Comments on: Paper bricks as a firewood substitute http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/ Hints, tips and discussions on reducing your impact on the environment. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aich http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-3320 Aich Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:00:36 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-3320 The major cause of chimney fires is creosote in unseasoned wood, and burning at too low a temperature. We burn wood exclusively (for heat) in an airtight stove. Never had a chimney fire in the nearly 25 years that the stove has been in operation. I'm looking into the paper-brick idea. I have more shredded paper than my garden compost pile can use. Maybe I'll give it a try. Thanks for all the informative ideas. The major cause of chimney fires is creosote in unseasoned wood, and burning at too low a temperature. We burn wood exclusively (for heat) in an airtight stove. Never had a chimney fire in the nearly 25 years that the stove has been in operation. I’m looking into the paper-brick idea. I have more shredded paper than my garden compost pile can use. Maybe I’ll give it a try. Thanks for all the informative ideas.

]]> By: Hans http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-3306 Hans Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:29:34 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-3306 Hey. Great guide, with good supplementary comments. Has anyone checked their chimney after having burned paper bricks? I have been told that burning newspaper and other paper in the stove creates a lot of ash and residue in the chimney that may cause a chimney fire. This is supposed to come mainly from the ink, but also the fact that loose sheets of paper burns fast and leave more ash than heat. Hey. Great guide, with good supplementary comments.

Has anyone checked their chimney after having burned paper bricks? I have been told that burning newspaper and other paper in the stove creates a lot of ash and residue in the chimney that may cause a chimney fire. This is supposed to come mainly from the ink, but also the fact that loose sheets of paper burns fast and leave more ash than heat.

]]> By: Barry http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-3272 Barry Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:06:06 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-3272 Have been experimenting with the new batch and it proves that using more newspaper in your mix makes the ‘bonding’ better, cut the paper into smaller pieces and soaking for 4 days also helps. I put half the bricks in the ‘Greenhouse’ and half in a small room which we never use; obviously the ones in the house are drying much faster. I may make a video on how I made them and put it on YouTube as you learn more each time you make them. The process is getting quicker and I am really happy with the results and will continue to produce. Have been experimenting with the new batch and it proves that using more newspaper in your mix makes the ‘bonding’ better, cut the paper into smaller pieces and soaking for 4 days also helps.
I put half the bricks in the ‘Greenhouse’ and half in a small room which we never use; obviously the ones in the house are drying much faster.
I may make a video on how I made them and put it on YouTube as you learn more each time you make them. The process is getting quicker and I am really happy with the results and will continue to produce.

]]> By: Nell http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-3261 Nell Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:06:40 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-3261 You can order a press from WhateverWorks.com. I got a catalog from them and it has one in there for $29.99 + $8.95 shipping. I may order one...we'll see... To SyBell: you might try making a good video of the bricks being used in a fireplace (be sure to use a tripod!!!). Take it to a craft fair to show along with the bricks. You can explain the product as people look at your video of the bricks burning. You could also take orders at the craft fair. Most craft fairs provide electricity (some charge extra for it). Just an idea...hope it helps. I'm thinking about trying this myself. Any ideas on how much to charge? You can order a press from WhateverWorks.com. I got a catalog from them and it has one in there for $29.99 + $8.95 shipping. I may order one…we’ll see…

To SyBell: you might try making a good video of the bricks being used in a fireplace (be sure to use a tripod!!!). Take it to a craft fair to show along with the bricks. You can explain the product as people look at your video of the bricks burning. You could also take orders at the craft fair. Most craft fairs provide electricity (some charge extra for it). Just an idea…hope it helps. I’m thinking about trying this myself. Any ideas on how much to charge?

]]> By: Barry http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-3239 Barry Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:23:40 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-3239 Some interesting comments. I bought a Brick press for £20 at the local DIY shop in June. I had saved up lots of newspapers from friends as well as picking up free papers on trains. I find that to get a good mix/bond you need to let the paper soak for four days and stir twice a day. I have a large tub and use a long piece of wood. I think the art to a good mix is the paper. I use newspaper strips and paper from old shredded letters. I have never tried bleach or hot water or put wood chippings in. Make sure after touching the mix you wash your hands as bacteria grows in stagnant water and we don’t want any sickness from such a fun thing. I have made a rack in the green house and left them in there to dry for about 7 weeks. I turn them over every few days so they get an equal dry. The drying times depend on the weather and where you store them. Once dry I put them into plastic tubs and stacked them. I made 50 from my first batch and recommend that it’s best to try and make as many as you can. You may think this takes up a lot of time but it doesn’t. As for burning I mix the paper logs with a few bits of wood and make sure the air gets under them. They burnt very well and the ash went onto the compost heap. I recommend making paper logs as its saves you money and you can enjoy the time doing it. Hope this helps Some interesting comments.

I bought a Brick press for £20 at the local DIY shop in June. I had saved up lots of newspapers from friends as well as picking up free papers on trains.

I find that to get a good mix/bond you need to let the paper soak for four days and stir twice a day.
I have a large tub and use a long piece of wood. I think the art to a good mix is the paper.
I use newspaper strips and paper from old shredded letters.
I have never tried bleach or hot water or put wood chippings in.

Make sure after touching the mix you wash your hands as bacteria grows in stagnant water and we don’t want any sickness from such a fun thing.

I have made a rack in the green house and left them in there to dry for about 7 weeks. I turn them over every few days so they get an equal dry. The drying times depend on the weather and where you store them.
Once dry I put them into plastic tubs and stacked them.
I made 50 from my first batch and recommend that it’s best to try and make as many as you can.

You may think this takes up a lot of time but it doesn’t.

As for burning I mix the paper logs with a few bits of wood and make sure the air gets under them.
They burnt very well and the ash went onto the compost heap.
I recommend making paper logs as its saves you money and you can enjoy the time doing it.

Hope this helps

]]> By: Margaret Partridge http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-3228 Margaret Partridge Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:52:03 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-3228 From where/whom can I purchase a paper brick making machine? I am not interested in a second hand one From where/whom can I purchase a paper brick making machine? I am not interested in a second hand one

]]> By: SyBelle@470 http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-3221 SyBelle@470 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 06:41:07 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-3221 Hello again people... My second run of making Paper Bricks was also short lived ~ sadly... I was producing 30/week this time round... And using the same method as before... Again I found that people still do not have any concept of Paper Bricks ~ the idea ~ the use of ~ etc etc... Thus ~ I am in the midst of working on an idea to build things with them... So I guess all I can say is: Watch this space for a future update... :-) Hello again people…
My second run of making Paper Bricks was also short lived ~ sadly…
I was producing 30/week this time round…
And using the same method as before…

Again I found that people still do not have any concept of Paper Bricks ~ the idea ~ the use of ~ etc etc…

Thus ~ I am in the midst of working on an idea to build things with them…

So I guess all I can say is:
Watch this space for a future update… :-)

]]> By: J http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-3159 J Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:44:54 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-3159 @SyBelle@470 Why don't you try selling them on eBay? You can also set up your own online shop. It's pretty easy and only costs a few bucks per month for hosting fees. Let me know if you need any help. @SyBelle@470
Why don’t you try selling them on eBay? You can also set up your own online shop. It’s pretty easy and only costs a few bucks per month for hosting fees. Let me know if you need any help.

]]> By: jennifer http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-2997 jennifer Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:19:30 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-2997 I use wood stove heat exclusively. We "harvest" only deadfalls. In my area one cannot cut standing trees. I have yet to see a region that is not loaded with tons and tons of deadfall. I do not have a newspaper subscription and would not know how to acquire so much paper to make 20% of my winter usage. I do make firestarters out of tp rolls filled with dryer lint. I use wood stove heat exclusively. We “harvest” only deadfalls. In my area one cannot cut standing trees. I have yet to see a region that is not loaded with tons and tons of deadfall.

I do not have a newspaper subscription and would not know how to acquire so much paper to make 20% of my winter usage.

I do make firestarters out of tp rolls filled with dryer lint.

]]> By: Rick http://www.low-impact.net/index.php/20080503/paper-bricks-as-a-firewood-substitute/comment-page-1/#comment-2977 Rick Tue, 10 May 2011 23:33:28 +0000 http://www.low-impact.net/?p=126#comment-2977 Hello all. I'm trying to decide if all this is worth the work. I'm an office manager and can get about 5 lbs of white office paper. I was wondering if this would work for making the bricks? I'm thinking about using them in my outdoor fire pit. Would this burn good in my pit? thanks for the info. Hello all. I’m trying to decide if all this is worth the work. I’m an office manager and can get about 5 lbs of white office paper. I was wondering if this would work for making the bricks? I’m thinking about using them in my outdoor fire pit. Would this burn good in my pit?
thanks for the info.

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