Battling with bad cat: Part 2

Ok Cleaned the cat again today since it warmed up a little
This time I got some pics
I vacuumed the cat before the pics were taken and brushed it after. It looked a little better when I reinstalled it. The bright green is on the top and the hole is on the bottom. As for now it is still working.

 

Did you clean it in vinegar? (It looks a little pickled...)

 

That's weird, I never had a steel cat turn bright green like that. Did you send pics to Woodstock to ask their opinion on what would cause the hole and green discoloration?

 

Well, this was a last minute idea since the coals burned down and the house was still pretty warm.
I didn't have the distilled water so I just pulled it out to see if it was getting worse.
I vacuumed and brushed it while it was out and put it back in service before the house cooled down.
I actually didn't think of the vinegar bath till it was too late.
Next time

 

Hi BS
I was going to boil in vinegar solution.
Never heard about a spray

TimK

 

My cat gets green. Not that green, but green. WS advised that it wasn't an issue. Vinegar bath took the green right off mine.

 

TD, do you have a high temp indicator on your stove top thermometer? If not, it's easy to make one out of a paperclip. It lets you know what the STT peaked at while you were at work or sleeping. I find it useful.

 

When I bought my Fireview back to trade it in, Jamie looked at my cat it saw it had some green on it as well... I thought he said that was an issue they were seeing... Maybe give them a call just to see what they think is the reason for the green...

 

Thanks Dennis
You like this better than the boiling method?
Just because it's quicker?
Or the wife won't let you touch her cookware? LOL

 

The greenish residue is formed by potassium chloride from wood ash reacting with chromium and high heat. The manufacture was working to resolve this with a different wash coat and layered construction. This is how Tom explained it to me a couple years ago.

 

The hole looks like mechanical damage or from being hit . Can you whack the cat with wood, how it sits in the stove?

 

How can a paperclip tell u a temp?

I have a double wall stove/ insert. If my stt gets to the range u guys worry about I think my firebox would be glowing cherry red at that point!

 

Set the clip on the thermometer so that the needle will push it as the temp raises. The paper clip will be at your max temp for the load when you return.

 

Thought maybe you rigged it somehow like that.But my first thought was somehow the thong discolored at a certain temp, and the flavor of the rainbow told you. Was thinking you need a chart too!!

 

Hi Clemson
There is no way to hit the cat as it is completely enclosed with cast iron plates and heavy wire screen.
When I removed the cat it wasn't showing an signs of damage, but when I vacuumed it off the pieces started to fall out

 

I let my stove go out yesterday once the temp hit 55 outside and about 80 inside so I'll pull my cat and take a look at it. Won't hurt to dust it off. Just to see if mine looks like that too.

 

Dennis would you recommend to remove the cat from its frame when doing this? I know WS says to remove it and the gasket before doing a vinegar boil not sure about just spraying it.

 

Mine is a pain to drop, only gets done at end or beginning of season. Its in a heavy metal holder and I have dual cats. It weighs like 10 pounds and is hard top hold and start the bolts. I got smart last time and used a bottle jack to lift the housing while I start the bolts.