How to Use
Fireplace Tools-A Beginner’s Guide
 If
your new to owning or using a fireplace these helpful tips for
handling fireplace tools will hopefully help you get your fire going
quickly.
“Chestnuts
roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at
your nose”. These are signs that it is usually
time to build a fire to warm your home, your
family, the setting of a warm atmosphere. If you
are new to starting a fire in your fireplace or
wood burning stove, you might wonder what tools
you need and how to use them.
You should have five standard tools on your
hearth.
- Brush –
this has bristles and looks like a miniature
broom. Used for cleaning.
- Poker –
usually the longest of the tools, this has a
sharp, pointy end used for poking and moving
logs as needed.
- Tongs –
this tool looks like a very large pair of
tweezers or kitchen tongs. Great for putting
new logs on the fire.
- Shovel –
fireplace shovels should not have a spade
end but should be straight edged. Used for
cleaning and removing ashes.
- Ash bucket
– this can be any metal can or bucket that
can hold at least 1 gallon. Recycle a large
coffee or paint can or find a decorative can
from a home design shop.
Start with a
clean fireplace or stove.
Open the damper. A damper is a metal plate that
opens your chimney to permit smoke to escape.
You should leave this closed when the fireplace
or stove is not in use but you must open it
before starting a fire.
Crumple newspaper and put in your fireplace, on
a grate if you have one. Top with kindling
strips in 3 or 4 layers from the diameter of
your pinky to diameter of your wrist. Top with 2
to 4 pieces of firewood.
Light paper. Once the first layer of firewood
has ignited, add another layer, criss-crossed in
the opposite direction of lower logs, using
tongs.
Occasionally, you will see that all the wood is
burning in one part of the fireplace while
another section of wood is not. Use your poker
to nudge the unburned wood toward the hot spot.
Clean the inside of your fireplace when ash has
built up and at the end of each season. Use the
brush to get ash from cracks and crevices as
well as to sweep ashes into the shovel to be
disposed of. Let ashes sit for a few hours to
cool before disposing if you’ve had a fire in
the past 72 hours. Ashes can stay hot for up to
72 hours and can cause a fire.
The right gift for your
fireplace
Fire place rugs
Buy fireplace rugs that compliment your rooms style and decor. Most fireplace
rugs are easy to clean and non skid. If you have a small room then purchase a
rug that will not over power the room. Choose something stylish.
Electric fireplace
inserts
Some of the things homeowners like about electric fireplaces is that they can
be moved. Which means if you do a room makeover you can switch the location of
the fireplace to meet the rooms new design.
Gas fireplace logs
Some of the conveniences of owning a gas fireplace is that you have no clean
up. That is correct, you will not need to clean the ash or worry about it
floating through the air and getting into your furniture and drapes. So go out
today and buy your gas fireplace.
Home
improvements:
Tools
for the garage :
Put together your homes
decor :
Installation of home
fixtures
Interior furnishings to
enhance the home :
Home surroundings for
maximum comfort
©, Jimmy Fireplace Tools.com
Disclaimers
All rights reserved worldwide. The content on
this site is the authors opinion only. Before
attempting any remodel or Installation of any
appliance seek professional advice.
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