Note: not all the fire irons listed would be carried at once, only the ones needed: Below is a list of different types of fire iron that would typically be carried aboard a locomotive during operation. A fireman will employ various fire irons in order to clean the fire, whilst the locomotive stands. If these waste products are allowed to build up in the fire, there would be an adverse effect on the performance of the locomotive. In Japan, traditional fire-tending device for a Japanese brazier ( hibachi) is a pair of long metal chopsticks, called hibashi ( 火箸, fire chopsticks), used to pick up and manipulate the charcoal.Īs a steam locomotive runs, by-products are produced by the coal fire such as ash and clinker. Many fireplace sets also include a small broom for sweeping up ash. Other fire irons include the fire rake (not to be confused with the firefighter's tool), fire tongs and fire shovel. Ī slice bar has a flatter tip and can be used to stir up the fire or to clear the grates of ashes. Brass is a more expensive alternative for a home poker set. Iron is the most popular metal from which the pokers are wrought. A fireplace poker is usually metal and has a point at one end for pushing burning materials (or a hook for pulling/raking, or a combination) and a handle at the opposite end, sometimes with an insulated grip. These tools make it possible to handle a fire without risk of burns or blisters.Ī fireplace poker (also known as a fire iron) is a short, rigid rod made of fireproof material used to adjust coal and wood fuel burning in a fireplace, and can be used to stir up a fire. There are three types of tools commonly used to tend a small fire, such as an indoor fireplace fire or yule log: the spade, the tongs and the poker itself.

Freshly forged iron fireplace pokers.Ī fire iron is any metal instrument for tending a fire.

JSTOR ( January 2017) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī fancy brass fireplace poker.

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Brass fireplace poker set