[Stoves] Rocket Fuel?

[Carefreeland at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/16/06 10:12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
tombreed at comcast.net writes:

DD Dan Dimiduk comments. 

> 
> Dear All:
> 
> I prefer wetted compaction, but twisted works too!  In the Little House on 
> the Prairie books there is a description of heating the house with twisted 
> corn shucks after the firewood ran out during a long winter.  Laura and her 
> father wore out several pairs of gloves and leather coats.  
> 
> Wood heat heats you three ways - when you cut it, stack it and burn it.  We 
> hope Dan can give us the ratio for paper twists.  
> 
> Onward toward biomass heat,
> 
> TOM REED     
> 
> BEF
> 

DD My paper twisting work has not been that scientific. I take a folded 
section of the newspaper which is about 3-8 full sized sheets, roll it quickly and 
sloppy to create air spaces, and twist it as hard as I can. If the draft on my 
woodstove is good, there is better airflow.  I twist them tighter a second 
time after released and have settled and unwrapped a little. I start in the 
middle of the log and work endwards for a tighter twist. Like wringing out a 
washcloth.  This keeps the burning rate lower. If the draft is poor I need higher 
burning rate to warm the chimney. Thus only one twist is needed leaving more 
porosity.
DD The initial objective was to convert a maximum amount of newsprint into 
fuel in minimum time to start a wood fire. I don't have to unfold and separate 
the newsprint sheets with the twisting method. I found the twisted newsprint 
kindling can be lit with one match, burns more completely than paper balls. The 
wood logs stack on top of it better if layed crossed at angles. Balls tend to 
crush and choke the fire out when wood is stacked on them. If the wood is dry 
enough, I can top light the pile of twisted paper and let it burn down to the 
small logs. This creates a cleaner start to the fire. 
DD I got the idea of twisting the paper from seeing advertisements for 
newsprint log rollers. I started rolling sections and tied them with wire bread bag 
ties.  There was not enough airspace's for a complete burn. The twisting opens 
up more airspace and requires no metal tie to remove from the ashes. I use 
ashes for lawn and garden fertilizer. 
       Just food for thought, 
                Dan Dimiduk