# How do I get my foot off the glass? A wood-burning insert question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422 "2013-12-16T00:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/1 "2013-12-16T00:39:42Z")
I am a complete and total moron and I’m lucky I still have flesh on the sole of my foot. I was facing away from the wood-burning insert and lifted my foot toward the insert to warm the bottom of my foot. I somehow managed to not notice that my foot was actually on the glass:smack::eek: until my sock had completely melted to the glass and I went from a pleasant warm feeling to complete and utter horror. Luckily all I have now is that annoying feeling you get after any minor burn (made more annoying by the fact that it’s on the bottom of my foot), and a perfect imprint of my sock melted to the glass. So, how do I get that off? I’m tempted to leave it there as a lesson about not touching the glass but I don’t think my Fiance will be ok with that. [=12664435&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0"]my right foot]([http://s39.photobucket.com/user/congodwarf/media/foot.jpg.html?filters](http://s39.photobucket.com/user/congodwarf/media/foot.jpg.html?filters)[user) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/2 "2013-12-16T00:48:38Z")
Whew! I don’t think you do. I think that’s one ruined piece of glass. You _might_ sand it off, then slowly, slowly, slowly re-polish the glass, using finer and finger grit, until you’ve down to jeweler’s rouge for the final glossy phase of polishing. But, holy mackerel, that’s gonna be an awful lot of work. How expensive is a replacement pane? ETA; By the way… OW! Are you okay? How much flesh did you lose? Have you seen a doctor? Most emergency medical first-aid books say to get help immediately for burns on the palms and soles. Ow ow ow! ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/3 "2013-12-16T00:53:51Z")
I am NOT an expert in anything remotely relevant, so take my comment with a few tonnes of salt. Couldn’t you just burn the residue off (without your foot attached this time)? The glass must be at least somewhat heat resistant, given where it is installed. What would happen (I honestly don’t know) if you **carefully** pointed a blowtorch its way? ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/4 "2013-12-16T00:53:54Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > How expensive is a replacement pane? > > ETA; By the way… OW! Are you okay? How much flesh did you lose? Have you seen a doctor? Most emergency medical first-aid books say to get help immediately for burns on the palms and soles. Ow ow ow! I have no idea. We’ve only had the insert for 2 months and it was a gift. As far as I can tell my foot is fine. No blistering, not even much redness. It’s slightly sore but doesn’t hurt to walk on it. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/5 "2013-12-16T00:55:30Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I am NOT an expert in anything remotely relevant, so take my comment with a few tonnes of salt. > > Couldn’t you just burn the residue off (without your foot attached this time)? The glass must be at least somewhat heat resistant, given where it is installed. What would happen (I honestly don’t know) if you **carefully** pointed a blowtorch its way? I’m actually wondering if the heat inside the insert will do just that. I know that it burns the dirt/soot off the inside of the glass when no amount of washing will get it off. It might be possible to use a blowtorch but we live in a log cabin so I’m not sure our insurance company would appreciate us experimenting like that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/6 "2013-12-16T00:55:43Z")
I’d try a razor blade. Maybe one of those blade holders intended for scraping paint off windows. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/7 "2013-12-16T00:57:22Z")
Scrape it off with a razor scraper after the glass cools. [https://www.google.com/search?q=razor+scraper&client=firefox-a&hs=iQ3&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=y0-uUuTNAbHjsASP7ICQCA&ved=0CFAQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=910](https://www.google.com/search?q=razor+scraper&client=firefox-a&hs=iQ3&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=y0-uUuTNAbHjsASP7ICQCA&ved=0CFAQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=910) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/8 "2013-12-16T01:05:33Z")
Yeah, I’d say scrape the vast majority off with a razor and burn off what remains. It may never look like new though. Oh, BTW - you have a very pretty house. I’m guessing Southwest? ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/9 "2013-12-16T01:12:08Z")
**Zoid** - Thanks! Massachusetts actually. We are madly in love with this house even though it keeps breaking (furnace maintenance guy coming tomorrow morning ☹ ) My fiance asked his parents too and the consensus seems to be razor and heat. We’ll pick up a razor tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/10 "2013-12-16T01:16:15Z")
Best of luck! ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/11 "2013-12-16T01:16:49Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/12 "2013-12-16T01:34:57Z")
Do get a proper holder for the razor, and not the 50 cent neon one by the cash register. It’s been my experience that one household klutz episode often leads to the next one. 😉 Very glad your foot is OK, that could have been bad! ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/13 "2013-12-16T01:49:20Z")
Um, good idea. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Nobody\_sMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/258eb7/32.png) [@Nobody\_sMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody_sMama)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/14 "2013-12-16T01:52:37Z")
Don’t use a razor blade or anything that will scratch the glass. I have had things burn to the glass of my woodstove door though I haven’t done the foot/sock thing yet. It will burn off with time. Just shouldn’t take more than a few hot fires and you will never see it. Just have to be patient as it is ugly until it all finally disappears. Really…just burn some hot fires And let me know. Anything abrasive will ruin your door and the you will be stuck replacing it. ---
**Author:** ![newme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@newme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newme)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/15 "2013-12-16T02:51:22Z")
Once the glass gets cold, the sock may peel off easily. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/16 "2013-12-16T03:19:14Z")
It appears that **Nobody’sMama** is correct. I stopped paying attention to it and just now noticed that all but my heel and the ball of my foot are gone. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/17 "2013-12-16T03:36:23Z")
You DO mean on the glass, right? ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/18 "2013-12-16T03:58:46Z")
HAH! Yes, off the glass. The sole of my foot is much smoother than it was, kinda dry, and still a little sore but it’s definitely all still there. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/19 "2013-12-16T12:27:33Z")
I have to say, I’m pretty impressed. I knew that the heat (and I assumed fire) would clean the inside of the glass. I honestly didn’t think it would clean the outside as well. [=12664435&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0"]This]([http://s39.photobucket.com/user/congodwarf/media/foot2.jpg.html?filters](http://s39.photobucket.com/user/congodwarf/media/foot2.jpg.html?filters)[user) is what the glass looked like at midnight. So, in case anyone has a similar problem in the future: The solution is large amounts of heat and a little bit of time. Just be patient. Thank you everyone for your suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422/20 "2013-12-16T12:40:55Z")
[Appropriate film for you…](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097937/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-foot-off-the-glass-a-wood-burning-insert-question/676422.md?page=2)