Moved into a new house with a fireplace to decorate? Or maybe you have used an inexpensive fireplace toolset for a couple of years and it is already falling apart. Here are a few tips from the staff at Plow & Hearth's retail store to guide you when buying new fireplace tools. We'll look at both decorative and functional considerations to help you make your choice.
On the decorative side you need to consider the set's materials and style. By far the most common materials for toolsets are brass or iron, which you will find alone or combined to make sets from casual to very formal.
Solid brass sets tend to be more traditional and formal looking. You often see them gracing fireplaces in Williamsburg and other early American sites. Brass sets have a variety of finial treatments from simple ball to elaborately turned tops, to suit a range of decorating styles.
Although some handmade wrought iron sets are equally pricey, the most expensive sets tend to be made from solid brass. The rich color, satisfying heft, and brilliant finish of a well-made solid brass set can be truly beguiling. Sometimes, to increase strength and to cut costs, solid brass sets have tools shafts made from steel sheathed with solid brass tubing.
Brass toolsets in the middle price range are usually a little lighter weight and have less hand finishing than the most expensive sets. The better ones are hard to distinguish from the most expensive sets. They represent a good value and can last a lifetime.
At the lowest price level are brass plated steel sets. They are often used as promotional sets and are generally not suited for regular heavy use. They may be practical, however, as a decorative accent for a fireplace that is not used frequently.
Iron toolsets have gained popularity along with more casual trends in decorating. However, just because they are more casual does not mean that they cannot be decorative. Handmade wrought iron sets can be decorated with scrollwork, leaves, and other details. Even machine made sets can have stamped accents and gracefully curved handles. Some iron sets combine the beauty of brass handles with the durability of steel shafts and tool ends.
Functional concerns include whether to buy individual tools or a set with a stand, how the handles and tips attach to the tool shafts, and the design of the tools. Considering how you intend to use the tools will increase your long-term satisfaction with your choice.
The individual parts of a toolset include the poker, shovel, broom, tongs, and stand. If you use your fireplace infrequently, you may decide to buy only the individual tools that you use most with hooks for hanging at fireside. A poker is generally the most popular tool.
In addition to a stand, three-piece sets include a poker for adjusting logs in the fire, and a shovel and broom for cleanup. If you use your fireplace a lot, look for a shovel with a larger scoop and a broom with a full set of stiff bristles to make ash removal easier.
Four-piece sets add a pair of log tongs for folks who really like to play with the fire. The grabbing end of the tongs has either two or three points of contact with the log. While the two point tong is more traditional, the three point style makes log moving a little easier.
One of the most common complaints from people looking for new toolsets at Plow & Hearth's retail store concerns tools whose handles loosen up in use. Tools have either swedged (also called press-fitted) or threaded handles. Forced on with tons of pressure, swedged handles will not come loose, as will handles that are threaded. To check a tool, grab the handle and the other end and twist. You won't be able to budge a swedged handle.
Finally, a tip that covers both the decorative and functional aspects of the set: check the size of the set and compare it to your fireplace. Tools come in different lengths, from short ones designed for woodstoves to extra long ones that are suitable for a massive stone fireplace in a great room with high ceilings. Shorter tools may require using firegloves to protect yourself from the heat when working a blazing fire.
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