While this may not be for everyone, it is an interesting experiment in utilizing “what is at hand”, recycling and “making do”. I got the idea from this site, (where you can also purchase their version but shipping may cost more than the product.) This site will give you the process in a nutshell. You will want to read it to understand what the heck I am talking about below
Brick Maker I decided to try my own homemade version… what I stumbled upon was the following:
A 3” and 4” PVC end cap (the local name on the cap was Tomkap)…. The ones I found at the local big box store had flanges on the end making them resemble round graduation caps… the 3” fits exactly inside the 4” one…
About 10 – 12 holes in the 4”cap for water runoff and 4 holes in the 3” one for same. The holes only needs to be big enough for a largish nail to fit in them
Load up the 4” with the product, put the 3” into it, press down by standing on it, flip it over, stand on it again, then a large nail poked through the previously drilled holes releases the vacuum so the “briquettes” come out easily when knocked on a piece of wood.
In all, once I start loading the press, I can make a briquette in about 75 seconds.
One word of caution, if you do not add any sawdust or grass and just make plain paper briquettes, they do not burn well on their own…. They require soaking with charcoal fluid… which kind of defeats the purpose of making them… unless you were to dip them in something like paraffin to insure water resistance and good burning… It is recommended to use 2-3 parts of sawdust per 1 part paper...
Anyway, like I said, not for everyone, but it caught my interest for a variety of reasons and thought it might interest someone else here on the boards. Maybe someone can come up with a cheaper or better alternative.
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