Chestnuts on an open fire

[Onelife]

There was a time when wood burning stoves were the poor man’s form of heating, how things have changed.

Our old one gave up on us a couple of weeks back despite me having filled every crack with fire cement, there does however come a time when your fire alarms keep going off that you know something isn’t quite right .

Anyhow’s, I hope my wife enjoys her Christmas present as it’s cost me an arm and a leg, and that’s before fitting costs which hopefully takes place Tuesday…thinking about it, that can be her Birthday present.

We went through a company called Calido which I have to say have been excellent, as have their couriers Palletline. Calido even sent out a complementary fire-starting box containing logs, kindling and fire lighters… I thought it a nice gesture, even though it worked out at around two hundred pounds per log. They even dropped in a message wishing us a warm Christmas Ahh!!! …So, on that note, may I take this opportunity to wish all my forum friends (yes, I have some) a very warm and Happy Christmas.

Onelife

[CaroleF]

And a very happy Christmas to you too and everyone else on here. My daughter has a log burning stove and it certainly throws out some heat. Takes a while to warm up though when it's first lit. I had my open fire taken out at the beginning of the year as I couldn't manage all the carrying of the coal and cleaning out of ashes. I miss it but I had the pleasure of the open fire for 43 years since John and I married but I'm afraid I had to opt for the convenience of an electric flame effect fire, it is lovely, not the same I know.

Carole

[Onelife]

Hi Carol, I’m presuming your daughter log burner is made of cast iron which as you say takes a time to warm up as ours did. We have now gone for the steel burner, quicker to warm up but cools down faster so I've read....swings and roundabouts I suppose.

[Stephen]

It’s all in what fuel you use to light it.

Steel log burner, I hope it lasts and doesn’t buckle like cheap Chinese ones do, aparantly.

[barney]

I use fire lighters and kindling.
Lots of air flow and it’s roaring in minutes.
Usually takes about ten minutes to get up to full heat, then just keep it ticking over.
Mind you, I’ve used about 30% of my log store already in that cold snap.

[Onelife]

Hi Stephen, we’ve gone for the one our fitter recommended which is the Hamlet Solutions 7 wide screen. It comes with a 10-year Buckle free warranty. It’s not as nice looking as the one we are replacing which had an antique look about it, alas most new burners seem to be much of the same appearance these days.

Barney, I normally start our burner using a ready supply of the “sporting life” which I get from my local bookies. The kindling is sourced from wherever I can get it… the stove arrived on a wooden pallet so I should have enough to last me right through to next Christmas.

[Stephen]

Onelife
Hamlet Solutions 7 wide screen

Can you get freeview on it

Wew use wood wool firelighters which are odourless from 'Home Bargains' (best price). Also available from other well known retailers.
One of these and bit of kindling or log bark and away it goes. A combination of Paper sticks and a bit of kindling also works well.

As Barney mentioned, good air flow is crucial. Also keeping a bed of ash helps.

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[Onelife]

It’s got everything including wide screen viewing…as for the wood wool this is what they’ve sent in the complementary starter kit…they’ve also included a box of complementary chocolates

[Stephen]

It’s got everything including wide screen viewing…as for the wood wool this is what they’ve sent in the complementary starter kit…they’ve also included a box of complementary chocolates

Are you sure they're not returns!

[Ray B]

Don't forget that the woodwool starters are also better for lighting the BBQ. No smell and gets the charcoal going in minutes.

[Stephen]

Don't forget that the woodwool starters are also better for lighting the BBQ. No smell and gets the charcoal going in minutes.

Especially if you have a chimney

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[Stephen]

How's the new heat source. All in and working yet.

[Manoverboard]

I use 1 x Tiger Tim foil sealed firelighter & two 1" x 1" x 6" sticks of wood cut from last years palette. Then I top that with a couple of 10" mini logs. Apply a jet flame and away we go, easy peasy

[Ray B]

Made using highest grade kerosene jet fuel, not surprised its soon roaring away Moby.

[Manoverboard]

Quite so ... I'm deffo not going to use that wooly rubbish that increases the risk of a chimney fire

[Stephen]

Quite so ... I'm deffo not going to use that wooly rubbish that increases the risk of a chimney fire

More money than sense buying Tiger Tim's.

Not sure how the woolies would start a chimney fire.

A. You place them under kindling and logs so no chance of any debris going up the chimney or flu
B. Keep your chimney regularly swept.

[Ray B]

I take it that this post has nothing to do about the joys of the family gathering around the open fire as the chestnuts are roasted on a shovel.

[Stephen]

No .

[Onelife]

I take it that this post has nothing to do about the joys of the family gathering around the open fire as the chestnuts are roasted on a shovel.

Thanks for bringing this up Ray...Stephen is always spoiling my threads

[Manoverboard]

I toast bread / crumpets on ours using a 100 year old brass toasting fork ... just saying

[Onelife]

I toast bread / crumpets on ours using a 100 year old brass toasting fork ... just saying

I’ve done this Mob and they do take on a different taste that I find quite nice…best have lobs of butter to put straight on.

[Manoverboard]

I toast bread / crumpets on ours using a 100 year old brass toasting fork ... just saying

I’ve done this Mob and they do take on a different taste that I find quite nice…best have lobs of butter to put straight on.

Cold butter so that it doesn't melt straight in

[Mervyn and Trish]

Okay. I'll be round in the New Year.

[Onelife]

Okay. I'll be round in the New Year.

I wouldn’t mind betting Mob is thinking ‘pikelets’ to that suggestion.

[Mervyn and Trish]

He won't think muffin of it.