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Checked a flue in a 1920s house in Tacoma and found a weird old damper
I was cleaning a chimney at a home built in 1920. When I ran the camera up, I saw a cast iron damper I hadn't seen before, shaped like a big flat plate with a center pivot. The homeowner said it hasn't moved in decades. I had to carefully chip away some creosote just to see the hinge. Has anyone run into this specific style and know the best way to free it up without breaking it?
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betty_barnes5mo ago
Honestly, that sounds like a real pain to deal with.
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faithc176mo ago
Ever try a mix of heat and penetrating oil? On a stubborn one like that, I warmed the metal around the hinge with a heat gun, not too crazy hot, then let it cool a bit before hitting it with some PB Blaster. Let it sit overnight, then gentle pressure back and forth with a long pry bar. Sometimes tapping the pivot pin with a small hammer and punch can help break the rust bond too.
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