I’m always looking for new ways of of using common household materials in a survival situation. The other day I came across how you can take old newspapers and turn them into logs that can be used for fuel similar to any other log.
How to Make Logs from Newspaper
Step 1: Soak the Newspaper
| The first thing you need to do is soak the newspaper it a sink or bucket. It helps to separate the newspapers into its smaller sections. |
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Step 2: Drain and Lay Out the Paper
| After completely saturating the paper (usually by soaking for at least an hour) pull the paper from the water, let it drain completely and then lay it out into sections of 1-3 sheets — staggered much like fallen dominoes. |
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Step 3: Roll the Wet Newspaper Around a Dowel
| Then take a dowel and roll the wet paper around it squeezing the paper as it’s rolled to ensure that it sticks together. |
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Step 4: Continue Rolling Until Desired Thickness is Acheived
| Continue with the above step until you’ve rolled the newspaper log into your desired thickness. |
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Step 5: Thoroughly Dry your New Newspaper Log
| Slide off the paper log and let it dry for a few days (a lot quicker if you place it on a woodstove, outside in the sun or in front of the heating vents. Basically anywhere where the moisture will come off quicker. |
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Lighting Your Newspaper Firewood
If you’ve made these correctly, they should be pretty dense. Because of this, you cannot simply take your bic and light them up like you would newspaper. Treat them just like any other wood log in that they require smaller sticks or kindling to light. And just like wood logs, you’ll need a good bed of coals or at least a pair of logs to maintain the burn.
These paper “logs” will also produce more ash than traditional logs. Just be sure they are completely dry before burning and you’ll be able surprised at the heat output that your old newspaper can give off.
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this could come in real handy thanks for the tip
You’re very welcome kadath.
Thanks a lot man you just saved me a bunch of money and this is a great way to recycle too!
Excellent tip!
Thanks Andri!
Several years ago we bought a “newspaper log roller” from one of the big-box home improvement stores. It fed and pressed the paper against a metal, hand-cranked rod, while squeezing out the excess water. It worked pretty well. I don’t know if these are still available anywhere.
I have actually seen these still available. However, I heard they don’t provide the needed compression that allows it to burn long (since you roll the newspaper dry). Wetting the paper first and then rolling provides a nice solid log.
A good idea but it would take ages. An easier way is to buy a fire brick maker which compresses the papers into little bricks.
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/house-misc/newspaper-briquette-maker/1170314/
That’s a sweet little tool. I’ll have to look into that. Thanks for the tip.
Does anyone else find it a bit amusing you’re taking newspaper, which is made from cutting down tree’s, cut to shreds, and made into paper- and rolling it up to make a log out of paper?
XD
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good idea. I just find it very ironic.
I know, a bit ironic isn’t it.
In a survival situation newspaper is far more valuable as a fire starter than as an actual fuel source. You are taking an excellent kindling material and wasting a large amount of effort and resources making it into a mediocre log. The water you used to soak the newspaper would be contaminated from both the ink and the paper itself (newspaper is pretty nasty stuff). This is also extremely dangerous advice because newspaper would never dry out in an actual cold, hostile environment. The person following your advice would have just rendered their fuel source useless.
I’m not trying to sound like a jerk, but come on. This advice is impractical at best and deadly at worst.
I think the point would be to make them now. If these would burn as well as, and as long as, real wood logs, I’m sure the decrease in weight would be awesome; no one’s going to be carrying real logs around though, so the benefit is just having the fuel. Plus you aren’t carrying around flammable liquids, which can spill and be wasted, and possibly even get in your way or hurt you. Kindling is easy to find, and if it has snowed or rained, you can always break your log up.
OHHHH and also, the real point is that it’s just kinda cool.
exactly
I wonder what the energy density (caloric content) is for newspaper logs compared to oak. We burn mostly blackjack oak for winter heat, and it is such a dense fuel source that i’d never consider replacing it. It has also got to be much more environmentally friendly to burn wood cut from a local source rather than newspaper that has been bleached and dyed (and who knows what else) I agree with cognitus that the olny way I’ll ever burn newspaper is as a fire starter. That said, has anyone ever tried to make lye soap from their ash? I’d be willing to try it.
While I agree fresh water should not be used, grey water would be acceptable. I could see old dish water (after it’s reached it’s end) being used to soak the paper. However, depending on the ink, you could be firing up a real mess. However, I have been looking (not seriously, just a glance really) but alot of newspapers are using soy based inks now.
I would also think animal fat might be used in a pinch to help it burn. And think – the perfect fire smells like BACON!
I’ve done this before, and it does work quite well.
One thing I do different is when I remove the dowel, I put some coffee grounds in the empty space before pinching off the ends. Generally, I’ll do it to every 5th or 6th paper log I make. When I use these in the fire pit, they make a great aroma. I definitely wouldn’t do this in a fireplace though, as the smell does tend to linger (as well as the aforementioned problem the huge increase in ash deposits from using paper).
Great tip! Thanks Scott.
It’s been said twice that it contaminates water, blah blah blah. . . I thought it was generally agreed that this is done as part of the most important stage of survival . . . the preperation! Do it now, while water is cheap and comes easy! I have access to many free newspapers via a hotel, I am gonna start a friggin log farm! Not really, but seriously, I am trying this tomorrow if possible. Awesome idea with coffee grounds, I get those free from the hotel, too. muahahahaha
I think this is a great Idea. Cognitas I see your point but I believe you are missing the point. You would do this before the disaster not after. Create a good stockpile. There are mind boggling amounts of paper being wasted every day. I would rather see it used as fuel, than rotting in a landfill. Also burning paper is just as carbon neutral as burning wood. Now personally I would rather build with the paper, ie papercrete , but this is an idea that I will give some attention.
I dont care about saving water or trees or if i fill a land fill. i just want a cheap form of fuel for my fire place that i can use in the event that i can not get firewood. which are better the
dry paper logs vs the wet papper logs or the bricks
It’s a good idea to do this IF you could’nt get wood in a real world situation, and IF you have a way to burn it. If you are planning for an emergency, better to have somewhere to go where you can access all the things you will need to survive. Our papers go into the bottom of raised beds, and for starting fires in the woodstove, as kindling.
We are planning for “seamless integration”-woodstove, wood heater, kerosene lamps, etc. Luckily, my spouse was raised with no electricty or indoor plumbing, so our transition would be easi(er), although certainly not easy.
That said, I’m proud to see so many people at least thinking about how to save their butts in an emergency situation.
I have made soap from canned lye, I don’t imagine it would be so different made from potash….. Just not sure of the amount that would be necessary to do it…..
Just out of curiosity, is there any added danger to burning these home made logs because of the chemicals used to make newspapers? It sounds like a great way to recycle, and a good idea for emergencies, but I’m concerned about the effects of breathing the air around the fire made with these. Surely, this could be bad for your health?
Sam,
Most newspaper printing companies nowadays use soy ink since it is non-toxic and safe for the environment and not dangerous when burning. I’m not sure of your particular brand of newspaper though. It would be best to call them up.
thanks for visiting!
- Erich
This is not safe, nor is it an acceptable alternative to recycling. Please read this from the seattle times. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=173-433-120
I don’t see how newspaper fits into this prohibited list. Please explain.
“newspaper logs ranked third worst for particulates (tiny particles that float around in the air and cause big problems for asthmatics and others with respiratory conditions), and worst of all for carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas that causes problems for everyone).” seems to me that makes it an unsafe way to recycle. besides, the best use for old newsprint is new newsprint imo.
Hi Joshua,
I think you placed the wrong link on the site. It points to “Prohibited Fuel Types” for Washington State. Do you have a link to the Seattle Times article you’re referencing? I would love to read that.
Keep in mind that many of the subjects that I write about (this article included) on this blog are for staying alive during a “survival situation”. In these cases, many of the things we should follow on a day-to-day basis are not appropriate.
For example, if it’s a choice between irritating particulates clouding up the air or your family freezing, I would lean on the side of keeping your family warm. Another example is burning a tire as a smoke signal to be rescued. A definite no-no in normal everyday living (toxic smoke etc) but if it means being rescued while trapped in a remote area, I would burn the tire.
Thank you so much for your input and great comments!
- Erich
Wait. So, pardon me but I have quite the imagination.
If you can replicate firewood with newspapers,
is it possible to make these logs on a much LARGER SCALE?
Perhaps, large enough to build your own log cabin? Just sayin’. Somebody with lots of news and LOTS of time should do that. It’d be pretty badass; admit it.
LOL. That would definitely be something to see. I don’t see why not, they make houses out of hay bales, why not newspaper?
Well.. this is not “recycling” but “energy recovery”, like incineration. From an environmental point of view, the only good thing is that it avoids landfill.
But the purpose of this post is interesting in the sense that it explains how to arrange sheets of paper in structure that allows continuous slow burning. Useful in survival situations.
I love this idea, it would be a great way for fuel for a weekend campout with small children, you don’t have to cut any wood, so the chances of the kids getting hurt is less. I would stuff the logs with recycled lint from my dryer as a easy way to start the logs on fire, we use twisted lint logs as kindling and it recycles it too. Less landfill and it lights up easily. This is a project I plan to do with my children this summer. Thanks so much for sharing.
You’re very welcome Tara. Thanks for the great idea of stuffing the logs with dryer lint. I’ll try that out!