How to Make Chemical Paper Logs for a Fireplace

Fuel your fireplace for less money with newspaper logs.

Wood-burning furnaces and fireplaces warm your home without electricity, saving energy and keeping heating costs low. However, firewood can be expensive and can contribute to deforestation. Instead, look to your old newspapers. With the proper chemicals, old newspapers can become recycled, free fireplace logs.

Things You'll Need

• Large plastic tub
• Baking soda
• Rock salt
• Newspapers
• Twine

Instructions

1. Fill a large plastic tub with 1 part water to 4 parts baking soda and 3 parts rock salt. For instance, use 3 gallons of water, 12 pounds of baking soda and 9 pounds of rock salt. Fill the bucket with the ingredients and stir until the baking soda and rock salt are totally dissolved.

2. Unfold your newspaper and layer the open papers on top of one another. Sink the pile of papers down into your solution, making sure they stay submerged. Allow the newspaper to soak overnight.

3. Pull the newspapers out of the water solution and separate them into piles of six papers each. Roll each pile of papers into a tight, thick cylinder and tie off the ends with twine. The tighter the newspaper roll, the longer it will burn.

4. Allow the newspaper logs to dry for about a week before burning. The baking soda solution will produce yellow-orange flames.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the color of your fire with different chemicals. Copper sulfate produces green flames, while copper chloride makes them blue. Use strontium chloride for red, calcium chloride for orange and sodium chloride for yellow. Magnesium sulfate makes white flames, and potassium chloride makes purple.

References

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County: Pruning Ornamental Plants
• Texas A&M University Aggie Horticulture: Firewood
• Thrifty Fun: Making Newspaper Fire Logs