Paper/Biomass Briquette Press

[rbeau30]

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.

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.

[Irving]

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

[Vanniek71]

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.

[rbeau30]

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.

[Mykidsdad]

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

[rbeau30]

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

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

[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.

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

[rbeau30]

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.

[rbeau30]

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.