[flitecontrol]

It looks like an anode, but I too live in an all electric home and don't have anything like that. Having lived in the Midwest, and seen the effects dry heated air has on furniture, especially in the winter when the humidity is already low, is it some sort of humidifier? We had a fuel oil heater in Iowa. It had a humidifier that added moist air to the heated air.

 

[Emil]

You're getting much closer. It does have to do with heating my home. But water has nothing to do with it.
The bottom of the unit has a ceramic block in it.

 

[Emil]

I have a fireplace
That should be a strong enough clue to solve this one.

 

[rickybug]

A bed warmer?

 

[Emil]

Well... It does end up settling in "a bed".....

 

[01-7700]

methinks your electric-only house has more than electrics only

 

[Emil]

If you count the fireplace, then yes. Otherwise, no.

 

[01-7700]

i would count the fireplace as non electric if its fuel source isn't electrons

 

[Emil]

Want to see a picture of it in use? I'm using it right now.

I took a few pictures for future clarification, if needed.

 

[01-7700]

yes

 

[Emil]

Fuel oil/kerosene is put into it. Then it's placed under the kindling & wood. It burns for about 20 minutes on ½ cup.
No more paper/cardboard necessary!

 

[Emil]

If I had NG or LPG I'd probably have set up that kind of system to start it. But, this way is quick & easy.

I have a few others that I've recently found. But, if someone else has something, go ahead & put one up.

 

[Emil]

Well....
How about this one. I used to do some contracting work years ago, & some tools just save so much time. This one is no exception. I've added close up pics of both ends to help this one along.
The new ones have an entirely fiberglass handle for possible electrical problems.
This one is old school, back when almost everyone thought about what was around oneself before starting any work.

 

[flitecontrol]

I'm a confessed fireplace snob. Using liquid fuel in a fireplace is sacrilege! A small piece of heart pine (a.k.a., fatwood) placed under dry kindling and a single match is all anyone should need.

 

[Emil]

I ran out of pieces of "dinosaur tree" (Wollemi pine/that's what I've been told they are), that I'd pruned off in the spring. [I know that they aren't supposed to grow in my zone (6a) but they do quite well!] I only started using this afterwards.
But, normally, yes, I too would not extol the use of such a lazy mans tool. I've just had so much going on these last several months.
Trying to fix up the old house to sell, helping care for my mom, (she died last Monday), & the like.
Sometimes things that simplify life a little bit can help out more than the physical person.

 

[01-7700]

Sorry for your loss Emil.

I use something similar to start my woodstove after the kindling runs out.

 

[Emil]

Thank you.
I have always felt the same about the total gas "fireplaces" & even worse about the electric ones.
Those gas powered starters, I didn't care for until I also ran out of most of my kindling. Then I envied them.
This gives a method of lighting, which when used, only burns for up to 20 minutes, like said above, is helpful.

Any thoughts on the latest tool posted?

 

[01-7700]

I'm thinking it is used to light the pilot flame on a gas furnace?

It's nice to be able to light a match and walk away from the fireplace / woodstove knowing it will get going without too much extra fiddling.

 

[flitecontrol]

Emil, I'm sorry to hear of your mother's passing.

I should have used more than an emoji to let folks know in my previous post that my tongue was firmly in my cheek when I wrote it. When the firewood itself is damp, the resin filled wood and kindling aren't nearly enough to dry it out and get it to burn. That was the case this year when I used trees that had been cut and were left lying for firewood. I thought they were dry, but they'd soaked up moisture from the ground. I used a butane torch to get things going.

 

[Emil]

Thanks.

The dark red dinosaur pine is ready to go almost immediately after cutting. 1-2 weeks & it is so dry that it does seem that a single match can light an 1½ branch. Not sappy wood at all. So I thought that your point wasn't to far from the actual truth.