June 18, 2010
[Click here to send me e-mail]
The Story of the Original
Audiophile Record Label
Bob Gilchrist, 14 Strings, Goldrush,
The Homestead Act, Professor Plum's Jazz, etc.
Blaze King Wood Stove Problem
I have a
25 year old Blaze King Princess wood stove. The stove still does a great job of
heating our 1300 square foot house. But over the years the thermostat got more
and more sluggish, until it quit working completely. The stove temperature
could still be controlled by constantly adjusting the knob, but that made it
much less useful. And there was always the danger that the temperature would
run away, causing a chimney fire.
The
problem was not the bimetallic coil in the thermostat. I proved that by running
a hair dryer on it. The temperature control vane closed exactly as expected.
And the problem is not the door seal, which I have never replaced. The Blaze
King company was completely useless. They refer you to their dealers, who are
equally useless. I finally solved the problem by myself.
When I
solved the problem, I offered the information to Blaze King. I asked for $100
in return. I have not heard from them. Cheap bastards.
If you
have a Blaze King wood stove with this thermostat problem, I will tell you how
to solve it. Just send me $100. That is cheap compared to replacing the stove.
E-mail me using the link at the top of the page. Or use my address from the
Resume page.
In 1986, Marc Reisner wrote "
The easiest way to accomplish this would be to reduce agricultural water subsidies. This has been resisted vigorously by growers of both high and low value crops. Perhaps it is time for the growers of high value crops to consider a smaller profit margin in good years in order to avoid going out of business in times like these.
Better Microwave Bacon
Want an easier, faster way to cook bacon in your microwave? I have been using a Presto Power Crisp Microwave Bacon Cooker. However, I do not use the dish that comes with this item. I only use the bacon racks. In place of the dish, I use a Norpro Broil and Roast Set that is eleven and one half inches long and fits nicely in my microwave and under the bacon racks. That’s right. A METAL broiler pan and cover. Trust me, it works just fine.
With most microwave bacon cookers, the fat that drips off continues to be cooked even after the bacon is dry. With a metal broiler pan, the fat drips through the holes in the cover into the pan where it is shielded from the microwaves. So it stops cooking. It stays warm enough to drain off when you are done, but it does not reach the boiling temperatures that you get with plastic or glass pans. So this method is safer. And since you are cooking the bacon but not the fat, cooking times are about half as long. Figure 30 seconds per piece instead of one minute, depending on how you like your bacon. Of course you should always cover the bacon with a paper towel to avoid splattering the walls of the oven.
Why is it safe to use these little broiler pans in your microwave? Utensils like knives, forks and spoons have sharp edges that concentrate the microwaves and can cause arcing. The broiler pan has relative smooth edges. The walls of your microwave are metal, after all. Think of the broiler pan as raising the bottom of the microwave by a couple of inches.
If you want to test this, put the broiler pan and cover in the microwave with a cup of water on top. Preferably a Pyrex measuring cup. Now start the microwave for a few seconds. After you are satisfied that nothing weird is happening, boil the water. The broiling pan will be warm, because it does absorb some energy.
By the way, both the Presto Power Crisp and the Norpro Broil and Roast Set are available from Amazon.com.
R.G. Huenemann
Robert Huenemann
Robert G. Huenemann
Robert Gilchrist Huenemann
Bob Huenemann