This is the fire I had assembled on the table:
You will need:
1) Chinese fogger from air humidifiers.
2) PC power supply
3) PC cooler
4) Halogen lamp 12 Volt red
5) Epoxy resin (lots of it)
6) Silicone (any cheap one, plenty)
7) 220 Volt halogen lamps (Flickering like a candle. Sold in stores.)
So.... I promised my daughter a “fireplace” for the New Year.... Closer to the point, I discovered that the fireboxes available for sale are either not even close to realistic, or cost fabulous money (2 thousand euros and more). I decided to do it myself..
The “fire” itself, after much experimentation, was made from (on Ali Express it costs about $3.5). I didn’t photograph that process, but it was simple - I made a metal container, attached a fogger and a cooler, and in the top cover there was a slot for the “steam” to escape.
Here's the diagram:
As is clear from the diagram, the fog formed by the fogger accumulates in a container above the water. The cooler pumps air and the mist escapes into a slot in the top cover. At the same time, it is illuminated by a halogen lamp in an orange-red color. It turns out to be "fire". And above, the fog condenses, and since the lamp does not illuminate there, it turns out “smoke”... It is important that the structure is tightly covered with the top cover. Because fog is heavier than air, and if it has a “loophole”, it will pour out anywhere but up. I did this: I covered the edges of the resulting container with a thick layer of silicone, and on it I applied a piece of laminate spread with liquid soap (so as not to stick) and let it dry. I got a perfectly even elastic band around the edge. The top cover, made of a two-millimeter steel sheet and painted with nitro paint, fits tightly onto it.
After that, I started making the “fire” itself. I collected coals from extinct fires in the forest and coated them with construction silicone.
After drying, I removed the silicone molds and poured epoxy into them, which I had previously tinted red. (Since it itself is yellow, it turned out orange). After removing the mold, I sharpened the burnt logs, and then poured epoxy into the mold and inserted them back. I took out the finished “coals” and painted them with matte black paint from a spray can. 
That's all, actually.... I placed 220 Volt neon lamps on the top cover. (They flicker), after which he built a “bonfire”. I powered everything except the neon lights from the computer power supply - it was lying around because the voltage in it was unstable. And for my needs - just right. From it I got 24 Volts for the fogger, 12 for the cooler and halogen.
All. All that remains is to build it all into the fireplace portal. (I'll talk about this later)
For humans, fire has always been a symbol of purification, comfort, wealth, and is the personification of truth. It is not surprising that people still dream of crackling wood in the fireplace and want to watch the play of the flames. Not every home has the opportunity to install a real fireplace. But there are technologies with which you can make an imitation. To make the picture as realistic as possible, you can make decorative firewood for a fireplace with lighting yourself.
Simulated flame
To create an artificial fire in a fireplace with your own hands, you can use other people’s experience, rich in original ideas:
- the basis of the design is the TV screen;
- fire is simulated thanks to a three-dimensional image;
- the illusion of burning is created;
- cold fire and fan;
- fire effect from the steam generator;
- real logs with special lighting.
LCD screen as the basis of the design
A TV screen of suitable size is installed inside the false fireplace; ideally, an LCD screen is suitable. Then you need to find a video with the effect of flickering flames and with a sound reminiscent of the crackling of burning logs, connect it to the TV and enjoy the spectacle. The artificial fire for the fireplace is ready.
This method is considered the most accessible. Decorating your home with a fire hologram will not be difficult. The picture in 3D format is placed in a decorative fireplace so that its edges are invisible. The optical illusion occurs thanks to the LED backlight circuit.
Do-it-yourself artificial firewood for the fireplace will serve as an excellent addition to the decoration.
Create the illusion of fire
To realize the idea, mirrors are needed; they are placed in the fireplace and give the illusion of space. The angles between the glasses should be different. LED lamps are additionally used to design the virtual flame. The model works as follows: the fire of an electric fireplace is reflected from a mirror surface. Due to the fact that the mirrors distort the image, a three-dimensional effect is achieved, sparks seem to fly, and flames move in all directions. You want to admire such a spectacle for a long time, because the fire is very similar to a sparkling fire.
Cold Fire
The easiest way to create a decorative fire for a fireplace is to use an ordinary fan and scraps of red fabric. The process will not take much time. Triangular pieces of fabric are glued to the edges of the cardboard box. LED lamps of blue, red and yellow colors are mounted in the corners, and small mirrors and optical filters on the sides. The fan is installed so that the blown air flows move upward.
At the final stage, the product is placed in the fireplace and connected to the electrical network.
Fire created using a steam generator
Complex designs look most believable. Thanks to the water vapor generator, you get a stunningly beautiful hearth with an artificial flame. This requires patience and several components at once:
- small fan;
- ultrasonic fog generators, 3 pieces;
- container for water;
- distilled water;
- LED lamp, but a simple one will do;
- cardboard box.
Fog generators are placed at the bottom of the box. A ventilation device is attached to the side. Water is poured into a container and placed on top of the ultrasonic devices. The lamp is fixed above the fan. The structure is connected to the network.
Artificial fire produced using a generator turns out to be quite realistic.
Natural logs with backlight
You can use real logs as decorative firewood for a fireplace illuminated by LED strip. LEDs of yellow, red and white colors are suitable for this. The logs are beautifully placed on a shelf inside the fireplace, fastened together, and then randomly wrapped with LED strip. Flickering lights and natural wood complement the interior and look stylish and original.
If an electric fireplace is installed in the house, then it is better to choose special heat-resistant firewood. Artificial fireplace logs are made from ceramics. They are safe and durable. LED lighting is also appropriate here.
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Many people like to watch the flames. At the same time, not everyone can place a real hearth with a real fire and firewood at home. Nowadays, there is a way out; it’s quite possible to make a false fireplace yourself; all you need to do is prepare: drywall (gypsum plasterboard), tools, and a good mood. However, when the installation of the frame is completed, the question arises of how to simulate a real flame in a fake fireplace.
Decorative home hearths made of gypsum plasterboard require compliance with fire safety standards, since such a design is designed exclusively for artificial fire.
Most often, craftsmen use the following types of fire imitation:
- Use of steam.
- Creation of "theater fire".
- Use of salt lamps.
- Installation in the TV hearth.
The most difficult way to create a decorative flame is with steam. Not everyone can create such an imitation, because it will require a specific set of components and special equipment, as well as skills in working with electronics.
To make a fire of this kind, you need to prepare:
- DMX controller.
- Fan with a diameter of 9 cm.
- LED RGB lamp.
- DMX decoder.
- 3 ultrasonic fog generators.
These devices must be selected according to the parameters of the built fireplace, the layout, as well as the manufacturer and characteristics. It all depends on what initial result the master wants to get. All these devices are included in steam electric fireplaces, as well as concert electrical devices that create the effect of steam.
If the devices are connected correctly, it is possible to make an imitation using a cold glow system, which makes it possible to make a fire simulator that is difficult to distinguish from a real hearth.
If the master wants to use exactly this method of simulating a flame, it is important to provide the necessary parameters for the components and mount the fireplace of the required size.
The operating principle of such an electric fireplace looks like this:
- A fog generator should be placed at the bottom of the container into which water is previously poured.
- The generator has a membrane that creates vibrations at a specific ultrasonic frequency, providing reduced pressure. Therefore, it turns out, one might say, a vacuum and the water evaporates at room temperature.
- Thanks to this, the steam rises.
- The top is illuminated with an LED lamp.
- A diaphragm is installed above the structure.
Assembly using technology will make it possible to create a more natural imitation of flame yourself in a false fireplace. The second way is the theatrical option. As is already clear, this method is used in theatrical circles for various kinds of productions. However, it is also suitable for making a dummy, imitation of fire.
To make such an imitation yourself, you need to prepare the following items:
- A piece of light white silk fabric.
- 3 halogen lamps with reflectors.
- Silent, powerful fan.
- 3 filters: red, orange and blue.
- A box or a special bowl for assembling a false structure.
When everything is prepared, you can begin assembly according to the following scheme. A fan should be installed at the bottom of the box or bowl. The cord must be routed out. Next, you need to attach halogen lamps to one axis so that the light is directed upward. Then, at a distance of 20 mm above the lamps, you need to install light filters.
From the prepared material, you need to cut shreds of various sizes, preferably triangular in shape, as they will be more realistic.
The next step is to attach the flaps to the box, bowl along the edges of the fan. When the fan is turned on, a fire that is not real, but very similar to a natural one, will appear in the fireplace. This method is quite simple and makes it possible to create an almost real, mesmerizing flame in the fireplace.
Artificial fire for the fireplace: salt lamp
The use of salt lamps in artificial fireplaces to recreate a decorative flame is beneficial and is considered an effective method. A salt lamp is a special lighting device whose lampshade is made of untouched salt crystal. In the inner part of such a lampshade there is a regular light bulb.
When the lamp is connected, the lampshade begins to heat up and release negative ions into the air.
They bind positive ions (from household appliances), which have a detrimental effect on human health, thereby helping to improve the well-being of home residents. The disadvantages of this method include the rather high price of salt lamps, and the advantages: realism, aesthetics and ease of installation.
By using lampshades of various colors, it is possible to effectively and very simply create a non-natural flame in your fireplace yourself. In addition, by using several lamps of different sizes at once, it is possible to create an imitation of a fire.
DIY fireplace replica: TV instead of a fireplace
Another easy way to create a non-natural flame in a fireplace is to use a flat-panel LCD TV. But this method is considered the most expensive, since such equipment is expensive. Special LCD TVs have been developed that are produced specifically for artificial fireplaces.
They contain video footage of:
- Playing tongues of flame;
- With smoldering coals;
- With a bright fire.
This recording goes on in the hearth of the false fireplace. Sometimes a TV can be supplemented with special optics, which consists of light filters. With its help, the image of fire will be the most expressive and voluminous. In addition to this optics, it is possible to use a mirror system. They are located in the corners of the fireplace, and the picture turns out to be more realistic; such lighting looks very beautiful. In rare cases, it is possible to use holographic installations. But this is not quite profitable.
Decorative firewood for the fireplace
In specialized salons you can find an abundance of options for such products; quite realistic firewood with a natural log pattern is available for sale. They can be plastic or ceramic. Any imitation, purchased or made independently, is intended to add realism to a decorative fireplace in order to help you feel all the splendor: home comfort, harmony, tranquility and warmth.
Imitation of plastic firewood or coals, has a fairly simple operating principle.
Coal and firewood are illuminated with red lighting. The light bulb can be located inside the firewood. Of course, this is not so reliable, but still. More expensive electric fireplaces are characterized by flickering or a picture of artificially transmitted tongues of fantastic flame. It is possible due to a special mechanism in which special elements rotate around the lamp, alternating with transparent and shaded areas. Such lighting can be located either behind the fake logs, or in the inner part.
Exactly the same lighting system can be used to achieve the effect of fire, using natural coal, which should be placed in the niche of a false fireplace. In this case, the backlight should be placed from the bottom.
A believable imitation of fire in a fireplace with your own hands (video)
So, in an apartment there is absolutely no possibility of installing a real fireplace. However, a fireplace, even if it is artificial, requires imitation of a realistic flame. You can do this yourself in several ways, described above.
Today, many people have bio-fireplaces, traditional wooden hearths or potbelly stoves in their country houses. Some prefer an exact copy of historical models, others adhere to strict symmetry in the design of such a device. Fireplaces are decorated with carvings, bas-reliefs, sculptures, and various paintings. However, without natural firewood you will not warm your home or soul. Ensure the operation of stove equipment using natural fuel - wood.
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Peculiarities
This material is intended for combustion in fireplaces and furnaces. With its help you can achieve the necessary heat, heat and lighting in the room. Loft, urban chic, country, eco and many others styles are more popular than ever. In them, a mandatory element of the interior is a lounge area, which is not complete without decorative fireplaces. Firewood for them can be purchased sawn or chopped.
The main property of the material should be a minimum amount of moisture. Most often, firewood has a standard size of 25 to 33 cm. Products are sold by weight, they are packaged or supplied in bulk storage meters.
With the right choice of fuel, a fireplace will bring an atmosphere of comfort and special magic to your home. Of all the currently known “food” for it, firewood is the most environmentally friendly option. When crackling, they create a charming smell, which has the best effect on human health.
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What can you heat with?
Any fireplace installation can be heated using briquettes, birch, beech or brushwood from any fruit tree, juniper branches, etc. Owners of country fireplaces believe that a wonderful alternative to charred logs - briquettes, which burn several times more intensely, give greater heat transfer, leaving a minimum soot and taking up minimal space in the house.
Ordinary firewood is much cheaper, even species such as alder and aspen, pine, pear, and apple. The dry matter mass in briquettes is minimal. When kindling, they are placed on paper or birch bark. Both materials ignite equally well. The burning time of a briquette will be much longer than a standard log, but the aesthetic beauty of the flames will be provided by brushwood, stumps and roots.
The British are using an amazing secret to reduce soot in their chimneys. They throw a pinch of salt on the logs or briquettes during each laying. They are also often placed in a vertical position for a much more vigorous and energetic burn. With firewood in your supply, you will have half an hour for heating, and with briquettes - a full hour.
For open structures, increased fire safety requirements and good ventilation of the room are required. They serve primarily to heat the room and consume from 200 to 1000 m3 of air per hour. It is important to lay the floor around such a structure from non-combustible materials (tiles, stone, etc.). It is best to use beech and birch firewood for hornbeam.
For closed structures, you can even choose oak, aspen, or fruit tree logs. In this case, the degree of fire hazard is reduced, and unpleasant odors of combustion products do not spread into the room. The only question remains about the chimney, which will become more clogged.
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What can't you heat?
Wood from pine and spruce would not be the best option for fireplaces, as they increase the risk of fires. Despite this, they give a pleasant New Year's smell. Yew, hornbeam, etc. will cause great difficulties in lighting a fireplace. Coniferous trees have a high resin content, which means they are the most flammable. Under no circumstances should you heat the room with sawdust or the remains of old furniture, which may contain varnish or paint.
Which ones are better?
It is believed that the main fuel for any fireplace is deciduous trees. First of all, you should pay attention to hardwoods, such as oak and birch. It is worth noting that when burning they emit a little heat, but they have a fairly high flame value and burn for a long time. Alder and fruit firewood are in demand. They should be moderately dried and not have a gray tint.
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Fuel briquettes
Briquettes are considered an excellent replacement for firewood and coal (they also belong to the category of hardwood). Such Euro-firewood is suitable for boiler rooms, home Russian stoves, and fireplaces. They are produced from industrial waste, for example, woodworking, food: rice husks, various seeds, tyrsa, peat, sawdust, etc.
The briquette contains an adhesive element, which experts call a binder. To obtain maximum strength, the product can be strongly pressed and dried. The material does not pose any harm to human health.
Its main features are:
- high heat transfer due to humidity of 4-8%;
- high density 0.95-1 g/cm3, affecting the calorific value;
- ergonomic material that takes up minimal space in the house, utility room, basement;
- environmentally friendly (they do not pollute the environment);
- low humidity, which produces some soot.
Fuel briquettes are supplied in three formats: pini-key, roof and nestro with the same chemical composition. The greatest heat transfer comes from a product made from seed husks, the least from rice husks.
Pressed
The production of briquettes is not complete without a hydraulic or mechanical press. Such models do not contain harmful binders to health, have different shapes and resemble ordinary firewood. Experts recommend avoiding fireplace fuel made from waste from plywood mills. In some cases, the manufacturer uses not only pressing, but also firing of surfaces. Popular companies producing such materials are C.F. Nielsen, Pini-kay, RUF, Nestro, etc.
Pine
Pine is the best option for fireplaces; it will serve as fuel for open structures, but in small quantities. People are afraid to buy pine logs for only one simple reason: they are highly flammable and instantly flare up, increasing the risk of a fire. On the other hand, pine gives an exceptional aroma associated with comfort and a homely atmosphere. They contain a huge amount of resin, so you can’t do without crackling, smokiness, and sparkle.
Birch
Birch logs emit enormous amounts of heat when burned. You can spend hours watching the high, bright flames. As long as the fireplace is burning, pleasant aromas and special substances that can purify the air will not leave the room. An important advantage of birch firewood was its low price, but its disadvantage was the large and rapid accumulation of soot in the chimney.
Aspen
Aspen is one of those species that has soft wood, which means it burns well and practically does not spark. The density of the dry material is 0.37 g/cm3. The main advantage of such firewood: minimal smoke, incredibly bright fire. It will not only create a soulful atmosphere in the room, but will also “clean” the chimney pipe of soot due to the high column of combustion. Aspen can be combined with oak or birch logs in order to increase the combustion rate.
Oak
Oak has the greatest heat transfer of all known species - 4.2 kWh/kg. The only negative is the difficulty of splitting oak firewood, which does not affect their high demand at all. They are hardwoods, give off a pleasant aroma, and are affordable.
Alder
Alder logs and branches can ignite instantly. Compared to other breeds, they emit less heat, but they burn soot excellently and clean chimneys. When burning, alder releases special substances into the air, which, among other things, effectively fight colds.
How to light a fireplace with glass?
A glass fireplace will retain its transparency and neat appearance if it uses a special type of firewood, even better decorative (models with lighting, ceramic products, etc.).
It's always nice to watch the dance of fire through huge glasses with wide viewing angles, in which soot does not appear immediately. The cleanliness and transparency of the glass surface is influenced by the quality of the fuel you choose.
Buy firewood with a moisture content of less than 20%. Such dry material naturally exhibits an even flame, which means it reduces the risk of heavy smoke and soot formation. Conifers placed in the firebox, which spark, crackle and clog not only the glass “panorama”, but also the chimney itself due to its resin content, would not be the best solution.
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How to light a fireplace correctly?
You don't want to get burned after several fires, do you? To do this, you need to learn the technology of normal draft and how to properly reduce the volume of smoke in a stove or fireplace. While you enjoy the sonorous crackling of wood, a natural combustion product, carbon dioxide, is released into the air. Most of it goes into the chimney and out. But some of it still remains indoors. It is important to adjust your traction so as not to burn out during rest, sleep, etc.
It is important to use “fuel” with a minimum percentage of moisture, less than 20%. Ignition should be carried out in such a way that the temperature increases gradually. The source of smoke is bark, so it is best to use wood that has been pre-cleaned or rounded.
It is also necessary to systematically check the tightness and integrity of the heating system (stoves, fireboxes, fireplaces). Experts do not recommend closing the damper during ignition. Through a small sash or opening, the intensity of the draft will be adjusted.
Many people wonder what to do if both firewood and briquettes burn poorly. In this case, it is worth using additional materials for high-quality kindling: shavings, thin chips, branches, etc.
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How to style it beautifully?
For a beautiful installation, arm yourself with firewood of approximately the same size. It is better if their length is 4-7 cm less than the depth of the firebox. First, you need to lay kindling, wood chips in the form of a slide, and on top, at a distance of 10-15 cm from the bottom, the firewood itself, like a “pioneer fire”.
How much do you need?
When choosing a budget or expensive option for fireplace equipment, an important criterion is the capacity of the firebox, how much wood will optimally fit into it. Dry, but not rotten, firewood should occupy no more than ¾ of the structure itself. If these are thick logs, it is enough to use 3-4 pieces, and if we are talking about birch, aspen, poplar logs, up to 10 pieces will be required.
Nowadays, creating a complete interior is a sustainable trend. In such an interior, every detail is thought out, and it looks holistic and complete. By installing a fireplace in a house, the owner wants to achieve a special aura of comfort, coziness and warmth in the room. In this case, the heating functions are of secondary importance for it.
In modern homes, bio-fireplaces and electric fireplaces are often installed, the operating principle of which differs significantly from the standard model. However, to create a complete picture, it is customary to use decorative firewood for the fireplace, with the help of which the necessary surroundings are reproduced. In this article we will talk in more detail about how imitation firewood and coals are used in practice, what options you can choose and how to make such items yourself.
Fire bursting between ceramic firewood
General points
First of all, let’s formulate more precisely the idea of why such dummies are still needed. The main goal of dummies of firewood for an electric fireplace or bio-fireplace is to make them as similar as possible to the classic analogue that runs on solid fuel. Because if you compare these devices in finished, assembled form, the striking differences immediately catch your eye. Ceramic decorative firewood attracts attention, covers the design details, improves the aesthetic appearance of the device and creates a clearer atmosphere in general.
Modern electric and biological fireplaces do not emit smoke or heat; for the most part, they are purely decorative devices. That is why the naturalness of what is happening is not felt to the proper extent, and the aura of true comfort is slightly blurred.
Decorative logs that imitate real wooden firewood are designed to bring back this unique feeling. They allow you to create an excellent visual sequence, which, together with our subconscious, complements the overall picture with the necessary elements.
Successful imitation of birch firewood
It is not possible to install a real stove or fireplace in a city apartment, but an ecological or electric option is quite acceptable. To make the system more natural, it is decorated with artificial firewood or coals specially made for fireplaces of this category. Thus, we can safely conclude that the main consumers of such products are city residents.
Available options
In specialized stores you can find artificial firewood made from a variety of materials. Most often, plastic, ceramics, and stone are used for production. For connoisseurs of natural things, ordinary logs treated with special compounds are offered.
