BK model PEJ (nothing follows)?

[jimrr]

My BK Princess has nothing following the PEJ model. Does anyone have a idea if this is a 1000 or what?
6-8 years ago I put a steel cat in it, although it lasted a long time the burn temp. is too high and i'm cleaning the chimney 2x a year!
I'd like a cat that lasts 5 years or so but burns at a lower temp. than a steel one. I'd appreciate suggestions.
Thx, Jim

 

[begreen]

The burn temp might be related to the wood being burned or the thickness of the splits. Burning thinner splits of an oily softwood like pine, juniper, etc. may outgas faster causing a more active cat.

 

[stoveliker]

Or are you saying the room gets too hot keeping the cat in the active range?

I'm asking because a cat that is very hot doesn't really look consistent with a chimney that gets dirty ...

 

[begreen]

Yes, it's sounding like the stove is run on low most of the time, but that may still be too hot for the space?

 

[jimrr]

What I mean is the cat works if the stove burns hot enough even though it's pretty fried and kinda disentigrating !!(the cat and brick work)
No, the basement never gets too hot, usually in the high 50's or mid 60's F. I want the wood to last 12 hours (over night) so the burn rate has to be down (at night) but it isn't high enough to keep a steel cat glowing.
I usually burn prime dried red fir and sometimes tamarac and use a good mix of large and smaller to keep a good coal bed in it.
I sure appreciate the replies, wasn't expecting this much!! any ideas on what material would be good that lasts for a few years in a cat? (ceramic, steel, etc.) also; any idea what should be after that PEJ indicating what model/series? I am in contact with Blaze King to avoid shutting down the stove to measure for the cat but I let it burn out last night to measure today. still, I wonder about these two questions.

 

[begreen]

The cat definitely sounds like it needs replacement. Can you post a front and back picture of the stove for identification?

 

[jimrr]

here's pics front and rear:

 

[begreen]

@BKVP PEJ-1002? Does this take the same cat as the KEJ-1101?

 

[BKVP]

@BKVP PEJ-1002? Does this take the same cat as the KEJ-1101?

No sir. The 1101 was oval shaped. It had it's own cat.

BKVP

 

[stoveliker]

If the burn rate at 12 hrs is not until the m

What I mean is the cat works if the stove burns hot enough even though it's pretty fried and kinda disentigrating !!(the cat and brick work)
No, the basement never gets too hot, usually in the high 50's or mid 60's F. I want the wood to last 12 hours (over night) so the burn rate has to be down (at night) but it isn't high enough to keep a steel cat glowing.

Generally a lower burn rate results in a high cat temp (less fuel burnt by flame, more smoke combusted by the cat so a hotter cat).

The fact that you have to use a higher burn rate to keep the cat active means the cat is dead; it only gets heated by the heat generated in the firebox and not by the heat it generated on its own combusting smoke.

I usually burn prime dried red fir and sometimes tamarac and use a good mix of large and smaller to keep a good coal bed in it.
I sure appreciate the replies, wasn't expecting this much!! any ideas on what material would be good that lasts for a few years in a cat? (ceramic, steel, etc.) also; any idea what should be after that PEJ indicating what model/series? I am in contact with Blaze King to avoid shutting down the stove to measure for the cat but I let it burn out last night to measure today. still, I wonder about these two questions.

I don't think there is a strong difference in cat lifetime..some folks say the ceramic lasts longer but burn habits likely affect cat lifetime more than the substrate it is made of imo.

 

[begreen]

No sir. The 1101 was oval shaped. It had it's own cat.

BKVP

Yes, I recall seeing this at Midwest Hearth.

Is it a PEJ -1002? Or other?

 

[BKVP]

Yes, I recall seeing this at Midwest Hearth.

Is it a PEJ -1002? Or other?

Get me a clear, closeup of the label and I can provide clearer information.

BKVP

 

[jimrr]

when magnifying this i see that it isn't real well focused. Since I don't know what you might be looking at here with the overall pic of the label I'll wait till you see it and you can tell me how next to refine the pic. I do note it was built in august of 1984 making it 40 years old, that's impressive but looking inside it's totally believable. the cat is 6" in diameter. (what's left of it)

 

[BKVP]

when magnifying this i see that it isn't real well focused. Since I don't know what you might be looking at here with the overall pic of the label I'll wait till you see it and you can tell me how next to refine the pic. I do note it was built in august of 1984 making it 40 years old, that's impressive but looking inside it's totally believable. the cat is 6" in diameter. (what's left of it)

Likely 5.66" diameter if it is round.

BKVP

 

[jimrr]

I see most combustors on amazon are 5.83" dia. I just used a tape and I couldn't measure exactly across the hole as the cat is in the way but it looks swelled to the same dia. as the hole. It's just my luck it has to be measured within .100" !! I could of gotten my Brown and Sharp calipers out, I also note they sell a ''wrap'' that goes around the combustor to make a tight seal in the hole.
I'm sure the hole was stamped at six inches, your stated 5.66" will fit and allow room for this $23 foot long 'wrap'!
I see a condar model cc-005 for ''early blaze king'' that says it's 6" in dia. they could be off a half inch?? it's platinum and pallidium coated for $172 and if it's 6" already has the ''blanket around it''. I'll look at things besides amazon though.
if/when i get the right stuff for this stove i'll make a tag and tie it to the stove !!
Thx much to all.

 

[BKVP]

Condor buys combustors from suppliers. Your stoves combustor was made by Applied Ceramics. AC sells to Midwest Hearth. 5.66" + interam gasket is likely your size. Best option is to remove the one in the stove and confirm measurements.

We did have two different sized round combustors, one was 5.66 and the other I do not recall.

BKVP

 

[jimrr]

I went to the condar website and it shows a factory looking building with I estimate 15 people inside. I don't know now if this is a distribution point or the applied ceramics factory. Forums are so great. people like you show up that have ''the rest of the story''.
I found that combustor on E-bay, went to the condar website and found i could save $10 or so there so I bought it. I hope I don't need the blanket thing! I'll use some rope for the door gasket or something. shutting the stove down, the whole basement cools and it takes a couple days to bring everything back up to temp. If I can find this thread in a week or ten days i'll report back results.
ps; the combustor in that stove is about 8 years old (the stove 40) and i found it on line. it is way too small, isn't installed right so it was not very effective, plus i was cleaning the chimney twice per winter these last two years so i'm optimistic this combustor is going to vastly improve things? I also put rutland creosote remover in there a couple times a week but it's unclear how much it helps.

 

[begreen]

Condor buys combustors from suppliers. Your stoves combustor was made by Applied Ceramics. AC sells to Midwest Hearth. 5.66" + interam gasket is likely your size. Best option is to remove the one in the stove and confirm measurements.

We did have two different sized round combustors, one was 5.66 and the other I do not recall.

BKVP

Do the cat need an interam ceramic gasket that the OP should order along with the cat?

 

[jimrr]

BKVP, This sounds like Blaze King Vice President! I first consulted Blaze King and in fact still have a ticket active with them
trying to determine what my stove model is. I sent a pic of the data plate in my first posts here showing only PEJ.
Evidently using the Serial number doesn't work either so I was left in the dark and after seeing combustors for $400 in places
I reverted to ......... Amazon! I will one day have a updated Blaze King (King model) for my shop and this one may end up in the forest cabin.

 

[kborndale]

I didn't think you were supposed to use a creosote removing products in a cat stove?

 

[stoveliker]

I didn't think you were supposed to use a creosote removing products in a cat stove?

Correct.

 

[jimrr]

holy smokes, I guess I won't be doing that. I'd like to see the cat ''owners manual'' say that since it says on the jar
to use in wood stoves. I'll have to read that label some more for sure but thanks, I won't be using it under this new cat.
it makes sense too in that a good operating cat would be burning all the stuff that clogs the chimney anyway.
you folks may of just saved my bacon and all that work thus far.
Thx, Jim

 

[BKVP]

Do the cat need an interam ceramic gasket that the OP should order along with the cat?

Yes...

BKVP

 

[BKVP]

I went to the condar website and it shows a factory looking building with I estimate 15 people inside. I don't know now if this is a distribution point or the applied ceramics factory. Forums are so great. people like you show up that have ''the rest of the story''.
I found that combustor on E-bay, went to the condar website and found i could save $10 or so there so I bought it. I hope I don't need the blanket thing! I'll use some rope for the door gasket or something. shutting the stove down, the whole basement cools and it takes a couple days to bring everything back up to temp. If I can find this thread in a week or ten days i'll report back results.
ps; the combustor in that stove is about 8 years old (the stove 40) and i found it on line. it is way too small, isn't installed right so it was not very effective, plus i was cleaning the chimney twice per winter these last two years so i'm optimistic this combustor is going to vastly improve things? I also put rutland creosote remover in there a couple times a week but it's unclear how much it helps.

Applied Ceramics in Georgia has a very large campus of multiple buildings. I'm told they no longer supply Condar with combustors.

BKVP

 

[jimrr]

that cat I bought states 6" of diameter, I saw a strip of the insulating gasket for $23 but got a new thermostat
instead and if the stated and my measured diameters are correct that strip wouldn't fit anyway but now, since it's enroute here I'll take the stove pipe out and fit a piece of door gasket around that cat to ensure a tight fit if need be. believe me, i'm equally prepared for this to be 1/8" over size too. I can't believe Blaze King can't identify my stove, even with the serial number.
Nothing it seems I buy is a ''direct replacement'' bolt on part.