Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

Link

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Has anyone had any experience with one of these machines?<br />I hate to spend 50 bucks on another gaget that doesn't work.<br />If it does work, it would be a gift from heaven for my MIL. She has two <br />fireplaces in her home and a air tight which is the sole heat at the cabin<br /><br />Was also wondering if you could roll your junk mail! ??<br /><br />Did I mention she has boxes of newpapers going back to the 60's! :rolleyes: Dont ask! ;) <br /><br />
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Reel Poor

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

I wonder what keeps it in a tight roll?<br /><br />I would think if you just rolled up some newspaper real tight, you could see how fast/slow it would burn. Although it doesnt look like its rolled to tight.<br /><br />I dont know. :confused:
 

heycods

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Nov 11, 2005
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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

I bought onof thoes thing about 10 years ago. Dont do it, pain in the butx to get the paper rolled tight. I wonder where I threw that piece of Junk? RUN FROM IT!
 

Bondo

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

In My experince,........<br /><br />Tightly rolled Paper,...... Smolders,.... It Never really Burns.........<br />Unless you Open the drafts,+ then what little Heat you're getting,..... Goes Out the Stack......
 

SS MAYFLOAT

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

I will say this, it takes forever to make just one log. The tray underneath is filled with water to wet the paper to make it stick to istself. Paper absorbs the water, gotta fill the tray again, roll up some more, fill the tray. I do agree with heycods on this. Then to get the air pockets and wrinkles out. Then after your done, you need to wait for the logs to then dry out.<br /><br />BTW, I've seen less fancy ones for under 20 bucks.<br /><br />Link, my brother bought one about 20 years ago. He knew I was moving to where he lives. He had all his friends save their papers. By the time I was going to roll up his newspapers, he had one side of his garage full of paper. That was 6 pickup loads. I know because I ended up hauling the rest to the recycler. Nope, I won't do it again and plus the heat from them wasn't all that great. There is some neat colors that come off of them which is purdy and they don't have that nice woodsey smell when burning.<br /><br />Good luck friend, its yer choice.
 

Ron G

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

I always thought paper built up criso in the chimney?
 

crazy charlie

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

Originally posted by Ron G:<br /> I always thought paper built up criso in the chimney?
That is incorrect sir!! Paper and cardboard burned properly(hot) will keep the chimney clean.Any slow burn wood with sap will build crea.The paper roller is a pain .I tried it and went immediately to rolling by hand and a wire twist.You can roll about 10 to 1 that way.Also burns better when not rolled so tight.I dont see it doing the job alone though.I used it as a add on to an existing fire and that way they burned quite well.
 

Link

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

Thanks for the ton of information guys.<br />Great links roscoe.<br /><br />Right after posting this around midnight last night a friend called me via radio and I was telling him about it. He had also just recieved his Vermont Catalogue so he looked it up and said he could almost swear that it was the exact same one his dad had bought 30 years ago.<br /><br />Tried it for a week and put it under his work bench and left it there when they sold the house.<br /><br />Oh well except for my labor wood is free around here anyway. :) <br /><br />To the recycle bin they go!
 

ED21

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

Originally posted by Link:<br /> said he could almost swear that it was the exact same one his dad had bought 30 years ago.<br /><br />Tried it for a week and put it under his work bench and left it there when they sold the house.<br /><br />
Same experience here, except it was 40 years ago.
 

cpj

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Jun 14, 2005
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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

I never could roll worth a darn, thats why we used a water bo........... errrrrr oh, you meant newspaper!Forget what I just said. :D :D :p
 

fireship1

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Aug 26, 2003
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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

Every time I put newspapers in the fire I feel they make too much black smoke. They don't burn as clean as wood to me. The smoke seems to choke me. Maybe the ink or the chemicals that they put on the paper when printing. I would just stick with the good ole natural wood.
 

PierBridge

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Sep 3, 2004
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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

Originally posted by Ed:<br />[QB]
Originally posted by Link:<br /> said he could almost swear that it was the exact same one his dad had bought 30 years ago. Other than the price it sure looks 30 years old!
 

crazy charlie

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May 22, 2003
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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

If you want to get some real btu's for free ,try rolling some cardboard.It is readily available anywhere for free and it burns very hot.Roll by hand and and bend it over your knee and the angle bend will keep it from unrolling.
 

whywhyzed

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

My dad had me rolling logs with one of those things when I was a kid....I had a lot better attention span in my youth... I recall if you mastered the density, the newspaper logs burned "ok"... It was really hard though to get them just right... not too tight, not too loose
 

WillyBWright

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Re: Rolling Newspapers to burn as logs

They make good additional fuel to a wood fire. About 3 wood logs per paper log. Otherwise they don't keep burning. You also need mesh over the chimney to keep flaked-off burning paper from flying out the chimney and starting grass fires.
 
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