What are andirons made of?
Andirons and fire dogs are devices made of metal and (rarely) ceramic which support the firewood. They normally stand upon short legs and are usually connected with an upright guard. The guard keeps the logs in the fireplace as they burn and settle.
What were fireplace andirons used for?
Andirons, a pair of horizontal iron bars on short legs and placed parallel to the sides of the fireplace to support burning logs, were used from the Iron Age. A vertical guard bar at the front, placed to prevent logs from rolling into the rooms, is often decorated ornately.
What are firedogs?
What are firedogs, and why do we need them? Traditionally, a pair of firedogs were used to hold up the andiron, the horizontal bar that supports the logs in an open fire. The andiron is held above the ground to allow the air to circulate around the fire.
How do you restore andirons?
Dip the emery cloth in cooking oil and rub in one direction, not round and round, and when it is clean polish it with a Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloth. Try a piece of lemon dipped in salt, or hot vinegar and salt, to remove corrosion from brass.
How do you use antique andirons?
How To Use Andirons
- Place the andirons parallel to each other with the horizontal pieces facing in toward the fire and the vertical pieces at the front.
- Pile tinder and kindling on the floor of the fireplace between the andirons.
What is the definition of andirons?
Definition of andiron : either of a pair of metal supports for firewood used on a hearth and made of a horizontal bar mounted on short legs with usually a vertical shaft surmounting the front end.
How do I place my andirons in my fireplace?
How do you clean old brass andirons?
How do you clean rusty andirons?
Start off with a wire brush to remove surface dirt and rust. Next, wipe down with white vinegar, which helps kill the spores that cause the rust. Next, using a wire wheel on a drill and/or steel wool, polish the iron to get it as clean as possible. Wipe down with vinegar again and let it dry fully.
How tall should andirons be?
The rule of thumb for andiron height is one-half to three-quarters of the height of the fireplace opening, but this isn’t written in stone. It is only common sense that a large fireplace requires larger fittings; they will look better and can handle the larger-size logs you will be burning.
Should you polish antique brass?
Sometimes the beauty of an antique brass object is its tarnish, in which case Sorenson recommends leaving it alone. “Oftentimes it’s best to forgo the polishing process altogether,” he says, noting that polishing antiques could significantly reduce their value.
Can you use WD-40 on fireplace doors?
WD40 is also great for polishing metal fireplaces and/or slate hearths. 6. Unvarnished wooden surrounds can be cared for in the same way as wooden furniture, but as the heat from fires dries the wood out you’ll need to feed it with polish more often than for furniture.
Will mineral spirits remove rust?
Wipe clean with a rag, and keep applying clean mineral spirits until all of the dirt, wax and rust have been removed. 5. Apply a light coat of oil (machine oil is fine) over the entire metal surface. Wipe off excess.
What does Descry mean in the Bible?
descry \dih-SKRYE\ verb. 1 : to catch sight of.