Or Register for FREE!


Welcome to our Cat Forums!
Welcome to our CatForums!
You are seeing this message because you are viewing our cat forums as a guest.

You can continue to browse our many cat related areas as a guest but you are more than welcome to register and join our friendly community of Cat Lovers! ... And for free!

Doing so will also remove this message and some of the ads, such as the one on the left.

Please click here to register.

Reply

Elaine's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 2 moggies
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 15,256
25-06-2008, 11:01 AM   #1

Fire starter, twisted fire starter


Does any one here have a real fire?
Can you tell me how to build one and get it lit?
Its freezing in the evenings here, cuddling into SuzyQ is good but she kicks
I have tried to get the fire going but with no success.



Reply With Quote


Moli's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Exotics,oriential,siamese,& Mogg...
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Scotland..
Posts: 27,164
25-06-2008, 11:51 AM   #2

Re: Fire starter, twisted fire starter


I always did it wil kindling and paper,scrunch the paper up into ball, put it in first, then add kindling on top, and bits of coal on top, light the paper....Then just add some more coal...



Reply With Quote


angieh's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Magnificent moggies
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 21,718
25-06-2008, 11:55 AM   #3

Re: Fire starter, twisted fire starter


What sort of fire? Coal/logs - I presume you have an open fireplace and that the chimney is not blocked up or anything - you dont want to fill the room with smoke (or do you?)

OK so let's assume you've got a nice open fireplace with a grate and you have coal or logs -

1. screwed up dry newspaper as a base
2. dry kindling wood/sticks put on top
3. a few small pieces of coal or 1 or 2 small dry logs
4. using a match or taper, light the newspaper and let it establish burning the kindling sticks
5. then add more coal/logs as things start to burn well
6. try and get near the fire before SuzyQ!

Hope above helps!

(above extracted from biography of man who lived in Pudding Lane, London and was dated 1666.)



Reply With Quote


Mags's Avatar
Global Moderator
 
Cats owned: NA
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: South-West,UK
Posts: 37,618
25-06-2008, 11:59 AM   #4

Re: Fire starter, twisted fire starter


Is there a supply of coal in the house where you're staying Elaine?

If so......roll up some newspaper by twisting it round and round - you will probably need about 4 - 5 twists. Place the paper in the fire grate then stack small pieces of wood on top of the paper in a pyramid shape.
Light the paper and when the wood has caught and is burning steadily, place small lumps of coal on top.......or I suppose you could use dry logs, but watch out for any flying sparks.

Or.......................

To make it a bit easier for you, you could buy a bag of instant smokeless fuel from a hardware store ....... that may be the better bet for you, less trouble

http://domain903842.sites.fasthosts....log/index.html

I take it there is no central heating system there?



Reply With Quote


Elaine's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 2 moggies
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 15,256
25-06-2008, 01:20 PM   #5

Re: Fire starter, twisted fire starter


@ Angie

There is iol central heating but I dont think there is any oil in the tank, either that or I am being thick coz i cannt find an on/off switch and all the radiators are on full
There are two big bags of burning peat, so I now need some wood/kindling?
Thanx every one, I'll let you know if I get it started.



Reply With Quote


Mags's Avatar
Global Moderator
 
Cats owned: NA
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: South-West,UK
Posts: 37,618
26-06-2008, 12:25 PM   #6

Re: Fire starter, twisted fire starter


Did you manage to light a fire last night Elaine?



Reply With Quote


Elaine's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 2 moggies
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 15,256
26-06-2008, 04:28 PM   #7

Re: Fire starter, twisted fire starter


Yes I did thankyou Mags. Suzy and I were snug as bugs in rugs



Reply With Quote


dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 31,378
26-06-2008, 04:46 PM   #8

Re: Fire starter, twisted fire starter


There is nothing like a real fire on a chilly evening! Glad you got it started!



Reply With Quote

Reply