QuadraFire Mt Vernon Firepot Tips

[VernonNH]

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone had tips on cleaning the firepot of the Mt Vernon. I have only owned it for a few months and haven't found an easy way to get the harder deposits off the sides and floor of the firepot. For one, it is very difficult to see into it ... I try using a mirror and light and at the same time try to scrape. I have found that the scraper tool that is included doesn't take off these deposits so I have been using an old wood chisel. The problem with that is trying to scrape the bottom because it just pushes down when you put pressure on it. Any way to lock it down while scraping?

Probably a stupid question, but is there an easier way? Any advice on what tools to use, how to see while doing it, etc? I clean the pot once a week, and while the holes are always clear, there is definitely stuff to scrape off. I use a wet/dry vac for the rest of the cleaning and that seems to work fine. I just need to find a longer bristled brush attachment to clean the "fingers" behind the baffle.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[smoke show]

i'm burnin softwood pellets and don't get the deposits you speak of just light ash that cleans easily
i have a stiff bristled brush duct taped to my shop vac attachment that i clean the heat ex with

 

[jackovalltrades]

ditto here, just light ash which comes off easily. what are you burning that requires a chisel?

 

[VernonNH]

I am burning Premium hardwood pellets. Two different brands that I got from Tractor Supply.

The deposits are not rock hard, but they don't get touched by the scraper that came with the stove. Most of the deposits are on the bottom of the firepot and around the holes. The reason I use the chisel is because it doesn't bend like the supplied scraper and it has a sharp edge that I can twist into the deposit to break it up.

Sounds like the majority of you have no issues so I will just have to learn how to deal with it. Thanks for the replies!

 

[smoke show]

try softwood pellets
more btu
less ash

 

[Gweeper64]

what 2 brands?

I'm almost through my first ton of NEWP Premium hardwood (tan bag, maroon lettering). I'm not having much difficulty with deposits either, though I agree it can be hard to see to the bottom of the pot. I need to find a mirror.

 

[slls]

On the floor I use a special scraper I made, teeth on one end and blade on the other. For the sides I use a course sand paper, like 60 grit.

 

[VernonNH]

I believe one brand is called Hardwood Heat and the other is Lignetics. I thought that I didn't have much for deposits at first. I would just scrape the sides and it was just a light ash. Then I started looking closer with a mirror and good light and saw that is was building up on the bottom and around the holes.

The idea of a homemade scraper with "teeth" on it is a good one. I think I will try something like that. It really doesn't take much to scrape it off if I could just keep the floor from pushing down.

 

[smoke show]

remove ash pan and hold floor up with other hand???

 

[imsocold]

Your cutoff plate at the bottom of the pot may also be part of the problem as to why you are getting buildup in so many places. I had my firepot out while doing pre-season inspection and I altered that area. I first used files and stanley square to get the bottom perfectly (+/-) flat and parallel to the pivot stub. I also used the plate with chalk rubbed on it, (red lipstick works too) to place on it to kiss off the high spots. Then I altered the pivot pin shoulder length with some very thin shims I made to bring the cutoff plate solidly and evenly up against the bottom of the pot. I also had to tweak on the pivot stub a bit.

The reason for this madness is to stop air bypass at the bottom of the pot. This allows the air to create the right swirl pattern to reduce clinkers. I only get slight (about 1/32") buildup at top left corner and bottom right corner of the angle cut of the pot and the right 1/3 of the cutoff plate. I use a vacuum to first suck out the loose stuff, then a 5/8" flat chisel to scrape those clinker areas. Pressure dragging vertically along the cutoff plate to remove buildup, vacuum again and then operate the plate. It should move firmly but smoothly. This way it is not doing the work of removing the buildup, which would ruin the pivot area anyway.

QuadraFire 1200CB pellet
Hot Shots softwood 100% Oregon

 

[fluemasterjr]

If it is a Mt. Vernon AE i would double check your wall control settings to make sure that you are burning it on a hardwood pellet setting. That your flame hight is adjusted properly so that you have a 6''-8'' active flame. also you could try to set it on utility setting this will allow the auto clean to cycle more often and also blow more air through the fire pot to get that unburnable material out of the fire pot.