I have a "Fake" fireplace in my basement. It looks real enough but no firebox. For years there was a set of those fake logs with the rotating colored flame sleeve over a light bulb, not at all realistic, but passable for a rec room. A few years ago I picked up what I think is one of the better units. It's more like a projection screen - flat glass panel - that a fire like look is projected on. It also has a built in heater to boot. For a fake fire if the room is dimmed it looks fairly real, it really needs sound too, but it a big step up from the old fake logs.
Fireplaces
- Thread starter lordkenmore
- Start date
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LOL.
There were two brick fireplaces in this house when I got it in '97. Both had fire screens of some sort, and both had fake log sets in them. One had a cellophane wrapped cylinder that rotated horizontally, lit from inside with a standard light bulb. The cylinder had an approximation of flames colored on it. In front of that were fake logs with a translucent area. The other set was a bit more interesting. Instead of being motorized, it had a propeller on top that was designed to catch the warm air currents caused by the light bulb, and turned on the Z (vertical) axis. They both worked after a fashion, but after I sealed the front of the fireplaces with plexiglass, there wasn't enough air current in either of the fireplaces to turn the propeller. And I didn't like the noise the motorized fake log set made.
One thing that floored me is that while the fireplace in the 1941 era living showed signs of years of use, the fireplace in the '65 era family room was obviously added later on, and had no signs of ever being used. I found that hard to believe for a 30 year old fireplace.
I got some new grates for both fireplace and tested both with real fire. But fitting the plexiglass draft seals after a fire session was sort of a PITA.
After a while I replaced the plexiglass draft seals with good fitting fireplace inserts. Both work pretty well, although I think the '65 fireplace draws better than the '41.
There were two brick fireplaces in this house when I got it in '97. Both had fire screens of some sort, and both had fake log sets in them. One had a cellophane wrapped cylinder that rotated horizontally, lit from inside with a standard light bulb. The cylinder had an approximation of flames colored on it. In front of that were fake logs with a translucent area. The other set was a bit more interesting. Instead of being motorized, it had a propeller on top that was designed to catch the warm air currents caused by the light bulb, and turned on the Z (vertical) axis. They both worked after a fashion, but after I sealed the front of the fireplaces with plexiglass, there wasn't enough air current in either of the fireplaces to turn the propeller. And I didn't like the noise the motorized fake log set made.
One thing that floored me is that while the fireplace in the 1941 era living showed signs of years of use, the fireplace in the '65 era family room was obviously added later on, and had no signs of ever being used. I found that hard to believe for a 30 year old fireplace.
I got some new grates for both fireplace and tested both with real fire. But fitting the plexiglass draft seals after a fire session was sort of a PITA.
After a while I replaced the plexiglass draft seals with good fitting fireplace inserts. Both work pretty well, although I think the '65 fireplace draws better than the '41.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
Here's a picture of the inside of my logs. Just in case someone wonders about how they work. The plastic strips on the pole rotate. Presumably this reflects a bit of light, creating the flicker. These logs have several log pieces (real wood, too, I think) with a plastic "window" in the middle for the light to come through. The plastic part is colored to presumably add to the effect.
I can't say these logs are particularly convincing, but I think the plastic strips that rotate might be worn. I'm thinking they are probably intended to be silver, like tinsel. But the silver color is spotty now.
Years back, I had another set of logs. I mentioned them before. I used them the last year I lived in the house where I grew up. I can't really remember those, but I think there was only one bulb, and the flicker was created by a rotating drum of crinkled, reflective plastic. I can't remember them being particularly great; however, it did allow some use of that fireplace. I have a vugue memory that suggests we may have switched them on for Chirstmas, giving a last Christmas with a "fire" (of sorts) in the fireplace.
I can't say these logs are particularly convincing, but I think the plastic strips that rotate might be worn. I'm thinking they are probably intended to be silver, like tinsel. But the silver color is spotty now.
Years back, I had another set of logs. I mentioned them before. I used them the last year I lived in the house where I grew up. I can't really remember those, but I think there was only one bulb, and the flicker was created by a rotating drum of crinkled, reflective plastic. I can't remember them being particularly great; however, it did allow some use of that fireplace. I have a vugue memory that suggests we may have switched them on for Chirstmas, giving a last Christmas with a "fire" (of sorts) in the fireplace.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
One thing that floored me is that while the fireplace in the 1941 era living showed signs of years of use, the fireplace in the '65 era family room was obviously added later on, and had no signs of ever being used. I found that hard to believe for a 30 year old fireplace.
That does seem unbelievable!
I don't know this for sure, but I can't imagine that a fireplace could be cleaned to look like new. (And who, but our Hyacinth would even think of trying such a thing?) Every fireplace I've ever seen has obvious signs of use inside--whether it's the fireplace I grew up with (1950 house, probably original fireplaces, both standard masonry), or the 2 fireplaces in a development house that my father once once owned (metal prefab units that look traditional once installed).
That does seem unbelievable!
I don't know this for sure, but I can't imagine that a fireplace could be cleaned to look like new. (And who, but our Hyacinth would even think of trying such a thing?) Every fireplace I've ever seen has obvious signs of use inside--whether it's the fireplace I grew up with (1950 house, probably original fireplaces, both standard masonry), or the 2 fireplaces in a development house that my father once once owned (metal prefab units that look traditional once installed).
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
The first time I met my (now ex) in-laws was just after they'd finished installing a fireplace in their basement. We got out of the car, I took one look at the chimney and blurted, "It's too short. There'll never be enough draft. The room'll fill with smoke." I got an eye-roll in response. Of course. I only lived in a house with a frequently used fireplace for 20 years so OBVIOUSLY I'd be clueless, lol.
We walked in, and of course the house was full of smoke. The opening was way too large for the chimney height. They eventually closed off part of it with ornamentation but catching a decent draft was always tough.
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As for the fireplace I grew up with: One time I came home to find that the Better 'n Ben's stove that had been there for years was gone. I asked my parents why they'd taken it out. I was told they "had to" because "the laws" had changed. I was unsuccessful in getting any more information than that. I also was unable to find a single person in their town who was aware that ANY regulations beyond firecodes (which the stove met) regarding fireplaces and woodstoves even existed.
My highly informed conjecture as to the actual reason? My dad overheard snippets of a conversation in which the words "fireplace", "wood stove", "law" and "remove" were used and he invented a whole scenario that had no connection to the conversation or to his stove at home. I.e. There was no actual reason....
We walked in, and of course the house was full of smoke. The opening was way too large for the chimney height. They eventually closed off part of it with ornamentation but catching a decent draft was always tough.
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As for the fireplace I grew up with: One time I came home to find that the Better 'n Ben's stove that had been there for years was gone. I asked my parents why they'd taken it out. I was told they "had to" because "the laws" had changed. I was unsuccessful in getting any more information than that. I also was unable to find a single person in their town who was aware that ANY regulations beyond firecodes (which the stove met) regarding fireplaces and woodstoves even existed.
My highly informed conjecture as to the actual reason? My dad overheard snippets of a conversation in which the words "fireplace", "wood stove", "law" and "remove" were used and he invented a whole scenario that had no connection to the conversation or to his stove at home. I.e. There was no actual reason....
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
My Aunt and Uncle built a new home back in the early 80s. They have a fireplace downstairs that the use all the time. The one in the living room upstairs has never had a fire in it. So it is possible for a house with two fireplaces to have one with no usage.
My house has a W.B. fireplace in the basement, and the interior is iron or steel. It's a "Heatilator", and has intake vents on each side of the chimney base, and outlet vents on each side of the chimney front, about halfway to the ceiling.
It had a nice stone facing with brick accents that I wanted to keep; however, when the contractor's less-than-bright helper was removing the concrete floor in front of the fireplace, he jackhammered too close, and it made the facing come loose. My masonry guy and I removed it as we were afraid it would fall off. I have all the pieces sitting outside now. Thought about having him put it back on, but think I would like doing it in a different style. I might have a facing of glazed brick installed - white with deep blue accents. The problem is the brick has to be ordered from the factory (Texas), and there is a quantity requirement. I don't need anyways near enough, unless I decide to doing something else in this brick.
The link is about glazed brick.
elginbutler.com
It had a nice stone facing with brick accents that I wanted to keep; however, when the contractor's less-than-bright helper was removing the concrete floor in front of the fireplace, he jackhammered too close, and it made the facing come loose. My masonry guy and I removed it as we were afraid it would fall off. I have all the pieces sitting outside now. Thought about having him put it back on, but think I would like doing it in a different style. I might have a facing of glazed brick installed - white with deep blue accents. The problem is the brick has to be ordered from the factory (Texas), and there is a quantity requirement. I don't need anyways near enough, unless I decide to doing something else in this brick.
The link is about glazed brick.
Glazed Brick
elginbutler.com
The link is about glazed brick.
Well, you could build a back yard BBQ and face with that nice glazed stuff. Just make sure the bricks in the heat path can take the heat.
Well, you could build a back yard BBQ and face with that nice glazed stuff. Just make sure the bricks in the heat path can take the heat.
