Pitted Glass

[pen]

I have an Englander 30 that I purchased this summer that was used for 1 year prior. Person had it in a trailer and was selling it because he "had the damn windows open all winter."

He didn't need to tell me as it was evidenced of him having too large a stove by the creosote buildup in the stove and black fire brick.

After a couple good fires, everything has cleaned up well with the exception of the glass. Although it is Clear now (it was very hard to see through before the hot fires), it is as though it is pitted. Is this normal? The only part that is crystal clear is the from center toward the top of the glass. The rest feels as though it is about 1000 grit sandpaper and you can see very faint "pits"

After having some good fires I've tried all the normal suspects (glass cleaner, oven cleaner, wet towel with ash, etc) and there is no improvement.

Think this is permanent damage? Normal operating wear? Or will clean up with thermonuclear fires when it is -10F?

Thanks,

pen

 

[cmonSTART]

Did you try to clean it with a cleaner? There are specialized stove glass cleaners on the market. I use windex on my personal stove. Works great.

 

[BrotherBart]

Not normal. I have fed 10 cords of wood through mine in the last three seasons and the glass is crystal clear. The ultimate test would be to wet the stuff with something and test a small spot with a razor blade scraper.

 

[cmonSTART]

Ya, my glass is several years old and still pretty darn clear. Hopefully its just some haze that will clean off.

 

[katwillny]

Pen check out this link. I have that glass cleaner and it works great on my old trusty Consolidated Dutchwest. When I got the stove the glass was pretty mistreated and I was able to get it pretty clean.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5057039_clean-glass-door-wood-stove.html Happy Burning!!

 

[pen]

A picture is worth 1000 words.

 

[pen]

Not normal. I have fed 10 cords of wood through mine in the last three seasons and the glass is crystal clear. The ultimate test would be to wet the stuff with something and test a small spot with a razor blade scraper.

I thought about a razor but wasn't sure if that was kosher on the "high-heat-ceramic-stuff."

pen

 

[cmonSTART]

Good pictures. Single sided razors are great for cleaning.

 

[pen]

Good pictures. Single sided razors are great for cleaning.

Just tried the razor. ZERO difference. It sounds like it is going over a rough area when scrapping, but nothing comes off.

pen

 

[wendell]

If it bothers you, I'd just replace it.

 

[Valhalla]

Abrasion from airflow and burn characteristics of this type of stove?

 

[pen]

If it bothers you, I'd just replace it.

It aggravates the OCD in me but truthfully, from about 3 foot away with the fire burning, it's not visible.

I'd just like it gone IF possible.

pen

 

[wendell]

Abrasion from airflow and burn characteristics of this type of stove?

+1, or from the previous owner operating it incorrectly.

 

[Valhalla]

How about a gasket leak or an air leak right at the glass mounting in the door?

 

[pen]

How about a gasket leak or an air leak right at the glass mounting in the door?

I suppose it is possible but everything looks good on visual inspection. Next time I have a fire I'll try lighting/extinguishing a match and seeing if smoke is drawn in near the glass anywhere.

pen

 

[Valhalla]

Pen,

Now you are talking. Hey, you could create an nice stencil profile and sand blast / glass bead it with a unique pattern,
while oblierating the marks on the door glass.

First, I would find the pesky cause of the air errosion on your pride and joy. Good luck!

 

[BrotherBart]

A mystery. I don't think it is a stove characteristic since something like a dozen of us on here have been burning in them for a good while, mine since 2006, and nobody has noticed anything like that. Best to hold off until you have it kicking in 500 or 600 degree territory for a few burns and see if it burns off. I know mine gets a haze on it and then after it gets to rolling the stuff burns right off.

 

[pen]

Pen,

Now you are talking. Hey, you could create an nice stencil profile and sand blast / glass bead it with a unique pattern,
while oblierating the marks on the door glass.

First, I would find the pesky cause of the air errosion on your pride and joy. Good luck!

Decorated glass is exactly what it feels like. I think I could turn that into a great mountainous pattern! The rest of the spots could be snow falling!

GENIUS!

pen

 

[Valhalla]

Great minds think alike!

 

[Corey]

Just thinking aloud...last year we had a forum member mention the instructions for his stoves glass said something about making sure the coated side of the glass faced outward. It seems the glass had a 'low E' coating on one side, but his had lost the sticker denoting which side. Most low E coatings are a metallic film (aluminum) and he was able to take a volt/ohm meter and found one side of the glass did indeed show some conductivity due to the metal film while the other did not. Based on that, he was able to properly install the glass with the coating side out.

I'm just curious if this stove uses a similar glass and yours happened to get installed with the coating on the inside exposed to the fire? A really hot fire might lead to the aluminum being converted to aluminum oxide which would be like a sandy white grit on the inside of the glass.

 

[BrotherBart]

The glass on the 30 is just regular NeoCeram. No coating.

 

[ksting]

Try Cerama Bryte. It's used to clean kitchen ceramic cooktops. Worked wonders taking the haze off of my stove glass.

 

[pen]

Try Cerama Bryte. It's used to clean kitchen ceramic cooktops. Worked wonders taking the haze off of my stove glass.

Hmm, now that's a good idea.

Thanks

pen

 

[Valhalla]

All great points.

I still feel the cause is some form of air erosion and abrasion to that surface. It should be addressed, as it will continue if the cause is not corrected.

 

[ksting]

Try Cerama Bryte. It's used to clean kitchen ceramic cooktops. Worked wonders taking the haze off of my stove glass.

Hmm, now that's a good idea.

Thanks

pen

Yeah sometimes I amaze myself. You want to use the one for Ceramic Cooktops.

http://www.ceramabryte.com/

It applies like a lotion and gets hazy. You'll want to keep rubbing it in a circular motion until it buffs out. Kind of like waxing a car.