Heavy Metal

Nope, not a post about music or reliving my days from high school. I am talking about heavy metal. Literally, really heavy. Since we purchased our house, we have had an old, rusty, eyesore of a wood-burning stove insert in our family room fireplace. We have often talked about removing it, and turning the fireplace back into it's original, traditional state. Well, Saturday I decided it was time.

The first step required cutting away the rusted bolts that attached the chimney liner to the top of the stove. Of course, perfect design, the bolts were located at the back of the stove, too far for my saws-all to reach, and not enough room to swing a hammer and chisel. So, after several attempts with various wrenches, solvents, and other tricks, it was off to my parents house to borrow the Dremel wonder tool, with multiple cutting attachments. Worked perfect. Imagine the sound of a really lound dentist's drill, against metal, and you have an idea of what cutting the bolts was like. Still a very cool tool. If you have the means, I highly recommend you pick one up. (Movie....anyone??)
The fireplace before...

So now, all we had to do was get the stove out, and onto the trailer in the driveway. Did I mention that our family room is downstairs? Well, after much deliberation on the best method, we decided that good old muscle would be the way to go. Me, Mark, and Bill (VERY helpful neighbors) dragged the stove, inch by inch, out of the house. I am happy to report, the only casualties are a stain on the carpet, and some scratches on my arms (spared the neighbors, whew!). Best of all, we love the new look of the room. Now all we have to do it clean it up, and decide what we want to do with our "new" focal point.
The fireplace after.....