Vlog 225: Chim-chiminey
Enough people spotted and commented upon my sad-looking stove chimney in the prior (roof painting) video that I thought I had better come clean, do a confession, and explain why it’s looking so dented. This is that story.
See the chimney being made here and see the dinette rant by clicking here
With all your problems of seized Chimneys and Bolts, there is a solution to your problems. Buy some Molyslip Copaslip compound, Amazon sells it. This is a Copper loaded anti seize compound. It has a wide temperature range, so willi be useful on the stove components and other fittings wher water is present. Put a Brass washer under the head of exterior bolts.
Cheers, yes I have some of that. Used it on the stove bolts!
Just re-watched this (and several other CtC videos) and got my Sunday giggle. True determination… Thank you. My husband and I enjoy a good giggle when you express your exasperation with the “engineering implement “. It’s not feasible that it would not budge.
:-) There’s nothing a hammer can’t fix…
David, this is an unrelated question.
Even though I am trapped here on the west coast of Canada I still try to stay engaged in the canal scene hoping for normalcy next spring.
Early in July there was a notice about a repair being required in the Trent & Mersey at lock 50 as the “slam post” had been damaged. The damage must have been something because the notice was cancelled today (9/4)
I have not heard this term as most of my time on the water in the UK has been on the Thames, K & A and the GU but no narrow canals.
Is this post the sealing point for a single gate on a narrow lock when it closes? Thanks
I can’t help with that one as I’m unfamiliar with the term, unfortunately.
In my experience over nearly 40 years with stainless steel chimneys for houses I have never had the problem of gunk coming down between the inner and outer flues. I suspect the difference is due to the fact that my inner and outer flues are not swaged together at the top. In the process that I use the inner and outer flues are fitted separately and can be removed separately. The inner has four saddles riveted outside it around the perimeter near the top, to maintain an annular space between it and the outer one and to permit the inner and outer to expand and contract independently of each other. The annular space between the inner and outer flues is vented at the top. The rain exclusion hat is riveted to the outside flue only. This arrangement suits house chimneys because the inner flue is far longer than for a narrowboat, and therefore its dimensional range of expansion and contraction is much greater. Maybe there is something here that can be applied to narrowboats?
Hmm, that is rather interesting and a good idea, I think. Thank you for that!
I was looking at your chimney and am not sure that it is double walled. As you can see on the outside the brown running stains are probably what was accumulated over the winter. Creosote.
This is a natural distillate of wood and coal and if you are just using a minimal amount of fuel to keep the boat warm in the winter I suspect that while you have an updraft sufficient to keep the fire going, the flue is not hot enough to prevent condensation of the creosote and crystallization that is likely what sealed the chimney to the flange,
Hi. The chimney inside is single-walled. The flue on the roof (that I hit with the hammer) is double-walled. It wasn’t creosote that sealed it in place though and there’d be no way for creosote condensate to have got where it did, between the inner and outer walls and the outer side of the chimney collar.
Oh David, this is just hilarious! Like the tale of Excalibur, right? As for the indentations, ‘t is but a fleshwound the black knight would say. Loved this one, just as much as the last video with your happy painter imitation! It really isn’t just for your own amusement, you know. Thanks a lot once more. Cheers, Jobim
Ah, I’m glad you enjoyed it, cheers
Hi David, great story, made me laugh. I saw your chimney being made video and I decided I needed a new chimney too. I contacted Chris Smith and put my order in, however I’m wondering if I’m going to have the same removal problem? Chris visited my boat to measure up and we discussed your chimney saga and he did say that it would be a tight fit. I’m now wondering if my/your new chimney will be any easier to remove because it will have to come off for cruising? How do other boaters manage, I wonder? We have the same need re. chimney removal and if it won’t come off easily …, I have enough problems with my boat as it is! Any further thoughts about meeting this challenge?
Last winter I just made sure I wiggled the chimney and took it off every couple of weeks then straight back on again and this was enough to keep it from getting stuck. I doubt I’ll get another one, I’m too mean to pay for another!
How very “Victor Meldew” ….
Non-UK followers may need to search t’internet to appreciate the comparison.
Starting to realise the cause of your emerging grey hair now.
Many thanks for the wonderful insight to life on the cut, long may it continue.
Haha thank you.
Very interested in this and earlier videos about your chimney. Not sure why the removable part of the chimney is not connected directly over the top of the stovepipe with a flared section pointing downwards. This would make a continuous conduit for the smoke with no places for anything from the smoke to be slowed down, trapped, deposited, condense etc. I realise that a separate outer chimney would be required to stop rain entering the space between the smoke conduit and the edge of the hole in the roof , and to stop wind and rain cooling things that are meant to stay hot.
Cheers. It is a twin-walled chimney though, the inner portion was very precisely made to slide into the top of the chimney from the stove, thus making a continuous conduit as you mention.It was between this inner and the outer (and the top of the stove collar) that the “gunk” emerged.
Lovely blue roof. Bit of a sword in the stone tale hey?
I certainly felt much like King Arthur trying to pull it off, albeit with less success.
I have tears from laughing (and in sympathy) from your chimney adventure..
Thank you :-)
Did you figure out what the white crud coming out of the bottom of the chimney was? If not, would the gentleman that crafted it or perhaps another boater with a similar chimney know? Maybe the stainless chimneys are prone to this?
I really enjoy your vlog (I even subscribe to vandemonium). I find your narration, humor, editing and overall delivery to be a very soothing experience….I even sit through most of the ads so you get the fraction of a cent coming to you. I do draw the line at the 30 minute ads they try to make me watch though. :)
Do you anticipate additional seasons of Cruising the Cut being made available on Amazon Prime? I realize they are a compendium of the vlogs, but I enjoy watching one long version as well as the shorter bits.
Thank you, glad you enjoy them. I’m working on Season Three for Prime now (it’s a slow process; it ought to be quick but because I slightly re-tweak the videos eg improve the picture, stabilisation, sound etc as well as making small edits, it takes a lot longer than it should) and then I will also do Season Four. Possibly Season Five as well. I expect Season Three might be done by Christmas so probably online in January?
When the chimney gets hot it expands, which allows the outer pipe to slide further down over the inner pipe. When it cools the metal contracts but does not slide back up.
Because you have an interference fit to begin with, it gets very tight indeed. I am sure it was a very snug fit when it was made as to be stable in windy conditions. I suggest a aviation screw clamp be used, on your now somewhat modified chimney. You could achieve a tight fit but be able to loosen it when needed
Cheers for that, yes it is a snug fit indeed.
Love it and in a way I hope this one works for many moons to come. You launch is so perfect nice to see a bit of normal. Thanks for the laugh. 46.947 N124.151 W :-)
Thank you!
Contemptuous, brutal, barbaric thuggery David..!!
One never would have envisaged you having such a blatant disregard for ‘Chimney etiquette’. ;-)
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So funny i nearly cjoked on my steak & kidney pie. . .
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Glad you finally managed its removal though.
A squirt of lemon juice around the base every so often works wonders with stopping calcification.
Daren Henley.
PS: Glad to see you are wearing your slillerz for walking on the roof. . (Which looks excellent by the way)
Crikey, I hope I don’t cause any visits to A&E! And cheers, yes I’m pleased with the roof :-)