History of Fireplace Tools
June 20, 2009 by Tool Editor
Filed under Fireplace Tools
by Terri Young
Many different fireplace tools are used when it comes to building and maintaining fires in home fireplaces and each one of these tools has a different story to be told as to how they came to appear on your fireplace hearth.
This history will deal with the andiron, bellows, pokers and fireplace screens. Also included with fireplace tools are shovels, tongs, brushes but it is rather hard to determine how and when these particular tools began to be used.
To begin our discussion let's start with the definition of tool. This is a device that provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a physical task. Archeology has determined that man was using various tools from the beginning of our existence. A tool can be as simple as a stick used to poke at something to reach and move it.
Poker
With that in mind let us start our exploration of the history of fireplace tools with the poker. A poker, also known as a stoker, is a short, rigid rod, used to move the burning material in a fire. Today's fireplace pokers are usually made of metal with a point at one end for pushing burning material and a handle at the other end.
Archeology shows that we have used pokers as a fireplace tool since the Paleolithic period. This period is the prehistoric era noted for the development of the first stone tools. It covers the period from 2.5 or 2.6 million years ago until around 10,000 BC with the introduction of agriculture.
It represents the greatest portion of human time on Earth (about 99% of human history). Archeologist think that fireplace pokers were invented right after the discovery of fire (790,000 years ago) and the earliest pokers were most likely of the same material as the fuel for the fire - that is wood. At the beginning the fireplace poker, or "firestick" was probably a large branch of some type used to help keep the fire going.
Down through the ages this fireplace tool has evolved and, as other tools were used, the fireplace poker has gone in and out of favor. Up to the 17th century in England you might find only a fire fork and andirons for the fireplace but by the 19th century a fireplace poker was always used and the fire fork had almost disappeared.
The first successful mass production of pokers as a part of an entire fireplace set was designed and manufactured in Cape Girardeau, Missouri by the RL Hendrickson Manufacturing Corporation in 1898. From that time until now the poker is almost always considered a part of the assemble of fireplace tools.
"By fire-irons...the housekeeper and the ironmonger understand a fire-shovel, poker and pair of tongs. These implements were not all of them found upon the ancient hearths of this country; nor were they all necessary when wood was burned upon a fire-place.
The use of pit coal, and of close fire-places, let to the adoption of the poker now in universal requisition." Robert Hunt, A Treatise on the Progressive Improvement and Present State of the Manufactures in Metal, 1853.
Andirons
An andiron is a horizontal bar upon which logs are laid for burning in an open fireplace. Andirons usually come in pairs. They hold up the firewood so that a draft of air can pass around it and allow proper burning and less smoke. Andirons stand on short legs and are usually connected with an upright guard.
As man began to study fire and its properties in earnest it was discovered that allowing the circulation of air around the fire led to better fires. Because of this discovery andirons became more and more popular. In the 16th to 18th century AD they were also used as a rest for a roasting spit or to hold porridge.
Before the 14th century andirons were almost always forged from wrought iron and were very plain. During the period of the Italian Renaissance (14th to 17th centuries AD) many ordinary objects of the household came to the attention of artists and design and skill were used to product andirons.
The andiron reached its most artistic development under Louis XIV of France (late 1600s). The guard (the upright portion of the andiron) was elaborately ornamented. Patterns consisted of heraldic symbols, sphinxes, grotesque animals, mythological creatures and much more.
Sometimes andirons were referred to by the creature they portrayed. One example of this that continues to this day is firedog. Andirons that portrayed dogs were called firedogs. This plays on the dual meaning of the word dog (canine and inanimate holder).
In some areas firedog began to be used to refer to any andiron. In the United States andiron was once used only in the North and dog iron, firedog or just dog was used to identify andirons in the South. The Southern term is still used in that region but andiron is now used everywhere.
"Fire-lighting, however simple, is an operation requiring some skill; a fire is readily made by laying a few cinders at the bottom in open order; over this a few pieces of paper, and over that again eight or ten pieces of dry wood; over the wood, a course of moderate-sized pieces of coal, taking care to leave hollow spaces between for air at the centre; and taking care to lay the whole well back in the grate, so that the smoke may go up the chimney, and not into the room. This done, fire the paper with a match from below, and, if properly laid, it will soon burn up; the stream of flame from the wood and paper soon communicating to the coals and cinders, provided there is plenty of air at the centre." Isabella Beeton, Book of Household Management, 1861.
Bellows
The bellow is a mechanical device for creating a jet of air. It usually consists of a hinged box with flexible sides, which expands to draw air in through an inward opening value and contracts to expel the air through a nozzle.
The bellow was used extensively in medieval Europe (5th to 16th century). It was used to speed combustion for a blacksmith and later to operate pipe organs. One of the simplest and most familiar types of bellows is the manual one used with fireplaces.
The expandable chamber consists of a leather bag with pleated sides. The bag is fixed between handles to expand and contract. The inlet and outlet vents are provided with values so that air must enter through the first and leave through the second. Thus the fireplace bellows becomes a simple air pump.
When we think of fireplaces we usually think of these simple bellows. But bellows have had a major role in history. Metal smelting was not possible until after the invention of the bellows which made the fore possible.
Bellows deliver additional air to fuel and raise the rate of heat output which is needed for smelting. Around 3000 BC hand operated bellows were used for metal smelting (bronze). The first evidence of iron smelting is around 930 BC.
Though early man did not need to get their heating and cooking fires up to the temperatures needed for smelting they did discover that fireplace bellows made fire building easier. Stoking kindling with a bellow produces a hotter flame and logs start much quicker.
This is especially important when you are working with wet logs. Also, fireplace bellows were used early on to create an airstream to blow ashes out of the fireplace when cleaning.
Today fireplace bellows are still a necessary tool on the fireplace hearth. It is also a tool that many people like to design and make on their own. Many bellows are made out of beautiful wood and can have very intricate designs creating an elegant object on display by the fire.
Fireplace Screens
Though there is no exact date for when fireplace screens came into use we do know that they were first a form of furniture that shielded individuals from any excess heat that was coming from a log burning fireplace.
Early fireplace screens usually were shaped as flat panels standing on attached feet, or as adjustable shield-shaped panels mounted on tripod table legs.
Today's fireplace screens come in many decorative designs and are made out of metal, glass or wire mesh and are placed in front of the fireplace to protect the room from flying embers that may come from the fire. Sometimes they are used to cover the fireplace when not in use to make the area more decorative.
Whatever fireplace tool you use to help you build and maintain your fire, know that there is a long history behind each one of those fireplace tools and centuries of use has gone into perfecting the tool in your hand. And remember that in modern society fire has evolved from providing necessary heat and cooking to a symbol of warmth and love shared by all that gather are the fireplace hearth.
Terri Young
terri.young@ToolsForFireplaces.com
Fireplace Tools at ToolsForFireplaces.com
Fireplace Tools, Fireplace Screens, Fireplace Accessories
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terri_Young
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Extra Hard Cutting Tool Materials
June 20, 2009 by Tool Editor
Filed under Cutting Tools
by Neo Caring
Ultra hard materials are the result of modern research and development. The last century witnessed extra ordinary growth in many fields of science and technology including material science. The latest developments in science and technology resulted in the use of very hard materials in mechanical, automobile and aviation fields.
This in turn resulted in the development of new ultra hard cutting materials to machine these parts. Beside carbide cutting tools several other ultra hard materials like ceramic, polycrystalline diamond (PCD), monocrystalline diamond (MCD-natural diamond), diamond coatings on cutting tools, synthetic monocrystalline diamonds as well as polycrystalline cubic boron nitrite are developed.
Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) Polycrystalline diamond plates are manufactured by high temperature and high pressure process where the diamond coating is directly combined with a carbide support. Polycrystalline diamond is made by sintering of high quality diamond powder with metallic binder.
Depending upon the application polycrystalline diamond materials are available in various grain sizes. For example the diamond with rough grain sizes are used for making cutting tools with excellent wear resistance due to its ability to retain cutting edge for a longer period. Incase you need very high surface finish on machines parts, then ultra micro grain sizes are highly preferred.
Medium grain sizes are used for general all purpose cutting tools since it is a balance between high wear resistance of rough grain size and superior finish of ultra micro grains. This makes the medium grain sized polycrystalline diamond as an excellent ultra hard material for manufacturing high quality metal cutting tools.
Natural Diamonds Mono crystalline diamond (MKD) is natural diamond out of pure carbon. These natural diamonds enable the production of geometric defined flutes with absolutely notch free flutes. Natural diamond (MKD) is on of the ultra hard materials which is suitable for achieving very high surface finishes for mirror bright surfaces, machining of non-ferrous materials, micro machining and machining of titanium without burr.
Synthetic Monocrystalline Diamond Further research and development resulted in synthetic mono crystalline diamonds which are available in triangles and rectangles with an edge length of approximately 8mm. The natural diamonds often contains nitrogen and the it could have varying hardness and thermal conductivity.
Whereas the synthetic monocrystalline diamonds have uniform structure with constant thermal conductivity and less internal stress. Today synthetic monocrystalline diamonds are being produced in various shapes and sizes which offers great application possibilities of this ultra hard material in future.
Researches have found considerable improvements in synthetic monocrystalline tool life, improved surface finish and constant wear behavior compared to other ultra hard materials like PCD and natural diamond.
Diamond Film Coating (CVD Process) Diamond film coatings are done to improve the surface hardness of cutting tools. Generally diamond film coatings can be classified into two. The thin diamond film coating with a layer thickness of approximately 5-20 microns and thick diamond film coating with a layer thickness of approximately 0.5mm. Higher thermal and chemical stability and ultra surface hardness are the advantages of diamond film coating.
Low fracture toughness is the disadvantage of of diamond film coatings. And compared to polycrystalline diamonds no binder is used while producing diamond film coatings which causes higher splintery fracture. Diamond film coated ultra hard materials are best suitable for machining of aluminium alloys with high silicium contents as well as graphite and carbon. Tests show very good use of diamond coated tools in machining plastics, gold alloys and wood machining.
Polycrystalline Cubic Born Nitrite (CBN) Polycrystalline Cubic Born Nitrite is the hardest cutting material after ultra hard materials like ceramics and diamond. CNB is manufactured by a sinter process of high temperature and pressure using selected particles of Cubic Born Nitrite.
Depending on various cutting applications polycrystalline cubic born nitrite are available with with different binder phases as well as in fine, medium and rough grain structure. CNB is an ultra hard material with excellent thermal stability up to 1200°. Polycrystalline Cubic Born Nitrite with low cbn contents is mainly used in precision machining of hardened steel and other hard ferrous materials.
About the Author
Neo is a qualified tooling engineer with more than 10 years experience in the field of tooling. You can find more information on tooling in his metal stamping website which also provides detailed information on cutting tools and machines.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neo_Caring
http://EzineArticles.com/?Extra-Hard-Cutting-Tool-Materials&id=378635
Get Bulk Discounts With Wholesale Tools
June 19, 2009 by Tool Editor
Filed under Wholesale Tools
Wholesale tools are those tools purchased in quantity. Wholesale purchases usually imply a discount, due to the large quantity being purchased. Another reason the price of wholesale items is lower is because they are usually bought by retailers.
Retail outlets mark up the price and sell the tools to the public, while collecting sales tax. Depending on the location, sometimes wholesale tool purchases have no sales tax applied. The wholesale items are not taxed until they are sold to the public.
Who buys tools in wholesale quantities? Those chains of large scale home improvement stores do. Tools are one of their main products. It is the ability to sell tools, as well as the raw materials used with the tools, that make these wholesalers so convenient.
Sometimes the wholesaler's discounts are so large that the home improvement store can pass some of the savings on to the customers. Stores can purchase wood and building materials in wholesale quantities as well, making such stores all the more popular with customers.
Construction companies buy tools in wholesale quantities. When it is necessary to outfit multiple construction crews for multiple products, buying tools wholesale makes sense.
The correct quantities of tools can be obtained from a single source for a large discount. In addition to the tools, construction companies buy lumber, nails, and concrete for wholesale discounts too. Low wholesale costs for materials mean bigger profits.
Factories also purchase tools at wholesale rates. This is especially true of new factories that need to equip a fresh workforce quickly and cheaply. These don't have to be hand tools.
The wholesale tool purchases can include cutting tools, lathes, automatic saws, conveyors and transporters, and any other pieces of equipment needed to make their products. Once again, low equipment prices can lead to more profitable operations.
You don't have to be a corporation to benefit from buying tools wholesale. As stated previously, some of these companies pass on their tools' wholesale savings to their individual customers.
All you have to do is walk in and tell the clerk what you need. Whether you need one wrench or one thousand, you can still benefit from the discounts on wholesale tools.
Use Cutting Tools For Precision Metalworking
June 19, 2009 by Tool Editor
Filed under Cutting Tools
When most people hear the phrase cutting tools, they think of scissors, knives, and saws. Those are certainly tools that cut. That is true for everyone except metalworkers, however. In metalworking, a cutting tool is a specialized tool used to mill, machine, or shape metal parts. These cutting implements are often specialized drill bits that turn at high rates of speed to cut away the metal.
A cutting tool works on metal much as a woodworker uses a router to shape the edge of a board by cutting away material with the routing bit. In the case of a cutting tool, however, the process creates metal shavings rather than wood chips. There are three important characteristics to metal cutting bits and tools.
The first necessary property of tools used for metal cutting is that they must move very fast. A drill must spin quickly to make holes in wood. The metal cutting bit must also spin very quickly in order to remove the desired amount of metal. Metal is much harder than wood, so the cutting tool must be strong too. Spinning the cutting bit very rapidly creates more shear force through which the tool removes the metal.
Next, tools used for metal cutting must be harder than what they are cutting. That seems rather obvious, but it is essential. If you try to cut a metal bar with a saw meant for wood, all you will do is wear down the saw teeth. In effect, the metal bar would be cutting the saw! If the metal to be cut is extremely hard, the cutting tool can be artificially hardened by adding coatings of carbide or even industrial diamonds.
Finally, metal cutting tools must be kept cool during the machining process. As you might imagine, metal on metal friction creates a great deal of heat. This heat is intense enough to melt the cutting tool, the metal object, or both, especially at high cutting speeds. Special cutting oils and lubricants are sprayed onto the cutting bit as it works, reducing the temperature and also removing metal shavings.
Unless you are a metalworker, you will likely not need a specialized cutting tool to machine metal parts. These hardworking cutting bits shape many of the metal items you use each day. Cutting tools will give precision cuts as long as they are appropriate to the metal being cut, used at the correct cutting speed, and are cooled as they work.
Advice on How to Choose the Best Cordless Tools in Todays Crowded Marketplace
June 18, 2009 by Tool Editor
Filed under Cordless Tools
by Rickie Bell
The indispensable cordless tools, how did we ever get along without them? If your cordless tools are more than a few years old maybe it is time to take a look at the new breed of tools available. The most noticeable advancements have been in the battery life, charging time, ergonomics, and torque.
If your cordless tools are more than a few years old, maybe you should consider taking a look at what's new in the market. Over the years it's been my experience that when it comes to cordless tools, you actually get what you pay for! This does not mean you need to purchase the most expensive tool on the shelf.
So maybe you have decided to take a look for yourself? There are many factors to consider when it comes to cordless tools. Will it be used all day long or only once in a blue moon? If you are a homeowner and only use cordless tools around the house for minor projects and repairs, there is no need to buy the top of the line tools. However as I stated before you actually get what you pay for, with this in mind I would strongly recommend staying away from the cheaper tools.
Let's just pretend you are driving past the local Mega-lumber/roofing/tool store when you suddenly remember you have been wanting to stop in and check out a new cordless drill. You arrive in the tool aisle and you see a 25 ft. long shelf, three levels deep, with nothing but cordless drills.
Aqua blue, black, bright orange, light green, putrid green, red, yellow, amongst others which I can not identify. Where does a person start? Here are a few ideas to help get you started. Ask your dad, brother, brother-in-law, co-worker, father-in-law, or local handyman. Still do not have an answer, then please read on.
Battery strength is one of the most important factors when choosing any cordless tool. Be wary when evaluating battery strength, higher voltage batteries are not always the best. The type of battery plays a big factor in how the drill will perform over a period of time Nick-Cad (Good), Lithium-Ion (Best). Amp/hr is where the cheaper tools fall on their face 1.4 (bad) 2.4 (good).
Chuck size is another factor in determining the purchase of a cordless drill. For the average homeowner a 3/8" should be fine, however for heavier work a 1/2" drill should be considered.
Torque means how hard can the drill twist, the higher the better.
Weight of the drill can actually give you a good idea of how well its built, after all, steel gears are heavier than plastic ones.
Color can also tell you quite a bit about a drill, specifically, where it is manufactured. Aqua blue (Switzerland), red (Czech), yellow (Mexico), and sometimes the name will even give it away, Nissan etc.
Aqua blue is my color of choice. I realize there is no comparison between a watch and a cordless drill, but by the same token, there is no comparison between a Swiss watch and a Chinese watch either. I purchased a cordless tool combo-kit of the 18-volt aqua blue variety in the late summer of 2006.
The bag contained a quick 30 minute charger, two 2.4 amp/hr batteries, sawzall, circular saw, flashlight, drill, and a jigsaw. I took it home and fully charged the batteries as the manufacturer recommended. Within a couple of days I had to drive approximately 1,500 3" screws in treated lumber.
My new aqua blue drill performed this task with room to spare, something that would have sucked the blood out of my yellow drill. As of this writing I have no complaints about my aqua blue tools, and would recommend them to everyone.
As far as I know there are no longer any cordless tools manufactured in America and until such a time my hat is off to the Swiss and aqua blue! http://www.carpentry-pro-framer.com
About the author:
The author of this article has 28 years experience working in the highly competitive housing market of the west and southwest suburbs of Chicago as a carpenter. Most of his experience is in the high end custom home marketplace, including all aspects of fine homebuilding, from footings to ridge cap. More information is available at this website.