How to Clean the Chimney Spider Filter

In a previous article, I talked about how the old screen filter was so difficult to clean especially when the soot buildup had started to harden and clog the screen holes. In the same article, I described how a better filter can be made with simple common materials using household tools.

The new spider filter however is not immuned against the problems of soot buildup. But this time, cleaning is so much more convenient. Why? Well, here’s how easy:

1. Take out the dirty spider filter from the chimney extension.
   
   

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Finding a Place for the Superkalan Outdoor Stove

Well, we knew that a wood stove (or a “multi-fuel” stove, for that matter) would still have some smoke somehow. So putting it indoors was out of the question. The nearest location we had for it was at the garage near our laundry area where the washing machine was. Immediately, the disadvantage of having it in a COVERED garage is when residue or creosote forms on the walls and the ceiling. It’s the yellow-brownish shiny residue that more likely will worsen the more we use the stove.

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Parts of the Superkalan Outdoor Stove

Thanx to the Superkalan website, I was able to get an exploded diagram of the Superkalan stove. I edited the labels of the stove parts to make them clearer and more readable. The unit as shown in the diagram comes with a pair of tongs also. This tool is very useful for moving coals around and picking up any hot items.

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The Superkalan: Is this a Grill or a Heater?

Two years ago, the DH and I chanced upon an odd-looking gizmo that was on sale at Festival Mall in Alabang. You see, occasionally, the Exhibit Center would showcase products from different areas or provinces in the Philippines. And on that particular day in January, 2005, it was La Union’s time to shine. There were plenty of the usual: woodcrafts, tupig, woven blankets, etc. etc. Well, somewhere in the middle of the Exhibit Center a few people were milling 'round a stall that had this gizmo.

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