Poked a hole in my refractory insulation with chimney cleaning tool.

[Johnny Dill]

Hello, all! My wood stove worked fantastic all last winter. I am getting her ready for this winter! I was cleaning out my stack with the usual 6" round brush that is screwed into a DIY rod about 4 feet long. I accidentally poked a 3/8" hole in the refractory panel that sits just over the secondary burn tubes, where you can see it when you look into the smokestack exit..... Should I worry about this? Could I patch it with stove cement, or simply cover it by setting a small stainless steel plate over the hole? Thanks in advance!
{The hole is visible in this image}

 

[brenndatomu]

The stainless screw/plate should oughta work. Another idea, get a lil piece of high temp insulation like Roxul or a high temp ceramic fiber, wad a lil piece up and "screw" it into that hole, BAM!

 

[Johnny Dill]

Thank you for the idea of using a screw to locate the plate. I TIG welded a piece of 1/4" SS plate to a piece of 3/8" round SS to keep it in place. I think this patch will outlast the refractory board. I am not even sure that that little hole would make a difference, but why not try to correct it? Thanks again.

 

[chazcarr]

Yeah, that'll do. Nice work.

Thank you for the idea of using a screw to locate the plate. I TIG welded a piece of 1/4" SS plate to a piece of 3/8" round SS to keep it in place. I think this patch will outlast the refractory board. I am not even sure that that little hole would make a difference, but why not try to correct it? Thanks again.
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