'I and My Chimney' too paranoid for wood burning?

[Konrad]

While I can identify with the general angst of starting fires in your home to keep warm, there seems to be a sizable number of paranoid people in this forum -- like people that think a gallon of carbon dust is "a lot" of "creosote" -- when creosote is kinda dense, shiny, maybe even greasy, and it can fill a couple of 5 gallon buckets after an old wood stove is fired in an over-sized brick chimney. Some people want to know if their liner is too dirty eat off of, like burning wood is the same thing as natural gas.

Consider people used to light open fires in wattle and daub chimneys -- which is just mud and sticks. Mud! and Sticks! I'd never advocate someone construct such a thing, much less burn in it, but I think people losing sleep over a little smoke and some black dust from a stainless steel liner in a clay lined masonry chimney might need to get a little perspective, or drink some beers while reading I and My Chimney

 

[pen]

While I can respect your sentiment for the ways of the past, it wasn't all fun and games. People died (LOTS of people) because of their old habits. As a result of this problem, fine folks have developed where we are today in terms of burning technology.

In a similar situation, ever hear someone say "I'm going to buy my 16 year old a big old boat of a car! Those things were tanks! They'll be safer in that than these cars made of plastic today!"

Well, I've seen these vehicles (shown below) in person. Would I enjoy driving the Bel-Aire? Hell yea! But if I knew I was going to be in an accident, please put me in the malibu. Unfortunately, we can't know when / how an accident is going to happen but we can take actions to reduce the chances of them occuring.

Link to the related article http://tinyscience.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/the-just-dont-make-them-like-they-used-to/

The best we can do is be safe as possible. You call it paranoia. The definition of paranoia is "Suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification" I'd say it's right to have a healthy skepticism about the safety of our burning appliances. I've yet to see anyone who was paralyzed because of these concerns they have. They just want to be certain that they had done everything in their power to enjoy a fire as safely as possible. If an accident happens and you honestly did all you could to prepare, you can't blame anything but bad luck. But were I uneducated / unprepared / not interested in asking others "is this OK?" and an accident happened that injured my family, I'd never forgive myself.

When old technology is good, it lasts a long time. Take the incandescent light bulb. It went virtually unchanged for 100 years. That's impressive. The chimney however and burning habits to match, have been changed for good reason.

With that said, there is nothing wrong with appreciating the classics for what they are.

Thanks for sharing.

pen

 

[BrotherBart]

I and my chimney are just fine.

 

[Konrad]

While I can respect your sentiment for the ways of the past, it wasn't all fun and games.

pen

Well that's flatly not the thesis of my post.

 

[pen]

While I can respect your sentiment for the ways of the past, it wasn't all fun and games.

pen

Well that's flatly not the thesis of my post.

Sorry for missing it then. It sounded like you were knocking those who cross their t's and dot their i's.

If you are appreciating the romanticism of the chimney structure and associated warm fuzzy feelings its operation brings, along with the innocence in which he operated it with, then yes, it's appreciable.

Still missing it? I certainly connect with the drinking some beers part! But I'd never knock anyone for wanting to make certain they are being safe.

pen

 

[Brian VT]

Some of my friends have had chimney fires. It doesn't phase them much. Their Dads had them, too.
I clean my stove pipe 2-3 times per season. It takes about an hour. I've never got more than @ 2-4 cups out of it.
Some say I'm over-cautious, but I sleep well. I don't want to wake up to the sound of a "freight train" and see the snow outside glowing orange.

 

[Hanko]

I and my chimney are just fine.

is that really your chimney bart? your supposed to be a good example. that really is pretty cool

 

[pen]

I and my chimney are just fine.

is that really your chimney bart? your supposed to be a good example. that really is pretty cool

Naw, he was having draft problems so he added 30 feet of single wall to what is seen in that picture. You'll have to post some of the night pics when it lights off every week or two BB! It's like the fourth of july!

pen

 

[Pagey]

I and my chimney are just fine.

I have no idea what the original source for that pic is, but it shows up every year and I chuckle like a school girl every time.

 

[pen]

I and my chimney are just fine.

I have no idea what the original source for that pic is, but it shows up every year and I chuckle like a school girl every time.

I drive past a chimney setup every day that makes the one BB posted look good. But, those folks haven't died yet! Guess I'm just too uptight %-P

The people who live there can be found from about 2 aisles away in the grocery store because you'd swear someone brought a nearly burning log into the store in their back pocket.

pen

 

[BrotherBart]

There isn't one thing paranoid about any member here asking for an assessment of what they got out of the pipe. The ones that ask are just starting out burning wood and just want to know if they are doing it right. That is what this site is all about. Well, with the exception of the one tongue in cheek post in the last few days about getting it shiny inside again. In fact for every post asking for that assessment there are a thousand "lurkers" that read the answer and don't even have to ask.

And I will have nothing on here that discourages that. But I sure enjoyed the read in the link.

 

[BrotherBart]

I and my chimney are just fine.

I have no idea what the original source for that pic is, but it shows up every year and I chuckle like a school girl every time.

There is a third pic that goes with it. Dead center in the right side of that box stove is a crack that runs from top to bottom.

 

[Konrad]

It sounded like you were knocking those who cross their t's and dot their i's.

It's more than that, it's crossing your t's, dotting your i's and a good bout of omphaloskepsis. You used a car analogy. Some people are buying modern Volvos and thinking they're getting a Pinto that will crash test like a model T. Yes, you can die in Volvo, but there's a good reason heating fires have decreased by (broken link removed to http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v6i3.pdf) and even at that, you're more likely to burn your house down by cooking supper.

 

[pen]

Oh, so you're saying I'm the only one who spends an hour every day cleaning my naval? There is something wrong with that????

Still not understanding where you are going. But, I have a belly button to attend to.

pen

 

[pen]

Ok, after 12 q-tips (using both sides) a pint of rubbing alcohol and healthy glassful of ice and bourbon, I think I have your thesis. (it only took 1/2 an hour today)

Since the risk of fires related to heating appliances is decreasing, we are making too much of a point of being concerned with safety? Going overboard even?

pen

 

[Mrs. Krabappel]

<shudder> Hate the navel. Eeks me out. :lol:

 

[BrotherBart]

This went South fast. Think it has all been said. Well, enough has.