Rayburn - I would love this!

[Merry]

Cor! Nostalgia looms
We had a solid fuel Rayburn in the kitchen when I were a lass.
Thing was - my Dad was a miner and got ten tons (non metric) of concessionary coal a year.
Some of it was such rubbish we just threw it on the fire! (sorry - old mining joke! )
Anyway, I just googled `Rayburn` to see how much they cost nowadays.
FLIPPIN` `ECK!!!
Sorry, didn`t mean to shout.

[baldowrie]

Stonehead

The modern oil Rayburns are more fuel efficient, but they need electricity to run.

Yes they do but an advantage is that they only heat up in 30 mins, or just under, from cold and the water heater/heating burner only fires up when the temperature or timer call for it, so not continuously burning.

Although I will add as it's my main cooking facility if I didn't have the solid fuel range or my colour gas cooker in the caravan I would buy one of these small gas one or tow ring stoves. I do actually keep one in the car for that cuppa on my travels. Well you need a cuppa when out and about

[Daisy's Mum]

Having just recently bought one myself, I think that the best piece of advice is what type will work best for you. It all really depends on your circumstances.

Our friends thought we were mad when we bought ours (try your local ads paper we viewed one for £50 (v. rough) and bought ours for £100 which is emmaculate And black and cream does that make it less desirable? Anyway a hell of a lot cheaper than ebay)

Seeings as how we heat the house using a woodburner it woud be folly for us to use any other sort of fuel, but following the arrival of DD we decided to go for a rayburner so that we could run some heat up to her room, which is the coldest part of the house, two external walls and the least sun during the day.

We are in the very lucky situation of having a friend who manages an estate and we can take as much free wood as we want, we even get to saw and split it there so we don't have to take any of the mess with us!
I know that not everyne is in this postion so you have to consider what will work for you.

x

[Stonehead]

Some of it was such rubbish we just threw it on the fire! (sorry - old mining joke! )

Glad to see old mining jokes are the same the world over!

My grandad went down the mines at 13 and the uncle I mentioned earlier was a coal miner for decades - until he was crushed in a pit collapse and retired. His son was also a miner but gave up after he was trapped in a cab in the dark in another roof collapse.

My brother-in-law worked in gold and lead mines, but has now decided it's safer topside.

[red]

For every good experience, there's a bad one and vice versa! An aunt and uncle of mine had a solid-fuel Rayburn in their kitchen back in Oz, and it never went out from first frost to last.

well we led differnt lives then.. such as going away for the occasional weekend,, and both out to work all the time. if you are at home to tend it, then you can riddle and refuel. my (then) husband used to have to cycle home at lunch time to refuel it!

the other pricey factor was we were in a smokeless zone back then, so had to burn anthracite... which cost lots

I have lived with LPG gas for years.. and its always comparable to costs as oil -(ie deadly expensive) the other problem is you have to get it delivered. often the gas lorry would not come.. we ran out on 2 occasions.. and very nearly at Christmas. now we are on town gas.. yay

but yeh.. an eye on the futre when gas is expensive or unavailable.. and I suspect you wont be able to get a solid fuel model for love or money.

[HILLDREAMER90]

Ive got an ancient rayburn,was here when we moved in, its a no3 the instruction book was printed in 1952 !! there are no fire bricks left in it,i just keep adding firecement,no c h,but gallons hot water & keeps the damp at bay & the water tank warms my bedroom "a bit". Its a LVLY cream colour "well cream & stain" Long may it last,touching lots wood. u do see much newer 1s in scot adds etc for £50-£200. When i grow up i want a red 1 with c h. A.

[PurpleDragon]

Well, it sold - FOR ONE PENNY!!!