cannon ball to clear chimney?

[what..the?]

There's quite a few old birds nests up the chimney, a wood burner installer has suggested the above, should I be worried? Won't that damage the floor, the hearth has yet to go in but??? Well you tell me??

[Sir Alec]

It sounds ridiculous to me, but I'm no expert! I'm sure you can still hire chimney sweeps, though I bet they're not cheap.
On second thoughts, where would you get a cannon ball from these days anyway?

[Postdog]

You can use Cannon and Ball to clear a room though.....

[Sir Alec]

Brilliant, postdog! I agree entirely.

[bigglez]

Hire drain rods with chimney brush fitting, that will shift nests.

[The Builder]

Lol Post-op :o) ..............
I think I've heard it all now.
Two things spring to mind Mrs What. Either the fitter comes from somewhere near Redruth, or he's having you on.
Either......... up on the roof and poke it down with a length of batten .......... or as Biggers has said, drain rods.

[boxtops]

There are still chimney sweeps about!

[shaneystar2]

I have the chimney swept every year .Costs 20 quid .Local man .Does it with some sort of vacuum thingy .No mess .

[ChuckFickens]

I suspect he was talking about using a drop method to clean it where you'd still use a brush tied to a heavy weight (the cannon ball?) with a length of rope tied to the top of the brush, then you just lower the whole lot down the chimney and pull it back up a few times.

Basically the same as rodding from the top but with out the rods.

(I hope this is what he meant anyhow, and not just dropping a cannon ball down the chimney!)

[boxtops]

LOL, I thought he was going to fire it UP the chimney!

[Count-A-Strong]

£30 for a chimney sweep round these parts.

[douglas9401]

I'm not sure Woody meant an actual cannon ball. I remember chimney sweeps using a large spiky brush with a heavy ball attached by chain to the underneath. The weight pulled the brush down the chimney and I guess was ball shaped to avoid snagging on dodgy brickwork within the stack.
On the other hand it could help improve the accuracy of gunners from the forces with the added bonus of near misses giving the garden a much needed turning over.

[heathfield]

Douglas is right. Read the top paragraph on the right, here...

http://www.chimneyswe...ey_sweep_history.html