Blaze King Ashford Door Gasket/Glass

[Calentarse]

Hello all. Loving my new Blaze King for its burn times (was able to rekindle after 30 hours on low!) and low heat abilities.

I'm having two problems though. The first is simpler and perhaps you all can share some ideas with me on how to prevent and care for it: A Black Glass. I rarely can burn the stove on high for very long. Even when I do (set on 3, load of wood, 550 on cast iron top, flue 700, it doesn't clear it. The glass keeps turning black. Creosote will build on the bottom sides and then will eventually crust up and pieces will fall off. I was wondering if I could clean it off though. Tried water and an old rag and got no where. Any ideas?

My other problem is a little more serious and is more frustrating. For my first few fires, I knew I was going to struggle with the paint smelling. That smell had faded but the stove was really still giving off fumes. I now realize it isn't the paint that's smelling. We've gone from burning pancakes to an awful, smoke smell. Its faint, so much that the wife doesn't even notice. I do. My allergies do. The smell is coming specifically from the front left side. Not right in the corner. It's emitting from the front almost all the way over to the left. I'm wondering if something is leaking out of the door gasket. It's enough that when the stove is burning I can hover over the stove and smell nothing anywhere except for that one spot. Smoke. Help. Please.

 

[Highbeam]

Hello all. Loving my new Blaze King for its burn times (was able to rekindle after 30 hours on low!) and low heat abilities.

I'm having two problems though. The first is simpler and perhaps you all can share some ideas with me on how to prevent and care for it: A Black Glass. I rarely can burn the stove on high for very long. Even when I do (set on 3, load of wood, 550 on cast iron top, flue 700, it doesn't clear it. The glass keeps turning black. Creosote will build on the bottom sides and then will eventually crust up and pieces will fall off. I was wondering if I could clean it off though. Tried water and an old rag and got no where. Any ideas?

My other problem is a little more serious and is more frustrating. For my first few fires, I knew I was going to struggle with the paint smelling. That smell had faded but the stove was really still giving off fumes. I now realize it isn't the paint that's smelling. We've gone from burning pancakes to an awful, smoke smell. Its faint, so much that the wife doesn't even notice. I do. My allergies do. The smell is coming specifically from the front left side. Not right in the corner. It's emitting from the front almost all the way over to the left. I'm wondering if something is leaking out of the door gasket. It's enough that when the stove is burning I can hover over the stove and smell nothing anywhere except for that one spot. Smoke. Help. Please.

On the door glass creo issue. That's what happens when you burn a blazeking. Especially a blaze on low output settings. First it will be amber, then a little thicker like a paste, and then solid creosote in the bottom corners. The center top usually stays pretty clear and the center of glass is translucent enough to see fire but the glass will not stay clear unless you burn hot all the time. And no, you can't burn it off. When you get a hot fire those bottom corners will dry out and peel off leaving what we call the "dragon eyes".

To clean a BK window the best thing I've found is to start with the rutland glass cleaner which is the same thing as the flat top glass oven cleaners. Apply it, rub it in, then use it as lube when you scrape the glass with a sharp razor blade. Final cleaning with the rag still soaked with leftover cleaner, and then polish with a dry paper towel.

 

[begreen]

What was the specific paint used to repaint the stove?

 

[Calentarse]

What was the specific paint used to repaint the stove?

The brand is Thurmalox, it's high heat paint good to 1200 degrees it says.

 

[begreen]

Thurmalox is good stove paint. I was just wondering about compatibility with the factory paint.

 

[Calentarse]

I suspect a gasket issue. It does have a big crease in it about a 1/8 of the way up. I don't see where it's discolored from smoke escaping though. Yet, could it be escaping, that's what I smell and it isn't discoloring the gasket because it isn't in contact with the firebox directly? This is a MUST fix or I will stop burning.

 

[Calentarse]

Thurmalox is good stove paint. I was just wondering about compatibility with the factory paint.

Love the Thurmalox. For silicone based paint, it goes on awesome. It's expensive but works seeing as I have to cover black with off-white. And really, one night and one day of high heat and it's cured. That's all done and now all I smell is a faint smokiness. Sucks!

 

[jeff_t]

If you have adequate draft, you shouldn't smell smoke at all. It would be leaking cold air in, if you had a door gasket issue.

I get the very occasional whiff, I think thru the cat probe hole.

Here's your best glass cleaner

 

[Badger]

Calentarse. I just take a slight damp paper towel, dip it in the wood ashes, and use that to scrub the glass. It may take 2-3 paper towels to get it decently clean, but I've never needed any spray and it is cleaner than using a razor.

Just what works for me. Your mileage will vary.

 

[cannon]

Check your glass for looseness,just another area for leakage.

 

[webby3650]

Calentarse. I just take a slight damp paper towel, dip it in the wood ashes, and use that to scrub the glass. It may take 2-3 paper towels to get it decently clean, but I've never needed any spray and it is cleaner than using a razor.

Just what works for me. Your mileage will vary.

This method will not work for most Blaze Kings. You must have a very tall chimney, or run on high most of the time.?

 

[webby3650]

I notice that very faint smell that you are talking about. I've noticed it with all the cat stoves I've used, and the downdrafters. I'm sorry, but if that very faint odor that others cant even notice is bothering you, wood burning might not be for you. It's hard to burn wood without some odor on occasion. Maybe there is a fix:
What's your chimney set-up like? These stoves are very draft sensitive.
How's your wood quality? I sense either the draft or wood quality is lacking. I have a minimum height chimney with elbows in the connector pipe and rarely ever have dirty glass. The Ashford is different inside than the other BKs, it's airwash is able to work better.

 

[Calentarse]

I had my wife smell when she got home last night. I had her smell the four corners of the stove and she pointed to the front left and said, "smells like it's leaking smoke". I recall smelling this around the chimney pipe connector with my VC and always thought it was a little bit of a gap since it isn't sealed.

On the other hand, jeff_t might be right: Shouldn't it be pulling in air not pushing smoke out even if the gasket isn't lining up properly? When the stove's on low and I've recently added wood, that's when I really smell it. After the wood has burned down some, I don't smell it at all.

webby, I don't feel anything is wrong with my draft as I'm always able to keep a burning fire. It has never stalled on me and I've really backed this stove down. I do have minimum height and 2 45s. I have a 39 inch rise before any bends above the stove. My question is: how do I fix this?

You're right about my wood- it's a little wet. I'll burn dry and compare then repost.

 

[Highbeam]

So there's a difference between an object that smells like smoke and an object that is leaking actual smoke. When the smell is faint I tend to think that you are dealing with a stove that smells vs. a stream of smoke. Stick your head in a cold stove and it smells like smoke too.

 

[Calentarse]

So there's a difference between an object that smells like smoke and an object that is leaking actual smoke. When the smell is faint I tend to think that you are dealing with a stove that smells vs. a stream of smoke. Stick your head in a cold stove and it smells like smoke too.

There's a steady stream, if only a small stream. It's leaking. It isn't simply an odor emitted from the last refill (where I do get some smoke pouring out) or paint still burning off. There's a steady supply coming from this area. It eventually puts a smoke smell in the room and if you want to hone in on exactly where it's coming from you really have to sniff around but when you find it, you're like "SMOKE!"

 

[Highbeam]

There's a steady stream, if only a small stream. It's leaking. It isn't simply an odor emitted from the last refill (where I do get some smoke pouring out) or paint still burning off. There's a steady supply coming from this area. It eventually puts a smoke smell in the room and if you want to hone in on exactly where it's coming from you really have to sniff around but when you find it, you're like "SMOKE!"

In that case, you should be able to see it with a flashlight and hone in on the exact location of the leak. Lights off, flashlight on. Rising heated air that smells like smoke isn't always smoke. Smoke in front of the cat will likely be colored.

 

[Tenn Dave]

Is it possible your house has negative pressure? Try leaving a window open near the stove during the entire burn cycle and see if that reduces the smoke smell.

 

[blueguy]

I get the same slight smoke smell from my Sirocco 30 as well. I think I have it narrowed down to the hole for the cat probe. I tried using the gasket and magnet from an old chimney probe thermometer seal it, and it did fix it for a bit, but I find when the outside temps are above -5*C, there is still a faint smell. I did some searching, and it seems like it is a common problem for the newer BK stoves. Come spring next year, I am going to get a bushing made to seal off the probe hole with an friction fit for the probe.

 

[Calentarse]

In that case, you should be able to see it with a flashlight and hone in on the exact location of the leak. Lights off, flashlight on. Rising heated air that smells like smoke isn't always smoke. Smoke in front of the cat will likely be colored.

I'm going to take off the sides and the top and see if I can see it as you've suggested tonight. Will repost. I really hope this can be cured as I don't want to give up burning. I just can't live with it as bad as it is right now; if I can get it to lessen a bit I will be able to deal...

 

[Calentarse]

Is it possible your house has negative pressure? Try leaving a window open near the stove during the entire burn cycle and see if that reduces the smoke smell.

70s rancher and I feel air coming in from around pipes from crawl space and such...I suppose even with those that it could be I just highly doubt the air going in that stove is more than the air coming in the house. The problem with opening windows is that if the wind slightly blows the smoke toward that side of the house smoke comes in the window anyway. Can't win for losing!

 

[Calentarse]

I get the same slight smoke smell from my Sirocco 30 as well. I think I have it narrowed down to the hole for the cat probe. I tried using the gasket and magnet from an old chimney probe thermometer seal it, and it did fix it for a bit, but I find when the outside temps are above -5*C, there is still a faint smell. I did some searching, and it seems like it is a common problem for the newer BK stoves. Come spring next year, I am going to get a bushing made to seal off the probe hole with an friction fit for the probe.

This is frustrating. I understand that a little escape of smoke from the firebox when fueling is expected but during normal operation I don't like to smell it. Can't be healthy no bigger than my house is...

 

[webby3650]

I had my wife smell when she got home last night. I had her smell the four corners of the stove and she pointed to the front left and said, "smells like it's leaking smoke". I recall smelling this around the chimney pipe connector with my VC and always thought it was a little bit of a gap since it isn't sealed.

On the other hand, jeff_t might be right: Shouldn't it be pulling in air not pushing smoke out even if the gasket isn't lining up properly? When the stove's on low and I've recently added wood, that's when I really smell it. After the wood has burned down some, I don't smell it at all.

webby, I don't feel anything is wrong with my draft as I'm always able to keep a burning fire. It has never stalled on me and I've really backed this stove down. I do have minimum height and 2 45s. I have a 39 inch rise before any bends above the stove. My question is: how do I fix this?

You're right about my wood- it's a little wet. I'll burn dry and compare then repost.

Just because you feel like you have a good draft doesn't mean you do. These stoves demand good draft. It's especially critical when the stoves running slow. The exhaust gases are much cooler on low, that's the reason for double wall pipe. Do you have double wall?
When you reload, crank the air up. It's not good to reload and leave the air on low, especially with under seasoned wood.

 

[Calentarse]

Just because you feel like you have a good draft doesn't mean you do. These stoves demand good draft. It's especially critical when the stoves running slow. The exhaust gases are much cooler on low, that's the reason for double wall pipe. Do you have double wall?
When you reload, crank the air up. It's not good to reload and leave the air on low, especially with under seasoned wood.

If I didn't have good draft, wouldn't my stove go out easily?

So if the gases are cooler does that mean they'll escape the firebox and that's what I'm smelling?

I never leave air on low when I reload; I open to 3.5 (as high as mine goes) and crack door for a bit until I see flame light and open door slowly. Even still I get spillage. It's a learning process, that's for sure!

Thank you for the input Webby...

 

[webby3650]

If I didn't have good draft, wouldn't my stove go out easily?

So if the gases are cooler does that mean they'll escape the firebox and that's what I'm smelling?

I never leave air on low when I reload; I open to 3.5 (as high as mine goes) and crack door for a bit until I see flame light and open door slowly. Even still I get spillage. It's a learning process, that's for sure!

Thank you for the input Webby...

How tall is the chimney? Do you have double wall stove pipe?

 

[Calentarse]

Total of 16ft. and yes