Good source for fireplace tools

I like to get something in my hand and feel it out...if I looking for a hearth shovel I would like to be able to choose among a couple 3 different ones. So I would look around local first...all ya need is a shovel and a 90* bent poker for raking the coals closer to to door. Over the years we've gotten a lot of tools like that for presents...the better looking ones are just to heavy to use day in day out imo.

If you are interested in very, low cost hearth tools and you have a local store try:

http://www.christmastreeshops.com/

You may be very surprised! Then again, maybe not.

Saratoga,

Try this short ash rake/hoe for $20. Strong and well made. I should have ordered two.

See the link:

http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5MM-WRM-02H

It is very nicely made and not made in China!

Edit: PS, I'll wave as I drive by you on the Northway!

I just bought this http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5WZ-61262NL. I have been using it for a big 4 days It is very fine quality. Heavy tools and the rack is just as heavy. I too, like your girlfriend, first-off have to see that it looks good. No, really, I was concerned about quality. I was looking at Plow and Hearth, thought I had settled on the oak leafy one but changed my mind at the end. I pondered over which set for at least a full week, used a twig as a poker in the meantime.

Now, the carousel one, http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5MM-LCR-10 Gosh I loved that, which surprised me because I really don't go for curley-Q stuff. I didn't buy that one and here's why -- I can see that when you come walking in house with armload of logs, how do you get them in there. You can't just dump them in like with the one I bought. I would imagine you'd have to put logs on floor or on your lap and put one in at a time. See.

The quality is very good. These were heavier than I expected and quick ship.

I was also looking for an ash rake. Call me cheap, but yesterday I spent $1 for a used bbq spatula, stuck an inch and a half of the blade in a vise and bent it. Instant ash rake. If I happen upon the real thing in my travels, I'll pick it up. For now my improvised rake is fine.

The rest of my tools (shovel, tongs, poker) were bought 15 years ago at a yard sale. Fine for a fireplace, but my insert is begging for a shorter handled set.

I bought a beautiful hearth side set, but ultimately grew to hate each one of them. They are pretty but not functional enough. I got me a single poker and a single shovel at Lowe's (ormaybe Tractor Supply?) and am much happier with them.

How could it not be functional. It's an organizer. Reach over, grab your tool, put it back. No logs all over the place. None of that, "oh, where's newspaper, where's kindling." No worry about dog walking on hot poker by mistake. It makes good decorating sense, too. It's another attractive thing to look at in a room, which adds to sense of continuity, theme, all that good stuff. It beats the price of the leather recliner my kids wanted me to buy and put over there !!

My morsoe came with the best poker I have ever used. It is just a bent piece of 1/4" rod but it is soo very useful for raking ashes, rolling splits, and scraping out the ash pan.
It looks similar to the poker on the right in this picture:
http://www.firesnflames.co.uk/compo.../product/c39017d0cd192e1b311e7d7a3b2056d5.jpg

SaratogaJJ said:

In my excitement to get my new Hearthstone Morgan up and running this summer, I neglected one important aspect - what to do about fireplace tools?

At the moment, I have found what I think is an OK tool set at Plow & Hearth. At the same time, my intuition tells me right from the get-go that Plow & Hearth sells what are probably mediocre-quality tools at more-or-less ridiculously inflated prices. However, the set I found in their catalog appeals to the aesthetic sense of my girlfriend, so that is obviously an important consideration.

However, I imagine that people here might have a good idea of a source for quality tools, at which the relationship between price & quality is a bit more rational. I've found a number of online vendors, but thought that the collective experience here might steer me in a good direction.

Thanks for everyone's advice in advance.

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Northlineexpress has the best prices on practically everything hearth-related, and everything I've gotten from them has been good quality. But Plow&Hearth;, though it looks like Pottery Barn or something, actually has very good prices, I've found, and their quality has also been excellent. I've gotten a variety of stuff from P&H;over the years (most not hearth-related) and I've been very happy with price and quality and customer service. I'd say if you find what you like best only at P&H;, don't have any hesitation about getting it.

But Northline is definitely the least expensive. I think they even say on their site they'll match any lower price you can find elsewhere. Their shipping is also super-fast.

We discovered that a local historic farm museum here in NS will actually take orders to make what you want, and charges for material, but not labour! One fellow needed an 18 inch carriage door hinge made, and it cost him $9.25, so he ordered 4! Looking to visit soon and have a set made up for the stove - I prefer shorter tools so I don't wack things unintentionally. Might even have them build a wood rack to hang them on - can't be any more than some of the units I see online.

Bought our set with a holding rack that also holds a day worth of wood for 75% off at lowes last spring, They didn't come with a rake but I was talking to a local welder/fabricator and he said he has made dozens of these things over the years and offered to make me one that will match our set.

Plow & Hearth has been in business for 28 years and wood-burning tools and accessories have been a mainstay of our company since the beginning. We have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you decide to purchase the toolset from us and then aren't pleased with it, you can return it to us for a full refund - even if you've used it. Dana Campbell, Sr. Interactive Marketing Manager at Plow & Hearth

Dana, how about a discount or free shipping (on less than $100) for Hearth.com members?

plow&hearth; said:

Plow & Hearth has been in business for 28 years and wood-burning tools and accessories have been a mainstay of our company since the beginning. We have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you decide to purchase the toolset from us and then aren't pleased with it, you can return it to us for a full refund - even if you've used it. Dana Campbell, Sr. Interactive Marketing Manager at Plow & Hearth

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Sure - today through November 26th, Hearth.com members can take 15% off your purchase at Plow & Hearth. Enter promo code HRTHMBR. You can start shopping our Fireplace & Hearth department here: http://www.plowhearth.com/Department.asp?section_id=2002&search_type=department&search_value=3050 (This offer cannot be combined with other offers.)

plow&hearth; said:

Sure - today through November 26th, Hearth.com members can take 15% off your purchase at Plow & Hearth. Enter promo code HRTHMBR. You can start shopping our Fireplace & Hearth department here: http://www.plowhearth.com/Department.asp?section_id=2002&search_type=department&search_value=3050 (This offer cannot be combined with other offers.)

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Three cheers for Dana!

Let me repeat what I said above. P&H;has good quality stuff at very good prices, not at all a fancy rip-off outfit. I've gotten lots of stuff from them over the years and never had reason to be the least dissatisfied. The ship promptly and have excellent customer service to boot. It's been one of my favorite and most trusted mail-order sources.

Oops. One caution, I realize. Their corner fan is very noisy. Not what you want for the stove unless you're really into "white noise." But it is solid and does an excellent job.

I got my first set (ash rake/hoe, right-angle poker, shovel, broom) at Target for around $25. For the new stove I got a short-handle set (ash hoe, poker, shovel, broom) from http://www.fireplaceessentials.com for $45. I actually use all 4 tools, but the ash hoe is by far the most used.

*side note: It's amazing who reads this site. Someone makes a comment about the quality of one company's product and next thing you know you have the management posting.