I understand that natural gas is going up 25%, would it be cheaper to heat with electricity or kerosene?

Lynne

Answer
Natural gas is still the cheapest way to heat a home.

(Propane is not the same thing and costs about as much as gasoline.)

The price of wood, either cord or pellets have gone up for most of the nation so that actually costs more than natural gas unless you can get the wood for practically nothing. Even then, if you burn it in an open fireplace with no outside air intake you could actually lose more heat than you gain as it will cause a vacuum in the home pulling in cold outside air through all the cracks. You will feel warm in front of the fireplace but elsewhere in the house it will be colder.

Electricity is a good heating method if you have very cheap electricity, such as from your own solar or wind power system. But as demand goes up, so does the price and those who went "all electric" years ago are wishing they had not.

Kerosene is nothing but a variation of jet engine fuel, home heating oil and diesel. Expect to pay about the same as diesel for it. Good for heating one or two rooms but not the whole house.

The best bang for your buck right now is to take advantage of the power companies deals for insulating your home. Some of they will pay you 50% of the cost if you add 2-3 inches of more insulation to your attic.

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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how do electric fireplaces work?

beach answ

would like to put an electric fireplace in my house, but don't know anything about them.

how do they work? does it just plug in? does it give off heat? use wood? expensive to operate? expensive to purchase? easily installed?

Answer
Electric fireplaces are really just decorative. a 110 unit will produce about 4,500 BTU worth of heat, a 220 will produce about 9,500. Not very much either way. They are VERY easily installed, plug it in and you're done, and fairly inexpensive to buy $300-$1500. A lot of the cost depends on the mantel you choose. They basically just use lights and mirrors to give the "flame" effect, but they're pretty cute.

how effecient per the price, are electric fireplaces? and how well do they heat?

Randall M

Answer
VERY EFFICIENT AND HEATS GREAT!!!

My friend has one and it looks sooo real! It also heats up her living room in no time.

The flame of an electric fireplace uses slightly under 300 Watts of power. With an average electricity rate, the unit operates for a remarkable 2 cents an hour providing all the warmth, ambiance and romance of a fireplace. When you choose to activate the heat feature, the total cost to operate the flame and heater is approximately 7 cents an hour.

The cost of operating may vary slightly among different models. However, since the operation cost of a gas fireplace runs around 17 cents an hour, an electric fireplace proves to be extremely cost-effective and a great value for your money.

These fireplaces are energy efficient because the heat is not going out the chimney of your home. And they can give you instant heat. Depending on the size of your home you may want to first check out these fireplaces and read how many square feet they will heat in your home. Each home will be different depending on the size of the home and how large of a area you are wanting to heat.

Electric fireplaces are getting to be more and more popular these days. You can put them anywhere in your house and they are very easy to install in your home. Electric Fireplaces are a great way to add a warm feeling to your room. They warm up your room nicely and have the look of a real wood fireplace.

They can be put a in any room of your house because they don't need a chimney for them to work. All you need is a close electrical outlet in the room where you are going to place your fireplace. They are very convenient and can be installed in a matter of minutes. People love these types of fireplaces because there is nothing for them to clean up because there is no wood involved. If you are going to decorate or remodel your home this would be a great touch in any room of your house. They are great looking and serve a good purpose in your home.

A electric fireplace is operated just like a electric heater. Except along with the heat that it can put out it also has a illuminated look to it that can make it look like it has real embers and flames burning just like a wood fireplace would look. And some of these fireplaces come with fan forced heat and a thermostat. They come in different looking cabinets and different colors to choose from. And if you want you can buy a electric fireplace insert to use in the existing fireplace in your home. So you have different options when buying a electric fireplace. Some of these fireplaces will also allow you to just turn the flames on without turning the heat on if you prefer. This is a very nice feature. If you just want to sit back and watch your fireplace without having the heat.

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