Tool for cleaning the tops of the Heat Exchanger tubes!

[Don2222]

Hello

Trying to really get that grime off the top of the heat tubes that are so close together.

Stovensen and I came up with something that may work well! Thank-you Stovensen! ! !

1st
Since I do not like to work upside down, I turned the stove upside down! LOL
Then the fire door fell off. What a revelation, Enviro fire doors won't stay on upside down! LOL

2nd
Then cut a piece of thin aluminum flashing purchased at Home Depot along with some Emory cloth. The emory cloth comes in different grits to really get the soot out!

Using a screw driver slip the band of flashing around the tube. Then slide the emory cloth in on top!

3rd
Then move back and forth, it works great!

Some tubes like the top row of the double row heat exhcanger in the Enviro stoves are still hard to get at.
Any ideas for the top row?

I did get most of the bottom row really clean!

See pics
Click to Enlarge!

 

[Don2222]

Hello

I could get the aluminum band behind the top row of Tubes some but not enough to move the rake freely. See first pic.

Then I soaked the tubes with PB blaster and lit them up with a torch and a little MAP GAS! ! !
That was it! The PB blaster ran around to the tops of the tubes. (Stove is still upside down) Then when I lit it up with the torch it burned the soot off the parts I could not reach. Doing this and pulling the rake bake and forth completely freed up the rake as it pulls in and out freely now. Just like it was going through butter! !

Thanks Stovensen
Thanks again guys for all your help and support!

We now know there is NO Cleaning Rake too Stuck to fix even if it is rusted and frozen in place from sitting in a damp garage for 2 years! ! !LOL

See pics and enjoy!

 

[movemaine]

I used this when I needed to clean my parent's Napoleon:

(broken image removed)

Flexible & durable.

 

[Don2222]

I used this when I needed to clean my parent's Napoleon:

(broken image removed)

Flexible & durable.

NICE ! ! !

 

[DexterDay]

Compressed air and a leaf blower hooked to the exhaust.

Run LB and blow 170 PSI into the tube area via nozzle and small air line.

 

[Don2222]

Compressed air and a leaf blower hooked to the exhaust.

Run LB and blow 170 PSI into the tube area via nozzle and small air line.

Yes, the very 1st pic shows vice grips, PB Blaster and Compressed Air. I am sure the leaf blower would help but the exhaust is not hooked up to anything.
The torch really fired it up.

 

[WoodPorn]

Are you saying that you're using emory cloth to scrape down the tubes?

 

[Stevekng]

Are you saying that you're using emory cloth to scrape down the tubes?

I think strips of Scotchbrite wouldn't be as abrasive as emory cloth. Over time, I believe the emory would sand throught the metal on the tubes.You could glue the Scotchbrite to some strips of aluminum flashing and it might be easier to use.

 

[Don2222]

Yes Emory cloth but these tubes are not like ones in a stove that is taken good care of. The stove was in a damp garage for 2 years as a partial payment to the current owner because of owing money. The rust was bubbling up and it needed to be smooth it out! The biggest problem is getting anything in there because there are two rows and the tubes are they are fairly tight together!

 

[movemaine]

My parent's napoleon was in a similar boat, so I used a belt like shown above - I used a fine grit. It would take a loooong time and repeated regular use to get through the metal.

 

[Stovensen]

these tubes are not like ones in a stove that is taken good care of!

Don, on this magnified photo of yours, we see some serious rust pits. Is it possible to measure the depth of these pits with a vernier caliper and compare it with the overall thickness of the tube wall?
And who knows how many similar pits ( or even worse ) that are hidden on the obscured sides? Not sure if I would dare to use this stove at all.

 

[Stevekng]

Don, on this magnified photo of yours, we see some serious rust pits. Is it possible to measure the depth of these pits with a vernier caliper and compare it with the overall thickness of the tube wall?
And who knows how many similar pits ( or even worse ) that are hidden on the obscured sides? Not sure if I would dare to use this stove at all.

View attachment 111541

I'm thinking the the temperature from the torch and the stuff used to soak the tubes might have made the pits. MAP gas gives a very high temperature.

A lighted borescope with a flexible fiberoptic shaft would allow you to view inside the tubes and around most of the outside of the tubes if you really want to get a look at them. Also, a vernier caliper wouldn't be able to measure the depth of the pits. I've been a machinist for 35 years and without taking the tube out, the only way to get an accurate depth is to take an impression of the surface. MSC has stuff to do that with in their online catalog.

 

[Don2222]

Don, on this magnified photo of yours, we see some serious rust pits. Is it possible to measure the depth of these pits with a vernier caliper and compare it with the overall thickness of the tube wall?
And who knows how many similar pits ( or even worse ) that are hidden on the obscured sides? Not sure if I would dare to use this stove at all.

View attachment 111541

I will asses the stove when I fire it up. Those Enviro stoves are well built and the tubes are very rugged. The rake took a hit when it was worked loose but it works well now. Can the pits be tig welded to add strength?

 

[Stevekng]

I will asses the stove when I fire it up. Those Enviro stoves are well built and the tubes are very rugged. The rake took a hit when it was worked loose but it works well now. Can the pits be tig welded to add strength?

If you weld the pits the tubes will have raised areas on them that will jam the rake. Is there a way to remove the tube assembly and replace it? It would be more expensive but it would save alot of time .

 

[Don2222]

If you weld the pits the tubes will have raised areas on them that will jam the rake. Is there a way to remove the tube assembly and replace it? It would be more expensive but it would save alot of time .

The tubes are welded in the stove. The raised slag from filling in the holes can be ground smooth with grinding stones very easily