Seeing as how the weather will dip next week into Snowpocalpse II, Frozen Boogaloo (See the Possible Winter Weather Thread), I was thinking about getting a steel fireplace reflector to improve the heating effect of my builder grade fireplace a little. My steel fabricator could also make one for me extremely cheap, though it wouldn't be stainless.
*Can anyone with the stainless type vouch for their usefulness?
*Would a 1/4" Steel version do any good, or am I better off going stainless?

I realize best case I'd be going from losing heat up the chimney to maybe slightly heating the room.

In a newer home that's fairly well sealed running the fireplace may be pulling in more cold are than it is creating.

I'm guessing that thing isn't doing much more than acting as a heat shield for the thin masonry on the back of your pre fab fire place. Not a bad thing, my Dad runs Mesquite in his and has cracked the back wall a few times. That might be a good Christmas gift.

Have him make something like this, then attach a blower.

Do you have one of these bad boys?

Click the link in the text.