If you have a fire place or insert with a removable thick steel smoke tray (a piece in the top of the firebox that catches flying cinders before they can go up the flue or that's there to redirect the air flow), it is not wise to try to pick it up even with thick leather gauntlets if it is displaced and falls into the red hot coals. Especially if the fire has been burning long enough to produce those red hot coals.
Now, those leather gauntlets--full thickness of a steer's hide--may allow you to pick up a burning log as advertised, but they are not--repeat NOT sufficient to pick up a piece of steel that may be several hundreds of degrees in temperature and, perhaps, just shy of glowing.
I now know this for a fact as attested to by the second degree burns on my right index and middle fingers.
That is all.
3 comments:
Ouch! If you're going to do that, visit your local fire department supply store & buy some nomex turnout gloves - pigskin, kevlar backs, and thermal barrier. I use mine for reaching into fires & rearranging the logs. It's always good for horrified looks on others' faces. Heh.
But ... oww!
metal tongs were made for what? now for your next trick, put your tounge on the freezer..........lol
Ever try to pick up a piece of steel 3/8 inch thick and measuring 6" by 18" with one set of tongs? No can do!
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