Fireplace Insert

instructables

Fireplace Insert by mikeasaurus

Now that Spring is upon us it's time to make the fireplace more attractive and cover that dark gaping opening since it's not going to be in use, and seal up that drafty chimney while we're at it.

Make a fireplace insert that looks like cut logs to hide your fireplace opening when not in use. This insert can easily be swapped out for the regular fire grille when I'm ready to use the fireplace.

Ready? Let's make!

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Step 1: Log Sections I used very dry tree branches for my screen. Using a bandsaw I cut them into 2-3" inch pucks. They don't have to be perfect cuts, just roughly the right size each. A little irregularity to your logs will add to the realism.

Make sure you have a few different size logs to cut into pucks, you want larger pucks for the majority of the wood and smaller ones to fill in the gaps.

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Step 2: Sand Pucks Depending on your bandsaw blade, and the type of wood you use, your pucks may have a mill marks on the surface from sawing. Spend a little time with a sander to create a clean and uniform surface on each puck.

Step 3: Stain I applied an oil finish to seal and protect the wood from future damage, and to give it a nice look. Make sure to wear protective gloves and to work in a well ventilated area when applying any type of varnish, stain, or oil.

Allow the wood to soak up the oil after application, then wipe off any excess. After, let dry completely.

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Step 4: Measure Fireplace Opening Before we can stick the cut pucks to a backboard we need to measure the opening that we'll be putting this screen into. Carefully measure the opening for your fireplace, measuring all corners in case your opening is irregular or not square.

Transfer your fireplace dimensions onto a 1/2" sheet of plywood and cut out.

Step 5: Spray Backboard When your backboard is cut out paint it with a few coats of matte black spray paint.

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Step 6: Glue Pucks When the backboard paint has completely dried the wood pucks can be glued to one side. I had originally tried mechanically fastening them with screws, but found that regular wood glue works fine.

of wood glue and arrange over the backboard.

Continue gluing down pucks working down to the smaller pucks, making sure to scatter the sizes.

Finish gluing with the smallest pucks which will fill in the gaps between the larger pucks.

Starting with the larger pucks, apply a healthy dollop

Step 7: Finished Board Here's what my backboard looked like with all the wood pucks glued down. You can really see the difference in cut depths in these pictures, this will make the fireplace look convincing at a glance that it's really stacked with full logs.

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Step 8: Install Carefully maneuver the screen into place and push into the fireplace opening. My fireplace tapers inwards on the sides, and has a slightly lower lintel which will stop the screen from being pushed too far into the fireplace cavity.

Gently push the insert into the opening until it is fully seated and secure, held by friction.

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Step 9: Enjoy!

Announcing: The World's Largest Collection Of 16,000 Wood Plans

With the faux log screen in place your fireplace can be the center of attention again, even without a fire going!

When you want to use your fireplace again, simply remove the faux log screen. I think this is much nicer to look at that a dark fireplace opening.

Have you made your own fireplace insert? I want to see it!

Happy making :)

This really cool really nice idea Thanks for the inspiration. We had our chimney inspected. They found issues and told us our fireplace is a safety hazard. This project Blocks the draft and looks good.

That looks great, and double-duty blocking a drafty chimney is exactly what is so great about this project.

Thanks for sharing a picture of your project, enjoy the Pro Membership!

Very pretty! look so nice How will Santa get in?

How will Santa get in?

By squeezing through the mail slot?

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Ohhhhhh. I see now. Thank you for clearing that up.

Wait a minute....That's one of those trick questions! What if they have a post office box. He'd have to wait until the next business day.

I do like the instructable, By the way.

Very cool! I made one using stripped copper wire as the medium for this "tree of life" cover. It works great in the winter too when there is not fire and you want to keep the draft out.

Looks great. I love working with copper.

Thanks for sharing, enjoy the Pro Membership!

And I applied decorative wood to electric fireplace

That looks really sharp.

Enjoy the Pro Membership! seeing as fireplaces are not a very efficient way to heat a house compared to things as modern as stoves a very attractive way to decorate the opening to stop the draft and suggest the warmth and security if the fireplace.

You suggested a mat finish paint would flat black primer serve as well? uncle frogy Flat black primer would work as well. The idea is to have a non-reflective surface behind the pucks to help the illusion that the logs go all the way back.

Good luck with your insert!

This is what I have planned for one of the 4 non-working fireplaces in my home. I plan to use more padding for a plushier look to go with my more ornate mantel. I had seen a fireplace with actual logs stacked in it, but I like your idea of the removable insert better. Besides, I have quite a few branches that were blown off my trees over the winter that aren't enough to cut into logs, but should be sufficient to cut into pucks. The second photo shows the gas insert being removed from the fireplace. It can't be brought up to code because it uses an open flame type of burner. Third photo is the lovely view with the gas burner removed. Attractive, no? So, one with log screen, one with tufted headboard, only 2 more to go.

A removable insert is really great if there's ever a cold snap and you want a fire.

Thanks for sharing pictures, I'd love to see a cut log version when you're done. Enjoy the Pro Membership!

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Great idea, and great execution.

Rad man! Looks super, here is my insert I had painted on a canvas about a year ago,

That's a great idea! I really love that 8-bit style.

Thanks for sharing your fireplace inset, enjoy the Pro Membership!

Nice! I think it would be really cool to use longer logs (6" or so) which would make it harder to see back to the base board. Then it would really look like you just stacked logs in the fireplace!

I wanted something that could be easily lifted by one person, having the logs longer would look better but be much heavier.

Do you have a fireplace to try it out with? I'd like to see a variation with longer logs.

Very chic! That doggy is adorable, too.

WOOF! (Elsie says "thanks!")

Nice job! That really looks good. If you're in a cold climate it might also be good to consider adding some insulation foam or edging to further keep out the drafts.

Exactly this!

Nice presentation. It looks so much cleaner than an open fireplace. I like the stacked wood look to it.

Thank you!

I really like the way this looks and wish I would have known about it when I had two fireplaces in my apartment :D Also: YAY ELSIE!!!

Thanks, Jessy!

I love that Elsie was down to play along for this shoot.

This turned out so great! Love learning new ways of creating the great indoors.

Thanks, Paige!

We live in Florida, so a Fireplace is simply a decorative element in the home. I put up a black backboard and the wife uses it to announce what holiday is at hand by displaying the appropriate type of cards she has collected over the years such as St. Patty's day, Xmas, etc.

No need for an award, just happy to explicate my variation on your posting, thanks.

This is a smart idea. Thanks for sharing!

Very creative idea! I would make one for the fireplace in my master bedroom (we've never used the thing since we moved in 5 years ago, plus the screen/doors are missing), but we've sold the house.

Just waiting on closing.

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cool This is such a creative instructable. Great work!

This is great, wish I had a fireplace! Great instructable!

This is really bad ass man, I am going to do this.

Announcing: The World's Largest Collection Of 16,000 Wood Plans

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