When making paper logs for fuel from newspapers, don't bother purchasing a commercial machine. In my experience they don't work very well. (I gave mine away!) All I do now, is:
Tear and soak the newspaper in the usual way. Squeeze it into a largish ball.
Wrap it in an old tea towel or half a discarded teeshirt. Twist the end of the towel until it is the shape of a Christmas pudding.
Leave the end tightly twisted and place it on a paving slab. Place another heavy paving slab on the top and leave for about an hour (longer is better).
Unwrap it and leave the log to dry.
(Of course, you can make multiples in one go and are only limited by the number of tea towels and heavy weights you possess.
May be a good idea but since I have never made these "logs" I have no idea what the "usual way" means (put in a pan and soak with water?)
Also, I have no idea what the shape of a "Christmas pudding" looks like. I would like to try this but will have to dig further for instructions. Thanks for the idea.
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Request: Making Newspaper Fire Logs (09/03/2009)
Does anyone have directions for making homemade newspaper logs without a commercial log roller? Also suggestions for making them burn well? Thanks.
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Request: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Archived on 09/03/2009
Does anyone have directions for making homemade newspaper logs without a commercial log roller? Also suggestions for making them burn well? Thanks.
Jean from Galva, IL
Feedback:
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Great information my husband buys heaps of papers and was wondering how to use them. Will use twine from the horses hay though that may burn too quickly. Any info gratefully received. (06/20/2008)
By Sue
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
First step is to not roll to tight and secondly put kerosene into a spray bottle and as you roll the paper spray onto the sheets of paper than use mechanics wire to hold the log together. "Don't go crazy with the spray fuel, the idea is to save money and get the most efficient heat for the buck. (07/27/2008)
By wildjacks
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
I used to make newspaper logs for my parents fireplace. I had a 200 customer paper route and I delivered by Schwinn bike with saddle bags and 2 shoulder bags. Leftover papers went into the garage and when the pile was high enough I went into the garage and made logs. I would take a whole paper and open it up and lay it flat. Then I would take another and lay it open on the first but halfway overlapping. I would build about 10 feet or so of paper lines and then get down on one end and roll it up like a bedroll. When the roll was about as big as my thigh I would stop, grab some cheap wire and tie it off tightly in the middle. These things would burn for hours and left a very fine white ash. It helped to start with wood first and add the paper logs when a good hot fire was in progress. I have read that there are some unpleasant chemicals in the ink smoke so an airtight stove might be a better option. Enjoy the free BTU's. (09/11/2008)
By Kenorri
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
I have used a book called "Newspaper Logs Made Easy" The Method worked quite well and I didn't need a machine! I have found the book on eBay and at: http://geocities.com/paperlogs/ The logs are only made with newspaper so there is to wire leftovers and they are not "Soaked" so you can use them right away. Mine lasted the longest when I burned them with other wood. Good luck to all! (09/17/2008)
By Aldene
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Thanks everybody. I didn't have time to make these before we left on a vacation trip to Alaska for 7 weeks. We are now home, and I will be trying these ideas soon. (09/22/2008)
By Jean
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Can you use color news print such as the funnies? (11/02/2008)
By Mt Murphy Larry
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
There are plenty of log rolling machines on ebay. I just started looking for them and thought I'd try them there. The book for logmaking is also on ebay. I found a really neat looking paper log tube compressor that you can put any burnable paper in and compress it into a log. There were also plenty of paper briquette makers that use compression. Thanks for all the info, I'm new to this site and am glad I found it. (11/19/2008)
By Susan
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
A lot of interesting comments. I wish there was one simple method of making a paper log without a machine. Seems like you could just wrap real tight and roll. I just do not want to burn the house down! (11/30/2008)
By George S.
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Did you notice that the "newspaper logs made easy" folks made FOUR posts pitching their book? Lame! (12/11/2008)
By Casey
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
I tried many times to make the briquettes but found that you can ONLY really use proper newspaper and you have to make them in the Summer for them to dry properly. Then I found a dry paper log maker, http://www.greenstamp.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/122 and found this device much easier. The 'logs' don't burn for quite as long but they do the job and make great kindling (12/20/2008)
I don't like this book www.geocities.com/paperlogs (10/23/2005)
The logs don't work. I've tried, it doesn't work :( (12/21/2008)
By Concerned customer
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
I have sold over 40 books since Nov 1st of this year from my website, mail order, and on ebay. I have received many positive comments for "Newspaper Logs Made Easy". Just check my feedback as seller "mountainstarr" on ebay as well as my website Under Comments. Don't cut yourself short because one sour grape rolled off the table.
I roll the papers into a log by hand and put fondue gel in between the rolls, just enough to provoke a small flame. I tie them with garden twine and put on a few drops of Scots Pine essential oil. They work ok and smell great! (01/30/2009)
I read once "how to make newspaper firelogs" There was no machine involved in the process. I remember that some of the paper had to be wet, rolled, pressed. I did not try it, I would like more info if possible. Thank you Jenny
Answers:
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Soak the papers in water, roll up, tie up and then allow to dry completely. Drying takes a long time. (01/25/2002)
I use newspaper fire logs all the time for my wood stove. I use to do the wet newspaper route but it was very messy and took a long time for the logs to dry. Now I just take the newspapers layout the sections, still folded, alternating the fold from right to left with each additional section and roll tightly. I use paper-coated twist-ties to hold the log in form, once around the middle. This burns just fine. You will have less ink mess, no water mess and no drying time. The wet then dried logs do burn longer as the wetting process bonds the paper closer together. I hope this is helpful to you. Mrs Kathy Cohen Northfield, VT (01/29/2002)
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Those who are serious about recycling newspapers into fire logs will find "The Newspaper Log Resource Book" full of great instructions! Check out our web page for more information.
Thanks,
Diane
Mountain Starr Publications
(weblink)http://www.geocities.com/paperlogs(/weblink) (10/04/2002)
I too am interested in making newspaper fire logs but for maybe for different purposes. I remember long ago my mother used to make them for our fireplace and soaked them in some kind of salt solution to make multi-colored flames. I want to make them to burn on our campfires here in Alaska since the colors would not show up in the wood stove. Any ideas on the salt solution issue? (07/04/2003)
My mother use to have a piece of machinery that would make a log. After the log was made, we would secure with rubber bands and soak in water. We would then dry them for use in the fireplace. Please let me know if this simple machine still exist (12/03/2004)
By deborah payne
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Here's the link to a newspaper log roller at Lehman's
http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=2863
They say the stock is low so I'd order soon if you want one.
Susan (12/03/2004)
I purchased a duraflame colored log, and the ingredient that was used to make the colors was copper. Perhaps thats what was in the solution that was used? (02/06/2005)
By lisa
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
Look up newspaper logs, paper fireplace logs on Google and you will find several instructions for different methods. (03/18/2005)
By Wendy Asbell
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
I noticed that someone wanted to know the "recipe" for some kind of salt solution to make multi-colored flames, this site might help:
http://ks.essortment.com/firelogs_phq.htm
(07/05/2005)
By Queenlilady
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
There is a great book with digital photos and step by step instructions available at: www.geocities.com/paperlogs (10/23/2005)
By Diane Brown
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
I was just making some of these newspaper fire logs and have been making them for years, Just roll and tie, soak & dry, that's it Go to ABOUT the site is http://frugalliving.about.com/od/woodstoves/a/newspaperlogs_p htm from PAT VERETTO, YOUR GUIDE TO FRUGAL LIVING the title is FREE FUEL FROM YOUR DAILY NEWSPAPER
(08/26/2006)
By EVY
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
I use to make these a s a child for our wood stove we only used newspaper logs no wood we never soaked them and we held them together with masking tape (10/17/2006)
By slug800
RE: Making Newspaper Fire Logs
I have the book mentioned below. "Newspaper logs Made Easy". It is quite detailed with photos for each step. The logs are tight, wrapped like a "deli sandwich" then tied with a paper "tie" to make them more secure. When they burn through the log still stays tight. They are best to burn with wood. We had fun as a family making them. (09/22/2007)
