A campfire is one of the most beloved aspects of outdoor adventuring, as pretty much anyone with a pulse loves getting cozy by a fire with their friends and family after a fun day in the outdoors. If you love the campfire but hate gathering wood, perhaps it’s time to look into making your own paper bricks. That’s right, you can make your very own paper bricks to burn in a campfire without the laborious task of foraging for firewood, and you might even save a tree or two along the way. It’s very easy to do — just follow our simple guide to learn how!
Types of Paper
When making paper bricks, it is very important to select the right type of paper. Newspaper, cardboard, and standard paper that is used around the office or home are ideal for paper bricks, and phone book paper from that pesky Yellow Pages that shows up magically on your doorstep every year also works well. However, any type of paper that has a glossy or plastic coating should definitely be avoided. These can create fumes that are harmful to the lungs and the environment, and aren’t great with water absorption. You can even supplement your paper mix with dried leaves and grass if you have a surplus of lawn refuse.
Making the Bricks
For the most efficient method of making your own paper bricks, purchase a press from your local hardware or garden store, or shop around online. These are relatively inexpensive, and their solid metal construction ensures durability and long life. Once you have your press, the only materials needed to make the bricks are the paper mix and some water.
To begin making bricks, shred the paper that you will be using and soak in a bucket of water for several minutes. This will help it condense when you put it into the press and will create much more solid bricks. After a good soak, pack the paper into the press and push down on the handle. Squeeze as much of the water out as possible to form a compact brick. Once your brick is formed, remove it and set it out to dry, preferably in direct sun in the outdoors. If wet weather persists, you can also dry your bricks indoors. Indoor drying can take quite a bit longer than drying them in the sun, but the result will be the same.
Safety First
The most important thing you need to think about when making your own paper bricks is safety. The presses used to make these bricks can be dangerous if used carelessly or in any other way than the directions indicate. It is crucial to make sure your fingers are out of the machine and in a safe position when pressing the bricks. While this may seem like common sense, a quick internet search will show you that many mild to serious injuries occur as a result of people ignoring instructions and common sense!
Burn your paper bricks just like you would any other piece of firewood. The burn time for paper bricks will vary depending on materials and thickness, but you should be able to get at least 45 minutes to an hour out of an average brick. What better way to use all that scrap paper than by keeping yourself toasty under the stars?
For other DIY projects, check out Easy DIY Charcoal Water Filter, How to Make a DIY Camping Toilet or Make a DIY Camp Stove/Heater with Just 3 Items.
