Our Story
Who we are: FireStoker, LLC is a micro start-up business dedicated to developing a series of long-lasting, rugged and highly novel fire tending tools. Every FireStoker is hand crafted by an 86 year old veteran and his son. Ted is the chief design and development engineer as well as assembly craftsman. He has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Penn State University and designs tests and improves all custom made tools and jigs required for FireStoker production. Ted spent 47 years designing presses that formed powdered metal into various metal parts in a manufacturing plant in PA. Dave leads creative design and new product development as well as performing the assembly craftsman role. Dave holds a B.S. degree from Penn State in Electrical Engineering and a M.S. degree from Johns Hopkins University in Technical Management. Ted enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, baking, shooting pool and a good card game. Dave enjoys hunting, fishing, shooting pool and experimenting with electronics and software design. We both enjoy time spent together working to produce and improve FireStoker products.
A Unique Product: The market is filled with scissor, tong and claw style log grabbers but the rotational design employed by the FireStoker is revolutionary. The FireStoker is a unique tool which maximizes grip, placement control, reach and ensures complete combustion when picking and placing burning or non-burning materials in a fire. The rotational grabbing design is unparalleled in its ability to grip the smallest twigs up to 8 inch diameter logs with the utmost ease. The FireStoker by itself is a must have for any fire but the addition of the FireStoker Buddy completes any fire pit or camp fire experience. The FireStoker Buddy brings convenience to a new level. The FireStoker Buddy allows you to stand your FireStoker in a convenient and safe position independently with no need to lean your FireStoker on chairs, tables, trees or lay it on the ground.
Continuous Innovation and Improvement: We are constantly innovating the fire tending world by developing new products and improving existing products. The initial offering was a 36″ FireStoker. Over time the length was modified to maximize functionality based on use. Three lengths are available and are designed specifically for fireplace, fire pit and campfire use. Subsequently, the FireStoker Buddy was developed to aid in safety and convenience to allow the FireStoker to be stowed safely, independently and conveniently. All of the jigs required to produce the FireStoker were designed and improved over time by the two entrepreneurs. By developing and improving production processes we’ve reduced the production time significantly. Not having the resources of a large, or even small, business we are limited to producing about 40 FireStokers at a time. Despite these limitations we’ve sold over 400 products to over 26 states.
History: It was at a cabin deep in the mountains of north central Pennsylvania in the Allegheny National Forest when a father and his two sons discovered a unique and innovative way to grip and place burning logs in a fire. After a couple of decades of marveling at the uniqueness and utility of the device they decided that others should have access to the same rugged, reliable, easy-to-use and fun fire tender that they had enjoyed for over 20 years. It was a cold late November night in 2012 when the plans were made around a roaring camp fire to start producing limited quantities of this modern marvel of fire pit tools. It was then that Fireshaker LLC was born and that the “Stoaker” would become a reality for the masses. The initial plans included purchasing materials and obtaining the services of a cousin to produce Stoakers. A proof-of-concept prototype effort which yielded 9 Stoakers completed in May of 2013. During that time Fireshaker began the process to become an LLC and was granted a Provisional Patent on Stoaker. Of the initial 9 prototype Stoakers, three were kept by the father and two sons to act as demonstrator models and the remaining 6 were given away to various businesses as promotional items. From May to July of 2013 an initial production run of 40 Stoakers was undertaken and Fireshaker became an LLC on 13 July, 2013. With an LLC in place and an inventory of 40 Stoakers the very first sales and marketing campaign was undertaken in the Allegheny National Forest region in an area known as Cooksburg. Fireshaker, LLC visited 10 local campgrounds, stores and cabin rental businesses and deployed 21 Stoakers at 4 different establishments. Since that time, Stoakers have been gaining popularity and over 400 products have been sold in over 26 states. In 2020 Fireshaker LLC underwent a restructuring and has re-emerged as FireStoker LLC. After a brief hiatus FireStoker LLC is back and ready to continue to provide the most unique and useful fire tool on the planet. FireStoker LLC is slowly expanding its customer base and has recently launched internet sales on Amazon, eBay, Facebook and on FireStokerllc.com. Check back here and on Facebook.com/FireStoker from time to time to see the latest from the company providing the most innovative fire pit tools on the market!