alum cans and creosote

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allstihl

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ive been hearing about how burning aluminum cans helps with creosote buildup.i decided to try that this winter. once or twice a week i tossed 2 cans in the fire. normaly i clean the chimney every 4-5 weeks.its been over 4 months and the chimney only has a very light buildup . must be some science there somewhere.
 
Been doing it since I read that thread. Since it looks like spring may be coming here soon, I am curious as to what my chimney will look like. Since we have 10 cent deposit on our cans here, If it works, it will only cost me about a buck a week to keep it clean. Maybe have to look into a cheaper beer to offset the cost. :msp_ohmy:
 
Sure would like to know if it works, I've heard that it does, as well as throwing in a cup of rock salt once a week. One guy I know does the aluminum can filled with rock salt. Maybe that works twice as good? Sounds corrosive to me but he swears by it. Says he has not run a brush through his chimney in 5 years and its not plugged. He has no other heat source but that wood furnace so there must be something too it. Where are the scientists on this forum??? I want the chemical/thermodynamic lowdown. The Mainiacs (people who live in Maine) swore that burning potato peels kept their chimneys clean. Guess thats why the state smelled like a potato chip factory in the winter. Sure hope someone has the skinny on this, inquiring minds want to know.
 
all i know is it works.... been doing it for years..... the chemical reaction actually stops sreosote from sticking to the liner of the flue..... works well and went from cleaning my old flue every week to every month to month and a half.
have a heatmor now so its not that big an issue for me anymore but i still throw one in now and then to clean the firebox on the heatmor.
 
The Mainiacs (people who live in Maine) swore that burning potato peels kept their chimneys clean. Guess thats why the state smelled like a potato chip factory in the winter. Sure hope someone has the skinny on this, inquiring minds want to know.


Can't wait to share this with the county folk (people who grow potatoes). I have never heard of burning potato skins however I have come across a creosote preventer or two that contains Al.

I kinda like being called a Mainiac however that is the name given to the 101st Air Force refueling Wing unit of the Maine Air national Guard from Bangor.
 
I am in the same boat as Kenny, Have an OWB and do not worry much about the creosote. I know the flue "cleans" itself every couple of weeks. I see the black bb's showered onto the pavement pad of the heatmore every once in a while. A flue fire cleans that nasty creosote out real good. The stack pipes are heavy stainless steel and they do not seem none the worse for the fiery cleaning. Since my furnace is on a spacious concrete pad and the surrounding area is gravel, I am not worried about starting a fire out there. I also thought the same thing about the salt corroding the stove and flue that my buddy has, he says when the salt hits the heat it must change chemically and his stove and connector pipes have not rusted from the salt. Not sure whats going on with that. The aluminum can deal was new to me and only heard of it recently. Hey if it works for these guys, more power to them. When I had an in indoor wood burner, I cleaned my flue twice during the heating season just for GP's. Never put much faith in burning potato peels to keep the creosote down. Last thing I wanted was a chimney fire. I lived in a 40 year old cedar log home back then. That old cedar house would have went up in flames in the blink of an eye. I think there is some commercial creosote prevention product you can buy. Anyone on here use the commercial products? Wonder whats in that stuff and if it works? Where's those scientist to root this out for us? Don't we have any chemists or "experts" on AS regarding creosote? Mesupra, Please forgive my reference to Mainiacs, It was not meant to be derrogatory. All my children are Mainiacs by birth.:)
 
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No offense taken, I really do like the name, face it, you gotta be a little crazy to live in a state where you burn wood for more months than you don't. I will ask the Chemist I work with what her take on burning a Al can do to prevent creosote.

I know states have used Al to help with algae blooms and sedimentation in lakes. Something about the density of Al and its ability to bond.
 
I had not heard of the cresote connection with aluminum

but HAVE heard of some research that links the aluminum acid in baking powder to the increase in Alzheimer's. But beer is supposed to chealate with the aluminum compounds and remove them from the brain. Going to go fight Alzheimer's right now :cheers: creosote later!;)
 
Aluminum is general leads to Alzheimer's. The aluminum powder migrates to the brain and deposits itself. That is a heavy metal that does do well lodged in the brain. Once it's there, I don't know of a way of getting it out. Cooking with aluminum pans, using deodorant with aluminum in it. I avoid all aluminum products completely. There is a lot of reading on the dangers of aluminum. No way would I burn cans in my fire place.
 
The Mainiacs (people who live in Maine) swore that burning potato peels kept their chimneys clean. Guess thats why the state smelled like a potato chip factory in the winter. Sure hope someone has the skinny on this, inquiring minds want to know.

We always did this growing up. My mom swore it worked. I do it too and I have no idea if it works...lol.
 
Aluminum is general leads to Alzheimer's. The aluminum powder migrates to the brain and deposits itself. That is a heavy metal that does do well lodged in the brain. Once it's there, I don't know of a way of getting it out. Cooking with aluminum pans, using deodorant with aluminum in it. I avoid all aluminum products completely. There is a lot of reading on the dangers of aluminum. No way would I burn cans in my fire place.

Ive been in the aluminum storefront industry for 34 years now. Ive sawed it, drilled it, inhaled it, handled it, and installed it on a daily basis that whole time. Now you tell me!
 
Ive been in the aluminum storefront industry for 34 years now. Ive sawed it, drilled it, inhaled it, handled it, and installed it on a daily basis that whole time. Now you tell me!

looks like you forgot what the thread was about! ha
 
Ive been in the aluminum storefront industry for 34 years now. Ive sawed it, drilled it, inhaled it, handled it, and installed it on a daily basis that whole time. Now you tell me!

The only death that happens in an instant is a gun shot to the head, or an anorisom in the brain. The death you are headed toward is just painful and non avoidable. Laugh if you will. That's your choice.
 
Myth 4: Drinking out of aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Reality: During the 1960s and 1970s, aluminum emerged as a possible suspect in Alzheimer’s. This suspicion led to concern about exposure to aluminum through everyday sources such as pots and pans, beverage cans, antacids and antiperspirants. Since then, studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s. Experts today focus on other areas of research, and few believe that everyday sources of aluminum pose any threat.

Memory Loss Myths & Facts | Alzheimer's Association
 
Probably just read up how aluminum got into the system, who started it, and why. I've just grown to distrust the "system". I've seen to many things that were labeled bad for me that weren't, good for me that was bad, so I have little trust in the system.

Psychotic? Just very careful with what goes into my body. Some things I have no control over, so what I can control I do. Psychic, no way. Plus, somebody has to entertain you folks. Something for you to post about. ;)
 
I just like the idea that my beer drinking may be good for me

at my age every thing that is fun seems to be bad. I'm going to ignore the part of the research that says whole grain food has the same effect as drinking beer.

The rumor that aluminum pans and foil causes Alzhiemer's was started by Martha Stewart when she overheard a researcher mention the higher levels of aluminum compounds in the brains of people who died with alzhiemer's and jumped to the mistaken conclusion that the foil did it! At no time has any research shown contact with metallic aluminum has any effect on the brain.

Drink more beer and eat oatmeal and hope for the best.:msp_thumbup:
 
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