Found out I was sweeping the smoke shelf wrong for 2 years, a homeowner in Decatur pointed it out
Was doing a routine clean off a wood stove in Decatur last Thursday and the guy watches me the whole time. He asks if I ever check the smoke shelf with a mirror before finishing up. I said I hit it with the brush and call it good. He pulls out his phone, shows me a photo from his last sweep, and there's a full inch of creosote packed back there that I never touched. Bought a 1 inch inspection mirror that night and now I check every single one. Any of you use a mirror or camera on the shelf, or just go by feel?