Comments on: Homemade Firewood: How to Make Logs from Newspaper

By: Prep Bob

Prep Bob — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:13:13 +0000

These do work well and because they are so dense they burn longer but are harder to keep burning. Another alternative that is easier and quicker is to roll any and all scrap paper such as newspaper, magazines, junk mail, etc. as tightly as possible until they just fit inside an empty toilet paper roll. The paper is never made wet so the layers do not pack as densely as when you soak the paper first but after a while, especially with magazines, they will hold their shape when the T.P. roll is removed. That way you can reuse the T.P. rolls over and over. You can roll the paper any length you want for your convenience. The rolls are smaller and lighter this way which may be more convenient for some. Either way, recycling is best when you get the direct benefit.

By: B.

B. — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:40:49 +0000

I have heard radio commercials from California, telling people not to transport pine beetles. They block fuelwood transport to prevent outside diseases from reaching untouched forests.

By: kelly

kelly — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:16:09 +0000

this is a great way to get around the laws, about transporting firewood over state lines. We live in NH but we go camping in Maine….you are not allowed to bring firewood into Maine because of the bugs in the wood. And buying firewood at the campsite or near it is expen$ive. This could solve that problem.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:49:24 +0000

I like this idea and I agree that the idea is to make some now for emergencies later. Where I live we are not allowed to store wood at all but paper is not on the list so these would be perfect for me. I wonder if you can use a muffin tin and some paper mash to make some briquettes? Lots of ideas swirling in my head now can’t wait for warm weather so I can try to make some of these!
Btw I used to make my own kitty litter from newspapers and never had an issue, the ink was soy and I figured since that car had a nasty habit of eating my books he should be fine pooping on newsprint litter. Even his vet said there was no issues.
I wonder if you stuff the logs with dryer lint if you can get them to burn inside out and if it keeps down the amount of ash particles… I have kids with asthma so that is an issue for me.

By: Chuck U Farley

Chuck U Farley — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 02:49:09 +0000

This will be great to beat the neighborhood kids with…

By: Make A Newspaper Log for Your Fireplace - for Free

Make A Newspaper Log for Your Fireplace - for Free — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:20:32 +0000

[...] can get a little machine that makes fire bricks, but to use it, you need to shred the paper first. Another way is to soak the sheets and just wrap them around a broom handle. You might want to try this; it [...]

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:06:00 +0000

I love the smell of coffee; good idea. Another alternative would be to put in sage to help keep the Mosquitos away as well as a good scent.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 18:00:09 +0000

I disagree, Where I live there are very few trees but everyone still gets thier weekly paper and the community is so small that it does not provide recycleing. So that means I have almost no access to wood and can get alot of paper to make into logs to burn and still keep enough loose to start the logs. I understand what you are saying about drying it out to begin with and if a person where to start this process in an extreme situation I may agree with you but to start the process before an emergency it should work just fine. As far as the news paper being full of nasty stuff, again I agree but its nothing a pair of rubber gloves shouldnt be able to deal with and it is a continuous process so you would be adding water as needed and there wouldnt be a need to dispose of used water. A little common sense is all thats needed as with most things

By: Lapak

Lapak — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:16:32 +0000

A couple of years ago I was contemplating uses for the paper shredded at work (no plastics, cd’s, etc go in). Figured out some fire starters for the wood stove – they burned better and longer than wadded up newspaper etc.

1. Save/collect a bunch of mt toilet paper and paper towel tubes and shredded paper.
2. Fill a large container with paper shreds and wet them with enough water that they stick together. I also mushed them together to help binding.
3. Tightly pack the tubes with the wet shreds.
4. Let dry (I left them on a sunny windowsill for a week or two till dry throughout).

By: Leasie

Leasie — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:10:55 +0000

how long would one of these last…or keep you full. If its like an mre one could last days? a day?