I see someone has posted the Dartmoor tree law poem, lovely that. Anyhow I had a 400 year old cottage made of cob and granite. I only had a huge villager log burner. Lived there for 10 years. Once that thing was fired up you could melt glass on it. Although the glass tended to crumble when touched afterwards.
I used to burn all sorts on it. When you're low on cash you will turn to anything. I would collect kindling from a local forest and met others doing the same. Driftwood offers free wood and dries very quickly. Hazel burns very quick and hot and so does ash which can be burnt just after cutting. Pallets have graced the fires pressence as have shoes, cardboard and tins amongst other exotic things. After a few weeks you get the hang of it and the different smells of the woods are incredible - cherry and apple are my favourites and I would save them for friends coming round.
Never burn MDF or decking planks. Impregnated with poisonous chemicals etc. Although I have in the past - beggars cant be choosers an all that. Painted item really help.
Depending on how posh you are (i'm not) the easiest way to light a fire is tea lights. Add three to a pile of wood and then spill the melts wax and light that. Its will not stop burning. Or of you care not for the environment, tesco carrier bags *3 will get your fire going faster than anything. Country wisdom says build a small pyramid of kindling but I found with my burner the fastest way was to build a loose log cabin shape. Like a sqaure fence with the combustables in the centre. This was fast and produced quicker hotter embers as the air intake was less hampered. Then place the logs on, and as they catch place others on the outside of the fire to dry while the others burn, then move them in to the fire later and replace with damp ones again on the outside.
Holly burns the hottest as far as I am aware and if you want a good fire, balance soft and hard wood, so some nice cheap pine with a log of oak for longevity in the fire. Have a bucket of salt by the fire to smother it if you hear a screaming sound (chimney fire, the sound is unmistakable) never use water as the instant steam will remove your flesh down to the bone. Invest in some sweeping rods, the cost is going up at an alarming rate for a sweep. What was £15.00 has become £25.00+ apparently. Trago Mills here sell them for about £8.00 per rod (the avergage house is 5 metres tall ish give or take) so thats £40 quid for the rods and a fiver for the brush. I bought mine a few years ago and no hassle to use yourself unless you have a chimney cowl. Sweep before winter - jobs a goodun.
If you are having a log burner fitted ensure that the flu, the tube out of the back is at least 8 inches in diameter. I have always had an open fire from my first house. The previous owner had experienced a chimney fire. She ignored the screaming sound, and only decided that something was amis when the fore brigade dragged her from the house. The soot reached welding temperature and melted her chimney pots. The breast had to be rebuilt and she never went back to open fires. I took on the house and had a liner fitted. By a dodgy little blacksmith scumbag not far from Looe. Curse his soul. It was a 6inch tube from frie place to roof. A couple of open fires later my partner at the time found herself coming round hanging out of the front door (thankfully she had realised she was fading fast and had lunged for the front door before passing out).... The blacksmith was not so lucky. "I've done loads of these.....before his air supply was cut off". So in order to form a case against him I had to research it to death. Something else I know more about than I should. So for log burners the .... by now probably regulation ..... diameter of exhaust pipe is 8 inches or greater. If you have a smokey room when your fire is lit, it could be poor ventury? effect due to living in a dip, or poor incoming draft choking off the fire, or too high a lintel. Open a window in the same room a crack will be enough. Or have a cowl fitted over the front of the fire, or have a cowl fitted on the chimney itself. I'll shut up now. . . . . .
Local animal feed sack of logs - £3.50 and will last two nights ish same price for split kindling.
A animal pick up truck half load £50 to £60 quid
Full load £70 to £80 (I think this a tonne)
(always wanted to use that smilie)
Wood fires are more cosy, though... and you can't toast marshmallows on a heat pump!
