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!