4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[quickcluck]

Hi guys....

 

Have also posted this in Nesting box, but thought it would be better here!!! So sorry mods if your confused, feel free to lock one

 

Does anybody make there own paper bricks/logs or burning either on an open fire or a wood burning stove???

 

If so does anyone have a preference logs or bricks??

 

Thanks.....

[Lesley]

I have bought one of hte things which make s alog from dry waste paper etc. - haven't tried it yet, I thought i'd set my two little slaves making some logs during half-term

[quickcluck]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh keep me posted please

 

I am very keen as heard that the brick one uses wet paper and takes ages to dry out, so this seems a better option!

[Trish]

I've done the paper brick thing and it only really seeemd to work if I used shredded newspaper, faffy and they took ages to dry. Burned ok but not really worth the effort to me. I'd be really interested to see how the log maker works out.

[chickencam]

We have made the wet ones from shredded newspaper and even in the summer out in the sun they take about a week to dry, we will make more some time but it is not practical for main usage.

[Lesley]

I'll get Lauren and Jake to make a couple of logs when they get home from school today and then try them in the evening.

[Olly]

Did you ever get your little slaves making these, Lesley?

 

I got given a log-maker for my birthday last week - it's a plastic tube that you roll a sheet of newspaper around, and then fill with waste paper. I'm hoping that shredded paper will do, as I have lots of that and it can't be recycled, but the leaflet says you can even use old teabags or garden waste to fill them.

 

I'm about to set to work this evening, I'll let you know how I get on!

[quickcluck]

keep us posted Olly, will be interested to see how you get on? What will you be burning them on? I've a log burner being delievered next week Am not sure if I should get stuffing or not!

[Olly]

Well the log burner was fitted today! I'm waiting for the plaster to dry out, can't light it for 24 hours but I'm planning to use these, although I guess they will burn very rapidly and make a lot of ash, every little helps!

[quickcluck]

At least the chooks will like the ash!

[Olly]

ah - can you help me here, what do you do with wood ash? Do they like it for dust baths, can you put it on the compost heap ... I have a vague idea that I've seen it mentioned on here but I don't really know what to do with it.

[Lesley]

The best use for the ash is........cleaning the glass windows to the fire!!

 

Use a piece of damp kitchen paper, dip it into the soft white ash and clean off any residue (even the clean burn fires get dirty glass) - brilliant!!! and no chemicals!

 

The rest we keep in a metal dustbin and we use it round all the currant bushes in the garden.

 

I did get my little slaves making these logs, last week during the school hols. - they loved making them! Lauren decided to make her own version......using a kitchen paper middle and my wooden rolling pin as a rammer.....and proving that I'd just spent money on a couple of pieces of plastic that I needn't have She only made small logs that way though.

 

We find the logs a brilliant way of using up all the junk that we would normally shred. They work well as kindling but don't last anywhere near as long as proper logs for heating. I'm glad I bought one and have bought one for my sister who is hoping her fire will arrive before Christmas!

[Olly]

gosh, that's a use I wouldn't have thought of!

 

Thanks, Lesley.

[Christian]

I keep the ash from our open fire and add red mite powder to it. Every week the chickens get a couple of scoops in their dust bath. They love it.

[yvonne]

Thanks Lesley

I managed to really blacken the window of my log burner last night and, rather sceptically tried your tip of using ash and a wet paper towel. It's amazing !! Spotless with no effort, I've spent hours in the past rubbing carefully with a little washing up liquid. Best tip I've ever read ! (Love the fact that the old ways seem to be coming back - hopefully less chemicals will be used again soon by many people)

[bronze]

I have a cylindrical one. ot worht the effort. Brother has the block one says its good though you have to remember to one lot so they dry in front of the fire and keep the cycle going.

[Lesley]

I have a cylindrical one. not worht the effort.

 

It's worth the effort if you have two little slaves who like doing it!

 

I couldn't bear the thought of all that soggy paper to dry

[bronze]

I meant as in they burn badly. I have slaves for such jobs too

[Lesley]

 

We find them great as kindling - not as good for logs.

[Olly]

My cylinder one doesn't need any wetting, so they don't need to dry out. They're no trouble - I made six last night quite easily whilst watching 'Strictly'! I am using shredded paper however - I tried just ripping up junk mail and it took too long, much easier to bung it through the shredder and then compress it.

 

They're not much good as fuel, but they are great for starting the fire off with a bit of kindling.

[chickencam]

Our chimney sweep more than paid for himself by giving us the tip about cleaning the glass with ash He suggested using scrumpled newspaper which works really well because it helps to scrub the glass then buff it up.

 

Off to light woodburner

[Rhapsody]

The best use for the ash is........cleaning the glass windows to the fire!!

 

 

Best. Cleaning. Tip. Evah.

 

 

 

 

[Olly]

Have to agree. Even though my stove was only installed on Friday I managed to blacken the door by Sunday. It cleaned up beautifully with this tip, it took a few goes but it's as good as new now.

 

gosh, I might know something my brother DOESN'T know! (That would be a first) He's had woodburners for years but I've never heard of him doing this.

[Tiggy]

where do you get a log maker from? I have a brick one & agree the wet paper takes forever to dry & is really messy

[quickcluck]

try this...

 

http://www.greenstamp.co.uk/product_info.php/cPath/22/products_id/122?gclid=CKKl7sKGtJcCFUoa3godnFw5iQ