islandgun Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 Anyone use them ? any thoughts/recommendations ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 We use them occasionally for helping to start the fire, depends if they are on offer or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Prawn Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 I got some for free off the chimney sweep, they burnt way too quickly to be used as a heat source without bankrupting me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 1 hour ago, The Mighty Prawn said: I got some for free off the chimney sweep, they burnt way too quickly to be used as a heat source without bankrupting me Yes that hole through the middle was a great idea to speed things up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 Why not make your own paper logs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 I got some blocks off the corners of pallets. They have been the hottest things I had in the burner. And they were free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 1 hour ago, billytheghillie said: Why not make your own paper logs. Oh Lord Jesus! Forty years ago my father purchased one of those presses that you used torn up soaked newspaper in to squeeze the water out and then store to dry. Waste of time, burned quickly, gave off little heat at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 (edited) 38 minutes ago, enfieldspares said: Oh Lord Jesus! Forty years ago my father purchased one of those presses that you used torn up soaked newspaper in to squeeze the water out and then store to dry. Waste of time, burned quickly, gave off little heat at all. Around the same time I dropped some meat off for an old couple. The freezer was in the garage, and all along the inside wall about 2 feet tall was a wall of those paper bricks. The old chap was so proud with his cost saving he went through the whole process explaining from start to finish. It certainly made an impact on my memory. Edited January 30, 2022 by Dougy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted January 30, 2022 Report Share Posted January 30, 2022 56 minutes ago, enfieldspares said: Oh Lord Jesus! Forty years ago my father purchased one of those presses that you used torn up soaked newspaper in to squeeze the water out and then store to dry. Waste of time, burned quickly, gave off little heat at all. I’ve still got one of those presses, somewhere in the garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 8 hours ago, enfieldspares said: Oh Lord Jesus! Forty years ago my father purchased one of those presses that you used torn up soaked newspaper in to squeeze the water out and then store to dry. Waste of time, burned quickly, gave off little heat at all. I've often wondered if one of these would work with sawdust(from the chainsaw). I sometimes have four or five bin liners full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 1 hour ago, mel b3 said: I've often wondered if one of these would work with sawdust(from the chainsaw). I sometimes have four or five bin liners full. Some that know say that yes you can mix the sawdust with the newspaper mache to give longer burning and improve the calorific value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 When we first moved to wales, the side annex was a coal store that held about 3 tonnee of coal. It had never been cleaned out, and obviously had a lot of dust. I mean, never cleaned out, easily a tonnee of dust. I specifically remember mum looking like a miner, she used to make bricks using the coal dust and cement in a round press and that was the main fuel for the rayburn for the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 41 minutes ago, enfieldspares said: Some that know say that yes you can mix the sawdust with the newspaper mache to give longer burning and improve the calorific value. 27 minutes ago, strimmer_13 said: When we first moved to wales, the side annex was a coal store that held about 3 tonnee of coal. It had never been cleaned out, and obviously had a lot of dust. I mean, never cleaned out, easily a tonnee of dust. I specifically remember mum looking like a miner, she used to make bricks using the coal dust and cement in a round press and that was the main fuel for the rayburn for the winter. Thank you for the info gents . It's something that I really fancy having a go at in the future 👍. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) Hello, years ago I was looking into a log making machine using straw bales , there are quite a few designs from a small DIY to industrial size where some farms in UK manufacture logs to supplement their incomes, one I looked was a Biomass briquette machine, you can add to the straw, sawdust , wood chips, even a additive that binds straw together Edited January 31, 2022 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted January 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 great stuff ! cheers folks..👍 I bought a bag of the blocks and was quite impressed I timed the burn length and they seemed to burn as long as the kiln dried silver birch that I already had , generally I use the kiln dried stuff as the final heat in my pizza oven which is brought up to heat with homegrown willow. Both the birch and the blocks have zero moisture, pluses for the blocks are 1, cheaper than birch and 2, made from waste wood material, As I understand it, the blocks are densely crushed dust and bark, with no added glues, OPP. Good idea ! I will look into light machinery to maybe turn my SRC willow into a drier heat source with reduced seasoning time, perhaps by chipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 I thought this was a "day after having a vindaloo" thread from the title Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) A few on YouTube mixing the cardboard etc with sawdust, seemed to make a big difference to the burn time and heat. Edited January 31, 2022 by GingerCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 1 hour ago, GingerCat said: A few on YouTube mixing the cardboard etc with sawdust, seemed to make a big difference to the burn time and heat. But is it worth the effort? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 2 hours ago, GingerCat said: A few on YouTube mixing the cardboard etc with sawdust, seemed to make a big difference to the burn time and heat. My idea , was that I could throw a shredded newspaper into a cement mixer , with a pint of water , and a cap full of pva glue , then when it's turned to mush , throw in oak sawdust from the chainsaw , then once its throughly mixed , press it into logs or blocks. My idea was to do it on a larger scale than just using a few old newspapers. 1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: But is it worth the effort? This is the thing that's stopped me from doing it . I don't know if it would be an efficient use of my time and effort . It's a lot of trouble to go to , if the end result / product , isn't very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 If its worth the effort I have no idea. The chap I watched was making quite a lot of them in a large bucket with a stirrer attached to a drill, he had soaked it for some time and turned it to mulch, added thr sawdust and used a bearing press to compress the blocks amd squeeze the water out. They looked substantial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 I'm definitely thinking that it's worth giving a go now 👍. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 Just now, mel b3 said: I'm definitely thinking that it's worth giving a go now 👍. Dragon's Den next then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) Super Heat These burn very hot indeed, within a few minutes the fire was pinging and the water was simmering away nicely. Not used them for some time now as i have a good supply of logs. Edited January 31, 2022 by Dougy Linky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 50 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Dragon's Den next then! They know where I am if they want me 😁. I could go on there , and ask for an investment of £4.25 for the equipment I need to start up my new enterprise 😄. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 31, 2022 Report Share Posted January 31, 2022 I double dog dare you to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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