I"ve been seeing these wood logs in a lot of stores that claim t clean your stove pipe while it burns. It cost 14.95 and states that it will clean the creosote out of your chimney...Has any one use them yet, do they work??

Tiller

-- TILLER (TILLERBILL@WEBTV.NET), November 11, 2002

Answers

I havnt used them myself,, but I have checked them out. Seems the main ingredient in them, is salt, or some type of salt. For 15 bucks, I can buy ALOT of salt,, or a brush,, ONCE, and never have to buy it again. There is also anothr product, a loose crystal,, comes in a small tub,, supposed to put a couple HEAPING tablespoons on every fire,, again, the main ingrediant is salt.

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), November 11, 2002.

Try throwing some T.S.P. on a hot fire. (1/2 cup or so.) There is a product called "Flip Sticks" or something used to clean flues and they are basically tri-sodium phosphate.

-- Zen Clown (MartyS@iland.net), November 11, 2002.

If you put 8 or 10 aluminum pop cans in your stove while it's hot ,it will lossen all the crusty stuff out of your stove pipe.Works better than a steel brush .. Some of the crusty stuff that falls loose may get stuck in the elbow sections and may need removin.

-- Jesus Bob (heavens@inn.com), December 01, 2002.

I'm really curious about that aluminum can idea. We have an antique wood cookstove and would like to keep the chimney (metalbestos pipe) as clean as possible. Would the soda cans work in this stove? How many should we use? Are there any other poisonous fumes released during the heating of the cans?

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), December 01, 2002.

Marcia , I think it would work in any stove. I've never seen a metalbestos stove pipe so I wouldn't know if it would clean the pipe ? It's a chemical reaction between the 2 different metals ( aluminum can and steel stove pipe ) that causes the creosote ( crusty stuff ) to flake and fall out of the pipe. I used 8 cans and let them totally burn or disolve in the hot stove. A day or 2 latter when the stove was out ,I seperated an elbow section of the stove pipe and all the crusty stuff had come loose and was in the elbow and was emptied.

As far as poisonous fumes being released during the heating of the cans , it's aluminum. I throw the cans in when the fire is real hot and the next time I need to load the stove with wood I don't notice the fumes. The fumes should go up the stove pipe.As far as enviormental friendly , it's a poor mans or ( el cheapos ) way of keeping the stove pipes clean.

I did wonder if the chemical reaction of the 2 metals would harm the steel of the wood stove in the long run .I still don't know if it's bad for the stove .But at least the draw is good and I don't have to worry about a fire in the stove pipe.

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), December 01, 2002.

Id bet its more of a temp thing,, if you can melt a can in your stove,, its getting hot enough to burn off the creasote. since melting aluminum melts at a higher temp then creasote burns at. I checked the ingrediants on those chimney cleaning logs, and aluminum sulfate IS in there,, for what reason, Im not sure,, but SALT of some kind seems to be the most prelavent ingrediant

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), December 02, 2002.

A metalbestos pipe is a double-walled (steel) pipe with some kind of insulating material sandwiched between layers. I think we'll try both the soda can and salt methods and see what works best for our stove. Our stove pipe goes up through a two-story house with an attic...so any way we can get around cleaning the whole length of pipe is great! And "el cheapo" is always good :-)!! Thanks for the info.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), December 02, 2002.

I don't run the wood stove any hotter when I use the cans. I believe it's something to do with the aluminum and steel ( a chemical reaction of 2 metals {oxidation} ).The stove I use is an wood furnace. The stove pipe doesn't get as hot as a regular woodstove because there is a steel plate inside that traps the heat better than a conventional woodstove.I have used the cans in my old leaky wood stove also.

The creosote is not being burned off ,it flakes off...If it burnt off , there'd be no need to open up a section of pipe to get the flaky creosote out .It you don't have elbows on your stove pipe than you wouldn't need to open a section of pipe to let creosote out . I have 2 elbows on my stove pipe and one is where the creosote gets stuck when it fakes off. Try it . You'll see what it does, and run your stove the way you normally do.The only thing I questain is ,if it's safe for the stove( The chemical oxidation) .

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), December 02, 2002.

We have a 1920 antique cookstove....very "leaky" :-)! There is one elbow in the pipe that's accessible for cleaning out residue. We'll try a couple of cans at a time and hope for the best. Thanx, JB!!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), December 02, 2002.

I am a chimney/fire system technician. It has been my experience that these logs do not actually clean the creosote from your chimney. These logs were tested in Europe. Chimneys are cleaned up to four times per year there, therefore, testing these logs in a already clean chimney does not prove they work.

Basicaly, it makes the soot flake off the chimney walls, which falls onto a burning log and is likely to cause a chimney fire. Chimney fires can go from 400 to 1600 degrees in 3 minutes, causing major damage to your chimney and possibly your home.

It is my opinion that it is much cheaper to pay $60-$100 per year, depending where you live, to have your chimney cleaned by a professional, rather than take the chance endangering your family, or damaging your home. It can cost anywhere from $1500 to $5000, or more to repair your chimney after a chimney fire.

As for burning cans, or other types of garbage, those items need to be placed in a recycle bin or garbage can. Woodstoves and fireplaces are designed to burn logs, not trash.

If you want to save money by sweeping your own chimney, please keep in mind that there is more to it than simply running a brush down the flue. Not all brushes and rods are the same, or even compatable for your system. Make sure your brush is the size of the inner part of the flue. Also, plastic and poly bristles are for more powdery soots, and metal or aluminum is for crispy soots and glazed (tar- like). I'd recommend finding a professional to train you before trying to clean your own chimney.

Another thing to keep in mind, when your chimney tech comes to your house to sweep your chimney, they will also do an inspection. They are trained to see things that could be problems that you won't see.

Theodore Sailly Vice President Qco Maintenance, Inc

-- Theodore Sailly (tsailly@charter.net), January 15, 2003.

Then what is in a product called Anti-Creo-Soot, which is sold by chimney sweeps, or is that also something one is better off not buying? It's like $35 a half gallon. I do have mine inspected/cleaned every year.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 19, 2003.

ACS ( anti creo soot ) this product works differently then the chimney cleaning log. ACS is designed to burn the oxygen up so it produces less carbon smoke. When oxygen is introduced to any flame it will produce carbon buildup. Also you must live in a high demand area because the suggested retail price on a gallon is 27.79

-- Ted Sailly (tsailly@charter.net), January 23, 2003.

I prefer garbage , I mean aluminum cans.Besides it's all I can afford.

It's like recycling.

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), January 24, 2003.

Under no circumstances should a wood stove owner burn anything but dry logs in a wood stove. Buring metals and other trash in a stove creates fumes (odorless) that are extremely hazardous to humans, wildlife, and pets. "Chimney cleaning logs" may lull a wood stove owner into a false sense of security regarding creosote build-up. Regular inspection by a professional will prevent hosehold and family tragedies. - Jim Ochterski, Cornell Cooperative Extension

-- James A Ochterski (jao14@cornell.edui), January 29, 2003.

JB...we "recycle" in our cookstove, too! Almost everything that the chickens, pigs or cats can't eat gets burned in the stove with paper and small cardboard boxes. Then the ashes are spread in the garden. Grows really good veggies :-)!!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), January 29, 2003.

<< Buring metals and other trash in a stove creates fumes (odorless) that are extremely hazardous to humans, wildlife, and pets >>

Being that toxic heavy mentals are used in chemical fertilizers as a means to dipose of these chemicals that are considered even by the loose standards of the EPA to be very toxic chemical compounds and this is getting into the human food chain ,why would it matter to you?

Having taken courses from the county Cooperative Entension service on agriculture , I've mention the toxicity of chemical fertilizers to our instuctors. I was told they are safe and no different from the organic fertilizers. So why as a voice of the Extension Cooperative are you saying it's dangerous to the health to burn these toxic metals ,but others from the Extension Cooperative say it's safe to eat them, are there double standards , or am I missing something here.

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), January 29, 2003.

I was taught by someone who reads here to use documentaion. I think this site has trouble pasting but I'll try anyway http://www.chem-surf.com/recycling/fertwast.html

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), January 29, 2003.

I was addressing Jim Ochterski in my post above.I forgot to put his name.

<< "Chimney cleaning logs" may lull a wood stove owner into a false sense of security regarding creosote build-up. Regular inspection by a professional will prevent household and family tragedies. - Jim Ochterski, Cornell Cooperative Extension >>

Jim is right about the dangers of creosote build-up and and if a person doesn't know how to inspect their stove pipes and chimmneys , they should hire a poffessional inspector."" Especially people with children. ""

I only have 18 ft of stove pipe ( 6 ) 3 ft. sections and I take my stove pipe apart twice a season ( when we get a warm weather break ) to check and make sure it's clean. I also live in a cement block house which has less of a chance of catching on fire if there was a problem.

My neighbor cleans his chimmney , which is made of cement block with a clay thimble liner , carefully with chains tied to rope which he lowers into the top of the chimmney ( make sure the fire is out )and makes the chains scrape up and down the side of the clay insert , which scrapes off the creosote..

The bottom line is, it's money well spent if you don't know how to inspect your chinney or stove pipe , and it means your families safety.

I still burn about 8 aluminum cans once or twice a year. I have an aluminum factory 20 miles away that let's out aluminum fumes , an incinerator that burns nuclear waste that's 40 miles away. Yep , a Nuclear Waste incinerator.And a coal burning power plant that has fumes of arsenic and mercury.This country living is dangerous.

So I really don't feel guilty about those cans. I believe it lets out less toxic fumes than burning 2 gallons of 87 octane gasoline. And I ain't giving up my automobile unless everyone gives up theirs first .

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), January 29, 2003.

Thanks, Ted. I looked back over my post and realized I made a mistake-- the price I quoted was for a gallon, but it is still higher than what you said in your post. I was told to put some on every fire, and did (like a small bathroom size dixie cup worth) every once in a while, but kept forgetting to do so, and the chimney passed inspection without major cleaning this year either, so maybe I'm just getting better about building hotter fires. I didn't like the fact that I would be using up so much so quickly if I used it according to directions. It doesn't list any ingredients on it. I thought by law products had to list their ingredients in case you had to call the poison control center. It smells a little like vinegar.

I have also been told, since we burn fir and pine (that's what we have), to just burn some good hardwood every so often.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 30, 2003.

I am a certified chimney sweep and certified dryer exhaust technician. I have many years in these fields. I am a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. These are non-profit organizations providing training and certification to professionals. Members and certified professionals must follow a strict code of ethics and pass a lengthy in depth examination to become certified. These organizations address questions associated with the chimney sweep log and information can be found on their web sites at www.ncsg.org and www.csia.org. Homeowner's insurance companies are recognizing the high standards implemented by these organizations and many are now requiring the minimum of a yearly inspection by a CERTIFIED sweep as a requirement of renewal of policies. Certified Sweeps are listed on the CSIA website. Please check out their websites for valuable information and many answers to your questions. They also explain the reasons for only using certified professionals in servicing your home. Thank you!

-- Certified Sweep (certsweepncdet@aol.com), February 02, 2003.

JB You need to inform your neighbor that using a chain to nook loose his soot is not the way to go about cleaning his chimney. He is doing more harm then good to his tile liners. Think of a tile liner like it is a clay pot for flowers. If you smaked one with a chain it would crack or break into peices his tile liners are probly cracked, and need to be inspected for cracks and probly replaced with a stainless steel liner. When i read your post's i realise why i love my job somuch. From A chimney cleaners pont of veiw yall make me laugh...

Ted Sailly V.P. Qco Maintenance Inc. DBA Quality Chimney Care.

-- Ted Sailly (tsailly@charter.net), February 06, 2003.

< " From A chimney cleaners pont of veiw yall make me laugh... " >

I bet you laugh ever day when you see all the suckers who are willing to give their hard earned dollars for your services that most could do ourselves and have money left over for a Lobster dinner for 4 and gasoline for the family car for the next 2 months.

And learn how to spell or is " PONT " a new word I not familiar with. I bet your able to count them dollars in your bank account much better.

With the money my neighbor saves from not having a money hungry service man come to his home.In a few years he can save enough to replace his whole chimmney.

And I bet he can do it in less than 3 days. Even quicker but he likes to let the motar dry before stackin more blocks and tiles.

I guess buisness is hurting Teddy boy , why else would you be advertising your severcies on this forum.

Contribute something here don't come grubbing ,FREE ADVERTISING SPACE

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), February 06, 2003.

JB

Number one I am very successful in my field. I have always made it a practice to take care of my customers and IM sorry if you believe that I rip customers off.

And about spelling, Your not so good your self (Chimney, Has one M, Severcies, is spelled services.

If your neighbors house burns down, all that money he saved from not having his chimney cleaned and inspected could get him a tank of gas to drive to his brothers house and a Big Mac for the road why he waits for his home owners insurance to cut him a check that would have paid for his stainless liner in the first place.

Thanks for you’re input though. Ted Sailly V.P.

-- Ted Sailly (tsailly@charter.net), February 07, 2003.

I'm just bothering you Teddy.A lot of homesteaders are arrogantly stubborn . I'm one of them. And some of us would do all our own dental work also if we could get the novacaine or other supplies and equipment needed to fix our own teeth. ______________________________________________________________________ _

I did make this statement in a post up above::::< <"The bottom line is, it's money well spent if you don't know how to inspect your ( chinney ) or stove pipe , and it means your families safety. ">>

"Where I live people call a chimmney " a chin-ney ". Than again ,this may be due to doing our own dental work.

It would be nice of you to participate here at this forum and tell us ( what we can do ). Not ( what we shouldn't do ). We always find someone telling us what we shouldn't do, even though we moved far from the ones who make the laws that tell us what we shouldn't be doing .

We are do it yourselfers , at least most of us are ,or are trying to be.

If because of liability reasons or moral and safety reasons you do not want to tell us how to clean and inspect our own chimmneys.It's understandable . Tell us other stuff you know on other subjects. Give some input.

Participants here , share ideas. Not give out buisness cards.

And I'm sure there is something here we can all learn from you, besides not to put cans in our stoves and clean our chimmneys with chains.

Telling me :<<""As for burning cans, or other types of garbage, those items need to be placed in a recycle bin or garbage can. Woodstoves and fireplaces are designed to burn logs, not trash. " >>

This was as not exactly a diplomatic way of sharing your opinion. If you can't be diplomatic here when voicing an opinion you start sounding like what is commonly called a " TROLL ". Someone who's purpose is to cause disruptions or bad feelings.

This is a nice friendly place .I think others who regularly post here with motives of Giving not Taking would agree.And the more who post here in a friendly giving manner the better this place will be.

So I leave it up to you . If you stick a pin in my butt .I stick one back in yours.

Jesus Bob

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), February 07, 2003.

Now boys....*smile*

I can see what you're saying from both sides.

I have never seen anything to suggest that chimney cleaning and inspection is something that requires years of training to master (unlike, for example, brain surgery). So, it follows that anyone of average intelligence could learn to do an adequate job in a relatively short period of time. I agree with JB that this is not the place to be advertising.

And, just because someone is licensed doesn't automatically mean that they will do a good job--and in the house fire/insurance example you both cited, a licensed person could do the same supposedly poor job inspection, and you *still* could lose your house to a chimney fire. The courts are full of licensed "professionals" who don't do their jobs, and worse, don't have insurance to fix their mistakes.

If you only make, for example $5 an hour, not counting taxes, and a visit from the Chimney sweep costs $50, that's 10 hours of your work to pay for that visit (and actually more, because of taxes), and it would be well worth it to save money doing yourself. On the other hand, if you can make more money doing something else, then it would be better to pay someone. The important thing is to do a workmanlike job.

On the burning of cans, especially aluminum, I would side with Ted, because unless you live 'way, 'way out in the boonies (and JB might, so Ted, remember that), most people can save their cans and recycle the aluminum ones for money (in some areas, if you donate them to bona fide nonprofits, they will get a higher rate of pay from the recycling company). I do agree that fireplaces are not really designed for burning trash, and people aren't doing themselves or their neighbors any favors from an air pollution (both indoor and outdoor) standpoint. Even though you don't get money for ordinary food cans, they still could be recycled--but lots of areas are 'way behind the times on this, and make it difficult.

And Ted, what IS the active ingredient in Anti-Creo-Soot?

So I am learning from both of you....

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), February 07, 2003.

GT , thanks for the words of diplomacy .I need to work on the concept much better .

Some how I get the feeling you know that , whats in that Anti-Creo- Soot is worst than my enviormental catastrophe of can burning. Could even be aluminum crystals made from Recycled cans? That would be funny ,I think ?

I'm someone who gave up electricity for 4 years and lived almost like a cave man for longer because I was caring of the enviorment.I'm not as extreme today but everything I do or buy , I think about the enviormental impact it will have on me , my neighbors and the small corner of the earth the product came from.

I don't recycle because I drink can sodas only when I'm in town and throw the cans away before I get home. I'll bring some home only when I need some for the stove pipe cleaning. I'd have to burn 10 dollars in gas to bring them to a recyling place.I wish they had a recycle bin where they sell the soda . Maybe I'll ask to see if the stores would want to do it.

I'll try to convince the store managers where the soda machines are that it's good for the stores image if they use a recycle bin for the cans. They usually have a suggestion box at the stores I go to for ideas to make the store ,a better shopping experience. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The one who uses the chains to clean the chimmney , Is a federal employee maintenence worker whos been doing it for over 20 years.But hey , he's just a hillbilly what would he know. When this guy opens his mouth my ears move( by themselves ) towards his direction making sure they catch every word.

He's certified in plumbing , electric , welding ,ect , ect ,ect .All his classes were paid for by our taxes. But I'm getting my moneys worth back in information , when I need it.

He has a chimmney , not stove pipes , so he doesn't use the can trick . But he knows about it . I'm gonna ask him whats in the Anti- Creo-Soot , when I see him. I have a feeling he knows.

JB

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), February 08, 2003.

Hi JB,

I was under the impression that ACS is actually TSP (tri-sodium phospate, and probably much cheaper bought under its proper name), but do not know for sure. It (the ACS) smells kind of like a soapy vinegar or detergent. It *says* it's non-toxic, but it has a supposedly child- proof cap on it, so.... I don't mind paying for things that work, but I didn't notice any difference when I didn't use it. Live and learn, won't buy it again.

I get so angry about the lack of recycling facilities, especially when that entire industry could be a source of many new jobs, some for people on welfare/job training (to help pay for their benefits and teach them valuable skills such as getting up on time, pride in a job well done, etc.), and some higher skill jobs (fixing machinery, running it, etc.) that pay well. I don't think that people should have to pay for recycling pick-up--I mean, gee, they already demand that you sort it for them! At least we can drop it off at the transfer station for free.

What's really disheartening is to visit in an area where they take almost everything for recycling including styrofoam cups and compostable garbage and then go to where they think they're doing you a huge favor accepting milk jugs. And why it is okay for the jar to break while putting it in the recycle bin, but the same jar broken into pieces already (and carefully dropped in the bin) is not welcome? :-(

They teach kids in schools about saving the planet, but try suggesting that the schools should try to raise money by putting in newspaper/ mixed paper bins, aluminum can bins, sneaker bins (since some of the new track surfaces are made from ground-up athletic shoes) or tire bins (I've seen ground-up tires instead of sand at public playgrounds) and it falls on deaf ears. Go figure.

Unfortunately we have some in our area who do burn wet garbage in their fireplaces, and boy, does it smell! I would think they'd be better off maybe using an old barbeque, or, like you, changing their buying habits considerably. I know what you're saying about trying to curb the sodas and dispose of them where you bought them. We've pretty much stopped buying yogurt because they don't accept them for recycling up here-- will have to get better at making it, I guess! I think that when you buy something with styrofoam packaging you should be able to take the styrofoam back to where you bought it, or instead of buying a new container of liquid detergent (since detergent does work better than soap in hard water), just be able to refill the old one until it breaks, then bring it back for recycling and just take a new, recycled one *sigh*.

I think that a lot of people somehow think that if you're in the boonies you have absolutely no regard for the environment whatsoever, which is wrong. I know people in the city who think that because they're on sewer, they can put all sorts of things down their sink that they'd never put into a septic tank system.

Sorry for the rant *smile*

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), February 09, 2003.

And I know what you mean by using the chains, good grief, it's not like you're swinging them around building up centrifugal (sp?) force, there's not that much room in a chimney...

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), February 09, 2003.

I have never cleaned my stovepipe in the 7 years I owned the house gawd knows when the previous owner did it if at all. I do throw in som tsp once in a while but thats it. I usually burn 1 1/2 cords a season. But no fires yet. In fact, i haven't heard of anyone around here that has ever had chimney fire...Anyway I expect that many folks do nothing at all about it and the fire happens with out their knowledge. Prolly self cleaning itself from time to time. :) I might try the can trick but not with anyone in the house. Metal fumes can make you so sick you wish you were dead. (try welding zinc sometime). But I for one think a creosote fire is probably affects about as many people as a plane crash does on a yearly basis. Not enough to stop me from flying or hiring a sweep. Just my 2¢

-- Argent (ampmanbee@hotmail.com), February 15, 2003.

Lots of info! Thanks! I am filling out a woostove inspection report for insurance purposes and it asks, "How much air space between wall protection and combustible wall". There is a brick wall behind the stove and there is another room beyond that wall with regular drywall. I assume, (gotta assume) that it is asking how much air space is between these bricks and that drywall. What do you think? And, how much space would, or should, there be? I assume (one more time) that there are studs behind the brick to nail the drywall into. If we do use a professional to clean the stove, how often would you say? Just one comment to the postings... although there may be all types of corporations spewing deadly fumes, do you really think it wise to add your own couple of cans? Makes me think of the theoretical "Straw that broke the camels back." Somehow the whole idea of burning cans just does not sound like such a good idea. Companies have always sold us products that were not good for us, our children or the environment.... so why do we so blindly trust them to do the right thing now? Just because it is OK by EPA or boopboopbedoop, don't mean it is OK for Mamma Earth! Hey, this post is about stoves and such, didn't ya expect me to 'vent'?

-- SJ Rene (sjrene@yahoo.com), February 24, 2003.

-- SJ Rene You wrote :

<< ? Just one comment to the postings... although there may be all types of corporations spewing deadly fumes, do you really think it wise to add your own couple of cans? Makes me think of the theoretical "Straw that broke the camels back." Somehow the whole idea of burning cans just does not sound like such a good idea. Companies have always sold us products that were not good for us, our children or the environment.... so why do we so blindly trust them to do the right thing now? Just because it is OK by EPA or boopboopbedoop, don't mean it is OK for Mamma Earth! Hey, this post is about stoves and such, didn't ya expect me to 'vent'? >> And to this I'll say , before you cast a judgement of my enviormental sins ,BE FAIR. Make a list of all the products you use in your home , and at work and how you make your income, and I will be able to point out your enviormental sins.

SJ Rene ,,, I bet the cans I burn are highly insignificant compared to what you do to the enviorment that has a negative impact.I know this for a fact .Because --

It's usually the ones who point the finger who are doing more damage or harm to the enviorment than the one being pointed at.I always find this to be a general rule

a wise fool knows , it's all from the Earth and it all goes back to the Earth. It's just the transformation of chemicals to different chemicals.Ask a politician they'll tell ya.

Does anyone know that a new way to get rid of toxic waste that is too toxic to dump in the land fills is recycled into your food , clothing , toys for children and adults and many products you buy.Radio active waste is included.We are just waddling in waste.

We are the new chemically induced evolutionally changed human beings.We are innoculated with Toxic chemical waste to enhance the evolutionally process of change to body , mind and spirit It's all part of a bigger plan that us newpaper and pop can recyclers are oblivious to right now .Almost like the chemically innoculated college kids of the 60's.

We are the MUTANTS.

Support the destruction of your planet today , go out and buy something.Take the Car , you can do it faster .

JesusBob.

As of today I JesusBob , Due to the out cry of public opinion , who believe I am single handily destroying the PLANET EARTH ,with my perverse fetish of can burning , will no longer burn cans. I am no longer an ENVIORMENTAL OFFENDER , I called on the Lord , asked em to heal me , and I've been Saved .

FUN FACTS : The automobile has done more enviormental damage than the ATOMIC bombs that were drop on Japan. Yet no one protest no - automobiles , but have protested no nukes .WHY ???

The automobiles kills more people in times of peace , than bombs kill , in times of war . Yet I'll see people protest against war because innocent people will be killed , but no-one protest against automobiles , even though innocent people will be killed. WHY ???

Even the so called ENVIORMENTALIST are just living in a FAD of the times , they only see what's bad for the enviorment as what is fashonable to complain about , as long as it doesn't interferre with their own personal lifestyle or goals.

Let he without Enviormental Sin throw the first stone.

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), February 25, 2003.

Just a word of advise , I would like to offer the homeowners that burn cans as a form of chimney cleaning some advise. If you can completely melt a can you are creating to hot of a fire. Your Black Mate stovepipe you are cleaning is only designed to reach about 500-600 deg. If that can is melting your chimney is a lot hotter than 500 deg. Now Metalbestos Type Chimneys AKA Class A insulated Chimney is only good for 1600 deg. If you don’t know much about chimney design there is a very important part called a support box. This is designed to support the weight of the chimney. Class A chimney ways about 5 times more that black matte stovepipe. There are a lot of installs around the USA that A support box was not used and they relied on the storm collar or the black matte pipe to support the weight. I have seen stovepipe burst open after and during a hot fire and if you don’t have a support box the whole chimney can crash down with it. So please us caution if you insist on burning cans.

Thanking you Ted Sailly

-- Ted Sailly (tsailly@charter.net), March 12, 2003.

Just a short comment regarding this site, I have found alot of information discussed here very useful. I was just wondering how a simple question turned into how we are mutants and destroying the world. wow!

-- unknown (kencorsal@yahoo.com), July 09, 2003.

I've just bought 3 of the Chimney Sweep logs from an Osco Drug that is closing it's doors. I bought them because of the discounted price. ($3.77 per log) I have used them in the past but didn't like paying around $15.00. I have an airtight "combination" oil/wood furnance. My chimney is located in the center of a two story house and is triple wall stanless steel. I believe the combination of the triple wall stainless and the fact that the chimney runs through the center of the house, helps in the prevention of creosole build up. The original furnace lasted 23 years and was built in Canada. I installed a new one (U.L. Approved) made in Minnesota. The furnace is so high tech, I don't need kindling or even a match. I just load the firebox and set the thermostat and forget it. A double thermostat controls the oil and wood. The oil is set about 5 degrees less than the wood. The oil ignites the wood and shuts off. I can get close to a 10 hour burn from the wood. I usually clean the chimney about twice each season. The furnace is designed for easy cleaning also. The furnace heat exchanger is stainless steel also and the chimney sweep logs make the job go alot faster. I have a friend who uses an addon furnace and his chimney is on an outside wall of the house. His is concrete block and lined. He cleans his 2 times a month in the winter. I think the hot smoke comes in contact with the cold blocked chimney and this has something to do with the build up of creosole. Just my theory, I'm no expert. I would recommend triple wall stanless steel for chimneys and if anyone wants more info on the furnace, just email me. Did I mention the furnace has a twenty year warranty. Oh, and I don't sell them or receive and compensation for promoting them.

-- Dave Kehoe (pdkehoe@webcntrl.com), July 29, 2003.

I bet an M-80 lite and thrown in the ol'wood stove would get Dem pipes clean ?

-- JB (heavens@inn.com), July 30, 2003.

What a world! If Your in the missile business you can't justify peace, if your in the sweep business then cans are a no-no!I've had general public telling me any wood burning is bad-even post 1988 stoves! If you hunt its bad! if you directly pee in the ocean its ecologically unsound Even had a soul tell me NOT to buy cotton clothes since the cotton farmers were using up wild "bunny" fields.I'm getting some salt and gettin some cans and reportin back in a monthI ain't moving that LOVELY but BLOODY stove this season if some salt and cans will help clean those pipes!

-- Bill Faith (brightlight122@earthlink.net), October 07, 2003.

Just Wanted to point something out to you dave. The next time you brush your chimney down grab a mag light and look down the chimney. If you see any blistors or warps drop me an e-mail..

-- Ted (tsailly@charter.net), December 04, 2003.

Just a freindly reminder. When you are brushing down your chimneys Take the time and clean that dryer vent to. This is a big fire hazard that is almost always over looked..

Have a wonderful and safe burning season..

-- Ted Sailly (tsailly@charter.net), December 04, 2003.

I have been burning wood and heating about 1350 sq. foot of living area for over three winters now.... my average heating bill is about ten dollars and that is due to nat gas still heating my hot water and let me tell you i will change that soon. I have a nice new england stove with catalitic converter and all. Weighs about 550 lbs. I win in every direction. GEts my butt out of the house and i get tons of exercise cutting all the wood. I love a real fire. I like the warmpth that only wood burning can deliver. Even better, i like slammin about 125 plus dollars +++ each month in to my own wallet instead of sending it to a utility company that doesnt read 10% of it users meters....Estimate they call it....lol. As far as cleaning goes: i tare it all down at the end of each burning season. I replace old pipes with new and i mean every season. No need to clean nutin..As far as my chimney goes.....you could eat a meal off or it. I use the chimney cleaning logs...about one every month or so and i also squirt on some good ole creasote destroyer on about every other load of wood i burn.....I do not burn green or wet wood...I let my wood set for almost a year before it ever graces the interior of my wood stove and gets sent to smoke heaven... good seasoned dry wood and some good chiney cleaners seems to be doing the trick for me. I called some of the so called professionals to inspect my chimney for me. Prices started at about 150.00. Every one of them wanted to make a video of the interior of my chimeny and no doubt beat and bludgeon me with a close up of all the reasions as to why i should pay them about 1,800.00 as to help me out. Who is kidding who...get a bright light and shine up your chimney and look for your self...Is it venting properly???? should tell you something. Remove all the creasote that you can with plastic and or wire burshes of which i have both... cost you about 50.00.... and last forever. I actually pull my stove apart mid winter and just take a good look at everything, joints, bends, elbows and all and i vaccum every bit of loose particles of creasote that i can see..... be good and send me an email......just my thoughts....

-- john massey (startrail77@aol.com), March 06, 2004.

Burn aluminum cans! God Forbid! I mean, that stuff is HIGHLY TOXIC. It came from BAUXITE... which is mined from the earth.... A rock. So, follow the toxic trail.... From the Earth, into the furnace, remove everything except aluminum.... Then back into the furnace, into oxides of aluminum, and eventually back into the earth from whence it came, except, NOW, after being a PEPSI or BUD LIGHT container, it is BAD for the environment.... Yep, gotta be careful.

Someone PLEASE name me one chemical used on a daily basis that was not at some point MINED from the earth to begin with. ( Certain Radioactive elements not included, since I cannot seem to find a place I can purchase plutonium for my home made nuclear reactor anyway... )

-- high tech hick (none@devnull.org), January 09, 2005.

How about scraping the glow in the dark dials from the OLD Mickey Mouse watches??!!? I remmeber as a kid having one,, then having it taken away because of a recall ,, the paint was RADIOACTIVE, and some enturprises young lad ,, scraped enough togther to set off some alarm for a science project

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), January 09, 2005.

Bud the mickey mouse radioative scraping of watches thing was run in a comic strip named bloom county not a real life thing. Careful opus might blow us all to hell.............

-- mike theman (mike@mikesworld.com), January 20, 2005.

I saw that strip ,, but I'm talking about somehting that happened back in the early 70's ,, NOT in a comic strip

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), January 20, 2005.

well I just had another question? How do you keep DUST down when cleaning out ashes from woodstove ? I run mine 24/7 but I have to clean it 1 or 2 a week . This is very DUSTY .

-- Allison Fallert (Allisonfallert@yahoo.com), February 09, 2005.