Newspaper to burn in stove!!!

[bearbutt95]

Has anybody seen this or heard about a thing called spin a log---amazon even has a customer video on it. you can turn a newspaper into round rolls or logs that you can burn in your fireplace or wood stove.

It looks pretty neat!!!

Thanks

[asheets]

At first, I thought it was one of those Lillian Vernon catalog things, then I looked at the picture...  http://www.amazon.com/Spin-Log-newspaper-roller-AMERICA-Patent-Pending/dp/B0012BTY62

[bearbutt95]

What do you think? it might be worth it---it looks kind of simple!!!

Those hand crank ones cost a lot more than that. I am going to check it out some more.

[zeusmorg]

 I used to roll paper logs back in the 70's didn't do it with a drill though. just a roller i built with a hand crank. I also soaked the finished logs in old veggie oils, made a dip bucket with a rack that would allow them to drip the excess out, burned pretty well too!

[bearbutt95]

I soak mine in bacon fat--its a pork fat thing!!!

[feral air]

Patent Pending! Wow. What a stunning innovation. Hah.

I do like that it has an on/off switch that you can actuate with your leg. But I could think of simple mod to make it moot...

In that system one hand is used to provide tension, to keep the log tight. Instead I would use a weighted board to press against the log - a hinge would allow the board to increase its angle as the diameter of the log increases.

With an extra free hand you could easily use the switch on the drill itself.

You can probably make the same basic thing with stuff you already own...so I guess it's an ok idea, but I wouldn't buy one.

If it was somewhat automated I'd be more impressed. If I could set a stack of newspapers in a machine and have logs come out the end....that might be worth buying if the price was right. take it easy

[ArmedAndDangerous]

I like the idea but I don't really think 2 rods and a piece of PVC are worth $30. But I'mn not quite sure I understand what's happening - What's holding the second rod in place?

Do these things actually hold together well when they're burning and do they burn completely? Seems like a good way to heat the pool this summer dipped in my favorite oil.

PS - if you live in a mild climate don't put your pool in the shade.

[luv2weld]

Bearbutt,

Those hand crank ones cost a lot more than that

Take a look at this ---http://www.amazon.com/UNIFLAME-Newspaper-Log-Roller/dp/B0012M9UZ6/ref=pd_sbs_k_title_1/002-0374885-6
032853

But also look at the shipping!!!!!

Then take a look at the PVC & rods and look at the shipping!!!!!!!!!!

Why don't you just roll them up by hand.

And to answer your question about do they burn----Yes. Completely.

I have been burning rolled up junk mail for several years. Newspaper

is easier to keep from unrolling. I take everything out of the envelopes

and unfold everything. Then overlap things and roll just like you

saw in the video. Only I do it by hand. Catalogs, sale fliers, insurance

and credit card crap all gets it's turn to keep me warm.

And after I get the junk mail rolled up,

I put a piece of baling wire around the log and twist it. I usually

use one paper log with 3 wood logs. After the fire is out, I wave a

magnet over the ashes and retrieve the wire to use again.

This is a lot easier than trying to shred it for the compost pile.

Ralph

[bearbutt95]

I get maybe 100 newspapers a week from friends and family they save them for me--so I have a lot of rolling to do, I roll these all summer to burn for the winter --and with arthritis in the hands it is getting kind of hard to do it by hand anymore. I have been burning old newspaper for over 20 years (and yeah they burn completely to ash) even those shiny papers---that if you just throw them in the fire flat they stay as big ash that you have to break up with a poker... And like you say I put 3 wood logs with the paper logs. Kind of free heat... Shipping costs are going to keep going up as long as the oil prices go up.

Thanks for the input

BB95

[feral air]

What's holding the second rod in place?

It looked to me like both rods were just chucked into the drill or maybe there's some kind of adapter and the rods are connected to that.

A couple shish-kabob skewers might work for the rods. If your drill can open wide enough, hollow all-thread (as seen in a door's peep-hole) might work as an 'adapter'. take it easy

[bearbutt95]

I think they are welded together off set or something---if not it would spin way out of round... 1 rod is probably a little shorter than the other???

I think I might order a couple--one for my buddy--it might be cheaper to buy more than one shipping costs usually are per order not so much for weight!!! sometimes. I'll find out...

BB95

[feral air]

I'd probably just use a clamp (or use ferrous rods and a magnet) to keep the open end together. The length of one rod compared to the other shouldn't matter. take it easy

[luv2weld]

BB95

From your comment about shipping, it looks like like you did not take

a look at what I was trying to show you!!!

The link to the spin thing that uses a drill shows $19.00 shipping.

Add that to the price for a total cost of $47.95!!!!

The hand crank link that I gave you shows $5.99 shipping.

Add that to the price for a total cost of $39.96.

That was why I referenced your line-----

Those hand crank ones cost a lot more than that.

If I was gonna buy one, it would be made of metal. Definitely would

not be spending almost $50 for a couple pieces of plastic.

Ralph

[vantravlers7]

Careful with burning glossy paper.  I had to make an emergency trip for an aquantiance cause the woodstove was smoking the house.  The stove pipe was completely filled shut with bits of glossy newspaper and fluffy who knows what.  

[bearbutt95]

I know it--Before when I just threw it (Glossy-paper) in the stove it always left big ash's that I would have to bust up with a poker. But when I roll them up in the newspaper they would burn to just fine ash!!!

[bearbutt95]

I just ordered 2 of these the total was about $78.00 bucks that's about $39.00 each.

I will let you know how or if it works. I hope!!!

bb95

[luv2weld]

I'm gonna order one myself if I ever get outta here!!!

Been snowed in since January. I'll be waiting for your

report on the quality and ease of use. Got my fingers crossed

that it turns out to be good stuff!!!!

Ralph

[MattM]

The same principles have been used for making gutter ferrules for centuries.  It shouldn't warrant patent protection; the invention per se is too obvious.

[bearbutt95]

Hi again I got this thing yesterday after pinching myself a few times "Didn't have the speed thing adjusted right". Well I got it figured out and it work's great I have been saving up all the papers and I had quite a stack. Not very good instructions but after a little trail & error it works pretty good I can roll up maybe 30 or so logs in 15-20 minutes...

I think it is worth it. With the order is a push button switch that has a short cord attached & a clamping system that holds the drill down.

I think I could make it?? with a lot of searching for all the parts.

Thanks good luck

bear

[off grid farmer]

Try this for your paper logs:

Get a piece of 6" diameter pvc pipe 18" long, 1 cap, 1-6"diameter washer, an 18" length of allthread rod, and t nuts for the all thread rod.

take all your newspaper and run it through a criss-cross shredder and bag it. take your 18" piece of pvc and put the cap on one end. drill a 1/2" hole in the center of the cap.

take your allthread and washer, put a nut on one end of the allthread far enough in for the washer and another nut, add the washer and nut creating an 18 plunger/puchrod.

Now fill your pvc with sheddings and then fill with water (do this outside or over sink, this is important...lol) now use pushrod in the open end of the pvc, pressing the paper down towards the other end...compacting it as water exits the other end. repeat until the 18"tube is full of pressed shreddings. let dry then reverse the pushrod and insert into the 1/2" drain hole and press 6" pressed paper log from the pvc and insert into fireplace.

should burn like a walmart firelog but not for as long.

other variations can be generated for differing results.