Have you ever made fireplace logs out of newspaper?

Question

I remember back in the 70's there was a device you could roll you own logs made out of newspapers and burn them for heat? Has anyone done this? Do they burn ok? Any tips? I have a UNLIMITED supply of newspapers...

If rolled by hand, what is the best technique to use? How long should the newspapers dry out? or say for example could today's newspaper be used as a log!

Answer 1

Certainly it's been done, and with the roller or by hand. The issue surprisingly enough is that newspaper does not burn as well as logs, and as one other stated creates a larger quantity of easily airborne ash.

Newspaper is stubborn, and extinguishes more easily that wood simply because of it's substance, thickness, ignite temp point, and that as it's rolled tightly, actually blocks heat and flame from building. Certainly it's not so bad to use as a "starter" but even then I don't.

Also newspaper won't give you the lasting effect that a log will, unless of course you sit by the fireplace and continually crumple sheets, throwing them into a decent, existing fire.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

I have done this but i don't recomend it. It creates large amounts of ash and fly ash floats up the chimney clogging it or spreading ash on your roof. I still use newspaper logs only in spring or fall when I need some heat for an hour or less.

Answer 3

i'm assuming when you consider which you may't purchase a pre-made hearth, you may desire to make between the same type. i could advise which you not achieve this through fact those fireplaces are designed and examined to accomplish under particular situations with clearances to combustibles so as that this is useable in a living area. Any hearth you may fabricate could require the understanding of the designers and the skill to gather it so this is freed from defects. something much less and its not nicely worth it. all people you may take a barrel, decrease a hollow of their wall and vent it exterior. yet is spending below a grand somewhat nicely well worth the compromise of your risk-free practices?

Answer 4

Sure. You just need to roll them tightly, and bind them up with bailer wire- real tight.

The roller was almost more trouble than it was worth, and it ended up getting left out in the garage until we tossed it out in the 80's. We roll our own now!

Answer 5

My daughter does, she just rolls the papers tightly, ties them with wire twist ties, and throws them in the fire, they burn for about 20 minutes each, and put out quite a bit of heat. I think we're going to do it this summer in our fire pit, instead of wood. We have 3 boxes of fliers i hte garage, and I'm not paying to have them recycled, since I didn't ask to have them delivered.