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12:54 am
Supreme Being
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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Thought I'd add my frugal plan on here, probably people already know about it, and in england it's probably too cold and wet - but definitely a plan for next spring & summer.
I bought one of those paper brick makers for £20 off E Bay, and then have everyone saving newspaper and shredded mail for me. I soak it in a couple of very large planters for a few days and then press it in to bricks, they dry out in the greenhouse and then get stored away for this time of year.
We do have access to wood anyway, but we have just installed a wood burner in our kitchen and also have an open fire to keep stocked. Only worry is that when I mentione dit to the guy who installed the wood burner he said that the newsprint causes build up - anyone heard of this?
7:43 am
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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I think you just have to make sure that you dry everything thoroughly like you do proper logs. Anything not properly dried leads to a build up of substances
10:58 pm
Enthusiast
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Thu 30-Sep-10
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Yes it causes a type of tar, in France we have a log thing that you set light to and that cleans the pipes etc, otherrwise there is a danger of the tar lighting and causing chimney fires.
Our children reap what we sow
12:53 am
Supreme Being
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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Cheers - seen the 'cleaner'thingy, maybe just need to do one of those every now and then
7:47 am
Enthusiast
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Thu 30-Sep-10
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We get an assurance/insurance certificate with ours and that covers you if there is a fire. Not sure how many times a year, suppose ot would depend on how much you burn in the way of wet wood and paper. We used to all our paper rubbish on the stove but have now stopped and light the fire with just a small egg tray and a little parafin. Not very frugal but dont want a fire either, up the chimney.
My freind uses those blocks but they take ages to dry out.
Our children reap what we sow
8:49 am
Expert
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Sun 19-Sep-10
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my dad used the paper logs for years , then he devoloped a cunning plan he used to add a handfull of conifer that he had put through his garden shredder to the mix when he moulded the bricks once these had dried out in his greenhouse they were a pyromaniacs dream . smelled quite nice as well. He was forever having chimney fires of one type or another , think he was just an amateur arsonist myself!!!
4:36 pm
Knowledegable
Wed 23-Sep-09
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I think you'll find that if you do have a chimney fire, your insurers won't consider the certificate you get with those "cleaning" logs is worth the paper it's written on. Play safe and clean the chimney properly, with brushes! We picked up some brushes for less than the cost of a single chimney sweep visit and now do it once a year, before we light the fire for the first time. (mind you, officially the insurance doesn't consider sweeping the chimney yourself adequate either ...)
4:47 pm
Enthusiast
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Thu 30-Sep-10
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Yes it's a difficult one as french assurance doesn't like to pay out full stop. But it does work the log I mean. We could send Scarecrowe up there that clean the tubes.
Our children reap what we sow
7:42 pm
Councillor
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Tue 20-Apr-10
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since paper is made from wood fibre I find it hard to believe that there is any extra problem burning a well compacted and dried 'paper' log compared to a tree log, as it were. Regarding cleaning chimneys, my grandfather used to climb up on the roof and drop a brick down much to my grandmothers exasperation cos even with a blanket over the hearth the soot dust was immense. I remember once they had a fire in the chimney and it sounded like a jet engine and whilst my poor grandmother was terrified he simply said it would save him having to 'sweep' the chimney for another year or so !!
I have reached an age where my train of thought often leaves the station without me...
9:12 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 7-Jun-10
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My father used to regularly 'set fire to the chimney' to get rid of the soot much to mother's consternation. I'll just settle for a small child or a lightweight local to sweep the chimney for me.
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
9:22 pm
Enthusiast
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Thu 30-Sep-10
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paperman,
Well you are correct up to a point but today more and more plastic and chemicals are being put into the paper, because the pine which most paper comes from is becoming less, also as you know pine has a high sap content.
Also there is the printing ink to think about.
Our children reap what we sow
9:47 pm
Councillor
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Wed 12-May-10
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I used to make logs out of old cardboard carpet tubes, and will again when i get another wood burner .cut them into equal lengths and start by smashing them down the middle with a hamer then fold lengthways and slide inside another and repeat ,you can sometimes do this five times but usualy four if the tubes are thick ,and because they are dry from the start they are useable streight away ,(it helps if you work in the carpet industry) ,but any carpet shop will give you broken ones just to save the room in the skip .MOS
sit down with a cupa and the urge will subside
10:34 pm
Supreme Being
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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I've been making the logs all summer long, and then dried them out in the greenhouses, it doesn't take long during good weather, got them all stacked up in the shed with the real logs. we have sweeping brush kit as we have a coal fire in the living room anyway, so sweep regularly - and yes it does make an awful mess, however carefully you think you've sealed up the covers.
11:21 pm
Enthusiast
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Thu 30-Sep-10
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I suppose one could use them as bricks with a lime morter and then cover with lime, rather like making bricks out of cows muck and straw. Most of my buildings are made with willow straw and cows dung.
Our children reap what we sow
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