Has anyone got one of those logmaker things that you can make "logs" with old newspaper from for your fire?

[wrinklytum]

Saw this today in a magazine article and googled,apparently you can make "logs" by making a papier-mache type log thing,drying it out and then burning.Has anyone got one,are they a complete faff or are they a goodidea?

[Concepta]

We got one quite recently. The only problem is that it takes quite a while for them to dry out. You have to wet the paper before you put it into the log maker. We dried one out in the house just to see what it was like and it burned well. What we are going to do is collect all the newspapers and make them during the hotter days and leave them outside in the sun to dry - if we get any! and then they will dry out much quicker. We have one sitting in the garage for a few weeks and it still isn't dry enough to use. We think they are a good idea - takes about 10 mins or so to make one - by the time to tear the paper and wet it etc, but you'll be able to enjoy the benefits some cold night in the winter.

[homicidalmatriach]

Yes - we have a different sort which involves no soaking - it's really good BUT they burn in about ten minutes - no more. Having said they are bloody good firelighters.

www.logmaker.org.uk/ Cheapest at Amazon AFAIR

[wrinklytum]

Thanks.It seems like a realy good idea and I am sure ds would enjoy "helping" to make them......if we ever get any good weather!!!!

[PTA]

I've got both types and agree with what's been posted.

I use the plastic logmaker to get the fire going and will wait until the summer to use the other one as they can take ages to dry out. Just think of how many newspapers you can store between now and then and how much fun you can have making the logs with the children.

[homicidalmatriach]

DD (2 and a bit) loves making them - we keep all our old teabags (they burn really well) as well as lavender from the garden - any oil filled bush works well and old newspapers and when it rains we make a pile of them and keep them in a basket by the fire.

[paisleyleaf]

We got one for xmas and thought we'd wait til spring/summer to make logs. Great idea about teabags.....but what's an oil filled bush?
We've got quite a lot of sawdust (from cutting logs), so hoping that works well too.