup (it aint creosote) does occur with the bottom feed units over time, usually it takes a while to really build up. one thing i would check to ensure its not being "helped' to build up faster , check the seal on the hopper make sure we are getting a positive seal there also check for any small leaks in the seams of the hopper where it is fabricated together seal with a bit of high temp silicone. the buildup wil likley still occur but at a much slower rate if the feed system is sealed up

longer flat tip screwdriver used to work the best for me.....with a wide tip

A wire brush in my electric drill scrapes it shiny clean.

I have a flat tip screwdriver and an old wood chisel on hand to scrape the creosote from the front edge of the bottom auger tube. I only have to scrape mine once a week during my weekly cleaning, and there's always only a little bit of creosote built up. Try sprinkling a little powdered graphite in the hopper, this will help with the squeaking. If your hopper's not empty, just sprinkle the graphite right over the pellets, it'll work it's way down through both of the augers.

thats my favorite part of the cleaning on mine, I gamble on which knuckle I will skin first when the screwdriver slips and I smash my hand.

I ground those two upright corners of the burnpot ,from a 90 degree sharp corner, to rounded. for just that reason. Has been a help.

Yes, lets give ESW this design change free of charge. 15 seconds on the line to grind those corners down vs. how many skinned knuckles.