Paper Brick Maker

I made this metal mold to make recycled paper bricks that can be dried and used in fires.  The piece in the bottom of the mold has holes in it to push water out as the top piece is pushed down on the mixture of water and newspapers/paper. Magazine paper or any paper with coatings can not be used because of the toxic fumes they may give off when burned.  The paper is torn into small pieces and put into a bucket with water and a little bleach to help the breakdown process along.  After a day or so of soaking, I mix up the paper with my hardcoat paddle (hardcoat is like drywall mud, but not really) to make it more of a pasty mixture.  I fill the form and use a press to help me compact the paper as tightly as possible.  I then take the top piece off and push the paper brick up from the bottom by flipping the form over and pushing out the bottom piece.  The brick then needs to dry completely for about three months.  I love the idea of recycling things into something useful.  These may be more useful if I had a fireplace, but we do a lot of campfires in our yard and these will help our firewood last longer.  I have heard different reports of how long and strong they burn, but even if they don't burn for long, I am recycling and will get to enjoy them in my fires.