Glass vs. creosote

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Mr. Kelly

Mr. Kelly

Feeling the Heat
Hearth Supporter
Oct 24, 2009
266
Northern Worcester County, MA
Hi all,

The glass of the door of my PE Summit has raged war on creosote. This year, the creosote is winning the battle.

Unlike other years, the creosote has built up to a bubbly crusty mess, whereas, before, it was mostly just discoloration that could be easily removed with a piece of newspaper.

Nowadays, the buildup is so thick, I can't even see through the glass.

What would you suggest as a removal strategy? I tried hot fires, which usually work. Newspaper didn't. I thought about using a razor blade, similar to removing paint from glass. My main priority, obviously, is to prevent the glass from getting scratched.

Any suggestions... Other than..."get better wood" or "burn hotter"? ;)

Any thoughts or discussions are welcome!

Hope you guys have had a good burn season!
 
Wow... You be fast!

You really think that will take off thick encrusted sappy junk?

HA! I just emptied my overflowing ash bucket!
 
Well... Just tried it... The build up is so thick and crusty that the paper towel just disintegrates and falls to the ground. Doesn't seem like its working....
 
If its sticky ashes will not remove it. You need to get a good Woodstove glass cleaner. Spray it, let it sit for a few minutes, hit it again and then wipe it down with a terry cloth rag.
Better check your flue! If its building up on the glass that bad, you can bet that flue is getting bad too.
 
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Smart alec... ;)

The problem stems from having a wicked winter, and running out of our "regular" seasoned wood. I've been opting to mix in larger splits of "green" wood that was delivered back in November. With these "green" splits, they were coming almost right up against the glass, and their moisture content was oosing out, right onto the glass.

Wasn't expecting to clean the flue this year... I usually do it every other year, and I did it this past summer (I have to disassemble pipes... ughh). Hasn't been at all a problem... until this stinking year! I still wonder if the creosote will be bad in the flue, if the window build up is as much proximity of the wood to the glass. Plus, I've had very little "green" wood in there this year. It's just been the last month, or so. My dad, up in central Ontario, burns green wood as a rule, and thinks seasoned wood is a waste of time. All the guys up there where he lives think the same thing. Can't argue with a back-woods burner!
 
Razor blade !

Take it from a BK owner!

Most of the time I can burn it off but a few times a season I just scrape it off when I'm cleaning things up nice.

Use just one side of the blade and go in one direction only..clean blade off in between swipes and you will be fine.
 
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"BK"? Do those stoves generally have more issues w. creosote build up on glass?

No problems w. razor blade method? I've used it with paint on numerous occasions. Would hate to overestimate its potential and mark up my glass!
 
My neighbor uses a razor blade on his BK a few times every year, same glass for 10-12 years.
 
I prefer a couple of the biggest driest splits that I can find, stacked right behind the glass and let her rip!
But it sounds like that has not worked to well for you. Just my two cents worth.
 
If the glass is an indication of what's in the pipes you might want to clean the chimney first before letting her rip.
 
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The glass on my stove stayed the cleanest it ever has this winter. Not the wood, just an indication of the weather.

I use a razor blade all the time. Single edge, paint scraper type. There ain't no cleaner that could take off what I usually get.
 
Can't help ya. I don't know what stuff on the glass looks like. Much less how to remove it.
 
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My King would get junk on the glass. A hot fire would take care of most of it, glass cleaner did the rest.
Now my Ashford, that's another story. It's glass stays unbelievably clean, considering it runs on medium or low most of the time.
 
I use Glass Ceramic Cooktop Cleaner. Put it on, let dry, and wipe off with wet cloth. Stubborn areas hit again and use straight edge razor blade. Do it all the time.
 
You should really have a better maintenance program going on, I cold start every day and it doesn't take any extra time to keep the glass clean while taking some ashes out and loading the stove up to Be started...... And like they said, definitely get your chimney cleaned professionally soon......
 
Fireview glass cleaner if you need to clean it. If your do this you should be able to keep it clean except for the white haze. Burn seasoned wood, hot fires, keep the butt ends away from the glass.
 
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Mr. Kelly said:
No problems w. razor blade method? I've used it with paint on numerous occasions. Would hate to overestimate its potential and mark up my glass!
Click to expand...
I generally use vinegar/water solution and a scouring pad that's safe for ceramic cooktops, and everything came of with a little scrubbing, but I did a corner of the Buck glass with a razor blade a couple of weeks ago. Then I tried to clean it about a week later, and the creo was stuck like I couldn't believe on the part I had previously scraped with the blade. It could just be a fluke....we'll see. I hope the blade didn't roughen the surface of the glass, rendering it un-cleanable, except with a blade...:mad:
 
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When we are burning regularly, we use a razor blade/scraper daily, as our stove doesn't have an air wash. Even with dry pallet wood, unless the stove is run wide open, the glass gets black. So far no major damage and we have done it daily for two seasons. I have created a couple minor scratches, but that was from trying to use a broken blade. Make sure you start with a new blade.
 
Perhaps work up a jig to secure the green splits and lop a couple inches off them?
Good excuse to fire up the saw.
 
Dustin92 said:
I have created a couple minor scratches, but that was from trying to use a broken blade. Make sure you start with a new blade.
Click to expand...
My thinking is, if it can scratch the glass, the edge can also cut the glass to some degree, even if it isn't readily visible.
 
Mr. Kelly said:
Hi all,

The glass of the door of my PE Summit has raged war on creosote. This year, the creosote is winning the battle.

Unlike other years, the creosote has built up to a bubbly crusty mess, whereas, before, it was mostly just discoloration that could be easily removed with a piece of newspaper.

Nowadays, the buildup is so thick, I can't even see through the glass.

What would you suggest as a removal strategy? I tried hot fires, which usually work. Newspaper didn't. I thought about using a razor blade, similar to removing paint from glass. My main priority, obviously, is to prevent the glass from getting scratched.

Any suggestions... Other than..."get better wood" or "burn hotter"? ;)

Any thoughts or discussions are welcome!

Hope you guys have had a good burn season!
Click to expand...
Use the spray stuff from Perkins called Krystal Kleer hearth glass cleaner. Spray it on let it sit a moment, and wipe off. Then just a wet paper towel and buff dry. Never had a problem and I know people say it ruins your gasket, but mine has never been affected. The gasket gets replaced every several years anyhow, so why work so methodically to protect it when your life can be soooo much easier with this stuff!
 
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jeff_t said:
The glass on my stove stayed the cleanest it ever has this winter. Not the wood, just an indication of the weather.

I use a razor blade all the time. Single edge, paint scraper type. There ain't no cleaner that could take off what I usually get.
Click to expand...
Try Perkins Krystal Kleer. Takes off all on there. I would Never use a razor. That's how gaskets get damaged!
 
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