Removing old VC gasket cement

[emory]

So I decided to replace my old VC Vigilant that came with our house with a VC Defiant (I or II). Everything in the stove looked great when I purchased it as it was recently rebuilt. However, I gave it the good old light test and I have some leaks around the doors. Specifically at the top and bottom where the two doors meet. I took the doors off and removed the gaskets, which didn't appear to be in that terrible of shape, and dry fitted in the new gaskets and the light leaks appear to be very minimal. The main thing I noticed is that the gasket cement is very uneven leading to a gasket that isn't 100% flush, which I think is causing the light leaks. I tried chipping away at this cement but it is quite difficult to remove.

My two questions from this little project are:

Is it possible/necessary to get these seals 100% leak proof?
Is there an easy way to get the old gasket cement off?

 

[webbie]

It is not really possible, nor that important, to get a 100% tight seal - there is often a tiny light hole where double doors meet.

No easy way on the cement - wetting it might help, but otherwise chipping off with an old screwdriver - BB (member) suggest a wire brush on a drill (outside, with goggles).

 

[emory]

Thanks, I was thinking some dremel action might be needed.

 

[tradergordo]

Thanks, I was thinking some dremel action might be needed.

dremel wire brush attachment should work. I had the same problem. I just found out most people (so it seems) are now using straight silicone instead for sealing gaskets, I will do that next time, so much easier to remove in the future and probably gives a better seal too.

 

[BrotherBart]

Dremels work but you eat up a fortune in those little wheels fast. A regular one for a drill is a couple of bucks and doesn't even look used after you clean a channel.

And you will need it for that silicone too. Been there.

 

[Shane]

You see the majority of silicone in pellet stove doors. There are a few I can think of that used silicone (earthstove). Personally I'll take gasket cement anyday over silicone. The wire wheel is very effective especially with silicone. I personally liked how the gasket cement chips better making it easier to remove in the tight spots in my opinion.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

if its gasket cement (dries hard like concrete , not silicone , try this from harbor freight

http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=1108

scaling tool, pnumatic , it will remove furnace cement like a hot knife through butter

 

[emory]

Thanks for all the tips. I've got both doors and the griddle completely cleaned using the wire brush on my drill. Looks nice and clean too. That pneumatic tool looks great, if I were doing this more frequently I would grab one of those.