Log or coal fires ?

Edwardia

Last night, OH lit a fire and used coal which stunk like coal tar soap. Usually we would burn wood. I hated it. Does it always stink ?

So I wondered if you have/have had open fire, which do you prefer ? How do you keep the cost down ? Buy logs by the load ? Have coal delivered ? Pick up sticks or driftwood ?

And are some woods better than others ? Chestnut seems to spit.

We bought 10kg coal for 2.99 from Home Bargains, is that a good deal for a small bag bearing in mind we don't have storage for logs or coal ?

amistupid

The OH likes wood, I try to oblige.

onlyroz

My parents have a wood burner and they rarely have to buy wood. At the moment they're burning the old beams from our loft conversion and then they'll move on to burning the cupboard doors left over from our kitchen refit. They can also usually get hold of old pallets. Once people know you need wood you'll be knee-deep in the stuff forever more.

Gloomendoom

onlyroz wrote: »

My parents have a wood burner and they rarely have to buy wood. At the moment they're burning the old beams from our loft conversion and then they'll move on to burning the cupboard doors left over from our kitchen refit. They can also usually get hold of old pallets. Once people know you need wood you'll be knee-deep in the stuff forever more.

I'm afraid that you are perpetuating the firewood is free myth. Most of the stuff you mentioned isn't ideal fuel for a woodburner, although it probably burns.

OP £2.99 for 10kg seems reasonable for that size of bag.

Ash is probably the best firewood of all. I generally burn ash, oak or alder but use pine for kindling (it burns hot and fast but spits a lot.)

The processed firelogs are a good alternative if you buy them at a decent price. They are a regular size, clean and not full of creepy crawlies like real logs. We have had two inch long hornets buzzing around the sitting room on more than one occasion.

I think Greenfires who posts on the "LPG, Heating Oil, Solid & Other Fuels Board" can supply processed logs at a sensible price or you can sometimes get them on offer at Aldi or Lidl.

If you want a long term cheap solution, you will have to find space for storage, invest in some equipment and learn to use it. Then you need to find some wood to cut and doing that legally is the challenge. Your best bets are friendly farmers or buying unprocessed cordwood in bulk.

We are lucky enough have access to farmland and permission to cut firewood. It isn't "free" as it takes time, effort and petrol to process. It does help keep us trim though...



Don't forget that you will need a fireguard if you haven't got one already. A CO alarm is a good idea too although open fires are fairly low risk.

The Firewood Poem

Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold

Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown

Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.

Mrs_Bones

I like the crackle of an open fire but I've only really seen large log fires in nice hotels or pubs. Coal fires on the other hand is what I grew up with and the smell never bothers me. I guess it's just a matter of what you grow up with and which part of the country you live. I also love the smell of coal tar soap, always got Wrights coal tar soap near the sinks.

elsien

I use both. Bed of coal with logs chucked on top to keep it going. Mum and I order bags of wood locally then split them between us as I don't have a lot of storage space and the fire logs from home bargains as a top up if I run out.
And order coal in the summer when it's a bit cheaper, if you're going to use it. I get a couple of large bags delivered but hardly used the fire last year, so haven't needed to order again. Edit - sorry, just seen you don't have a coal hole, so not relevant.
I have got a couple of pallets waiting to be cut up for kindling and setting the fire but really can't be bothered doing it so far. TBH, I'd rather buy it in. Life's too short as I've really not got the space tools or inclination to be finding and chopping wood.

zennith

I'd like a real fire.

I don't even have a gas one.....

Just an electric one.


Real coal fires remind me of the 1970's at my Grandmas bungalow.

savemoney

We use a multi stove but always burn wood or briquettes. It gives off a enough heat for downstairs and take chill off upstairs. So far we haven't had our GCH on yet this Autumn

tommix

The spit and crackle of burning wood on a winters morn takes me back to my scouting days..A bunch of Hardy lads gathered round the campfire belting out 'gin gan goolie' to an audience of Guinea fowl and wild Squirrel.....:beer:

Edwardia

Thank you for all the helpful posts !

I did have the chimney swept and certificated. Also got a big elaborate fire guard in a sale a couple of years ago. It's elaborate but has fairly fine mesh too. When OH pulled up a plum tree stump from garden we kept it inside after cleaning it up. It's about three years old now so OH just split it today.

We have a 4ft wide fireplace in a 6ft wide chimney breast but the actual fire basket bit is teeny. Everything has to be cut down to brick size and we can get at most four in at a time. OH got five out of the plum stump. No idea how it will burn but def dry.

I suggested to OH putting coal on bottom then paper, kindling and logs so that by time logs are dying out coal might be glowing hot. Would that work ?

Glad

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