Tool Sets
I've owned several fireplace toolsets over the years. (And read hundreds of reviews on different ones!).
It's important to note a few things:
Don't expect a lot from the broom. Ash dust is so fine that just about any broom is just going to smear it around. If you really want the area CLEAN, you should get a vacuum!
The shovel will probably break at some point no matter how rugged the set seems at first. They're made to shovel ash but at some point, you're going to try to use it as a lever. If you commit to being gentle at all times, you'll get more longevity out of a cheaper set. If you're "hard on equipment," consider upgrading!
Uniflame, F-1311, 5pc Antique Copper Toolset with Ring Swirl Handles
Features
User Friendly
Some assembly required
Price
Summary:
At $110, this is not your bargain variety tool set. However, 86% of purchasers give these tools a 5-star rating calling them "heavy duty" and "strongly made." The copper paint gives them a different look than the traditional black wrought iron tools. (Though one review says that they are "a little shinier than we anticipated." Reviews under 4 stars chiefly are concerned that the "Broom is cheap and poorly made." (However, one reviewer said the the seller replaced the broom for them.)
Features
- 32.3" stand height
- 26" tool height
- Wrought Iron
User Friendly
Easy to assemble
Price
Summary:
At $110, this is not your bargain variety tool set. However, 86% of purchasers give these tools a 5-star rating calling them "heavy duty" and "strongly made." The copper paint gives them a different look than the traditional black wrought iron tools. (Though one review says that they are "a little shinier than we anticipated." Reviews under 4 stars chiefly are concerned that the "Broom is cheap and poorly made." (However, one reviewer said the the seller replaced the broom for them.)
Best Fireplace Gloves
Like the brooms above, it's important to have a grip on reality when assessing products. Many negative reviews for gloves stemmed from the disappointment of feeling heat through the glove when picking up live coals from the fire.
Really?
OF COURSE you're going to feel heat! These products are for average homeowners who want to protect their hands and forearms while tending to a fire. You shouldn't be holding molten materials in your hand for minutes at a time!
And marketers don't do themselves any favors by making claims incongruous to customer comprehension. For example, many gloves claim "heat resistant to 1472 degrees F!" So the customer believes that he can juggle glowing embers for hours.
But there's a difference between convection and radiant heat. Convection heat is like an oven...radiant heat is like a pot of boiling water. Water boils at a mere 212 degrees. We bake Gram's famous chocolate chip cookies in a 350-degree oven. Would you rather stick your hand into a pot of 212-degree water or a 350-degree oven? (without actually touching the baking sheet...that crosses the line to radiant heat, not convection heat...make sense?)
The heat that radiates through the air (convection) transfers much more slowly than actually touching (radiant).
Anyhoo...
Understand that gloves are best suited to protect from convection heat...not radiant.
Yes, you can pick up a coal that's fallen from a roaring fire onto the hearth rug and quickly return it to the fire, just don't hold on to it!
Here's my pick for the best fireplace gloves!
Ozero 932°F Heat Resistant Leather Gloves
Features
- Insulated lining with heat-resistant aluminum foil for advanced heat and fire resistance
- 16-inch long gloves with 7.5-inch sleeves protects your forearms!
- 1.2mm thick and soft shoulder split natural cowhide leather which is heat resistant, and flame retardant.
User Friendly
One size fits most!
Price
Summary:
While I doubt that these gloves can really withstand 932 degrees, they are insulated, have an inner foil designed to reflect heat, and, at 16" long are good for protecting forearms from fire. (These would be great for tending the wood stove, the fire pit, the BBQ grill, or even chocolate chip cookies!)
They are made from 1.2 mm cowhide leather and boast a 4.7 star rating with almost 13,000 reviews. Negative reviews, IMHO, stem from unrealistic expectations. A reviewer complained that they "held the pan for for 30 seconds and it started to burn my hand." No kidding.
I own a pair of these gloves. You can pick up a hot coal off the hearth and toss it back into the woodstove. Anything more than that is beyond the scope of any fireplace glove!
Best Ash Buckets
The down and dirty: there is no perfect ash bucket. EVERY single product I researched had at least one negative review.
My sense is that, while in many cases they truly reflect the quality of the product, other variables like shipping or use come into effect.
For example, several negative reviews report that the ash buckets arrived broken. I know that quality control may vary, but I doubt any company would ship broken products. So, while the packaging may also factor in, I find it difficult to hold a manufacturer responsible for shipping workers hosting dance parties on merchandise.
Other negative reviews stem from chipped paint and rust. Through my search, I did my best to find stock items that had the least reports of chipped paint. But it's probably going to happen to some degree. You're using a metal shovel against it. Some scratching will occur!
In regards to safety, it's nice to have a double-floored bottom to keep heat up off the floor. That being said, however, the reality is that ashes serve as a pretty good insulator themselves. A solid base would be fine unless you plan on shoveling a gallon of hot coals out of the stove!
And finally, I encourage you to wash them before use. Most manufacturers put an oil coating on the buckets for some added protection from moisture during shipping and storage. However, hot embers can make this oil coating smolder...which could present safety issues. (I like Dawn dish soap...it cuts grease and oil!)
Most of these are fairly close in price, so picked the best ones based on value and aesthetic style!
Amagabeli Hot Ash Carrier
Features
- Durable steel construction with black finish
- Wide top for easy deposits and withdrawals.
- Supported base keeps hot ashes off the bottom and away from the floor.
User Friendly
- "Pouring" mouth helps dump ashes
- Two-handle design makes the container easy to handle
Price
Summary:
This carrier seems pricey...but it gets great reviews overall. (4.8 out of 5 with almost 1300 reviews). People generally like the "sturdiness" of it and that you "can't beat the price for this quality."
2% of reviews posted concerns like it came with a "bent handle" or "defects on the paint."
Panacea 15343 Ash Bucket with Shovel
Features
- Heavy-duty powder covered steel
- Includes shovel and a built-in shovel "holster" built
User Friendly
- Lid keeps ash from spewing all over the house and lawn.
- Wooden grip on handle makes carrying comfy!
Price
Summary:
With almost 3,000 reviews from customers who purchased this product, it earns 4.7 out of 4 rating. Most people found it "sturdy" and liked the "convenient" shovel and holder. A few people noted that it came dented from shipping and one reviewer wished the "holster" was closed so that debris didn't fall through it and onto the floor.
Though the product description doesn't actually state it, this bucket also has a raised floor which helps keep direct heat from the bottom.
Plow & Hearth Deluxe Double-Bottom Metal Fireplace Ash Bucket with Lid and Handle
Features
- 28 gauge galvanized steel with copper
- Painted copper finish
User Friendly
- Lid keeps ash from spewing all over the house and lawn.
- Wooden grip on handle makes carrying comfy!
Price
Summary:
This one is made of Galvanized Steel and Aluminum has a painted copper color finish. It comes with a lid and a handle.
With over 2,500 customer reviews it earns a 4.7 out of 5 rating. One reviewer reported that "It is really hard to find something that can handle being filled with hot coals (and doesn’t just claim to) and this exceeded my expectations." The biggest complaint came from people who ordered the black version but found the color they received was more of a gray shade.
Best carriers to haul logs
While not necessarily considered fireplace tools, many people prefer to use some sort of carrier to bring wood in from the shed to the hearth.
Most are made from heavy-duty canvas. In addition, they are either closed or open-sided.
Closed-sided helps keep wood from falling out the sides (or wood chips, which helps keep your hearth clean), but these sides limit the size of the wood that you can carry. So, if your firewood comes in consistent lengths, consider a closed-sided carrier.
Coken Large Heavy Duty Canvas Fire Wood Carry Bag
Features
- "Scratch-resistant" Canvas
- 24x12.5"
User Friendly
- Closed Sides to keep wood chips contained
- Comfortable to carry
Price
Summary:
This blue, closed-ended bag. constructed from heavy-duty canvas, measures 24x12", and has a 5-star rating.
Closed-end carriers are great for keeping material like bark and wood chips from spilling all over the hearth, for carrying smaller loads like kindling, and finally, they work great in the "off-season" as carrying bags to go to the beach or camp. (It also folds up neatly for storage!)
Zimso Canvas Log Tote Bag
Features
- 16 OZ tear-resistant and puncture-resistant waxed canvas
- 38.6 x 19.3"
- Comes with a pair of gloves!
User Friendly
- Buckle on top to secure the load!
- Padding on handle to keep straps together and provide a more comfortable grip
Price
Summary:
Open ended bags do scatter wood particles to some degree...but this can also be an advantage: it's really easy to flap it around outside and get all the debris out of there! Also, open ended bags make it easy to carry longer length logs or kindling.
Best Log Rack
So you've got the fireplace tools, a place to put ashes, and a way to carry logs. Now you need an inside place to stack all that wood for the fire!
Finding the right log rack can be tricky because with mass manufacturing, assuring quality control at a competitive price can be tough.
Many reviews of different models complained about flimsy steel, inaccurate hole-punching for screws, and misleading sizes.
So I searched to find the log holder with a sturdy stand, rugged steel, and, ultimately, the best value for the money!
DOEWORKS Heavy Duty Firewood Rack
Features
- Thicker steel tube(1.2mm), wider diameter(30mm) and double powder-coated finish increase durability and long-lasting use
- Comes with a kindling rack and free canvas log carrying bag!
User Friendly
- Assembled size is 33"L x 13"W x 30"H, stainless steel hardware included for simple assembly
Price
Summary:
This log rack boasts many positive reviews! People love its durability...in fact, a follow up review a year later said that the rack shows "virtually no signs of wear and functions perfectly!"
Best Fireplace Vacuum to Remove Ash
As I mentioned in the fireplace toolset section above, a brush or a broom is only going to get the larger ashes up off your hearth. The rest of it turns into a fine dust that powders your derriere! You will most likely want a handheld vacuum nearby to suck up that cool ash from around the room.
The 3 top-rated handheld vacuums come from Shark, Dirt-Devil, and Black and Decker.
Reviews are pretty similar from all 3, people want more suction power and longer battery life.
Since they are all similarly priced, I recommend the Black and Decker based on an average 4.5 star rating with over 58,000 reviews
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum, Cordless, 16V
Features
- Lithium Ion for long battery life
- Suction Power 15.2 AW
- Dustbowl Capacity: 20.6 ounces
User Friendly
- Lightweight (2.6 pounds)
- Clear dirt-bowl so you can see when to empty it
- Cyclonic action spins dust and debris away from the filter keeping suction strong
Price
Summary:
This vacuum touts an 88% 4 or 5 star rating with over 58,00 reviews! People love the power saying that "this relatively inexpensive replacement is a little powerhouse" and that even after 1 1/2 years the "lithium battery is still going strong." Several reviews stated that they preferred this Black and Decker model to its Red Devil counterpart. ALSO, reviewers emphasize to purchase this lithium model, (the 1410L) instead of the cheaper one because the battery is far superior.
3% of the reviews gave it 1 star...most stating that the batteries had failed. One reviewer posted this response from Amazon: "'We sell millions of these units per year and unfortunately, some did have charger issues. We have rectified it and sending replacements to customers that had the issue.'"
So there are my recommendations for your fireplace or wood stove accessories. I hope that discussing each feature helps you make the best decisions for your wood burning lifestyle!
If you've found this post helpful, feel free to comment or let me know what else would have been helpful!
FAQ
- How do I choose fireplace tools?
- Choose between price and quality. If you heat primarily with wood, spend the extra money for a more durable set.
- What tools do you need for a wood burning fireplace?
- Most tool sets come with a poker, a brush, an ash shovel, a pair or tongs and a stand.
- What should fireplace tools be made of?
- Steel or wrought iron
- Is iron or steel better for fireplace tools?
- Steel is stronger than wrought iron (and more expensive)