Cleaned out the cat

I think you and I are in the same boat, first year with the BK?
If so, how much longer to engage? Performance down how? Was it just fly ash build up? Any idea what caused it? Wood species/quality?
What did you use to brush it off?
Inquiring minds want to know!

 

I like to use a vacuum hose with a soft brush attachment.

 

Nice work, I think the super cold temps and wind are creating a lot higher draft than normal, more turbulence and easier for ash to get up there.

This morning it was -21 and 25 mph winds, about had to shut the air completely off and turn the damper a bit for good measure.

 

Had to brush my cat yesterday too...intake side completely blocked. Stove just shut down when I closed the bypass. Was a bit sluggish on the previous load and I had meant to check it. Brushed it with stovetop t about 200, took maybe 5 minutes to complete the job. Easy peasy.

 

For the last month I have been into a supply of short fat chunks of BL. They are slow to light. I've been putting some smaller stuff under them to help get them going.
Maybe I'll brush the cat a little.

 

If you brush the cat you will get a lot of fur, I mean ash.

 

I notice the same, lights off better when clean
vacuum it out now & then.

Thinking about getting a SS for a spare.
Then I can R&R
& clean without being in a rush.
get a better cleaning.
Probably need some gasket material too.

 

"Not that there's anything wrong with that."

 

Dexter Day, just KNEW someone would make that comment, but thought "what the heck" and didn't re-word. On the bright side, your kitty looks like it gets lots of loving. Nice shiny coat. Love black cats.

 

Nice cat Dex.

Ben the cat loves the laser on my IR thermometer. I let him chase it all over the house and the furniture. It drives him crazy. Now I have to be careful when I'm using it for its intended purpose. The family yells at me every time I'm actually using it to check STT. "Dad, Ben's gonna jump on the stove!"

 

For sanity's sake, yes it did happen two weeks ago. I was checking temps and moving the magnetic thermometer and spring, here is a orange cat landing on top of a 400+ degree stove top. I flung the IR gun and tossed the cat off the stove, and it happened so quick he realized mid air what he had done and ran off howling.

Yup, had to play vet with that cat for a good week, not fun. He did earn his stripes today and caught a little mouse that snuck in with the wood hoard that is on my porch, so I think he is doing just fine.

Moral of the story, if you have cats and are monkin around with the stove, the curiosity of the cat will get its best at some point.

Edit: The black indoor outdoor female cat knows better. The male cat is not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree.

Sorry to derail the thread, since it was brought up I thought I would do a friendly public service announcement for the pet owners.

 

If my family sees your post I'm going to be in the dog house.

I keep telling them Ben the cat is smarter than that. But he really ... isn't.

 

Well, I do offer free non-professional vet advice if it does happen. Ha.

 

No worries, I treat feet every day. How hard could paws be?

I do have a cook top on my stove though. When folks ask me if I like cats, my standard reply is, "Yeah, if you marinate them long enough and slice them thin enough." They're a bear to skin though. Don't ask me how I know. (Vertebrate anatomy class, 1986. :0)

 

Prescient?