njc110381 Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 I just lit the wood burner and it's smoking like crazy! I swept the chimney which usually works but that's not the problem. I've been burning a lot of poor quality wood and it's clogged the fine mesh on the cowling. I just had a look at it with the bino's and it's caked! In desperation to clear it I've just put 15 rounds into it with the air pistol and things have improved. It's still pretty messy though and the roof is soaking wet and slippery. As the cowling is old I plan to replace it soon anyway but how do you think it would react to me whacking it with a load from the .410? It's at about 20 yards range so I recon it'll just knock the **** off without damaging it too much? It's made from quite heavy gauge stainless wire. You'll probably think I'm mad but I just want it sorted without having to risk life and limb getting up there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Laugh as we might, theres half a chance it will work. Please get someone to film it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Oh it'll work. I'm just not sure whether it will remove the soot from the cowling or the cowling from the chimney?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Depends how accurate you are. What is the worst that can happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 I'll end up with no chimney cowling and a dodgy roof to climb to get it sorted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 I'd say go for it. Two blocks of wood either side, with a jubilee clip holding it all up and about 100 yards of string running from the trigger, out the window to the back of the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 I'll end up with no chimney cowling and a dodgy roof to climb to get it sorted! Well seeing as though you will have to do that anyway you may as well have a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 **** me Billy! I wasn't thinking of firing the gun up the chimney! Rather standing outside at a sensible range and putting a round into it from the garden! :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 ok assuming its not meant to be in the playpen from the start, you need a decent hot fire and cross your fingers you don't set fire to the whole lot. Is the chimney lined? if not then be careful but with some well seasoned wood run it flat out for as long as possible and you will sort it out, its unlikely the cowl is blocked that much as tar shouldn't be able to do that. If its smoking with a cold chimney then just put some paper in and it should get the updraught going, possible reasons are a different wind direction etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 (edited) When you swept your chimney you may have pushed tarry soot up to the mesh on the cowl. If you had a diffrerent attachment, or you could modify an attachment you might be able to shift it from below - and not as bizarre as shooting your house. Edited February 15, 2011 by FalconFN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 I imagine that it may catch fire soon and that the local boys will be called, to find that you have done all the right things, ie. steamed the fire out with a couple of cups of water and then of course they will check the cowl, where most of the burning seemed to take place, just for your peace of mind Understandeeeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesbach Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 SHOOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol: :good: :yp: :yp: :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 **** me Billy! I wasn't thinking of firing the gun up the chimney! Rather standing outside at a sensible range and putting a round into it from the garden! :blink: Oh... I'd just shoot up the chimney anyway. Just for a laugh really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 +1 on the =shooting, pls video it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 +1 on the =shooting, pls video it Yes but don't forget to tell us all which cartridge shot size and choke combination your using........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyp Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Whats with the 410, use a 12 bore and be done with it. Looking forward to the video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Well as it turns out I went for more of the Henry line of thought (well partly!). I put the fire out and swept the chimney. I can feel the cowl at the top with the brushes so I had a really good wiggle about in there and got another small spade full of tar out. Then I sat outside for half an hour and plinked the rest off of the outside with my air pistol! It was completely coked up, probably due to the two truck loads of conifer it's got through since I last swept it? I've had a very close look at the cowl through my bino's and I can see daylight through it. I'm pretty certain it's clear of all but the very last bits of tar so I lit another small fire in the burner with some paper and it now draws fine. When the weather clears up I'll get up there and make sure all is well. As the chimney is lined and well swept and the cowling is pretty much clear it will be ok in the short term I should think. The only snag I did have is when I came back in to light it I'd shot another good handfull of tar off of the cowl and the fire was full of pellets! I didn't plan this as a playpen topic. I was seriously considering shooting it and in fact I did in the end, just with something smaller and less destructive! I don't see that as a daft thing to do - it got the **** off without me falling off of the roof didn't it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 have you got a chimney liner in it? if not burning conifer will result in a tar saturated chimney, it'll start showing on the chimney breast and then it will catch fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 It's got one of those flexible steel tubes running up it so it's completely sealed from the burner to the chimney outlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 in that case really you shouldn't need to sweep it, a hot fire does the job. Mix the wood up if you have to burn conifer and when you burn it don't shut it down as that is when it lets the tar condense on the side of the pipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Well done for sorting the problem, shame it did not come to using the 410, i think there must be manys household jobs that can be done with a 410. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 in that case really you shouldn't need to sweep it, a hot fire does the job. Mix the wood up if you have to burn conifer and when you burn it don't shut it down as that is when it lets the tar condense on the side of the pipe. When I've been burning woods like conifer, I always put on a bit of maxibrite coal afterwards to burn hot for a good while - it seems to work fine in our solid fuel system. Duncan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 (edited) I think you risk assessed perfectly, the roof was definitely a '' high risk area'' I would have loved to see the video though. Such a shame Edited February 15, 2011 by mpk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 (edited) I try not to make a habit of burning conifer if I can help it. last winter though I had quite a shortage of firewood and we nearly ran out. I did a big conifer felling job and decided that as our wood stock was looking rather sad I would keep it. Well I've just got to it in the shed so it's been split and drying for just over a year which again isn't ideal! For next winter I have a load of Eucalyptus which seems good? Never burned it before but it's as hard as iron and weighs a ton even when it's dry. I recon that will be much better. After that I have about six trucks of Poplar so back down hill again I recon because I've heard it's not so good? That's two years away yet though so it will be nice and dry at least. Edited February 15, 2011 by njc110381 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 For next winter I have a load of Eucalyptus which seems good? Never burned it before but it's as hard as iron and weighs a ton even when it's dry. I recon that will be much better. After that I have about six trucks of Poplar so back down hill again I recon because I've heard it's not so good? That's two years away yet though so it will be nice and dry at least. Eucalyptus (after a year or so of drying) makes fine firewood; some would advise against it as it's pretty cloggy, but if your happy to burn up conifers it shouldn't be an issue in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.