How to light a fire - and keep it alight!

[Hoppy2008]

After the thread showing the very nice log burner, it got me thinking.
I have an open fire place and I love to use it. The thing is, I have no luck in getting it "roaring".

I start off with a few bits of kindling and fire lighters, and once the kindling is burning nicely, I put on some logs (always make sure theyre dry when I buy them from the Village DIY shop).
The logs start to burn, but always seem to go out and im left with a charred log.
I want to be able to get it so hot and roaring that I can just keep putting extra logs on, and then when its done, I'll just be left with a pile of ash?!?!
Can anyone sdvise me?
Cheers
Hopppy

[whitechief]

Try using some coal to get it going, then put some logs on.

[cottonfoo]

Sounds like you need more surface area. Are the logs large? Chop them in half length-ways.

[Hoppy2008]

whitechief said:

Try using some coal to get it going, then put some logs on.

Thanks.
Normal coal?

[Freddie von Rost]

Get your chimney checked as it may be partially blocked, sooted up or have another problem. If the wood you burn is dry there should not not be a problem. Put your logs on to the kindling the moment you have lit the paper.

[Hoppy2008]

cottonfoo said:

Sounds like you need more surface area. Are the logs large? Chop them in half length-ways.

Thanks.
I usually start with small logs, about 8"long x 4" daimeter.
Do you think this is too big, or too small?

[rhinochopig]

Ask scirocology

[Mc Lovin]

rhinochopig said:

Ask scirocology

[_daveR]

Are you putting big logs on top of the kindling? This might be your issue.

Get an axe (always good fun!) and split some of them up, kindling, split logs then full logs should see you right. Keep it loaded up at the start too and then once it's all going well just top it up every now and then.

[Hoppy2008]

Freddie von Rost said:

Get your chimney checked as it may be partially blocked, sooted up or have another problem. If the wood you burn is dry there should not not be a problem. Put your logs on to the kindling the moment you have lit the paper.

Thanks Freddie.
I have been at the house for 4 years and not once had the chimney checked!
Sounds like I should do this first!

[Crusoe]

Fire needs more oxygen by the sound of it, either that or your wood is wet or you don't have enough heat for logs that are too big. Try building it up with gaps underneath by crossing the wood over each other to leave plenty of air. Vary the size from tightly rolled bits of paper to twigs then bigger sticks and then one larger log on top once it's really going. Might be a vent you can open or the front of the grating you can take off to let more air in. Might need a chimney swept too.

[Hoppy2008]

_daveR said:

Are you putting big logs on top of the kindling? This might be your issue.

Get an axe (always good fun!) and split some of them up, kindling, split logs then full logs should see you right. Keep it loaded up at the start too and then once it's all going well just top it up every now and then.

Thanks Dave, ill give this a go.
So basically, I SHOULD be able to get a roaring fire, like you see in the films?

[Shaw Tarse]

Mc Lovin said:

rhinochopig said:

Ask scirocology

Or his wife?

[BoRED S2upid]

Surface area of the logs, helps if they are at an angle not just thrown on. Also goal is a must even if its just a small amount at the base of the fire they heat from just a few pieces of coal gets the wood roaring a treat.

Oh and to light it don't bother with kindling and paper like old Ray Mears half a firelighter will get a dry log going.

[Hoppy2008]

Crusoe said:

Fire needs more oxygen by the sound of it, either that or your wood is wet or you don't have enough heat for logs that are too big. Try building it up with gaps underneath by crossing the wood over each other to leave plenty of air. Vary the size from tightly rolled bits of paper to twigs then bigger sticks and then one larger log on top once it's really going. Might be a vent you can open or the front of the grating you can take off to let more air in. Might need a chimney swept too.

Cheers Crusoe, Ill give it a go.

[Hoppy2008]

BoRED S2upid said:

Surface area of the logs, helps if they are at an angle not just thrown on. Also goal is a must even if its just a small amount at the base of the fire they heat from just a few pieces of coal gets the wood roaring a treat.

Oh and to light it don't bother with kindling and paper like old Ray Mears half a firelighter will get a dry log going.

Cheers B2S.

Its getting to the stage where Im using a whole big bag of kindling each time I light the fker.
I may as well bow to the pressure of er indoors and put the central heating on

[Snoggledog]

You're either packing the logs in too close together so the heat can't get into them or the logs that you're throwing on are too big.

Could also be a blocked chimney as has been suggested or possibly not enough air getting into the fire.

[fatboy b]

I use a couple of fire-lighters to light 3 or 4 compressed sawdust pellets (about 3" dia X 3" long), these in turn build up the heat required to sustain log burning.

[chevykevv]

Have you got a good airflow under the logs? i.e. a grill / grate.

Do clean the chimney, you don't want problems there.

[tonyvid]

fatboy b said:

I use a couple of fire-lighters to light 3 or 4 compressed sawdust pellets (about 3" dia X 3" long), these in turn build up the heat required to sustain log burning.

Yep, those heatlog things are a good way of really getting things going, try breaking a couple into bits first.