Fireview Cat Wash

[Heatsource]

Steel has a big advantage over ceramic as far as thermal shock and cracking but I'm still not convinced they do as good a job in the heating department. Seems to me in my own tests the ceramics burn hotter for longer. Maybe they will get it all figured out, I hope they do.

they also fire off at a lower temp than ceramic

 

[clemsonfor]

There have been issues with the PH cat. Woodstock ahs worked with the maker on the issues. Mine gets clogged. It is a lot longer than the Fireview cat...must be a good 18 inches long...I can't find anything big enough to clean one...except the tub, and the cost of vinegar for that would be prohibitive, forget the problem of boiling Won't even fit in the roaster that holds a 26 pound turkey. I did one so-so clean with the original cat (since replaced with improved design) just putting it at an angle in the kitchen sink and pouring boiling water/vinegar through it, then rinsing.

get a turkey frying pot there big enough right? They hold about 4 gallons of water i think.

 

[rideau]

Might work. Maybe the lobster pot from Nantucket would, if we still have it. Never thought of that. Will take a look. Thanks.

 

[binko]

I have not tried it yet, but would it be possible to make a trough out of aluminum foil just slightly larger than the cat-being extra careful to not rip it of course (perhaps doubling up on the foil). This way you can keep the size down to just slightly larger than the cat and not have to use a gallon of vinegar and distilled water. I will give this a try the next time I let the stove go out and post the results.

 

[fire_man]

I just filled a spray bottle with 1/2 white vinegar/half distilled water. I sprayed both sides till soaked through, waited 20-30 minutes, rinsed out with light pressure faucet sprayer and followed up with distilled water spray. Let dry.

The cat lit off like a rocket after I did this - almost hyperactive.

 

[Flatbedford]

I just filled a spray bottle with 1/2 white vinegar/half distilled water. I sprayed both sides till soaked through, waited 20-30 minutes, rinsed out with light pressure faucet sprayer and followed up with distilled water spray. Let dry.

The cat lit off like a rocket after I did this - almost hyperactive.

Interesting. Much easier than the whole boiling thing.

With regards to the aluminum foil, Keep in mind that you are supposed to boil that cat for 15 minutes. I don't know how well your aluminum trough would hold up on the stove top.

 

[fire_man]

Dennis told me about the spray bottle idea. I used a giant plastic rubbermaid bin to hold the cat while spraying it. There was no heating or boiling involved, not even to warm the vinegar in the bottle.

I don't think I'd have the patience to go thru that multistep procedure sud chemie wrote.

 

[chance135]

I used the same method as fire_man did with great results and little time and effort. I believe woodstock actually mentions the spray method in their blog on mid winter maintenance.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I did the bath last summer and our cat was a long ways from being plugged; only light fly ash as always. Still, we did the boil and the results were great.

Fast forward to this week. Lately our cat has been slow to light off and the outside temperature finally to 20 degrees with sunshine so I pulled the cat. Not much on it but this time I did a quick spray with "Dust Off." This is the compressed air used on keyboards. I sprayed it both ways, stuck it back in and the results were as amazing as after we did the vinegar boil.

We have not yet tried just the spray but Lewis told us that he got excellent results and this is why I had passed on the information that fire_man referred to.

 

[Todd]

I did the bath last summer and our cat was a long ways from being plugged; only light fly ash as always. Still, we did the boil and the results were great.

Fast forward to this week. Lately our cat has been slow to light off and the outside temperature finally to 20 degrees with sunshine so I pulled the cat. Not much on it but this time I did a quick spray with "Dust Off." This is the compressed air used on keyboards. I sprayed it both ways, stuck it back in and the results were as amazing as after we did the vinegar boil.

We have not yet tried just the spray but Lewis told us that he got excellent results and this is why I had passed on the information that fire_man referred to.

I like the air can method as well. I just remove the scoop, stick the can inside the fire box and let her rip.

I'll probably try that 50/50 spray bottle trick at the beginning of each heating season.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I still remove the cat before blowing it out and that way I can blow both ways. Just short bursts.

For anyone else reading this, it is important to use only that canned air and not use the compressor out in the garage. That can ruin a cat fast with too much pressure.

 

[Lead Hot]

I wish I would have caught this thread earlier. I gave my steel cat. A bath 4 days ago. I will have to try the spray method next year. Third season and it's my second bath. Woodstock recommended it last year and I was having the same symptoms this year.

 

[rdust]

I still remove the cat before blowing it out and that way I can blow both ways. Just short bursts.

For anyone else reading this, it is important to use only that canned air and not use the compressor out in the garage. That can ruin a cat fast with too much pressure.

Most compressors have adjustable regulators, you can turn them down lower than the canned air if you desire. If you turn them down to canned air pressures you shouldn't have any issue with either method.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Most compressors have adjustable regulators, you can turn them down lower than the canned air if you desire. If you turn them down to canned air pressures you shouldn't have any issue with either method.

That is true rdust but if people hear they can use a compressor, that is usually as far as it goes and besides, blowing that compressed air at 90 psi really cleans it out, you know... That is why it is best to warn about using compressors.

 

[rdust]

That is true rdust but if people hear they can use a compressor, that is usually as far as it goes and besides, blowing that compressed air at 90 psi really cleans it out, you know... That is why it is best to warn about using compressors.

Oh for sure! "125psi really cleaned the cat up nicely!"

I'm cheap though and would rather use what I already have so I'll dial down the compressor if I ever want to use air on it.