How to Make Fireplace Logs From Newspaper
Though it may not be possible to heat the average-sized home with them, fireplace logs constructed of newspapers are a fun project, environmentally sound and can increase the warmth and enjoyment of wood-burning fireplaces during the long winter months. Instead of discarding your newspapers in the trash, turn them into recycled fuel for the fireplace.
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Things You'll Need
- Newspaper (without glossy sections)
- Tub of water
- 1 tbs. of dishwashing detergent
- Clean workspace: about 10 square feet of driveway or table surface
- Rolling pin
- 1-inch dowel or wooden rod about 3 feet long
- Rubber mallet
Instructions
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1
Place 3 to 4 gallons of water into the tub, depending on its size. Add the dishwashing soap.
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2
Assemble a 2- to 3-inch thick pile of newspapers. Fold them in half or shred them into long pieces. Thicker logs burn longer. With practice, you'll learn how much newspaper to use for the thickness of log you wish to produce.
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3
Submerge the newspaper into the bucket of water, forcing the sheets or strips beneath the surface. Let them soak for about 24 hours.
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4
Remove the sodden newspaper and lay the sheets or strips out on the driveway or on a table.
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5
Roll over the newspaper with the rolling pin to remove as much of the water as possible.
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6
Using the rubber mallet, pound the paper into pulp, being careful not to perforate it too much. Turn the paper over and continue pounding on the other side.
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Carefully roll the pulp onto the dowel as tightly as possible. Squeeze the pulp from the middle out to both ends with your hands to remove more of the moisture. A good log will be at least 3 to 4 inches in diameter.
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Remove the log from the dowel with a twisting motion and set the log vertically against a wall to dry. This may take several weeks or longer, so plan ahead.
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Tips & Warnings
Newspaper logs work best when added to firewood already burning in the fireplace. Store the logs in a dry place; if they get wet, they may fall apart. Sprinkle ashes in your garden when the fire is out. They contain good nutrients for the soil.
Don't use the newspaper's glossy advertising sections as they may release harmful gasses when burned.
