doozer wrote:

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

David Hearn wrote:

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

S Burkey wrote:


Currently redesigning the basement kitchen in a victorian terrace (4
floors) and decided to open up the inglenook primarily to deal with
some damp problems in the kitchen as a whole.

Had the chimney sweep come last week and now we're trying to figure
out how to clean the brickwork at the back of the inglenook. They
are pretty blackened and I'd like to clean them but keep them looking
'aged'. I've got a feeling that any type of pressure washing would
damage the mortar - which is looking pretty fragile.

So how would be the best way to tackle this?


Blowlamp should burn the carbon off. And the tars.




Would this also remove soot from above an inset gas fire? Our fire
(used very infrequently), if turned up to the highest setting (rather
than the 'miser' setting is has labelled on it) generates a large
orange flame in one corner which I think the previous owners used a
lot by the look of the soot markings at the back of the inset. I've
often wondered how to remove this soot. (I'm aware that it shouldn't
give an orange flame and that this, with soot markings is an
indication of incomplete combustion and CO generation).


Its worth a try for sure.

Heat and oxygen will get rid of most carbon based muck one way or the
other.

I have never found chemicals other than that which will.


There is one chemical based solution for removing carbon deposits. I
can't remember what it is but it was for removing carbon / burnt food
from the inside of ovens. It was pretty unpleasant stuff though.


No thats just caustic,. Woks if te carbion is biund with olynerised
fats, but not the sort of coal tar and cresoste you get from a coal/wood
fire.

I know, because we tried it on the sister in laws china that we pulled
out of their fire destroyed house...


Thanks

David