Paper/Biomass Briquette Press

So. I have a lot of junk mail, and mulched leaves in the fall/grass in the summer. So I figured I would build a Briquette press. (okay i have no idea how to spell that but yeah)

Inspired by THIS you tube video, and others.

I used some extra 2x4s and I bought a cheap bottle jack from Harbor Freight. Plus some short peices of 4" 3" and 1 1/4" pvc.

Here is where I am so far. I will lay out the components of the press when it is finished.

Materials:
- Wood screws.
- About three 6-foot 2x4s (I had various scrap in many lengths laying around)
- 1 4-foot long 4" PVC Pipe (cut in half) This is outer part of the press.
- 1 4-foot long 3" PVC Pipe (cut in half) This acts as the "ram" of the press.
- 1 section of 1 1/4 inch PVC Pipe (cut to fit into the hole at the bottom of the press to the top of the "ram". (This is the 'drain' where all the water gets forced out of the material as the press presses the biomass pulp.) This is also drilled with small holes to let water out and down through the bottom of the press.
- 4 3" PVC 'slip-caps' with a flat end. (These are the slip caps that would fit inside the 4" pipe, and outside the 3" pipe to act as the end of the 'ram'.)

Take aways so far:
- I think I would be able to utilize a pallet of some kind to help reduce the wood fabrication process. Maybe I will try that after I get this working.
- I don't think just standard 2x4s will work for very long. As they get quite wet, and the constant wet/dry may become a problem.
- It is messy. I fill these ram assemblies on a table just over the trashcan with "soup" as to drain the overflow back into the trashcan.
- If using biomass (leaves/grass clippings) I think I would add them to the paper right befor processing into bricks. The intruduction of biomass makes a highly fermentable slurry and smells BAD.

DATA
Shredded bills only (heat and not open air cooking):
- Measures inside diameter of a 4" pvc tube x 3" tall
- 12 days curing time (outdoors)
- 16 total bricks fom a trashcan of paper (half a lawn and garden trash bag of shredded paper).
- Each brick averages 1/2 pound

Shredded bills and grass clippings (heat and not open air cooking):
- Measures inside diameter of a 4" pvc tube x 3" tall.


Newspaper only (cooking on the grill...newspaper is supposedly natural vegetable based ink):

Newspaper and grass clippings (cooking on the grill as I don't put chemicals on my grass very often):



http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/DSCI0850.jpg

Let us know how it works, Im interested.

What do you plan to use the briquettes for?

Great idea making it so you can press at least two at a time. I wish I had seen this video over four years ago. Now we're moving out of our place with a fire place.

Please let us know how these burn with respect to sparks. My grandpa made a much more simple version of these paper briquettes, and when I burned them, it would shoot shreds of burning paper out the top of the chimney. They blew out while they were still in the air, but I was very wary about fire danger if I were to burn the paper when there wasn't snow on the ground. Please let us know.

This is an interesting idea. Please let us know how it works out.

Irving: do these burn well? I mean, are they even close to the burn rate of pine logs/split wood? I cut and split a shit-ton of wood every year. The pressing thing looks easier on the back if I can only get enough junk mail delivered (no leaves or grass up here, just pine needles). [Tooth]

Even if it just supplements the firewood supply it would be cool. And if they start easier than wood, that's a plus too.

The paper logs that I was burning did NOT burn as well as it appears these briquettes do in videos I have seen. The ones I was using were just rolled up news paper that was tied with a string, soaked in water, then dried. They were surprisingly difficult to light as well.

Here is the video I was referring to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Tyt...eature=related

Someone in the comments says that he was getting up to two hours out of the bricks he made. That is tough to believe though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

The paper logs that I was burning did NOT burn as well as it appears these briquettes do in videos I have seen. The ones I was using were just rolled up news paper that was tied with a string, soaked in water, then dried. They were surprisingly difficult to light as well.

Here is the video I was referring to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Tyt...eature=related

Someone in the comments says that he was getting up to two hours out of the bricks he made. That is tough to believe though.

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Damn. Franky, I really don't think the time involved with this is worth it. I mean between gathering paper, leaves, etc., soaking it all, pressing and drying it, etc., it might just be easier to just cut down a dead tree and split it.

Of course, in a survival/preparedness situation this could be very useful, but you'd have to either have a ton of junk mail stored up or have made the briquettes in advance.

Now this is coming from a guy who lives in the mountains with trees all over the place. Maybe for someone in the burbs making these is a better option.

I'm intrigued by this too. A nice way to get rid of junk paper if you have the time to process it all into bricks. How long each brick will burn will depend on how large they are, how much airflow is in your stove, how compacted they are, and what materials are in them.

If any of "You People" are into this or are going to try this, I can save the daily newspaper for you. You'll just need to pick them up on a regular basis though.

Getting the paper is easy. I bet we've had enough paper for 100's of bricks in just a year. For me the part that seems like the most pain is the container and space to create enough slurry that you could press out at least 20 bricks at a time. If you end up doing only 3-4 at a time it would take too much time.

I will definately post up some stats on burn times and dimensions of the finished bricks along with pictures of the finished product. The price of the materials was minimal as I used scrap 2x4s from other projects, and I went an bought a cheap 2 ton bottle jack from harbor freight.

I plan on using scrap paper only (newspaper, junk mail without plastic windows on the envelope) and/or mix in some lawn waste like cut grass and/or leaves to see how it goes. The paper will be shredded and soaked in water, until it is the consistency of spitball material (only way I can describe it effectively). Apparently it takes a week or two to 'cure' and dry.

What I plan on doing with it? I don't have a fireplace, but I saw a few videos of people using them for bbq-grills, but I want to test them out first to ensure there are no wierd green flames coming off them. As far as being prepared and in a semi-urban environment, it is always handy to have fuel of some kind on hand for cooking when the gas grid would go down.

I work shift this weekend so the rest of the project will have to wait until Tues/Weds. Since I am bored at work right now, I will update the original post with some sort of supply list.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rbeau30

I saw a few videos of people using them for bbq-grills,

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If using junk mail, I'd be more than a little concerned about eating food covered in smoke from the various resins & coatings used to make paper glossy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hatidua

If using junk mail, I'd be more than a little concerned about eating food covered in smoke from the various resins & coatings used to make paper glossy.

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Yes, I read that newspaper only is good for this as the ink is vegetable-based supposedly. I'll probably call up the Denver post and ask them before I would use them in the BBQ.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rbeau30

I will definately post up some stats on burn times and dimensions of the finished bricks along with pictures of the finished product. The price of the materials was minimal as I used scrap 2x4s from other projects, and I went an bought a cheap 2 ton bottle jack from harbor freight.

I plan on using scrap paper only (newspaper, junk mail without plastic windows on the envelope) and/or mix in some lawn waste like cut grass and/or leaves to see how it goes. The paper will be shredded and soaked in water, until it is the consistency of spitball material (only way I can describe it effectively). Apparently it takes a week or two to 'cure' and dry.

What I plan on doing with it? I don't have a fireplace, but I saw a few videos of people using them for bbq-grills, but I want to test them out first to ensure there are no wierd green flames coming off them. As far as being prepared and in a semi-urban environment, it is always handy to have fuel of some kind on hand for cooking when the gas grid would go down.

I work shift this weekend so the rest of the project will have to wait until Tues/Weds. Since I am bored at work right now, I will update the original post with some sort of supply list.

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Green flames would show you have an excess of one of four different chemicals mixed in with the paper. The most obvious would be phosphorous, the next would be boron. Stick to non-glossy papers with no fancy dyes on them and you should be fine. Bright orange, pink, greens with blues... All from chemicals in the paper. The biggest threat would be aerating heavy metals possibly mixed in with the dyes, a common one is Titanium Oxide or a Ti chelate used to make a white dye, very common. 3M calls one of their industrial white dyes a Ti lactate. It's actually a compound that mimics an enzyme and traps Ti molecules. Aerating the heavy metals from this in small doses wouldn't be a problem. Regular exposure would be a health risk and excessive exposure could be terminal, especially for kids. The mass majority of dyes are safe, but the fancy ones can be dangerous if burned.

So, if you DO get an odd color when it burns and there are dyed papers in it. Don't use that type of paper again. Any dye used in a newspaper should be safe. I'm more concerned about fliers and junk mail adds, the fancy stuff produced in high end machines.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SA Friday

Green flames would show you have an excess of one of four different chemicals mixed in with the paper. The most obvious would be phosphorous, the next would be boron. Stick to non-glossy papers with no fancy dyes on them and you should be fine. Bright orange, pink, greens with blues... All from chemicals in the paper. The biggest threat would be aerating heavy metals possibly mixed in with the dyes, a common one is Titanium Oxide or a Ti chelate used to make a white dye, very common. 3M calls one of their industrial white dyes a Ti lactate. It's actually a compound that mimics an enzyme and traps Ti molecules. Aerating the heavy metals from this in small doses wouldn't be a problem. Regular exposure would be a health risk and excessive exposure could be terminal, especially for kids. The mass majority of dyes are safe, but the fancy ones can be dangerous if burned.

So, if you DO get an odd color when it burns and there are dyed papers in it. Don't use that type of paper again. Any dye used in a newspaper should be safe. I'm more concerned about fliers and junk mail adds, the fancy stuff produced in high end machines.

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I'll probably end up segregating the materials that I use the briquettes for. Newspaper/grass/leaves for cooking possibly, and everything else for heat in a well ventilated situation.

If anyone wants to come to my house in the fall, you can pick up as many leaves as you want! [Wave]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SA Friday

Green flames would show you have an excess of one of four different chemicals mixed in with the paper. The most obvious would be phosphorous, the next would be boron. Stick to non-glossy papers with no fancy dyes on them and you should be fine. Bright orange, pink, greens with blues... All from chemicals in the paper. The biggest threat would be aerating heavy metals possibly mixed in with the dyes, a common one is Titanium Oxide or a Ti chelate used to make a white dye, very common. 3M calls one of their industrial white dyes a Ti lactate. It's actually a compound that mimics an enzyme and traps Ti molecules. Aerating the heavy metals from this in small doses wouldn't be a problem. Regular exposure would be a health risk and excessive exposure could be terminal, especially for kids. The mass majority of dyes are safe, but the fancy ones can be dangerous if burned.

So, if you DO get an odd color when it burns and there are dyed papers in it. Don't use that type of paper again. Any dye used in a newspaper should be safe. I'm more concerned about fliers and junk mail adds, the fancy stuff produced in high end machines.

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With so many beetle-kill trees in CO, it seems like simply getting a permit to take some wood off Nat'l Forest land (which is easy to get), would bypass many of the chemical concerns and provide for a bit of meaningful time outdoors.

I've been hearing mention of these things in various places now but haven't found any burn times yet. Keep us posted if you try this out.

Another question I might have though, what about the glossy type paper? Like magazine paper, some newspaper inserts, etc., should that be filtered out or would you just compress it with the rest? (Those don't usually start well in the woodstove during winter, but once its going they do ok which is why I ask.)



Badger

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badger

I've been hearing mention of these things in various places now but haven't found any burn times yet. Keep us posted if you try this out.

Another question I might have though, what about the glossy type paper? Like magazine paper, some newspaper inserts, etc., should that be filtered out or would you just compress it with the rest? (Those don't usually start well in the woodstove during winter, but once its going they do ok which is why I ask.)



Badger

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I think just to be safe I am going to just use regular pages from the newspaper since The denver post ink and such is made with vegetable based products. I definately will post burn times... maybe a video if I can figure this you tube thing out.

I just transitioned to night shift so this whole week has been a haze of drowsiness. Monday I'll finish it up and start making the briquettes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badger

I've been hearing mention of these things in various places now but haven't found any burn times yet. Keep us posted if you try this out.

Another question I might have though, what about the glossy type paper? Like magazine paper, some newspaper inserts, etc., should that be filtered out or would you just compress it with the rest? (Those don't usually start well in the woodstove during winter, but once its going they do ok which is why I ask.)

Badger

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Should be up to about 2 hours if good and hard packed.

Glossy paper won't absorb water as well as non-glossy, so it will not only smell worse but not compact as well and therefore not burn as long.

JMO, YMMV. [Beer]

2 hours would be cool. Wondering about BTUs and woodstove practicality then. Portable woodstove that is, we have one we made from a 20mm ammo can.




Badger

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badger

2 hours would be cool. Wondering about BTUs and woodstove practicality then. Portable woodstove that is, we have one we made from a 20mm ammo can.




Badger

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I was looking at videos on how to make hobo wood stoes like that with ammo cans or a propane cylinder. Might be what I would use these in, so the nasty fumes dont go into the food. but until then I think newspaper only for food preparation. All the other junk for outdoor heat production.

Well looks finished, not sure how much better until I test it out.

My test burns will be the following:
- Shredded Bills and scrap paper only (not for open air cooking).
- Shredded Bills and scrap paper with grass clippings (not for open air cooking).
- Shredded Newspaper only (no ads).
- Shredded Newspaper with grass clippings.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_0127.jpg

Here is the ram assembly. I have two flat PVC end caps with a hole drilled that will accept the small pvs tube that had drain holes drilled into it.

The 4" PVC tubing part of the ram is actually standing upside down to show you how the end cap is put in there. It has 2 holes drilled into it to allow for drainage.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_0128.jpg

I filled up a cheap 26 Gallon trash can from wally world with shredded bills and paper and such. This is going to be the first batch of test burns. With a 5 day water soak.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_0126.jpg

Might sound like a funny request, but could you weigh a briquette and share with us?

I'm contemplating a particular BOT (trailer) design option and wondering about the practical/impractical possibilities. So basically that info plus your burn time findings might lead to a viable offering in something I intend to build. Thanks. [Beer]





Badger

I'll definately post dimensions/weights of the cured briquettes.

I have stirred the goop after one day of soak. Thursday should be the brick making day!

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_0130.jpg

Made the first batch of bricks. One thing I noticed is that I had to put some weight on the bricks as they wanted to do some expanding, so I lined them up and put a 2x4 with weight on top of them to keep them compressed.

4 hours after making the bricks and they are stabilizing at about 3 1/4 inches long on average.

16 bricks in about 2 hours. I started getting faster at it as it went along.

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_0133.jpg

closeup.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/IMG_0134.jpg

Will you be testing outside at all? Interested in how well this would work for one of those backyard fire pits.

awesome idea, I am definitely going to have to make one of these!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

Will you be testing outside at all? Interested in how well this would work for one of those backyard fire pits.

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Yeah, I don't have a video camera, but I will time each brick and average them out on burn times. I'll put the data on the original post so it is easy to see and get to.

I started the second batch soaking of grass clippings and random shredded bills. Will press those in about a week. I'll add the grass clipping probably half way through the soak.

If anyone ends up making one of these, post pics and add to the post what you did differently. to get yours to work.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rbeau30

Yeah, I don't have a video camera, but I will time each brick and average them out on burn times. I'll put the data on the original post so it is easy to see and get to.

I started the second batch soaking of grass clippings and random shredded bills. Will press those in about a week. I'll add the grass clipping probably half way through the soak.

If anyone ends up making one of these, post pics and add to the post what you did differently. to get yours to work.

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Just a question, but don't you have to limit how long your slurry sits? Just from a standpoint of mold and stuff growing on it?

I was curious because I have the big blue 55gal barrels, and was thinking that might be a nice source for a larger slurry tank.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vanniek71

Just a question, but don't you have to limit how long your slurry sits? Just from a standpoint of mold and stuff growing on it?

I was curious because I have the big blue 55gal barrels, and was thinking that might be a nice source for a larger slurry tank.

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At about 7 days I noticed that it looked like it was fermenting. A layer of slurry was floating on top of a bunch of bubbles. Before the other day I did not notice that. It didn't smell bad, just like wet paper. I figured the glue from the envelopes had a hand in starting a fermentation.

Also, I would imagine that if you use yard waste as an addition, you may get seeds in there to germinate if you leave it in there for any length of time. might start growing for some sunlight.

I am interested in amount of smoke for outdoor, recreational burning.

So basically unless I was planning to use all of the slurry in the 55 gal drum within a week, that probably isn't a good idea.

I'm thinking your idea with just the cheapy Wal-mart trash can is the way to go.

Yeah probably not good to store it for a long time unless you treat it somehow.

I'll definately observe smoke levels as I am also curious on how all the envelope plastic windows and such have an effect on the smokiness/odor.

What about adding hardwood sawdust to the slurry? Any advantages?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mykidsdad

What about adding hardwood sawdust to the slurry? Any advantages?

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I would imagine that would be pretty cool, probably hold together better than grass. Maybe I'll go to the pet store and buy some pine shavings to add to another mix.

May have to not even bother with grass at this point, I opened that can to do my daily stir, and it smells really bad. Not sure I want to put my hands in that, to make bricks. LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rbeau30

I would imagine that would be pretty cool, probably hold together better than grass. Maybe I'll go to the pet store and buy some pine shavings to add to another mix.

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May have to not even bother with grass at this point, I opened that can to do my daily stir, and it smells really bad. Not sure I want to put my hands in that, to make bricks. LOL

Okay so the intruduction of grass clippings makes the slurry smell really bad, but I am going to try making them anyways... for science.

The first batch with just bills are curing real nice. I am going to give it until I start pressing the secong batch (2 days) before I weigh them.

Soooo.... I made about 10 bricks with the shredded bills/grass cuttings.

I need a break, the slurry smells like... death. so I probably will take this away from adding biomass to the slurry... Add it right before you press these bricks as it is quite unpleasant to smell.

I will post pics in the afternoon tomorrow, as I rather take a break from my back porch which has these drying right now.

All for science!

The first batch of bricks are cured! I will update the OP with the data on what the average weight of them are.