For those of you with multifuel stoves (who probably already know
this, but hey):

Walked round the corner on Saturday to chap in a big shed who does
light metal fabrication to get a frame made for a sign for a local
charity. While talking to him I remembered to ask him if he could
make a plate for the bottom of our multifuel stove to stop all the
embers from our log fire falling through the slatted bed into the
ashpan.

Hmmm... he said Do you want holes in it? I ummed and ahhed and he
produced a sheet of stock 3mm steel sheet pre-perforated with 3mm
holes. Pop back at three he said. Went back expecting him just to
have cut it to size and found he'd folded and welded it into a shallow
tray. 12 quid. Tried it out over the last two nights and the fire is
fantastic. The tray has warped a little bit as he said it would, but
so what?

I had been told that he can make pretty much anything and have seen
some of his other stuff. I now have to avoid thinking of a large
range of steel items I would like making...

David