Free Fuel for Your Fire - Making and using paper briquettes for fuel

Check out this video to see how we are using all of our paper scraps and cardboard to fuel our small barrel stove. I was looking for ways to use all of the paper products that we send off to recycling last year when I stumbled upon the idea of making burnable briquettes. I looked around online and saw quite a few people having good luck with these and jumped on Amazon to purchase one. I have been using this little briquette maker for a few months now and have been pretty happy with the results. We made quite a few of these briquettes this summer and tested burning them in camp fires and the pool heater with good success. It is now time to see how this process carries over to the winter. Will we be able to keep producing these briquettes year round?
I have setup a small briquette making station in the garage which is constructed out of a paper shredder and the bottom half of a 55 gallon drum. This has been proving to work out very well. I am able to take out and shred paper products once a week, stir it up, and let it soak for a few days before making briquettes. This turns into a pretty good cycle and I will be able to produce about 10-15 of these briquettes per week.
I do understand that this is not feasible to fuel tour entire home full time for a winter, however, it is a great way to use what you are already throwing away or sending off to the recycling center as an extra supplement to your wood supply. I am not convinced that recycling paper is all that great of an idea anyway so for me, this tackles two issues. Get rid of the paper we produce as a family, and save me from buying wood (and saving trees, yes that too). I hope the following video demonstrates the process and inspires you to look into how you are able to reuse some of the things you throw away!
You can purchase the briquette maker here- tinyurl.com/o9r...
A few comparable shredders -
Best Buy
tinyurl.com/m78...
Amazon
amzn.to/1IUTOzH
For more information check out www.simplesuburbanliving.com
Music - "Evolution" by Josh Woodward. Free download: joshwoodward.co...

[@THEREALBONGMAN]

Thank you for the info, been researching this forever and your one of the only ones that includes the link and info on a briquette maker..Thank You.

[@rogerdodger5415]

Thanks! I love getting all the ideas!

[@discgolftrainnut]

On a similar note, we used to have a newspaper log roller that was our free firewood. A little time-consuming but efficient, and FREE. Also the 'mud' you make in this video also works good for forming scenery over styrofoam for railroad layouts, etc.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I have seen those log rollers also, seems like a good idea. That is a great point about the paper pulp, kind of like a paper mache, thanks for watching!

[@nathanblanchet2648]

I'm going to make a briquette maker with my everlast welder that will press a dozen bricks at a time to speed the process up. Thanks for showing what you are doing.

[@MagickIsPower]

How did it work out? If it worked a video would be great

[@robstevens9667]

Great vid 👍 I’m inspired, thank you

[@cmhoron1596]

Keep up the good work :-) I do enjoy your video!

[@johnpyaso1846]

I love you video🇵🇬🇵🇬

[@dan-cherrypicker-man]

Great video, I love the system you use 👍

[@DDJUL]

Save your grass clippings to add to your mix for your bricks

[@gardeningtipswithphil2244]

I remember seeing those little briquette press many years ago. They are a good idea.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Been working pretty good so far, I just need a bigger one!

[@tonypino2858]

cool video

[@smalltownMainer]

the paper type egg cartons burn good to.

[@suzycowan5072]

I have found from watching other videos that adding sawdust and even flour (all-purpose or bread, it doesn't matter - use expired flour or weevil infested even - flour is used as a binding agent) and it makes it a much stronger brick. Also using PVC at the halfway point to make holes in the center, not sure why that helps (obviously you remove the PVC, it's just to make the hole). I am definitely going to be trying this and some of your other ideas when we finally buy our property in the next year or so. Thank you for sharing your videos.

[@TheologyQA]

Great video.. thanks!

[@thomasthorn1011]

I'm sure that someone have told you to add some sawdust to your mix. It will burn longer. Take care!

[@alpachino468]

@SSLFamilyDad Add some sawdust to your mix. It will burn longer.

[@romanbrough]

I did make some of these. and yes they did work. But it was really time consuming. Wood is so much easier. I gave away my paper log maker.

[@mahmoudyousifmohammed7546]

Thanks, Mr. SSlFamilyDad I have the same idea for my graduation project but how I could calculate the moisture content curve of the cylindrical briquettes. With pleasure .

[@gerrykyei5037]

Where can I get the mini hopper

[@MrFakit]

The saw blade works well just don't get near the sides lol

[@bajoblajo1]

Hello! Any idea how to trap some air inside these briquettes? Currently I'm trying to solve this problem, because they burn way better. Holes don't help much. Ideal would be to contain air bubbles inside, and make a bigger bar, so that it'd burn longer and hotter, and cleaner. Greetings from Bulgaria, Martin

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I can't think of any way to trap air in them other than drilling holes as you mentioned. Maybe try adding different materials to the pulp for different burn characteristics

[@bajoblajo1]

+SSLFamilyDad Thank you! I found a very simple solution to improving burning: just to put them side by side in a vertical position, seven or eight minimum, in a circle. Fire is placed (started) on the top of the briquettes. My briquettes are different than these, so would you please try this method and tell me if they burn better.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

You could add some bulkier materials like sawdust or wood chips. But make sure the chips are dry as they’ll take a long time to dry out otherwise.

[@DillonErickson]

Can I add grass clippings to these

[@naissaclement4320]

bonjour je suis très surpris de ses travaux

[@JustMikeA]

Good Bible verse... I made this before.. but i dont have the fancy brick maker.. :) it was fun.. even made a paper board.. .. :)

[@rg5252-y2v]

The word stuff originally was referring to pulp.

[@kf6pfk]

I wonder if those bricks could be baked into bio-char. Just a thought.

[@elerina1]

how did you make the accessoirie for shredding the paper (the saw)

[@ronyerke9250]

I like your Bible quote at the end. Did you know that the pulp can be used to make shapes? That kind of stuff when NOT compressed has bee used to package for shipping eggs, fluorescent light tubes, and other things. It can be used to make sound-deadening panels and (not fire resistant) thermal insulation. Re-pulped paper products can be very useful. It's a great way to dispose of your sensitive documents. If you're a bit selective about your source materials, you can feed it to your worm farm, too. Michiganners!

[@TheRealMozes]

Don't electrocute yourself. If that falls over and your hand is inside that bucket.. 🎉

[@dorisansaafianko5268]

What's the liquid in the barrel?

[@IanJTaylor]

Should show it in action!

[@zenmaster24]

Does this also work for glossy paper like catalogues/magazines?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Sure does zen, I shred up all of your old magazines. Don't tell anyone, but some of those little plastic windows from our junk mail gets in there too....shhh

[@MrFakit]

I read somewhere the ink in those glossy mags give off toxic fumes and shouldn't be burned

[@SSLFamilyDad]

MrFakit You might be right about that but there are so many different types of ink used. Most of the glossy paper they recommend not to use for things like compost but I have also read that many companies use solely food grade inks so it is a toss up. good point though, it would have to be up to you in the end what you do with it:), thanks for watching!

[@quickstrike06]

SSL--how long does it take for a brick to dry thoroughly? How is the smoke content?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

It really depends, in the summer I can throw them out on our deck or in the sun and they are ready to burn in a couple of days, inside the garage I will let them sit for 14 days and just keep making more each week. They burn pretty good, no perfect but in a hot fire they is minimal smoke. Hooah!

[@dcb25]

how long does it take for them to dry?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I dry them for about a month in the basement but out in the sun they will dry in a few days

[@kamalchetry9851]

Free fire main fuel kese paye

[@brentberner3374]

Quick question, Do you remove the plastic on the envelopes you shred? or do you leave it on? Like the plastic thats usually over the address so you can see through it Thanks! Brent

[@SSLFamilyDad]

+Brent Berner well.........no. probably should but I don't both. It just gets burned with everything else.

[@brentberner3374]

I assumed it stayed on

[@tomtufore3426]

The bits of plastics and any "shiny" paper should be avoided if people will be exposed to the fire/exhaust. They should still burn, but you'll want to know what type of plastics/polymers you are burning and the potential toxic exhaust you might breath in.

[@deflemonkid]

I see its been 3ys since you made this video. Are they worth the effort and Do u still make your own briquettes?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

+deflemonkid I have since moved out to a small farm and do not make them currently. The wood burner I have now is too big, I have plans to make a larger etiquette maker though for here

[@deflemonkid]

Ok. Thanks for the reply. Would be interested to see how the bigger briquette maker works out for you you make it. Good luck with it.

[@MrFakit]

what about adding sawdust to them?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Sawdust is a great idea! In fact I am calling around this week to see if any of the woodworking companies around town have any they would like to donate, thanks for watching!