Comments on: How to Build an Upside-Down Fire: The Only Fireplace Method You’ll Ever Need http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/02/02/how-to-build-an-upside-down-fire/ Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:39:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Suzann Foerster http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/02/02/how-to-build-an-upside-down-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-120058 Suzann Foerster Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:37:59 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=1130#comment-120058 I just bought a house with a real fireplace and have had subpar fires to say the least. This absolutely works- I'm still glowing with pride at my accomplishment! And so is the fire! I just bought a house with a real fireplace and have had subpar fires to say the least. This absolutely works- I’m still glowing with pride at my accomplishment!
And so is the fire!

]]> By: Eric http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/02/02/how-to-build-an-upside-down-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-119401 Eric Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:28:09 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=1130#comment-119401 Forgive me if you've already answered this, but after the 3-7 hours when the fire is starting to die down, what do I to keep it going? I want to burn 24/7 but what do I do to keep the fire going once it hits that bottom layer? Or do I not let it get to the bottom layer? Thanks for your help. Forgive me if you’ve already answered this, but after the 3-7 hours when the fire is starting to die down, what do I to keep it going? I want to burn 24/7 but what do I do to keep the fire going once it hits that bottom layer? Or do I not let it get to the bottom layer?

Thanks for your help.

]]> By: Tim http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/02/02/how-to-build-an-upside-down-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-118853 Tim Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:23:13 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=1130#comment-118853 This rocks! Just stumbled upon this post looking for a better way to build a fire in my fireplace and it's blazing away as I type. I built it with two big logs and a split log on the bottom, then three smaller splits on top followed by some twigs and strips from a magazine. Since I've forever disallowed myself to use commercial starters...etc. (feels like the easy way out!!), I rolled up a brown paper bag and rubbed it with vegetable oil for the crown jewel. Burned exactly as you described!! I'll never go back to tipi again. Thanks!!!! This rocks! Just stumbled upon this post looking for a better way to build a fire in my fireplace and it’s blazing away as I type. I built it with two big logs and a split log on the bottom, then three smaller splits on top followed by some twigs and strips from a magazine. Since I’ve forever disallowed myself to use commercial starters…etc. (feels like the easy way out!!), I rolled up a brown paper bag and rubbed it with vegetable oil for the crown jewel. Burned exactly as you described!! I’ll never go back to tipi again. Thanks!!!!

]]> By: bethany http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/02/02/how-to-build-an-upside-down-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-116471 bethany Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:21:00 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=1130#comment-116471 Just tried this in my woodstove out of sheer frustration from all the time I've spent babying smoky fires. It works amazingly well, thank you! Just tried this in my woodstove out of sheer frustration from all the time I’ve spent babying smoky fires. It works amazingly well, thank you!

]]> By: Joe http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/02/02/how-to-build-an-upside-down-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-116223 Joe Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:52:33 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/?p=1130#comment-116223 I came here about two months ago and learned this new method from you. I came back today to tell you that your method is fantastic! I used to spend a ridiculous amount of time playing with my fire (in a simple, smallish fireplace) and this method is amazing. I've been experimenting to see just how little prep and material I really need for a fire, and have found that you don't need to criss-cross the wood and that a simple layer of big wood, then kindling without newspaper, will suffice. As for firestarters, so far I've used one packet of Ignite-o or one half of a Duraflame Firestart - in the past I've needed at least two to even keep the fire going. Now, as you said, I light it and forget about it - it only gets better as time goes on. Plus, the heat is more noticeable and when I throw on an additional log, it burns without my having to constantly adjust it. I bought two boxes of the artificial (Duraflame) logs for the season because I don't like fiddling with a dying fire when I have company - that's no longer the case and I haven't used one artificial log since trying this new method - thank you for a great artlcle! I came here about two months ago and learned this new method from you. I came back today to tell you that your method is fantastic! I used to spend a ridiculous amount of time playing with my fire (in a simple, smallish fireplace) and this method is amazing. I’ve been experimenting to see just how little prep and material I really need for a fire, and have found that you don’t need to criss-cross the wood and that a simple layer of big wood, then kindling without newspaper, will suffice. As for firestarters, so far I’ve used one packet of Ignite-o or one half of a Duraflame Firestart – in the past I’ve needed at least two to even keep the fire going. Now, as you said, I light it and forget about it – it only gets better as time goes on. Plus, the heat is more noticeable and when I throw on an additional log, it burns without my having to constantly adjust it. I bought two boxes of the artificial (Duraflame) logs for the season because I don’t like fiddling with a dying fire when I have company – that’s no longer the case and I haven’t used one artificial log since trying this new method – thank you for a great artlcle!

]]>