what's your favorite stove tool?

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I bought a nice wrought iron set from Northline express came with poker, log handler, broom and shovel, had a cheap shovel that came with my ash hopper and use the cheap one as it holds more ash than the set shovel (they tend to be small) I also bought an ash rake to match the set so all I use is the cheap shovel for ash the ash rake and a Firedragon blow pipe . This blow pipe is great if you try to relight from a smaller coal bed and it is strong enough that you can move logs around. So I primarily use the rake, blow pipe and cheap shovel and gloves and nothing else.

Brian

Blow pipe from amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Firedragon-Blow-Poke-Fireplace-Tool/dp/B000BYRP9Y

Sorry forgot how to attach links
 
My stove gloves! But seriously, I love my 2 pronged rake, it'll move the knarliest of wood.
 
basswidow said:
Poker, shovel, broom.

My wife got a cheap set at Target and I wasn't too impressed with them. But 3 years later, they have fit the bill. They work just fine and she likes the little rack they came with too.

Also - welder gloves that cover to the elbow. A MUST.

I guarantee that you and I have the same fireplace tools. I bought them before the stove, figuring I'd use them 5x a year. Now I'm in year three with the stove, they are still working good. Sometimes, rarely, cheap is good!
 
Sen. John Blutarsky said:
basswidow said:
Poker, shovel, broom.

My wife got a cheap set at Target and I wasn't too impressed with them. But 3 years later, they have fit the bill. They work just fine and she likes the little rack they came with too.

Also - welder gloves that cover to the elbow. A MUST.

I guarantee that you and I have the same fireplace tools. I bought them before the stove, figuring I'd use them 5x a year. Now I'm in year three with the stove, they are still working good. Sometimes, rarely, cheap is good!

I think I'm on the same boat with you guys with the target set. (It was a Christmas gift). I don't use the broom of tongs ever so I modified the rack so it sits flush on my fireplace next to the insert. Sometimes if the firebox i hot and I'm scooping out some ashes the shovel will stink up the room a bit. Mediocre quality, but gets the job done and looks nice.

I use my gloves the most. I use a small dust pan and brush to sweep up the mess on the heart, and use my shop vac like every other day around the fireplace. I try to keep it clean as possible.
 
Slicer,,,, came with my used Intrepid.. didnt even realize that it goes throught the ashpan from the front and hooks into the rear and i can remove pan with one tool and reinstall.. pretty cool tool. also use it to move logs around from the top. When i brought stove home didnt have it, the gut i got it from was nice enough to sent ot to me and now i couldnt be without it
 
Lots of great ideas, I may try shawneyboy's "make your own hoe"! Drats, wish more with specials tools posted pics. I am curious, the peeps with long rods, with end bent at 90 degrees and then flatted, how am curious how this really moves coals from ash compared to a rake. I have been experimenting with one of my hand garden tools (small hand rake, 3 prongs for moving soil); it works really well in the firebox separating ash from coals. Now I need to figure out how to take plastic hand off and attach to longer iron stick. I think someone may have done such a thing on the forum but can't find it.
 
vixster said:
Lots of great ideas, I may try shawneyboy's "make your own hoe"!
I went back over this thread and could not find any shawneyboy hoe. Got a link? I'm always interested in other designs and will at some point probably replace the head on mine.

You mentioned "hoe" but then you talk about a rake. So far in this thread I think only Shari posted a pic of a hoe. I posted a pic of my hoe/rake combo in other threads.

I used to use my shovel upside down as a hoe and shove everything to the back of the stove. In so doing, some of the coals would come to the surface. I would then run my poker through the ashes to bring more coals to the surface and then draw them forward to the doghouse.

I consider both a hoe and a rake to be valuable tools. Having both on one handle suits me fine.
 
On the first page of this tread.
by shawnyboy....Rake is the best. Easy way to make one, buy a cheap long handled fireplace shovel, flatten upturned edges of shovel, then bend 90 degrees. Boom a hoe. Now if you want a rake, either cut or grind out slots. Just so you know a hoe will work well if you can’t cut the slots.
 
Just re-read the original post and saw that you already have a shovel . . . in which case I would echo the importance of a good pair of welder's gloves . . . I don't know if you would consider them a tool or apparel, but honestly I use these every day.
 
Hello All! A (beer) bottle opener is my favorite tool. I have one installed beside the stove. Nothing like coming in from outside with a bottle from the snow bank and cracking it by a warm stove. Second would be my rake and third a pair of welding gloves that go well up the forearm. cheers

Ian
 
An antique sword from the late 16th century. I used it as a poker for years until I got curious about it one day and searched online. An original Italian standard military issue, before the blood groove was invented.
It's hanging on the wall now. No worse for the wear.
 
Custom Blacksmithed Poker. Can poke, pull, lift, pick up balance and move burning logs. The best poker ever made by far. All other pokers i've seen just don't work well.
 
hard aground said:
An antique sword from the late 16th century. I used it as a poker for years until I got curious about it one day and searched online. An original Italian standard military issue, before the blood groove was invented.
It's hanging on the wall now. No worse for the wear.

Dang, no way! Where did you get it?!
 
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