Quick FYIs for anybody with a wood burning fireplace-
First- there is a fireplace tool that you probably haven't heard of, but definitely need-
'The Dollar Store Chinese Spider Strainer"
Turns out, this little item is PERFECT for clearing out ASH, but it ALSO perfect for separating out small pieces of charcoal and unburnt wood to go back into the fire.
Second- you can avoid getting ash all over the place when cleaning out fireplace ash by sifting the ash (using the Spider-Strainer) into a 5 gallon bucket full of water.
Third - the wood ash + water mixture will settle out. This gives you raw lye-water and raw cement-paste
Pouring off the lye-water and mixing with kitchen fat (bacon drippings, beef tallow) makes soap. https://youtu.be/ZuzCD7EP1ZM
Re-firing the ash-solids left after the pour-off makes traditional wood-ash cement. https://youtu.be/DP0t2MmOMEA (enable 'closed captions' to read a narration of what each step is doing.
I have a griddle and bbq hooked up to a 3/4 line (1/2" to each one). BBQ works as it should but the griddle, which requires an inline regulator, does not work (zero gas to unit) with the regulator installed. I have tried it both directions. However, when I take off the regulator, the griddle gets too much gas so if I want to use it, I barely have to turn it on. Not the safest, I know. When I take the flex off of the regulator, gas comes out but I can't figure out why the pressure out of the regulator is not enough to send up to the griddle which is two feet away. Obviously, if no gas came out of the regulator, I would say that would be my culprit. Does anyone have a suggestion as to why the regulator is preventing the griddle from getting gas? Read More
We just built a new addition with a bump out for a propane fireplace. As you can see in this picture, the entire bump out and hearth have zip system sheathing for the floor.
[img]https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/640x481/hearth1_ab1d5f0cca7bdc7108afaf94393666e77d815e68.jpg[/img]
Now that the fireplace has been installed there are 2 issues which come to light regarding the top of the hearth.
First, can the hearth cap stone be mortared onto zip system sheathing? There is not enough space to attach cement board over the sheathing and then fit 1" stone.
If the answer to my first question is no, my next thought was to remove the sheathing right up to the stove (this will be a challenge), and replace it with cement board. In this scenario the cement board will be affixed directly to the hearth framing. Can the cement board withstand the weight of somebody sitting on he hearth without sheathing underneath?
[img]https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/640x481/hearth2_76721d10aa22c1a26e4d20d2eb885e76bffaabde.jpg[/img]
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02-14-23, 04:30 AM
