Creative Reuse: Newspaper Brick Maker & Log Roller

At this point, we are pretty much digital only when it comes to the news, but we know we are in the minority. So when we stumbled across these interesting, sorta old fashioned products we thought we'd post them for for those who get a daily paper AND have a working fireplace.

Both available from Lehman's, the products provide both a way to recycle newspapers and a source for heat when used in a fireplace - a thrifty proposition.

Here's what Lehmans says about the Brick Maker ($49.95):
A great way to recycle newspapers and an invaluable tool used in parts of the world where firewood is not readily available. Compressed wet newspaper dries into 81/2"x31/4" bricks that burn at the rate of about 4 per hour. Just soak newspaper (mix with sawdust and chopped grass if desired) and fill brick maker, then press down on handles. Remove brick and allow to dry, then use like wood in your stove.

...and the Log Roller ($37.95): Our newspaper log roller will give you a way to use up those old newspapers in a useful and constructive manner. Tightly wrapped newspaper burns slowly and provides extended periods of heat. Insert folded edge of paper into slot and start winding, once started, keep adding sections of newspaper until log is desired size (3 1/4"OD maximum), with practice a log can be rolled in about 5 minutes.

Has anyone used these? Do they work well? Please let us know in the comments - we've not seen them before and are very curious...

Comments (8)

My dad used to roll his own newspaper logs in the 1970s. They worked great and eleminated the Sunday paper pile up. But they generated a ton of ashes, much more so than wood. Luckily our neighbor had a compost pile and was happy to take the ashes off our hands.

Never tried it, but I was looking for something like this a few years ago when I had a fireplace. looks cool.

i remember seeing those brick makers in the 70s (in Germany) â€¦-D

I think people from Gizmodo or BoingBoing discussed the brickmaker a while back, people said that the newspaper bricks never quite dried completely. It may take a year like freshly cut trees to dry out.

I bought the brickmaker from Lehman's last year. Works great, no complaints.

On a similar compacting note, a friend if mine has started using an industrial machine she purchased to compact left over/waste saw dust from her employer's furniture manufacturing and sells the resulting briquettes as fire wood. They work brilliantly and are re-using an exisiting waste product that her employer was previously putting into the garbage!

http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au/c-Stuff-for-Sale-homeware-furniture-outdoor-backyard-bbq-Recycled-Timer-Briquettes-Eco-Friendley-firewood-indoor-outdoor-W0QQAdIdZ61482365

I have one - works fine - but burning newspaper makes a ton of ashes. Unless you either a) enjoy cleaning the fireplace or b) have a special fireplace vacuum...I wouldn't do it.