Wood Stoves and Alaskan Chimney Sweeps

[GHarman]

Here is a innovative way to clean yer chimney and not even get your hands cold!!! If you burn wood, you need to brush the chimney regularly to remove the creosote build up and prevent chimney fires. Requirements; #1. Your chimney needs to be straight. This wont work around elbows.

This is simply a wire rope, chimney brush and double pully arrangement, INSIDE the flue. Tension is applied to the upper pully with a coil spring at the top that keeps the wire rope tight against the pullys as it heats up and lengthens. The bottom pully is inside the flue pipe directly above the stove, after the damper. This pully shaft has a crank as part of the shaft or removeable. The wire rope is preferably stainless steel, 5/64"-3/32" with cable clamps for ease of tension adjustment. The brush is an interference fit into the flue pipe with the wire rope attached to the top and bottom of the brush. The wind proof chimney cap is modified with a top hat shaped piece that allows room for the pully and shaft with room for movement and storage of the brush when it is not being used (above the smoke vents). The shaft penetrates the top and has a coil spring with flat washer and retaining nut screwed onto the shaft. Each unit is custom made for its application. The pullys are garage door pullys. The bottom pully must be secured to its shaft but allow for assembly and dissassembly. The top pully is in a stirrup affair, attached to the tensioning shaft. The tensioning spring MUST be away (outside) from the heat so it wont loose its temper. If you dont like climbing ladders in bad weather to clean yer chimney. This is the way to go. A little sheet metal work and some tinkering and you stay warm and dry with a safe chimney for your wood stove! Have a Safe and Prosperous New Year! GregH

A critical calculation for your wire rope. Carbon Steel lengthens 0.00075 In./In./ 100*F. Stainless Steel lengthens about 0.001125 In./In./100*F.