RE: A Magnet Mystery

[firefighterjake]

This morning before I left for work I got the fire going in the woodstove. The fire was going pretty strong so I went to do my usual trick of putting some aluminum foil over the incoming air (rear, back), but there wasn't enough draft to keep the aluminum foil in place so inspiration struck . . . I took a car magnet I had on the refrigerator and put it partially over the hole.

I then left a note for my wife letting her know she should remove the magnet if she wants to reload the stove.

Returned home to find a cold stove. My wife said she could not find the magnet so I checked . . . and sure enough . . . the magnet is MIA. I did find some crumbly material on the lip right inside the air hole, but nothing underneath the stove.

Is it possible the stove sucked up the magnet and then the heat rendered it to a crumbly ash?

 

[7acres]

This morning before I left for work I got the fire going in the woodstove. The fire was going pretty strong so I went to do my usual trick of putting some aluminum foil over the incoming air (rear, back), but there wasn't enough draft to keep the aluminum foil in place so inspiration struck . . . I took a car magnet I had on the refrigerator and put it partially over the hole.

I then left a note for my wife letting her know she should remove the magnet if she wants to reload the stove.

Returned home to find a cold stove. My wife said she could not find the magnet so I checked . . . and sure enough . . . the magnet is MIA. I did find some crumbly material on the lip right inside the air hole, but nothing underneath the stove.

Is it possible the stove sucked up the magnet and then the heat rendered it to a crumbly ash?

I don't know where this is going. But I definitely want to get the updates on this one!

You had me on... "Inspiration struck... Car magnet...left note for wife to remove..."

 

[kennyp2339]

If the original draft wasn't strong enough (with the fire roaring) to hold some foil over the inlet, I hardly believe that the draft could suck up a heavier magnet through an inlet hole. But crazier things have happened, was brother bart visiting?

 

[Smoked]

Does car magnet equal flexible refrigerator type magnet?

 

[jetsam]

Does car magnet equal flexible refrigerator type magnet?

I was thinking not, because it was holding a piece of tinfoil onto the stove, and also because you wouldn't stick something that's mostly made of vinyl on your woodstove.

On the other hand, I have no idea what a "car magnet" is; maybe it's a bumper sticker type thing made of that refrigerator magnet stuff? (Who still has a car that a magnet would stick to?)

If it was a flexible magnet, it could have burned off. You'd have a lot of black soot (they're vinyl mixed with ferrite magnet powder, I think).

 

[Smoked]

I was thinking not, because it was holding a piece of tinfoil onto the stove, and also because you wouldn't stick something that's mostly made of vinyl on your woodstove.

On the other hand, I have no idea what a "car magnet" is; maybe it's a bumper sticker type thing made of that refrigerator magnet stuff? (Who still has a car that a magnet would stick to?)

If it was a flexible magnet, it could have burned off. You'd have a lot of black soot (they're vinyl mixed with ferrite magnet powder, I think).

I know, it was a dumb question...but what the heck

 

[begreen]

Bizarre. Check the dog's poop in 24 hrs.

 

[Squisher]

I bet it was sucked through the stove like a magicians assistant.

 

[Xtrl9]

As metal heats it loses its magnetism, unless you melted a vinyl magnet its entirely possible your "car magnet" simply fell down.

 

[firefighterjake]

Does car magnet equal flexible refrigerator type magnet?

Yes.

 

[firefighterjake]

At the time the intake was warm, but nowhere near hot enough to burn or melt anything . . . but now that I am reading these posts and realizing that the "magnet" is in fact vinyl with a coating of powder I am having one of those "I cannot believe I was so stupid" moments.

I now believe that the "magnet" may have reached the point where perhaps the draft did increase, pulled it inside and as the draft and heat increased may have melted it and the crumbly bits of ash was what was left. Oddly enough, my very perceptive wife (she smells things much quicker than I) never mentioned the smell of burning vinyl/plastic.

OK, chalking this one up to a really stupid thing I did. Not doing this again.

 

[Smoked]

At the time the intake was warm, but nowhere near hot enough to burn or melt anything . . . but now that I am reading these posts and realizing that the "magnet" is in fact vinyl with a coating of powder I am having one of those "I cannot believe I was so stupid" moments.

I now believe that the "magnet" may have reached the point where perhaps the draft did increase, pulled it inside and as the draft and heat increased may have melted it and the crumbly bits of ash was what was left. Oddly enough, my very perceptive wife (she smells things much quicker than I) never mentioned the smell of burning vinyl/plastic.

OK, chalking this one up to a really stupid thing I did. Not doing this again.

But hey, the idea to partially cover the inlet at high draft with something that is easily adjustable is a really good idea. How to outsmart and EPA stove.....

 

[firefighterjake]

But hey, the idea to partially cover the inlet at high draft with something that is easily adjustable is a really good idea. How to outsmart and EPA stove.....

Usually my aluminum foil works well for the few times I need to do this.

At this point I am thinking I either need to invest in a real magnet or bite the bullet and put a damper in the flue.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Saw this the other day...incredible new magnet technology.

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[Jags]

my very perceptive wife (she smells things much quicker than I) never mentioned the smell of burning vinyl/plastic.

With the draft that would be expected in that area, the smell would most likely get sucked right into the stove. No smoke to smell.

 

[Lake Girl]

Can someone help me out to understand this?

Might want to post that as a separate thread as I'm sure it would be a good discussion...

 

[begreen]

Good suggestion. Moved to new thread.

 

[jetsam]

Saw this the other day...incredible new magnet technology.

That is SO COOL.

 

[Dantheman300z]

I did this exact same thing. My magnet literally burnt up. I will take a picture of it next chance I get.

 

[Xtrl9]

Not trying to beat you over the head with my viewpoint but I really think you should try putting a (non-melting) magnet on the stove around operating temp to see if its going to stick enough for your plan to work. A good "test" would be one of the magnetic stovetop thermos, see if it will stick where you want to use the magnet while the stove is hot.