I have a gas fire with artificial coals - think it is called a Decorative flame effect fire. It is probably about 20 years old, as that seems to be the age of everything in my flat!

I decided to clean the coals today, as a bird had come down the chimney leaving them all covered in stuff from the chimney. Big mistake as now the gas ignites ok, but doesn't spread around the coals. There is a bed of sand, and I'm not sure if I should have the coals covering the sand round the ignition point or not? I guess the problem is I don't really understand how these things work - is it the coal or the sand which causes the flames to ignite? Does it make a big difference how I arrange the coals?

The bed of sand is actually "Vellicumite" and yes, if you don't put back the "coals" in the correct order you will lose the flame pattern and in the worse case direct the flames downwards destroying your fire, wiring etc.

Are you drunk Melboy?

It's 'Vermiculite'.

"Vermiculite is the mineralogical name given to hydrated laminar magnesium-aluminum-ironsilicate which resembles mica in appearance."

What a mouthfull that would be,

lee

I don't think the flames ever went in the correct pattern as the flames at the right hand side were usually scarily large, but I asked the advice of the man in the local living flame fire shop, and I'm pretty confident I've got them back in the correct order now, several hours later!

In fact, the fire goes on much easier than it ever did before and I'm pretty sure the flames aren't being directed downwards!

thanks for your help melboy

quote:

Originally posted by lee33:
Are you drunk Melboy?

It's 'Vermiculite'.

"Vermiculite is the mineralogical name given to hydrated laminar magnesium-aluminum-ironsilicate which resembles mica in appearance."

What a mouthfull that would be,

lee

The man in the shop told me that they can't get this anymore as the makers of my fire went bust a couple of years ago - was he just telling me any old rubbish?

I know they sell it in Wilko's as a soil aditive to aid drainage in potplants. Don't know if it is the same grade though.



lee

quote:

Originally posted by lee33:
Are you drunk Melboy?

It's 'Vermiculite'.

"Vermiculite is the mineralogical name given to hydrated laminar magnesium-aluminum-ironsilicate which resembles mica in appearance."

What a mouthfull that would be,

lee

I wish I was drunk! No it's my spelling I am afraid and State Edyoocation that is to blame! Must sharpen up or I will have Her Majesty after me!
Fireplace Shops still sell it and it is freely available by the bag.

Don’t worry Melboy, lee33 just did a cut and paste job from this page .

It wasn't that page actually, but did you notice that I placed the words in inverted commas? which means I was quoting someone. I never claimed to know the full name.

lee

But when quoting someone else’s writing, isn’t it usual to at least mention the author? Otherwise it just looks like “emphasis” .

Nice one beecher on getting your fire back in order

I've got visions of you sat next to your fire arranging all the coals like a Rubix cube to get the right flame pattern

quote:

Originally posted by phugoid:
But when quoting someone else’s writing, isn’t it usual to at least mention the author? Otherwise it just looks like “emphasis” .

No. It wasn't necessary. I would use single inverted commas for 'emphasis'. Quotation marks are for quoting another source.

Beside that, I only quoted the name of the substance, not someone elses work.

lee

quote:

Originally posted by TRISHWISH:
Nice one beecher on getting your fire back in order

I've got visions of you sat next to your fire arranging all the coals like a Rubix cube to get the right flame pattern

When you fit these fires you always leave the booklet with the customer and say to them if you must disturb the coals they must go back in the order shown in the book or you will damage the fire. The number of times we have been called back and it's as plain as yer nose on yer face that someone has been meddling with the coals and put them back incorrectly.
Why this happens is an absolute mystery to me because I have one of these Living Flame Gas-Fires and it has no need to be fiddled with and it hasn't been in over 6 years!
Mel.

quote:

Originally posted by TRISHWISH:
Nice one beecher on getting your fire back in order

I've got visions of you sat next to your fire arranging all the coals like a Rubix cube to get the right flame pattern

It was about like that, and I quickly had soot all over my face today so I'm glad I was alone in the flat

quote:

Originally posted by MELBOY:
When you fit these fires you always leave the booklet with the customer and say to them if you must disturb the coals they must go back in the order shown in the book or you will damage the fire. The number of times we have been called back and it's as plain as yer nose on yer face that someone has been meddling with the coals and put them back incorrectly.
Why this happens is an absolute mystery to me because I have one of these Living Flame Gas-Fires and it has no need to be fiddled with and it hasn't been in over 6 years!
Mel.

Well, in my defence the previous owner left no booklets.

How else could I have cleaned all the soot off the coals, and cleared away the debris dropped by the bird from the coals without "meddling"?

What I do when I meddle with things is to take a few digital pictures first. If I get stuck - I've got it to refer to.


lee

quote:

Originally posted by lee33:
What I do when I meddle with things is to take a few digital pictures first. If I get stuck - I've got it to refer to.


lee

I actually did that - but then I remembered I'm crap at jigsaw puzzles and it didn't help

anyway, I sorted it in the end, so it isn't really a big drama.

I've just covered my tomato and pepper seeds in vermiculite, as recommended by Monty Don .

glad you got it sorted out beecher.

quote:

Originally posted by beecher:

quote:

Originally posted by MELBOY:
When you fit these fires you always leave the booklet with the customer and say to them if you must disturb the coals they must go back in the order shown in the book or you will damage the fire. The number of times we have been called back and it's as plain as yer nose on yer face that someone has been meddling with the coals and put them back incorrectly.
Why this happens is an absolute mystery to me because I have one of these Living Flame Gas-Fires and it has no need to be fiddled with and it hasn't been in over 6 years!
Mel.

Well, in my defence the previous owner left no booklets.

How else could I have cleaned all the soot off the coals, and cleared away the debris dropped by the bird from the coals without "meddling"?

Wasn't getting at you personally beecher I am referring to Customers who have had their fires personally fitted by us and anywhere from 6 Months to 2 years they would phone up and say they have a problem with the fire.
If your fire is as old as you say, 20 years, then I would think the ceramic coals are close to knackered anyway------unless they have been replaced of course!
Mel.