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  1. danjayh New Member

    joined: Aug 23, 2012
    54 posts
    So I posted a picture a week or two ago of my firebox after a bunch of tar had condensed onto it (still haven't figured out why ... wondering if maybe my door seal needs replacing). Anyway, much to my dismay, that hardened into a glaze-like creosote. I tried to break it down with this stuff:

    http://www.amazon.com/Rutland-98-Lbs-Creosote-Remover/dp/B00120NNCY

    but I just don't seem to be able to get it all. There's still a jet-black sheen over my entire firebox (although only 1mm thick, at most). I attached a couple of pics - you can see that while scraping I managed to get a few spots of bare metal to come through, so it's not thick at all. Here's my question, though: do I need to worry about this stuff, or can I just leave it be?

    Attached Files:

    #1

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  2. DaveBP Minister of Fire

    joined: May 25, 2008
    1,029 posts
    SW Maine
    What make boiler is this? Is it shown disassembled in these photos?
  3. harttj Member

    joined: Dec 16, 2008
    75 posts
    Ohio
    I think your getting carried away. The first cold night will burn it all away. Maybe I'll take a pic of mine. Today is day 4 and I haven't opened the door yet. I did check the hopper yesterday and was happy with the amont left but it has been in the thirties and forties.

    Tim
  4. danjayh New Member

    joined: Aug 23, 2012
    54 posts
    It's a CB Maxim M175. It is assembled in the photos.
  5. danjayh New Member

    joined: Aug 23, 2012
    54 posts
    OK. I thought that was probably the case, but the manual has such ominous sounding warnings about how creosote will trap moisture and rot the firebox that it just made me a little paranoid.

    PS: I'd love to see some photos! Appreciate all the help you've given me!
  6. Adabiviak Feeling the Heat

    I don't believe I knew there were three stages of creosote buildup

    *Googles creosote stages*

    Neat! Some of the mechanical tools to remove stage 3 creosote look pretty medieval... like something you'd use to take barnacles off the bottom of a boat.
  7. Bob Rohr Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 9, 2008
    563 posts
    SW Missouri

    Another thing to consider a layer of creasote, or any build up inside the wall of the boiler will start to reduce the efficiency. experts claim a few thousands of an inch of buuild up inside HXers really starts to make a big difference in heat exchange.

    Possibly some of it will burn off with a long hot fire.
  8. laynes69 Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 2, 2006
    1,655 posts
    Ashland OH
    That powder is to burn in a fire, if anything the powder that puffs into the flue would be what you need. It will absorb the moisture from the glaze, neutralize and should turn anything into a residue that should come off easily. I believe it's called third stage remover. More than likely what's there should burn off once a good hot fire is produced.

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