Soldato
Awesome mate !
Fire Thread! - Stoves, Wood, Axes, Chainsaws
Soldato
Spent morning looking for any scrap timber I have laying around -Managed to get some off someone at tip yesterday and neighbour thew some over the fence so spent morning cutting it all into lengths to be split for starting sticks.
Will split them tomorrow -totally knackered now.
Will split them tomorrow -totally knackered now.
Soldato
After over 2 years of waiting, several different company surveys, numerous failed promises and "debates galore" with various parties as to why they should move it, completely out the blue this morning a bloke walks up the drive and says he's "here about your telephone pole"
"Ah another one!" I say "In the next two weeks?" I quip ...
"No, now mate" .....
They have installed a new pole off our property, over the boundary hedge in the grass verge, swapped the incoming interwebs connection to us and next door and removed the pole ....
They clocked the log stores and asked if I wanted to keep it to burn ....
I politely declined although a 10m length of "well seasoned" timber would have been nice, apart from that bitumen the creosote (?) Was penetrated virtually all the way to the centre - couldn't have seen it doing the lungs, flue or the environment much good ...
"Ah another one!" I say "In the next two weeks?" I quip ...
"No, now mate" .....
They have installed a new pole off our property, over the boundary hedge in the grass verge, swapped the incoming interwebs connection to us and next door and removed the pole ....
They clocked the log stores and asked if I wanted to keep it to burn ....
I politely declined although a 10m length of "well seasoned" timber would have been nice, apart from that bitumen the creosote (?) Was penetrated virtually all the way to the centre - couldn't have seen it doing the lungs, flue or the environment much good ...
Soldato
To be honest there's plenty coming down / being replaced with the roll out of fibre in the surrounding villages and plenty in better condition than that one 
Soldato
I swept the chimney yesterday, not as much soot as last year, probably quarter of a bucket.
The firebricks finally gave way however, the side ones turned into 6 pieces.
New complete set ordered and delivered today, good service.
Ready for the colder days now.
The firebricks finally gave way however, the side ones turned into 6 pieces.
New complete set ordered and delivered today, good service.
Ready for the colder days now.
Soldato
Lit ours last night - just to see if it still works.
How easy is it to sweep yourself. We paid £60 a few months ago to have it done.
Can it go wrong?
Soldato
I used to clean mine but now I can't do it (age) so paid £60 to have it done -I can assure anyone it isn't worth the time doing it yourself - He got loads more soot out than I ever did. - No mess no fuss.
Yeah he seemed to do a good job. Self adjusting brush head thing connected to a drill.
Was really tidy, as well, guess the main expense doing it yourself is the vacuum suitable for ash. The rods don't seem overly expensive.
Soldato
It’s really easy. The difference with DIY is managing the mess.
I bought a set of power brushes years ago which are fibre glass and connect to my drill. Nylon brush on the end.
I’m confident a pro wouldn’t get any more soot than I do, the drill is pretty ferocious.
I have a pretty good system, bag in, tape to top of stove, hole in for the brush and rods and then a dust sheet over the entire stove. Vacuum on full beneath the stove.
Still have a little mess but dust sheets catch it. A pro would use a proper vacuum system and it’s mess free.
I’m happy, my brushes have done 8 years now, so a few hundred quid up.
Oh and the wife hoovers and cleans everywhere after
I bought a set of power brushes years ago which are fibre glass and connect to my drill. Nylon brush on the end.
I’m confident a pro wouldn’t get any more soot than I do, the drill is pretty ferocious.
I have a pretty good system, bag in, tape to top of stove, hole in for the brush and rods and then a dust sheet over the entire stove. Vacuum on full beneath the stove.
Still have a little mess but dust sheets catch it. A pro would use a proper vacuum system and it’s mess free.
I’m happy, my brushes have done 8 years now, so a few hundred quid up.
Oh and the wife hoovers and cleans everywhere after
Last edited:
What vacuum do you use. The suitable ones all seem mega money, M-Class isn't it.It’s really easy. The difference with DIY is managing the mess.
I bought a set of power brushes years ago which are fibre glass and connect to my drill. Nylon brush on the end.
I’m confident a pro wouldn’t get any more soot than I do, the drill is pretty ferocious.
I have a pretty good system, bag in, tape to top of stove, hole in for the brush and rods and then a dust sheet over the entire stove. Vacuum on full beneath the stove.
Still have a little mess but dust sheets catch it. A pro would use a proper vacuum system and it’s mess free.
I’m happy, my brushes have done 8 years now, so a few hundred quid up.
Oh and the wife hoovers and cleans everywhere after
Last edited:
Soldato
Had an unexpected break due to a meeting being cancelled so thought I'd make best use ...
Removed the temporary gutter from the bigger log store
Added some timber patresses to tue topmost the uprights
Fitted the new black guttering (one 4m length)
End caps on and the downspout connectors nice and tight to the stair wall
The timber upstand needs fixing permanently before I cement filler the two sides and the top / "ridge"
The incinerator barrel will be shifted forward and downpipe fitted / angle piece to divert water to the gulley until I get another water butt
Hopefully finish tomorrow or will have to wait until the weekend
Removed the temporary gutter from the bigger log store
Added some timber patresses to tue topmost the uprights
Fitted the new black guttering (one 4m length)
End caps on and the downspout connectors nice and tight to the stair wall
The timber upstand needs fixing permanently before I cement filler the two sides and the top / "ridge"
The incinerator barrel will be shifted forward and downpipe fitted / angle piece to divert water to the gulley until I get another water butt
Hopefully finish tomorrow or will have to wait until the weekend
Soldato
An old Henry. Manages fine
Soldato
The sweep I had said he paid £2k for his vac. Got two motors and was surprisingly quiet.
I used to push drain rods up mine with sweeps brush on it - so much easier these days.
Not particularly cold tonight, but fired up the stove to make sure all was well, and it is.
Going to replace the fire bricks as they've seen better days and have a general clean up and it'll be ready for winter.
Bring on those chilly nights
Just after taking that photo, Kitler wandered in from nowhere and plonked herself down in front of it, and is now out for the count.
Going to replace the fire bricks as they've seen better days and have a general clean up and it'll be ready for winter.
Bring on those chilly nights
Just after taking that photo, Kitler wandered in from nowhere and plonked herself down in front of it, and is now out for the count.
Associate
I thought about firing ours up. Came out for a pint instead.
Soldato
Not particularly cold tonight, but fired up the stove to make sure all was well, and it is.
Going to replace the fire bricks as they've seen better days and have a general clean up and it'll be ready for winter.
Bring on those chilly nights
Just after taking that photo, Kitler wandered in from nowhere and plonked herself down in front of it, and is now out for the count.
Don't know about your fire bricks but with mine I buy a sheet of the fire brick stuff (not bricks more like a sheet of MDF) and just cut out to size -You cut them with a wood hand saw -- I remember old days you struggled with a angle grinder and stone disc.