Coalpail.com Forum

The start of a new season is "almost" upon...me. (I know you diehards have been burning since August)
Starting to prep the stove for firing. Took some of the cast internals to work, and grit blasted them to remove some accumulated surface rust that accrued from storing in my 3 season sunroom. On my drawcenter sliding cover, when removing the grate components for ash cleaning last spring, a small section of the cast slot broke off. (I don't have much luck in that area). Not too much of an operational problem, but something to patch...this long weekend.
Also need to check my SS chimney for bird ingestion issues. Wasn't fun last season removing the nesting and carcasses. Even with the chicken wire wrapped around the top cap, the little weasels poke their way inside.
And lastly I need to find my extra sheet of mica that I purchased a couple years ago. Anyone know where I stored it, (?) so I wouldn't lose it. The sheet on my door isn't so pleasing to look at, so I want to change it out. Anyway, I'll post some pics when I get going, and hope "Y'ALL" have a good Turkey day.
OFN.

Joe, that mica's probably in the refrigerator where we ALL keep that kinda stuff!! LOL

Things you lose track of are usually in the last place you look, so look there first.

As soon as you buy a replacement sheet you will find the one you are looking for....

LOL. you guys crack me up. All three of you are correct. And Fred, how'd you know it was in the fridge? I hid it under some carrot sticks, and the Mrs. said she busted it up, by using it as a chopping board. Guess I'll be buying a new one anyway. Stuff like this just drives me

Well, I looked everywhere for my last sheet of mica, (even in the last place), and it's a no show. Maybe I doubled up on the installed one. So I just put in "another" order to "Ashville-Schoonmaker" mica company out of Virginia, for more replacements. (5x7, 2 sheets, $35...free shipping) Don't know how long to ship, but with the weather still hitting 50s into next week, guess I can put er on hold for a bit more.

SawDustJack wrote: ↑

Wed. Nov. 22, 2017 5:49 pm

As soon as you buy a replacement sheet you will find the one you are looking for....

That happens to me so often that it's like Noah's ark around here....... I have two of almost everything.

Paul

If only you could receive "2" pensions, and "2" SS checks, then you could store all them animals better, aye Paul?

So I did finally receive my new mica, and at 1st, wasn't too impressed with the quality. Quite a few imperfections on the 2 sheets. But I haven't bought lots of this stuff, so I'm not sure how difficult the process is to manufacture this stuff. In the end, it came out OK. I know I posted this replacement process in the past, but I'll do it again for anyone who missed it, or can't find it.
but 1st, this is a photo of how my stove has been looking the past "off" season.

If it looks like it's lit, it's because of the night lite sitting on a bucket inside. Yous guys told me it was good to wart off moisture, but to me it also makes it look alive.
And here is the B4 pic of the mica after 1 seasons burn. (Frosty and speckled. Maybe cause I fired it on wood last season) Using an 8 pt 3/8 socket, I removed the square nuts, and pulled out the worn mica. last time, I cut the new mica with scissors, and trimmed it tightly to shape the window. This year, I thought it would be better to not distress the new mica by making all those cuts, and run the risk of "delaminating", so I just cut off the corners to fit. (Actually, I was just being lazy ) I also used a 1/4" brad point bit backed up with some wood, to punch out the holes. I tried a hole punch at 1st, on some scrap, but it didn't work to well. And naturally, I couldn't get through the assy, W/O a snag. Because my eyes aren't as good as they use-ta be, and my memory is worse, I forgot about the 3 small "nubs" around the center pane, (1 on the bottom, and 2 on the top). Once I snugged the new mica into position, with the inner window support, I heard "cracking", as the bumps pushed their way through the mica that wasn't relieved. Fortunatel the splitting didn't make it's way to the viewing area, but had I have cut it out the previous way, I wouldn't have run into this. Live and learn And here is the "after" shot. Worth the $15 investment, and the hour worth of screwing around. Now if it would only drop below 50° in our day time highs, I will fire this stove back up. wifey is bringing home some Matchlight, for the next winter, if it ever arrives.

I remember reading in an old publication to cut mica with a scissors under water. How well this works I don't know. Maybe punching holes too?

joeq wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 03, 2017 11:32 am

So I did finally receive my new mica, and at 1st, wasn't too impressed with the quality. Quite a few imperfections on the 2 sheets. But I haven't bought lots of this stuff, so I'm not sure how difficult the process is to manufacture this stuff.

Joe,

Mica is a natural mineral formation and is either deep mined or surface mined like coal.

Sheet mica varies in color and clarity depending on the mine location and particular vein.

Here is a pretty good link:
https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals-d ... base/mica/

I cut most of my mica with a paper cutter.

Paulie

Joe man light that candle!!!!

franco b wrote: ↑

Sun. Dec. 03, 2017 11:45 am

I remember reading in an old publication to cut mica with a scissors under water. How well this works I don't know. Maybe punching holes too?

I'ld give that a try franco, but I just took down my pool, and don't own a wet suit.
And thanks for the mica link Paulie. I'll check it out.
Scott, I want to fire it up soon, but I just looked up my chimney cleanout, and see the creepo birds have clogged it AGAIN. Those nasty critters keep pecking their way past my safety wired chicken wire. They sure are persistent. Now I need to get back on the roof.

I just use regular scissors, but they have to be sharp and not cheap ones with thin blades that can bend slightly away from each other as they make the cut. Otherwise, instead of cutting clean, dull scissors start to bend the mica before it's cut. It's that bending that causes the start of delaminating.

Paul

Another good point. Thanks Paul. Guess next time I won't be using my daughters old kindergarten scissors. By the way, I like your new avatar. Wish I could see it blown up. (The picture, not the stove )