Fiery matters

Deadly Ferret · 12 Nov 2006 at 12:44

Got the real fire in one of the living rooms going yesterday for the first time in years. It's amazing how it heats up the hallway outside the room.

I've been using my hand in a welding style glove to poke it, but it's far from ideal and I think a few of the hairs on my arm got frazzled. I just searched 'poker' on the Argos website, and every single result was to do with cards! I know real fires aren't found in the average home, but they must still be in use enough to warrant a huge retailer of odds & sods having pokers?! :confused:

Aside from a poker, I'd also like to get hold of some appropriate tongs and a shovel.

The other thing is fuel. Could anyone living in North or Central London recommend a cost effective supplier that delivers please?

penski · 12 Nov 2006 at 12:53

Wilkinsons, B&Q, Homebase et cetera - just about anywhere will have a set

Coal fires are awesome.

*n

Neoni · 12 Nov 2006 at 12:55

penski said:
Wilkinsons, B&Q, Homebase et cetera - just about anywhere will have a set

Coal fires are awesome.

*n

Definately try homebase or b&q

Deadly Ferret · 12 Nov 2006 at 12:56

Thanks Penski. I feel a bit silly for not thinking of those places myself.

Deadly Ferret · 12 Nov 2006 at 13:05

Complete set of 'fireside companions' at B&Q for a tenner, and I'll get a brush too!

dirtydog · 12 Nov 2006 at 13:11

Deadly Ferret said:
Got the real fire in one of the living rooms...

How many living rooms have you got?

semi-pro waster · 12 Nov 2006 at 13:11

I know this is probably obvious but if the fire hasn't been used for years have you had the chimney cleaned first or at least checked out? Real fires are great though, you can do amazing baked potatoes on them as well.

Freefaller · 12 Nov 2006 at 13:18

Why have I just thought of Dick van Dyke?

Pebbles · 12 Nov 2006 at 14:42

Freefaller said:
Why have I just thought of Dick van Dyke?

Thats your filthy filthy french mind!

Deadly Ferret · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:17

Sorted now, got a fireside set from Argos after all that. Turns out my search capabilities aren't what they ought to be. Despaired at the thought of travelling an hour to my nearest B&Q when there's an Argos 5 minutes from here, so went back and searched 'fireside'...which I should have thought of to begin with.

Cost £15, but it seems a solid and well built set of tools, and they have a nice enough appearance.

semi-pro waster said:
I know this is probably obvious but if the fire hasn't been used for years have you had the chimney cleaned first or at least checked out?

Yeah, I was thinking of doing that but then my inherent risk-taking nature overtook the apprehension, and I just lit the beggar up & made sure I saw smoke coming out of the chimney.

Freefaller · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:37

That looks nice and cosy.

Can't help feel the chair in front of the fire is a bit "grandpa-esque"

You need a nice comfy sofa in front of that, or a bean bag, or an easy chair

Deadly Ferret · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:43

Well I am nearly thirty. I have to get settled, get curtains drawn.

Freefaller · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:45

Deadly Ferret said:
Well I am nearly thirty. I have to get settled, get curtains drawn.

I'll buy you a pack of Werthers original for Christmas

iBankAllDay · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:47

It does look very cosy indeed. My folks have a wood burning fire (and a fireplace stand similar to yours

), the heat it throws off is immense

. I'll make do with part heating in my flat!

Andr3w · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:47

ohh it looks really nice, where do you get your wood from? Chop it yourself?

Deadly Ferret · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:52

Freefaller said:
I'll buy you a pack of Werthers original for Christmas

Sweety!

I'm waiting on a delivery of giant faux Mongolian throws. Once they arrive, I'll be chucking an old sofa in there, strategically positioned near the hearth. Next project will be to restore an amazing antique table I found cast out by a neighbour, perfect for a coffee table but it has a problem with its pedestal that'll need some imaginative modding.

Andr3w said:
ohh it looks really nice, where do you get your wood from? Chop it yourself?

Haven't found a local supplier yet. Still getting by on old scraps of building wood and a huge mound of cardboard boxes that'd built up over the years. I think I've only got about ten hours worth of fuel left now though.

iBankAllDay · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:53

Andr3w said:
ohh it looks really nice, where do you get your wood from? Chop it yourself?

I know my Dad gets his delivered by the tonne from a local supplier, relatively cheap; £40 p/t I think he said. You can buy it in smaller bags of varying KG denominations too.

yermum · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:56

We had one of those holey pans for roasting chestnuts. You just put them in when the embers are glowing for about 1/2 an hour. We bought it at a car boot sale.

It would be good to get the chimney swept, though as birds' nests have a habit of falling down them and the smoke comes back into the room. You can find sweeps in the yellow pages.

Deadly Ferret · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:58

iBankAllDay said:
I know my Dad gets his delivered by the tonne from a local supplier, relatively cheap; £40 p/t I think he said. You can buy it in smaller bags of varying KG denominations too.

Has he ever tried coal? If so, what made him decide on wood? How long does a tonne last?

I don't know much about fuel. I'd always thought wood would probably be nicer burning, but coal would be easier to deal with and store.

Andr3w · 14 Nov 2006 at 20:59

i think you can only use coal in certain places. Somebody i know had someone knocking on their door because they thought they were burning coal and arnt allowed, they were burning wood (smoke out chimney)