Thanks to the advice I got here and in the New Orleans newsgroup I found a smith who repaired the cast iron surround while I waited--although I didn't expect to examine the interior of his shop for 40 minutes. Now all I need is a mason with reasonable skills and expectations ditto, as the thing has to be wired into the fireplace with 2 pieces of wire attached to deadhead bolts sunk in the brick. I suppose I could make a stab at it with my B&D but the bricks are old and soft...I don't want to end up with just 2 piles of brickdust. Does anyone have a ballpark figure as to how much this should cost? The NO smith charged me within $10 of a NONGer's estimate, which I thought OK. zemedelec
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20 years ago