Gel Fireplaces are great! We use a metal Gelfuel opener / closer that holds the lid of the canister with a magnet so you can extinguish the flame and close the can without getting your fingers near the flame. These are available from Just Fireplaces for about 12.00. http://www.justfireplaces.com or http://www.gelflame.com. This will conserve your fuel and is safer. Here is a link that might be useful: Just Fireplaces

Well one way to look at it is that the gel logs are certainly better than nothing and good for old fireplaces which only have brick lined flues or cracked/broken flues which would otherwise need a re-build or re-line. They're easy to light and extinguish, (basically on-demand for both), last a fair amount of time and do put out some heat. However, not a lot of heat. While you can burn some of them with the damper closed, you still should leave it open a crack. The main thing is that depending on the model they either look nice or look like three big cans of Sterno on fire since that is basically what gelled alcohol is. There is one I really like where you pour the fuel in a log set reservoir and the fire burns through slits in the log set. It looks a lot more like a real fire rather than a flaming buffet behind a concrete log. It's called the Condar Flamenco and is about twice the price you saw on QVC. The link is at the bottom. Here is a link that might be useful: Condar Flamenco

Is it safe to have a gel fuel log set inside a stone/mason fireplace that is surrounded by wood? Instead of making a metal insert for this wood fireplace surround, I could easily make a masonry insert. I'm just not sure if the masonry would get hot and burn and of the wood.

I have read and re-read this post a thousand times. And just like Sherry74, I have spent well over $100 dollars on several stains, GF, Minwax Polyshades, Old Masters, Minwax Express, and even Varathane Stain+Poly. I have been practicing on a scrap cabinet sectioned off into small squares by blue tape, and for the past two months my fingers have been permanently stained brown. My goal has never been dark cabinets, but rather a rich medium brown (think warm walnut) that still allows the wood to show through. I have tried everything with the gel stain, quick wipe on - wipe off, longer wait time followed by wipe off, no wipe off, all applied in every way conceivable; sock, foam brush, and a good quality paint brush. Everything ended up looking about like Sherry74's cabinets. Then I tried building up layers of Polyshades, that went on so translucently that by the time I got to the color I wanted, there was sticky residue in every corner. However, enough experimenting to rival a woodshop, I think I have finally found the magic combination. * First a good cleaning with a green scrubbing pad and cleaner. * Then a very light sanding just to scuff the surface. * Next two lightly brushed on coats of brown paint mixed 1 part paint to 4 parts Valspar Clear Mixing Glaze. This tones down the grain and seals the dryest parts while staying translucent. (I used Valspar paint in Pumpernickel.) There is a great blog out there by Jenny on her blog Anything Pretty (linked at the bottom?) * Then one lightly brushed on coat of a 1:2mix of GF Walnut gel stain and Polyshades in Honey Satin. * Finally, when completely dry, one to two coats of GF Wipeon Clear Gel Coat. This method allowed all the working time of regular stain, without all the sanding. I am ready to start in my master bathroom. I will post pictures when I get done.