How to Build a Decorative Fireplace for a Gel Fuel Log

A gel fuel log is a faux piece of firewood that serves as a holder for cans of flammable gel. If you have a gel fuel log that you want to use as a decoration, you can put together a wooden craft fireplace with wood and wood glue. You can do this without a pattern and with a few simple materials that you can find around your house or at your local craft or hardware store.

18-inch-long, 4-inch-wide by 2-inch-deep pieces of wood (2)
26-inch-long, 2-inch-wide by 2-inch-deep pieces of wood (2)
Circular saw
Wood glue
Vise clamps
Polyurethane
Paintbrush
Glue gun
Glass pieces, broken tiles, river rocks or buttons

Instructions

- 1
  Use a circular saw or have the wood pieces cut to the appropriate dimensions at a hardware store. For a gel log that is 24 inches long, you should have two pieces of wood that are 18 inches in length. These will be the two sides of the fireplace. You will also need two 26-inch-long pieces of wood for the top and bottom of the fireplace.
- 2
  Place one of the 26-inch planks on a flat work surface. Line the right and left borders of the blank with wood glue. Then place the two 18-inch planks in the glue so that the planks are standing up vertically on the bottom plank. Clamp vises to the joints to keep the planks in place then let the glue dry overnight.
- 3
  Glue the second 26-inch wood piece across the top of the two vertical pieces to form the top of the fireplace.
- 4
  Varnish the fireplace with polyurethane and let it dry.
- 5
  Load a hot glue gun with a glue stick and plug it in. Squeeze glue onto the back of decorative glass pieces, broken tiles, river rocks and even buttons. Place the novelty items onto the fireplace frame to match your personal style or design aesthetic.
- 6
  Place the gel fuel canisters into the faux log.

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