Fireplace Tool Set Components

The basic fireplace tool set is composed of a poker, bellows, and a pair of tongs, a shovel, and a brush. Usually made of steel, chrome, iron or brass, the tool sets that are made of steel and chrome are the popular choices since they don?t readily show signs of oxidation or stain.

Maintaining their original appearance is not difficult because they require very little cleaning. However, since the tools? appearance must match the décor of the fireplace, these tools are usually painted with fire black or enamel coated to give them that rustic, used look.

The poker, as the name suggests, is used to poke the fire ? to push or pull the pieces of burning wood in order to control their combustion. It is usually shaped like a long rod with a small hook a few inches from the end where the tip tapers to a point.

The tongs are used to pick up burning embers that fall away from the fire and are noticeably long. This helps the user avoid the heat of the flames. An additional benefit of the length is that the heat takes longer to reach the handles, keeping the tongs cool long enough to allow the user to maneuver more embers before the heat reaches the hand.

The bellows were once used to fan the flames. Today, they are hardly used because the fireplace doors act as vents to flame the fire. Now obsolete, the bellows now only serve to remind us of earlier times.

The other two tools are straight forward and simple. The shovel is used to remove the ashes from the fireplace when the fire has gone out and the brush is used to clean the fireplace and hearth.

5 piece fireplace tool sets are really composed of 6 items because the set usually comes with a stand for hanging the tools. The stand keeps the tools ordered, secure and handy.

When deciding a purchase between used & new tools, one must keep in mind that the metal in the new tools of today are much more technologically advanced than the old. Iron is now less prone to corrosion and flaking than those made in the 18th century.

Although the old tools might have the value of being antiques, bear in mind that corrosion might eat at the tools, leaving nothing but piles of rusted iron. Another thing one must know is that the older metals retains heat longer, making them unsafe in the hands of an inexperienced person.

In order to acquire the right set of tools for one?s fireplace, care must be made in the selection process because the tools must complement the fireplace?s decorations. A set with elaborate carvings would look odd beside a simply decorated fireplace, and a crude and simple country-style set of tools wouldn?t match an intricately carved fireplace mantle. It would be such a waste to spend more than $100 for a set of tools that doesn?t quite match the motif.

Anyone planning to buy a set of fireplace tools would be wise to consider looking at brochures while sitting in front of the fireplace, so that the set pictured could be readily compared to the fireplace décor. If this is not possible, then a picture of the fireplace should be brought along as the purchaser hunts for a tool set at the hardware. This way, the memory could easily be refreshed while looking at the numerous sets one will have to choose from.