Sawdust, Newspaper, Biomass Fireplace Logs

@pelenaka....not yet...been doing research on BTU to size ratio..think i have it now....also been researching wood to fiber ration and i have settled on 80% wood to 20% paper.....rain water as needed (gonna use a rain barrel).....4 x4x12 dimensions with a hole in the middle, maybe two for drying and burning. I have found a pattern for a jig that will bake four bricks at a time....I have set up a newspaper source (free) and have a meeting with a guy about sawdust from a mill that makes cedar shakes/shingles. (free)...wooo hoooo......

I have heard about usng coffee grounds and they seem to work very well...any fiber based product can be used. Go for it!

Don't need a binder (glue)....the fibers bind themselves in the compression....pretty much excited to start...need to barter for them jig....wish some of you were closer...we could work something out.

research says one ton of commercial biomass bricks will fit in 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 space and give as many BTU as a cord of hard wood...can you say WOW!

anyone else have anything to offer before i dive in? would love to hear from you.....

Love the idea of the roket stove....you can use animal dung...horse i think would be most user friendly, but the idea of animal dung as fodder for fires is nothing new....

have you seen the roket stove that was built out of adobe? waaaaaay cool...have the link somewhere....gonna make one for my tree house....

I was thinking of wrapping mine in a sheet of newspaper for storage as it would serve as both a wrapper and as a fire starter.....what do you think?

I am sure glad I started this thread!!!! Seems I have touched off a rocket in MaineGirl :-)

Its nice to have the piece or two of newsprint handy for when you need to start a fire, although in Maine don't you just start the woodstove in September and keep it going till May?? Or is it June??

waaaaaait a minute....am I being made fun of? :0 i try not to fire up the stove until Halloween and then it is Memorial Day weekend when it quiets down.....thanks for the reminder, Yucca..14 inches predicted for tonight...

@ Mainegirl . I have no problems with getting Sawdust . Horse shouldn't be problem other than gas and a trailer . So what should the mixture of sawdust to horse dunn be ? How long does the Briquette (horse/sawdust) burn compare to other briquettes ?

all the research that i have done says that 80% wood fiber with 20% binder (in most cases in the U.S. ;news paper) and water to wet....press it...dry it...burn it.....i don't mind horse manure....been hauling the stuff for compost for years so the idea of using it for fuel is not that far off for me...others may not be so adventurous.....try it out and let me know how you make out....maybe we can start a biomass brick exchange....regionally made bricks from local sources...hahahaah...i'll try blueberries and pinecones.....

Anything i need to do to the manure before making the briquette ? For instance let the manure sit for a while , like manure for the garden ? Wear globes ?
Because horse generally eat grass , instead of feed is this what make it good for
briquette ? I know that nitrogen is important factor in burning .

Gee...i dunno...i am as new at this as you are.....i don't wear gloves when i muck stalls, i am beyond that.....i guess you'll have to experiment....i am curious now....( off to do more research)

If you have Sawdust just build a sawdust stove!

Sawdust stove

See the vidio here.

I suggested the vacuum sealing to prevent moisture since i'd be storing them in my cellar as a long term prep item. That is unless it's such a sucess that I make a cord's worth o rmore.
I think wrapping the bricks in a few layers of newspaper is a great idea.
Take pics


~~ pelenaka ~~

I'll keep that in mind although the closest track is out of my hood.
I was working along the lines of materials that would be readily availible.
The take two sticks & a shoelace factor.


~~ pelenaka ~~

I have radiant heat in my lower level that is actually a walkout basement so, for me, moisture is not an issue......i am going to make the equivalent of a cord of wood and see how it does.....i mean, i got 3 1/2 more months to burn wood, so i got time...i will totally take pics.....

My problem with purchasing a different stove to burn pellets or sawdust or corn is I have one of the possibly best woodstoves ever invented. My stove is made by the Orley Wood Stove Company and is one that I have had since the early 80's. It looks like it is new. Its one that is impossible to wear out. I suspect my kids will be using it when they are my age, maybe their kids at the same age. If you ever get a chance to buy one I would.

awwww...now why did you have to share that! I am a wonderful combination of extreme curiousity, tenacity and obsessive-compulsive. I means that i will have to add sawdust stove to the list of things i need to scavenge parts for....sigh....now i will never sleep tonight.....