need a project for metal shop?

no_regrets

i am taking metal shop next year and i need a goo metal project i could make. i like skateboarding but already made a mini ramp. my teacher suggested i make a new design for skateboard trucks. my idea is to make longer trucks that have a spring on each side of the cup to push the board up instead of the rubber bushing. if you are a skateboarder please comment on this idea. i am not sure if i want to do it though. any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. maybe some furniture would be good.

Answer
Hi:

I've been waiting for question like this? Here's your answer:

Try the following books for ideas :

Sheet Metal Fabrication Basics
by Timothy Remus


101 Metal Projects for the Novice Blacksmith: A how-to Shop Manual for Beginners
by Ken Scharabok

Decorative Wrought Ironwork: Projects for Beginners
by Thomas F. Googerty

Metal Projects, Vol. 1
by John Walker

Metal Projects, Vol. 2
by Bill Fifer

Metal Projects, Vol. 3
by John R. Walker

Metal Spinning Projects
by Smith, Earl E. Smith

Twenty-Four Metalworking Projects
by Percy W. Blandford

Giant Book of Metalworking Projects

Metalwork for Craftsmen: A Step-by-Step Guide with 55 Projects
by Emil F. Kronquist

Twenty-Four Blacksmithing Projects
by Percy W. Blandford

Decorative Wrought Ironwork: Projects for Beginners
by Thomas F. Googerty

The Complete Metalsmith
by Tim McCreight

Complete Metalsmith: An Illustrated Handbook
by Tim McCreight, McCreight

Metalworking: The Best of Projects in Metal 1990-1991, Vol. 2
by Joe D. Rice (Editor)

Projects and Designs in Metalwork
by Ian Punter

Early American Metal Projects
by Joseph William Daniele

The Metal Craft Book
by Deborah Morgenthal, Janice Eaton Kilby, Janice Eaton Kilby

Projects idea from me :


1) A metal pipe/wire bender

2) a Hammer or Judge mallet

3) a Steam engine

4) a metal lathe

5) a wood lathe

6) a One lug engine

7) a trip hammer

8) a vise or Compound Angle Drill Press Vise

9) a mechanical clock

10) a electric generator or motor

11) a forge or kiln

12) a heat treat oven

13 ) a metal wood plane

14 ) a scale model steam tractor or make it full size- really score some points for that

15. a Scale model of a working steam engine train

16) a Sawmill or bandmill

17) a screwdriver or wood chisel set

18) a bit and brace drill with home made drill bits.

19 ) a steam organ

20 ) a center punch

21) A nail punch

22) a tesla engine

23) A drill press made out of pipe fittings

24) A odemeter or mechanical counter

25) A pluse jet

26 ) a super simple CNC Machine

27) A go Cart

28) A torch or parts carrier- all metal contruction expect the wheels

29) Sheet metal Brake

30) A tap & die set

31) A slip roll

32) A 5 or 6 cylinder radial engine ( gas or Steam Powered)

33) A electro-dischage Machine ( EDM)

34) a Windmill

35 ) a small blast furance for melting aluminum,brass,bronze..ect

36) English wheel

37) A Tool box

38) A dust pan

39 ) A watch maker lathe

40) a workbench

41 ) sheet metal hole maker

42) A mailbox or holder

43) a Dust pan

44) a Cup holder

45) a whisle ( the type you blow into)

46) a Chow Chief( type you see in western movies to call the cowboys to breakfast, lunch,dinner) Triangle

47) A grill for cooking food ( like steaks)

48) a Pitcher

49) a cuttery set

50) bracelets, necklaces,ear rings - great for moms and sisters

51) Candlabras, fireplace gates, front gates, candle stick Candle holder

52) Spoon rest, Cooking rack, metal plates, knife,fork & spoon, coffee pot, coffee cup, canteen, Coffee mug rack Plate holder, caddy

53) Gun holder, fishing holder, tree stand,gun rack, fishing takle box

54) Lamp, shelf for knicknacks

55) pop can crusher

56) truck ramp

57) a Trailer

58) a tree climber spikes or tent pegs

59) a pair of truck or car stand from a twos of piece of pipes and a two inch diameter pins and Angle iron

60) a metal ladder

61) a Metal locker or broom closet

62 A wielding bench




Ash Tray, Hexagonal Ash Tray, Hammered Ash Tray, Card-Table, Match-Box Holder, Label Holder and Luggage Tag, Cookie Cutter, Sugar or Flour Scoop, Cup or Measure, Oil Measure, Recipe Box, Picture Frame, Desk or Dresser Trays, Candy or Nut Dish, Colonial Candlestick with Reflector, Colonial Sconce, Candy Dish, Candelabra, Console Candleholder, Calling-Card Tray, Dinner Bell, Napkin Ring, Bud Vase, Letter Rack, Bill File, Pie-Crust Nut Dish, Titbit Dish, Twin Titbit Tray, Triple Titbit Dish, Trophy Cup, Fruit Dish, Three-Footed Bonbon Dish, Filigree Bonbon Dish, Low-Footed Bonbon Dish, Bonbon Dish, Treat Dish, Footed Fruit Dish, Table Lamp, Painted Flowerpot holder, metal Flowerpot , Shelf, Bird Bath, Lighthouse, a combination safe a big rotary mower adjustable drafting table a gazebo, ice fishing stove, bleachers,ski-wheeler, combination safe, ice fishing stove, a Ice hole maker, brick making forms, Indexing plates,Lock and key, electric wielder (only for the very exprience metalworker and electrical knowlege needed for this project SO BE VERY CAFEFUL WHEN DOING THIS ONE), Spotwielder unit, calipers, Compass, ruler, protractor, drafting template, test jig for measuring tapers, a Morse taper test plug,Car engine hoist,a gun or pistol, trailer ,bending fork,COLD CHISEL,drill point gauge,glue scraper,Marking gauge, offset screwdriver, soldering iron ( blacksmith type), hydraulically operated bearing press, heavy duty auto ramps, do it yourself anvil,plate dog, hydraulically operated wood splitter,abrasive cut off saw ,a barbecue grill. spare tire carrier, A jobbox, woodworking dovetail pattern gauges, a window box, weather vane,annemeter, windmill, plum bobs,croll saw, a electric metal filer, a metal shaper, a woodworking shaper, a paint stirer, a snow sled, paint spray gun, a metal paint booth. a sand blaster gun and metal booth, Drill hole guide, a parts oil cleaning tank, a panograph. Metal drafting triangles 45 degrees and 30-60 degrees, a set of metal french drafting curves.candlebox with small drawer for matches that hold candles.

I hope this helps.

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Electric fireplace... on carpet?

Cara

I'm looking into buying an electric fireplace for my bedroom, but the whole room is carpeted.

Do you have an electric fireplace, especially one that's set on a carpeted floor? Tell me about your experience with it.

Thank you!

Answer
Since your house is newer, unless you specifically purchased carpet with flame resistance, it's going to be a synthetic material like nylon or polypropylene with a really low melting point. All of the different types have a lower melting point than wood will burn at. The question you need to ask the fireplace salesman is, what temperature does the unit emit at the base? If it's enough to melt the material, put clay bricks underneath it. Clay is a natural insulator, and you can set em up in some art deco style manner. Also little sparks have a tendency of getting in carpet and I have a woodburning fireplace in the basement, it's messy; bringing in wood brings in bugs, look up your local bugs.. So make sure you plan for keeping the carpet clean and spark-free!

Is a white electric fireplace tacky?

Blasse

Especially when it is against a brick red colour wall?

Answer
I don't think its tacky. Lots of mantelpieces and fireplace surrounds are painted white. Against a brick colored wall, the white should really pop out and look fresh.

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me and my gf want to move to the city, is this plan realistically possible?

Q. OK, Lets start by saying the basics. We are both 19. My gf is from and currently still is in Australia, and im from the US. Weve been together for a long time. She is having problems at home, and needs somewhere to go, so i said she could come live with me, and wed move to the albany area.

Now, i would like to attend college when she comes here. So i was thinking she could get a full time job (shes up for it), while i attend college and work part time.

3 questions.
1. If we were to find an apartment, and we have no credit, would we be able to have my parents cosign and that would by pass the credit check?
2. If we were able to find an apartment for 600-700 a month with utlities included, would we be able to afford it?
3. If not, would we be better off getting a 2 BR with a roommate?

Thanks for anyone who helps, as im trying to get life together and am under alot of stress

Answer
I was 18 when my boyfriend and i got our first apartment due to the fact i was adopted and didnt have real parents.

I currently am living in ohio so rules might be different but my apartment would not accept co-signers but the would increase the down-payment (one months rent plus 200) to cover any costs monthly or damage done to the home. And if they relieved the monthly payment later than 15 days after due they would tell you that you needed to be out within the month. My first apartment was a 2 bedroom 1 bath 2nd floor for 650. Also had gas and electric both plus water at a fixed rate.. With the bills i was paying about 830. You need to figure out the ins and outs of the apartment such as if it has gas or electric or a fireplace, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer square footage to figure out how much the energy bill will cost. If its gas it will be a little bit more than electric and if you have more appliances it will be more expensive to run them. So i cant say yes or no if you could afford a 600-700 because i dont know what specific place you are looking at and what they include or not.

Also i would like to let you know some places, like mine, require you to have a certain income because not all the income goes to bills, some go to car payment, groceries, doctors, eating out and gas.

Having a romate is also a big step because of privacy issues and you want to make sure you have all the rules and contracts written down before you go into the apartment.

I hope everything works out for you and i hope my own personal experience can help.

I'm about to be 18 and I have some questions?

Q. Okay, well, I honestly don't know how to start. I guess I kind of need like a mentor or something? I don't want to feel stupid but I honestly have no one I can ask these to and I feel slightly over-whelmed. Well, I might as well start from the beginning, I live in Dayton, Ohio and I'm a 17 year old female, and I want to move out by the time I'm 18, and my birthday is in the beginning of June. I have so many questions I don't even know where to start and I'm just looking for someone to answer some of my questions, no matter how stupid they may be.

First of all, does anyone know what places hire people under 18? I know of McDonald's, Starbucks, Burger King, etc. I've applied to some of these and never got a call back and I really want to get a job as soon as possible because my parents won't let me get my license until I have one, which I understand completely but I have no way of getting around anywhere aside from walking, which is good for me, but sometimes it's just too much. Btw, I think sometimes I tend to go on and on... Like I'm doing now.
Anyway, how much does getting a drivers license cost? Including everything in drivers ed?
What are some typical appliances/furniture most people have?
With most apartments will I be using gas or electric or both? Add price estimates, if possible?
What is a reasonable price for one bedroom apartments?
Is it better to have a roommate? (I have looked this up many times, and done the math to the best of my ability and I always come up short, going by minimum wage and maximum prices, but honestly this all confuses me.)

I have so many more questions so if anyone could/would help me out reply here or send me an email at: nonya_bizz_nizz@yahoo.com


I appreciate any help. I think I need all that I can get right now.

Answer
You might get a job at Macy's or a place like Marshall's, Home Goods, Hallmark, etc. Also - all the fast food chain restaurants - Denny's, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Sonic; coffee shops too.

A driverâs license application will cost you about $10. The eye exam is free at the DMV. You will need to borrow somebodyâs car for the actual exam.
Are your parents buying you a car? If not, you might not be able to get one yourself just yet, because of your credit history (read below.) You will also need insurance - talk to them and see who will be paying about that.

Typical appliances/furniture: I'll tell you the very basic things that you'll need... a bed with box spring, a dresser (or two), a couch, table/desk with several chairs, coffee table and/or side table. You will likely need a microwave, a toaster, some plates, cups, silverware, utensils, knives, a frying pan (if you plan on cooking), tablecloth, trash can, towels, shower curtain and a mat, a laundry basket, a shoe rack, some hangers. You might want to get a TV and a computer. Think about the curtains/blinds.

Apartments usually use electricity for things like the fridge, microwave, washer and dryer, A/C. Most ovens and some fireplaces use gas. My husband and I pay about $180 for everything in a 1,200 ft. apartment in New Jersey (close to New York City.)

I looked at apartment prices in and around Dayton, Ohio for you. You can get a 1 or 2 bedroom for about $500+. Of course there are some cheaper options â like $375 for a 1 bedroom. Check out craigslist.org

Having a roommate - Do you have credit cards or a credit history? If you donât, it might be a challenge renting your own place. You will have to search for roommates who already have a lease. And even then a lot of people wonât be willing to share their space with you. Because you have no way of proving that you are âfinancially responsible.â Even if you have a job - being employed at a certain place for less than a year is not considered as a good enough âproof.â Plus, itâs always nice to share the utilities with someone. Itâs even better if you get several roommates, as there are nice 4 bedroom houses for $800. That means that youâd have to pay $200 for your room. And it could be fun to have some company since you are 18.
I had 4 roommates when I was your age.

You will also have to pay for Internet, TV and phone â that should be around $100 a month for the regular service and about $165 if you want to add the premium channels and some insanely fast Internet (like Verizon FiOs.)
Water is about $30-50 if you do a lot of laundry.

Iâd be happy to answer any other questions that you might have. Drop me a line if you'd like.

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Electric Fireplace Power Usage?!?!?!!?

victor v

I'm looking into getting an electric fireplace for a my basement. Most of them have a power usage of about 1500watts. It would be running all day/all night but probably at least 5 nights a week for 2-6 hours at a time. Would this put a huge hit on my electric bill??

Answer
This answer really depends on electric rate. Finding your fireplaces wattage is the first number you need. Then look at your electric bill and find the rate( mine is .087276). A 1500 watt fireplace will use approx. 360 KwH in a month if run as you state. So take the rate times that number and your getting about $31.50 a month for the usage. You then have to factor in all the charges that your electric company adds. Generally, at the rate you wish to use it, and depending on your rate, it should be no more than a total $50 extra dollars a month. However, if you have a gas furnace, you wouldn't be using it so your gas bill would be lower.

Electric fireplace... on carpet?

Cara

I'm looking into buying an electric fireplace for my bedroom, but the whole room is carpeted.

Do you have an electric fireplace, especially one that's set on a carpeted floor? Tell me about your experience with it.

Thank you!

Answer
Since your house is newer, unless you specifically purchased carpet with flame resistance, it's going to be a synthetic material like nylon or polypropylene with a really low melting point. All of the different types have a lower melting point than wood will burn at. The question you need to ask the fireplace salesman is, what temperature does the unit emit at the base? If it's enough to melt the material, put clay bricks underneath it. Clay is a natural insulator, and you can set em up in some art deco style manner. Also little sparks have a tendency of getting in carpet and I have a woodburning fireplace in the basement, it's messy; bringing in wood brings in bugs, look up your local bugs.. So make sure you plan for keeping the carpet clean and spark-free!

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Help with a natural gas venting question please help!?

Q. We are finishing our basement and we are going back and fourth between an electric fire place and a gas fireplace. I want gas but I don't know if it can be vented properly. We don't have an existing fireplace so we have to get something called a "zero clearance fire place". Its like the insert that goes into a fire place you just case around it with some sort of decorative casing. Anyhow the only outside wall available to us is underground and under a front window and in a flower bed. It can't be vented up to the roof because... well its in the basement and we can't have a vent pipe going through our living room. How is venting done in this case or can it be done. There is no where else in the basement it can go I'm at a loss. Also the electric fireplaces say they will only heat 400 sqf.....the area to heat is at least 800 square feet. And we live in Canada so we can't get the vent free ones.

Answer
They make a new fireplace that vents in PVC but they are pricey. From what I have seen of them they can have longer runs that would allow you to run it down the wall farther and just box it in.

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How to save on electric bill?

Future Die

My husband and I moved into a house that is all electric. Our old house had gas heat. So far, we HATE electric heat! It doesn't heat the house very well at all. The temp at night has been in the 40's and the heat seems to always run!

We have shut off the vents in the upstairs, because no one is ever up there. The heat is set on 65. What else can we do to save on our electric bill?

Answer
Insulate your attic and basement

Maintain glazing in window panes and caulk around windows to prevent air leaks. Use weather stripping where needed.

Use the damper in your fireplace

Weatherstrip around doors.

Install insulated drapery on your windows. Open drapes in the morning to let the sun in. Close when the sun goes down to keep the warmth inside.

Unplug all electronic chargers when not in use.

Use Smart Strips on all electronic equipment. This is a multi outlet devise you plug a bunch of things into and turn the strip off to cut off the current to all those electronics that are drawing electricity even when not turned on.

Use a Smart Strip in your kitchen for your microwave and small appliances. Turn it off after every meal.

Change all light bulbs to Compact Florescent Lights.

Wash only full loads of clothing in cold water. Do several loads in a row so you take advantage of the warm dryer.

Take shorter showers.

Is your dryer vent air tight?

Are all storm windows down?

I turn my heat down to 60 degrees at night and sleep under a cozy down filled duvet. It is heavenly.

I turn my heat down to 60 degrees when I leave the house.

Watch television in the dark at night.

Moist air keeps a house warmer than dry air. Add humidity to your home in the winter time.

If you are using your oven tonight, bake the potatoes for tomorrow night's dinner. A toaster oven uses less electricity than a conventional oven and I am a convert since a friend cooked some really delicious meals in that toaster oven of his. I now believe in toaster ovens.

Do not be fooled into thinking you are saving money on your electricity bill if you run appliances in the evening. The fact of the matter is that, yes, electricity is being saved, but the savings is only for the electricity company. Your electric bill is one flat rate per usage and it does not change rates according to the time of day you use your electricity. This is a common misconception most people are lead to believe, when, in fact you pay the same rate morning, noon and night.
Yeah, it is wise to use appliances on off peak hours, but it saves you not one dime on your bill.

What do you do to keep warm during a winter storm without electric?

Q. We may be getting hit pretty good with a snow/ice storm. So we arent used to this weather around here at all! If we lose power, what do we do to heat the house? We have no kerosene heaters and I dont think the fumes would be good around my baby anyway. So other than bundle up.. ??
no fireplace and no wood burning stove. no electric.

Answer
Do you have gas? Like for your water heater? That at least will give you warm water and a way to warm up (hot water bottles if you have them, if you don't then you can put rocks in hot water and let it get warm then put it in bed with you.) Also that means warm bottles and you can warm food in it.

Otherwise, what we do in that sort of situation is to everyone be in mommy and daddy's room. We close the door, bundle up with blankets, and get warm. The bodies in the room tend to make the room warmer. We've blocked windows with plastic so there's no drafts, so it really does get quite warm in there with just my husband and I, let alone my daughter and baby son. We also have a fireplace though so if it was really bad we'd probably camp out in the living room as a family and have the fire going.

If you haven't blocked your windows up yet, and have the plastic in the house, do it. If you don't have the plastic, then consider tarps, carpets, heavy blankets, etc. You can usually make one room in your house into a 'cocoon' where everyone can nestle in for warmth. Warm food will be your hardest problem. If your fridge goes out, leave it closed to keep food fresh, but eating cold food isn't going to help you stay warm as much. So if you have things like a kerosene camp stove or those little camp candle things you can heat some food up.

Hopefully you have enough in your house not to have to go out for at least 3 days, but if you do then look for cheap ways to heat food like a camp stove. The fumes aren't good for babies, you're right, but you can take it into a garage or another room (kitchen) and cook there and keep the baby in the family cocoon. Remember hats are a lifesaver for babies, as well as being laid against mom or dad (your body warmth will regulate theirs) so in a storm situation where the room is cold it isn't a bad idea at all to put the baby on your chest and let them sleep there.

Add: I do not recommend leaving your house in a storm with a baby. Not in a million years. You could try starting the car and getting the heater going and sitting in there, but even that doesn't seem wise to me. I mean... what if you drove to a friend's house an hour away and got stuck on the side of the road? Or tried to get to a motel and found it closed? Usually they beg people not to drive in an ice-storm, and being out stuck with no hope of someone coming along to find you for a day or two in a car is a LOT worse than being stuck in your home. With a baby, it's downright dangerous.

If you do need to go out for supplies or something, if there's two of you, one of you stay home with the baby. Again, an adult alone in a car stuck is better than adults and baby. Don't take a baby out in this weather unless there is absolutely no choice (as in, the house is burning down.)

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Is this a pretty bedroom set?

Q. I'm redecorating my room and making it lavender, green, grey/silver and black.


here is the set I'm getting

Bed:

http://www.ashleyfurniture.com/Showroom/LargeProductImage.aspx?PageId=Showroom&SetDomTab=1&ItemNo=B104-67


dresser and mirror:

http://www.ashleyfurniture.com/Showroom/LargeProductImage.aspx?PageId=Showroom&SetDomTab=1&ItemNo=B104-31



nightstand:

http://www.ashleyfurniture.com/Showroom/LargeProductImage.aspx?PageId=Showroom&SetDomTab=1&ItemNo=B104-46



and this tv stand/fireplace/heater:

http://www.electricfireplacesdirect.com/products-accessories/TV-media-consoles/Dimplex-Bennett-Electric-Fireplace-Media-Console-Espresso



im 16 btw. is this a good bedroom?

Answer
I think its really pretty! (=

why wont my wii work?

Jake51

on elda twilight princess for nintendo wii, it tells me to point the controller at the screen but when i do nothing happens. i changed the batteries, synchronized many times and nothing happens

Answer
Do you have the blue light on, indicating your remote is sync'd to position 1? If so, at least your wiimote is sunc'd to the Wii. Sometimes while playing a game, if you switch from say a movement mode, to a targeting mode, the game will tell you to do this(saying "point the controller at the screen"). Aim the wiimote at the screen, and start moving it around slowly. Sometimes, you will see the crosshair appear at the corner of the screen, and then you can move it. It's almost like the crosshair disappeared off the screen.

IF you don't see anythign happening for a bit, try increasing your movements, making larger movements and see if that helps.

Here's some other tips from Nintendo.com

Verify that the Wii Remote's pointer lens is free of obstructions and contamination (stickers, heavy smudges, etc.). The pointer lens is the tinted rectangle at the end of the Wii Remote.


Try using another Wii Remote, if possible, and check to see if you experience the same problem.
If only one Wii Remote is not responding correctly, there is likely a problem with the Wii Remote. Please click here for repair information.
If more than one Wii Remote is not responding correctly, or if you only have one Wii Remote, please continue with troubleshooting.


Check the Directional Sensor Functionality by turning the Wii Remote upside down so that the buttons face the ground. If the cursor doesn't point down, this indicates a problem with the motion sensor in the Wii Remote. Please click here for repair information.


Verify that there are no bright light sources, including sunlight, behind or near the TV, shining towards the Wii Remote or reflecting off the TV screen. Avoid sources of infrared light in the gameplay area such as electric, propane or kerosene heaters, flames from fireplaces or candles, and stoves or other sources of heat. If there are bright lights shinning directly behind the TV or on the screen, turn the lights off.


Make sure that the Sensor Bar is setup correctly:
Check the cord on the Sensor Bar for any frayed wires or kinks, and verify that the Sensor Bar is free of obstructions.
Verify that the Wii Remote is being used between 3 and 8 feet directly in front of the TV, and that the Sensor Bar is placed properly (see Sensor Bar setup).
Make sure that the Sensor Bar sensitivity is properly set:
The Sensor Bar sensitivity determines the distance the player can be from the TV. If you move out of the range of the Sensor Bar the cursor can become erratic. For information on adjusting the Sensor Bar sensitivity, click here.
The higher the sensitivity is set, the more susceptible the Sensor Bar is to light and infrared heat sources. Make sure there are no bright light sources, including sunlight, behind or near the TV, shining towards the remote or reflecting off the TV screen. Avoid sources of infrared light in the gameplay area such as electric, propane or kerosene heaters, flames from fireplaces or candles, and stoves or other sources of heat.


Verify Sensitivity Setting dots:
Go to the Sensor Bar's sensitivity setting in the Wii menu (click here for directions on accessing this feature).
If only one or no dots appear on the sensitivity screen, there is likely a problem with the Sensor Bar. Please click here for repair information.
If there are more than two dots, then it appears there is an additional light or infrared heat source being picked up by the Wii Remote. Avoid sources of infrared light in the gameplay area such as electric, propane or kerosene heaters, flames from fireplaces or candles, and stoves or other sources of heat.
If both dots appear and the erratic behavior continues even when you move closer to the TV, there is likely a problem with the Wii console and it will need to be repaired. Please click here for repair options.

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gas or electric fireplace?

jonass21

I have a 224 sqft room that has an old in wall gas heater. I want to tear out the old in wall heater and put in a fireplace, should I go electric or gas? Which is cheaper to run? Would electric add as much value to the home as gas?

Answer
Electric fireplaces are strictly for looks or for adding to spaces where there simply is no means of installing a fireplace or the cost to do so is prohibitive. They produce about as much heat as a hair dryer and the flame effect looks very unrealistic.

A gas fireplace can heat the entire room...along with a good portion of the house, depending on the type of fireplace you choose and the efficiency. Gas fireplaces come in 4 different types:

1) Natural Vent (least efficient)
2) Direct Vent (very efficient)
3) Ventless or Vent-Free (super efficient...but with drawbacks)
4) Wood Burning Fireplace with a Gas Log Installed (Vented of Ventless gas logs)

An electric fireplace will add little or no value to the home. The above 4 types of fireplaces will add value to the home. A wood burning fireplace with a gas log added to it will add the most value to the home because it allows a potential buyer to remove the gas logs and burn real wood if they so choose. A vented gas log installed in a wood burning fireplace will give you the most realistic looking fire but produces the least amount of heat. A ventless gas log installed in the same wood burning fireplace will be less realistic but will provide the most heat.

There is a significant expense involved in installing a fireplace. Ventless gas fireplaces are the least expensive to install since they do not have a chimney or vent. A direct vent gas fireplace is next as far as installation expense if it can be installed on an outside wall because the vent can come directly out the back of the fireplace and go through the wall with a termination cap just outside (no vertical chimney). Natural Vent gas fireplaces and Wood Burning fireplaces both require a chimney or vent that goes vertically through the roof, so they are more expensive to install. There are huge differences in the prices of each fireplace itself in addition to the cost of installation. For example, a wood burning fireplace and chimney pipe will cost substantially less than a direct vent gas fireplace, but the installation cost will make the overall cost substantially more for a wood burning unit.

I would suggest Googling the above fireplace terms and doing some research. Then go visit a local fireplace shop...they should be able to explain the differences between all of the above options including an electric fireplace.

Electric fireplace?

Q. We bought a beautiful house that is perfect in every way, except for a very ugly fake fireplace. My house is traditional, but the mantel is light oak. Well, actually, it is just about perfect after I have spent 4 years and a lot of money. My last project is the fireplace, and my budget can't take a custom-made job. We are total electric so I don't have the choice of using gas. The electric fireplace w/mantel that I found at Lowe's is made of fake, cheap looking material. If I go through my decorator and her carpenter, it would be perfect, but would cost $6,000 to $10,000. I've done a lot of searching on the web, but I'm confused. I would appreciate any suggestions. My furniture is cherry, some dark antique pieces, and I have a black baby grand, so I need a fireplace that is not only functional but fits with my decor. Thanks!
There is no indention into the wall. They just put Italian marble (strange) where the fireplace would be. It's all flat with the wall. I have a hand-painted screen in front of it, but it is still a useless waste of a long wall. The dimplex is beautiful. Thanks for recommending that. Not sold here, but is available within 200 miles. Such nice people here! Some of the categories have such *angry* people. I was prepared to be insulted. :)

Answer
if you already have a fireplace replace the mantel with one that matches your decor and then just order the logs and a log stand then insert them into your fireplace and plug in when they are on they look real especially if you keep the doors closed a little no one will know we did something simualar but we made a box inserted it into the wall witch backed up to a closet and then we put the screen on and then the logs and when ever any one comes over they think that it is real cause no one looks that close to a fireplace to know if it is real or not good luck hope all works

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