getting rid of stuff

[Flyfisher]

And sweep the chimney before any fire is attempted!!!

I speak with feeling, having once had a chimney fire in a chimney which was blocked pretty solid with twigs from nesting birds!

It had not been used for about three years, a smoke test seemed to incicate it was drawing...

I can second that, also with feeling. The chimney in question had been used the previous winter but I was subsequently told that the amount of twigs that nesting birds (crows in our case) can deposit down a chimney in just one season is quite astounding.

Mind you, once the twigs were alight there was no problem with the draw :shock:

 

[Nemesis]

Yup, as you say, dry twigs go really well... as the occupants of both the fire appliances which raced to the scene from opposite directions can testify...

 

[Penners]

I've never tasted corneille flambee. Was it nice?

 

[charlie-ia]

so being able to see all the daylight up the chimney isnt a good enough check?

I checked for crows in both chimneys before we lit anything. only found one. nicely marinated. so tender it came apart in my hands.

 

[Penners]

so being able to see all the daylight up the chimney isnt a good enough check?

No - not as a check to see if it's sufficiently soot-free to be safe for a fire. Even with a fair amount of soot clinging to the walls of the chimney, you could still be able to see daylight up a straight chimney.

Unless you're absolutely confident that the chimney is clean, get a chimney sweep in.

 

[charlie-ia]

thanks for helping me so far everyone!

ive just recieved my test pot of kling strip. after reading the instructions, i understand that you wash it off with water.
does it dissolve the paint or lift it off in pieces?

What do i do with the resulting bucket of nasy water? it says its fully biodegradeable, but presumably its still caustic for a while? should i chuck in a bit of vinegar?

 

[Gervase]

If you've got a peaty, acid soil and want to grow good sprouts, cabbages and swedes, pour it on your compost heap - brassicas prefer an alkaline soil.

 

[NT]

ive just recieved my test pot of kling strip. after reading the instructions, i understand that you wash it off with water.
does it dissolve the paint or lift it off in pieces?

why not find out yourself

 

[Nemesis]

I wonder though if all the paint nasties might not be good for the veg?

 

[charlie-ia]

why not find out yourself

im busting to! trouble is,the house is far away,and we cant go back yet. at the moment im trying to find out as much as i can about everything before we go, to make for less dithering when we're there.
im a bit disapointed it didnt say more in the instructions.
thankyou gervase, i do intend to grow brassicas on peaty acid soil!(spring cabbage and broccoli especcialy!)

 

[Penners]

The best thing for removing the stripper is a wide-blade paint scraping knife. Try a small test area first to make sure that stripper has worked its way right through the various coats of paint. If not, leave it in place a bit longer, and make sure it stays damp. If it looks like drying out, spray it with water, then cover it with film again.

After you've scraped off the stripper (taking the paint with it), wash down thoroughly with a sponge and plenty of water - you may have to do this several times, and I've found that a scrubbing brush (not too stiff) also helps to get into the grain. If you're conscientious about every little nook and cranny in the wood, you may need to finally pick little white lumps out with a small pointed implement.

Finally, it's a good thing to use the Klingstrip neutraliser, to avoid the risk of any residual chemicals "sweating" out of the wood over the next few months.