Why does nobody talk about the old school brick dust trick for stuck damper plates?

I had a 1920s flue in St. Paul with a damper that wouldn't budge after years of rust. Instead of forcing it and risking a break, I took a handful of the fine soot and brick dust from the cleanout, mixed it with a little 3-in-1 oil to make a gritty paste, and worked it into the hinge. Let it sit for an hour, worked it back and forth, and it freed up completely. Has anyone else tried something like this instead of reaching for the penetrating oil right away?

2 comments

2 Comments

eva_thompson1012d ago

Instead of forcing it" made me realize my usual brute force method was all wrong.

henderson.val12d ago

My last project needed that brute force push to get past a stubborn bug. Sometimes you just have to muscle through a wall to see what's on the other side. A gentle nudge doesn't always cut it.