Homemade fuel briquette press

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15 жыл бұрын

I made this press to try to make fuel briquettes from waste sawdust and shavings I generate when woodturning. I am not an engineer and I developed the machine from ideas I got on KZfaq and the internet. This is basically a horizontal version of The Peterson Press shown on KZfaq

Пікірлер: 251

@gserrano701 13 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I live in Medellin, Colombia, very tropical and very urban so I don't have much access to vegetable waste but the daly newspaper will be a good starter for me. Thanks again.

@joelbrown0869 13 жыл бұрын

I like the simplicity of your design. Thank you for sharing. Your friend from the southern US - Joel

@Spikestrip55 10 жыл бұрын

You are indeed an engineer sir, *and* a craftsman! Cheers!

@DaKine796 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing. Your video showed me how to make a briquette press. The CD placed in between is a great idea.

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

That is a super idea and something I had not considered despite watching lots of videos about the pop can heater. Sometimes, like now, it takes someone else to make a connection. I will definitely investigate your idea. Thank you, Brendan

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Great! I'll look at those tonight. Thanks for coming back with this. Brendan

@wilfredolatorre 14 жыл бұрын

Thanks to youtube and people like you can make a diffrence in the world by showing others and giving new ideas. I wish luck, God bless. Fred.

@whotoinfinity 14 жыл бұрын

Nice work Mano! Good of you to share your knowledge too!

@glumpy10 14 жыл бұрын

You seem to have taken a lot of things into account and come up with a very effective, simple and easy to build machine that requires few resources. I think you have done great Job and I never knew it could be that simple to make Briquette's. I'll have to have a go myself just for the heck of it. Great Vid of a job well done!

@kikuk70 15 жыл бұрын

Many thanks Sir.. you know in my country we have problem with over waste and lack of energy resource.. this video is very helpful. I'll download it and share it with people here.. thank you..

@nannerin 13 жыл бұрын

I saw some vids on the effective use of fresnel lenses and was impressed - since they can make water boil then they can be used for drying. All the best to you and yours, Brendan I'll be watching your garden vids this evening. Thanks for posting Edward

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Thank you for that super suggestion. This is one of those situations where I'm thinking "why didn't I think of that?" I didn't, you did. This idea will definitely be incorporated in the next version. Many thanks and Best Wishes, Brendan

@MartinDoyle 13 жыл бұрын

Great idea - well put together and an excellent use of 'waste' material.

@jwwm2 13 жыл бұрын

It's good, it's simple, it's Irish. Can't be much better than that. Thanks.

@ippolitofred 9 жыл бұрын

Splendid tutorial mate ! Love the press innovations. Thanks for sharing.

@baconsoda 9 жыл бұрын

Frederick Ippolito Thank you. This was the first, and I thought only, video I ever made. I have some changes I want to try but it's so hard to dry the briquettes here it's seems pointless trying new methods. However, other people might benefit which is what this is all about so I'll make the changes eventually. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@ippolitofred 9 жыл бұрын

I've watched quite a few vids and noticed many folks put the briquettes in a sun room or garden hot house. With your ingenuity, you could make a small structure to dry out your stuff. I live in San Diego, so that's the least of my concerns. I'll be watching for another one of your videos. Thanks again.

@dalerethererford3639 6 жыл бұрын

A cocking gun and pvc pipe would have worked jest as well

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Thank you Tanaoi, and a very Happy Christmas to you, and yours, too. Brendan

@baconsoda 11 жыл бұрын

I tried a number of mixes and had varying success. With a dry mix the material was hard to get into the pipe and the briquettes didn't hold together. With a very wet mix the pipe was easy to fill but the briquettes were thin and weak. The mix I used here was the best compromise between ease of handling and density of briquette. If I could get heat into the process that would mean I could use very little water but we are talking about really expensive commercial machines. Thanks for your ideas.

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

@SoyNoseNa Hi, the proportion of paper to sawdust is about 50/50 but it's not critical. The main issue is getting the paper well pulped to release the fibres because that's what binds the briquette together when it dries. You can add any type of organic combustible material to the mix e.g. grass, leaves, cotton, cow dung, straw - if it burns when dry it can be used. It is not recommended to use glues and waxes because wax can leave volatile residues in chimneys and glue can be toxic when burnt.

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

I'm thrilled that you were motivated enough to give this a try and disappointed that you ended up mutilating yourself. However, that was just your prototype so try again with a plastic pipe or a steel pipe that won't flex when you drill it. The principles are very simple, the difficult bit is getting enough pressure. The pucks are hard to remove so maybe try using a ram and hammer to beat them out. I try to keep my hands away from the action but it has taken many years to learn this!

@PRDMRE 14 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting, most excellent contraption. I need some cheap fire starters, and you have exactly what I need

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Thanks Frankie, And a Happy New Year to you too. Brendan

@TropicalSunriseTans 14 жыл бұрын

Well done!

@baconsoda 11 жыл бұрын

That's actually a very good idea. I'll get around to trying that in a future press. I've so much going on I can't find time for half the stuff.

@tanaoi 14 жыл бұрын

your a true gentleman,thank you very much for your video,merry christmas!!!

@baconsoda 13 жыл бұрын

@spinaway Thanks Jim, for the kind words and the tip. I have been working on a compound lever version for some time but the more I do the more complicated and expensive it has become...which kinda defeats the purpose. I will continue with the project but, last week, I was in a builders yard and spotted something very common that gave me an idea so I'm working on that now and hope to have it up and running in a few days (time permitting) so I'll be posting again soon. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@fjordking 14 жыл бұрын

very nice also very good that you don't add a wax to your pucks should be very clean and hot burning too

@gerardkane8776 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent video, thanks for sharing

@baconsoda 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Gerard, this is the one and only video I ever intended to make but things kinda got out of hand! LOL Best Wishes, Brendan.

@gcmcknight 15 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting, ignore the silly comments from the misinformed. I am looking at low energy and cost effective presses for Jathropa and I came across your video

@fishbonestephen 11 жыл бұрын

Brilliant, great video, am going to make one myself and see how I get on.

@MrMossyMc 11 жыл бұрын

It's fascinating how some things catch on!

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Thank you, it really is wonderful to get comments like this. Best Wishes, Brendan

@honeyflowerchild 11 жыл бұрын

Thankyou for your quick reply.

@ozzirt 15 жыл бұрын

I like your improvements on the Peterson press. Being horizontal keeps the water off your jack, and the tray used to remove the pucks is an improvement I feel. I would like to see more ideas for a lever operated press, although this would make it bulkier, I feel it would be marginally faster and make the press more suitable for third world countries. Good Work.

@mainlinelondon 15 жыл бұрын

I tried to make sum-think like that 2 years ago. But like yours it was to time consuming making the briquettes. I also added waste cooking oil to the sawdust before wet paper they burn straight away if put onto hot fire. if you ever make an automatic version or any one knows where to buy one please let me know. Well done we need more DIY fuel

@baconsoda 11 жыл бұрын

I would compare them to peat briquettes. They burn hot for about 20 minutes but need a base fire to get started, they are hard to light without help from embers but once they get going the fire is easily maintained.

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

@angurisloud Thank you. Paper logs - no problem but from what I've read and heard the paper logs are inclined to burn quickly unless you can get good compression and density. However, they are worth a try because any free fuel is good fuel. Brendan

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Those are very kind words. Thank You Fred, Best Wishes, Brendan

@crefmag 15 жыл бұрын

Will do - can't wait to get started but unfortunately away from home until February

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind words. Comments like this are very encouraging. Best Wishes, Brendan

@MontanaPrepper7 11 жыл бұрын

Well done! now I have an idea of what I need to do

@justchilling5448 3 жыл бұрын

Fabulous engineering.

@baconsoda 3 жыл бұрын

I am not an engineer by any means but managed to cobble together some stuff I had lying around changing ideas as I found things under workbenches etc. Thank you. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Bret, the pieces could be longer and thicker but then compression and water removal becomes more difficult without hydraulics. If you could extract water from a log-like piece then drying becomes the issue because the relative surface area has been reduced. This would not be so critical in hot countries but is an important factor in Ireland. If the diameter was reduced then a longer log could be made with enough compression and that would make drying easier. Thank you for your comments Brendan

@baconsoda 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I used the bottom of a plastic flower pot with a hole in it to separate the briquettes but a CD would be even better as it is stronger.

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Hi Euroserf, Thank you for that. I've a few other ideas to develop so as soon as I get my act together I'll post videos. There's a lot of partially built ideas messing up my workshop. Best wishes, Brendan

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I tried turning the press upside down but then realised the jack won't work inverted. The horizontal aspect was an easy fix. I'm working on a lever version and trying to simplify the building and, I agree with you, it will speed the process up but the more simple I try to make it, the more complicated it becomes so I'm back at the drawing board. More to come. Best Wishes, Brendan

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Anything that will burn can be used. The only issue is getting the material to bind but there is usually plenty of paper everywhere. Thank you for your comment.

@mrd7996 10 жыл бұрын

Very intuitive. You should post a video of how well they burn.

@walkertongdee 13 жыл бұрын

nice video,

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

The shredded paper is used to make a pulp that then acts as a binder with the sawdust and chips. The paper fibres act like stringy glue and when dry they bond the pucks together. I have looked at other materials but paper is the easiest to get a quick pulp from. In high pressure systems where a wood dust mix is compressed and heat is applied the lignite in the wood cells is released and acts as glue when cool. I cannot produce enough pressure to make heat so the paper pulp is my best option.

@baconsoda 11 жыл бұрын

The sawdust only needs to soak for as long as it takes to get the mix to a sloppy consistency, there's no need for overnight soaking or anything like that. The most important ingredient is the paper because it has to be broken down enough to release the fibres that hold eveything together. I've found that hot water is the quickest way to soften paper along with a good stir. I pour hot water on, leave it overnight, and stir the next day. Then just add sawdust until you get a porridge-like mix.

@SSbySamiSorvari 14 жыл бұрын

Nice ! You never waste energy and you recycle, hehe. -Sami

@k323r 13 жыл бұрын

I'm very impressed ( no pun intended) Great work

@crefmag 15 жыл бұрын

Looks like a good device - I've got bamboo running rampant in the garden and would like something to deal with the leaves which don't seem to compost well - might see if I can get them through the shredder and then compress them into briquettes - going to burn the stems in bundles once they've dried

@baconsoda 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. I have just got this message but it says '5 months ago' on your comment. I don't understand KZfaq at times and this sort of thing annoys me because I reply to every comment, usually the same day I get it so I apologise for the delay.

@baconsoda 13 жыл бұрын

@nannerin That's a very good idea. I had thought of building a dehydrator but your lens idea added would make an efficient unit. Thank you, that's very useful help. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@nannerin 13 жыл бұрын

Have you considered getting a steel plate, painting it black and focusing a fresnel lens on the metal. Placing the pucks on the metal, not where beam of fresnel, of course. The concentrated heat should heat the stell to dry them faster. If you make a box with a glass top you should be able to increase the temperature. just a thought... You could easily use the stove to dry the pucks using the pucks you have already dried. A steel plate would still emit heat while doing so...

@TheDarkalkymist 11 жыл бұрын

the large amount of water you use make for a wetter finished product, so they are a little messier to get to hold a finished shape with, my suggestion would be to allow them to start drying in the form or to use a drier mix

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

I am using a 4 inch (10cm) diameter pipe and making the 'pucks' about an inch thick. I don't want to make them any thicker because drying time is already an issue. You could make larger briquettes using a bigger diameter pipe but then compression becomes an issue. If I were you I would investigate using one of those paper briquette makers which will give you a bigger briquette and you could add other ingredients to get a longer burn. I hope this has been of help.

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind comments. I haven't tried any other sizes yet because I was concentrating on the pressure aspect but I will investigate that area. Your suggestion is very interesting, it seems like the same principle as the sawdust stove - an area I hadn't thought of applying to this project, so, lots more R&D to do, LOL. Thanks again

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Best Wishes, Brendan

@mattjohnson2848 4 жыл бұрын

Nice video, thank you.

@baconsoda 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt, this was the first, and to be only, video I made. Things changed, LOL. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@AnotherAmateur 11 жыл бұрын

Brilliant!

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

@Plozen Thank you. I'll go look for those videos because I'm working on a version that uses multiple tubes so I could save some time if other people have done it already. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@baconsoda 11 жыл бұрын

Hi Paddy, the briquettes burn like turf for about 20 - 25 minutes and four or five will give out good heat. They need a fire to start them but once they get going you can dump more in and they'll burn away. If you do this use sawdust or shavings because pure paper leaves loads of ash, these aren't bad at all for ash. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I am still working on a lever powered version of the press but health issues and gardening have slowed things up a bit. More to come. Best Wishes, Brendan

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Brendan

@mollmoll8 8 жыл бұрын

Very good idea I will be trying it out

@baconsoda 8 жыл бұрын

+mollmoll8 Thank you. This was my first try and I've done another since but I intend to revisit this in the Summer because there's a lot of great stuff online.

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Great, thanks, Hope you are somewhere warm!

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. I am working on a lever powered version and hope to be close to finished soon. I'll post a video then. Best Wishes, Brendan

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Best Wishes, Brendan

@rogerfranklin9894 4 жыл бұрын

I am you 771 "Like" and *thank you* ... I will be doing something soon in Bicester, Near Oxford in OXFORDSHIRE, UK ... it was a great help on my little learning Journey ... take care ; - )

@baconsoda 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Roger, this was supposed to be the one and only video I was going to make but, as you can see, things changed! I made it to try to help people suffering from fuel poverty who were being charged a lot of money for press plans. I am not an engineer and was actually very ill when I made this but, thankfully, I am in good shape again now. Are you going to record your ideas? I would love to see what you do please. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@rlewis1946 13 жыл бұрын

Very inventive! Good work!! Please show us the furnace/stove you use to burn these briquettes and how you use the heat they produce to heat your home and or green house. Thanks for posting! Best wishes and highest regards. Roy Lewis Atlanta, Georgia USA

@busterpiggle 12 жыл бұрын

I like your design and may try to copy it. I was wondering why you go with small briquettes instead of one large log. Is it the drying time involved?

@kokonutbaby1 14 жыл бұрын

Nice video..did u think of using them mixed w/wax to help start fires in fireplaces? we use alot of brickettes for fire starting in winter here in the US. I think they put fuel, sawdust, and wax in them so they will slow burn.

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I'm working on a version that will use a lever to compress the mix but I am having to work within the restrictions imposed by a health issue. However, the Mark 2 press is sitting in pieces ready to be assembled when I get time. I imagine that the bamboo leaves would be fine mixed with other materials because I have seen leaves used before and I am adding them to a mix I have sitting ready to go. Let me know how you get on please.

@ilililhy1 9 жыл бұрын

This is a great ideal,and with a gas powered log splitter modified and with many cylinders already loaded up ready to press ,you could make and turn out, many, many briquettes very quickly.

@baconsoda 9 жыл бұрын

I never thought of using a log splitter because I've been trying to design presses that could be made from scrap and rubbish so that people in countries where there is fuel poverty could make their own press. I might do what you suggest for my own use. Thank you, Brendan.

@bret354 14 жыл бұрын

Do the pieces have to be so small, or could they be longer like a log? this is awesome thank you

@pajomaximus 11 жыл бұрын

Hey great video. good man yourself. how long does it take to dry out before you can burn them. do they burn long. Regards Paddy

@BloodTar 10 жыл бұрын

Brilliant.

@baconsoda 15 жыл бұрын

Hi Kikuk, I am using newspaper and sawdust but you can use dry leaves, grass, straw, cardboard, seed husks etc. Search for 'biomass fuel briquettes' on KZfaq to see what people use. I tear newspaper into strips and soak it in water for 3 or 4 days and then stir it until it is a soupy pulp. Then I add the sawdust and shavings and stir until it is well mixed. If you had a grinder or shredder to reduce the ingredients to small pieces it would be more convenient but I just tear by hand.

@baconsoda 13 жыл бұрын

@rlewis1946 Thank you Roy. I haven't got my stove up and going yet but hope to soon. I'll be sure to do a video when it's done. I will use the briquettes to heat my workshop. Minus 20C was a bit of a shock for us delicate Irish folks this Winter. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@AndyDaviesByTheSea 15 жыл бұрын

I like the idea of recycling any waste. Do you burn the pucks in a wood-burning stove, If so how do they compare to solid timber?

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. Simplicity is my aim and I've planned a lever version but I am restrained by health issues so progress on the actual build is slow, a lot slower than I would wish but... I'm getting there. More to come. Best Wishes, Brendan

@irishwanderer4206 5 жыл бұрын

this is the kind of golden info im talking about im going to make a playlist haha

@baconsoda 5 жыл бұрын

This was the very first video I ever made and the only one... you can see how that went... LOL. I was actually very ill here (it was when I had to stop work) but I was pissed off at a charity who charged poor people in Africa a load of money for plans for a press so I was trying to make something that people could make with scrap. It's very crude but marginally effective. I've had lots of good emails about this from people working with the very people I was targeting.

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

@DebiB62 I add sawdust to my compost after I let it sit for a couple of years to start decomposing. I have just recently seen a composting toilet on here and, while very interesting and a commendable use of human waste, I don't think I'm quite ready for it yet and I know for sure that my wife will never be! However, should anyone ever ask me for sawdust for their composting toilet I will give them as much as they need. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

LOL Sami, I wish that was true because I seem to go through a lot of heating oil but I try to reduce my fuel consumption so that I don't use more than I need to. Still room for improvement. Brendan

@baconsoda 10 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I've been working on more efficient models and water capture is an important feature because, apart from wasting water, it also contains starch that is part of the glue for later. I hope to have a couple of ideas on video during Winter because Summer is garden time so not much inside work gets done.

@liammcanton 12 жыл бұрын

can i just ask how well do they burn. how long for and is there much heat of them in the fire. good video.

@baconsoda 10 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

@ohmybentley LOL, Thank you for this very detailed response. I never imagined this video would get so many views, let alone become family entertainment! I noticed something when I watched it again to see the bits you referred to - I have lost about 70lbs since then, I was very ill and couldn't walk for 3 years so things have certainly improved for me health wise. Anyway, thanks for the comment. Best Wishes, Brendan

@artelagro 11 жыл бұрын

Hi Brendan, I hope you are well and the snow was kind to you. My question is re the water content of your briquettes - Have you tried weight tests before and after drying? Garth

@umarabideeny8903 3 жыл бұрын

Nice one

@baconsoda 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Umar. This was to be the one and only video I would ever upload. I was very ill at the time and needed something to do so this is it. Many hundreds of videos later.... LOL. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@yellowmetalcyborg 13 жыл бұрын

Nice video! Just one question, can I use paper instead of newspaper? I have a lot of paper (a little over 10Kg) that I'd like to use.

@baconsoda 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I work on the hope that something I post might inspire someone else to do better and then we all benefit. I have taken a lot from KZfaq so I am trying to put a little back.

@baconsoda 14 жыл бұрын

Yep, I am eventually heading in that direction but I have a couple of other ideas I want to try first. Initially I wanted to mechanise this to produce briquettes fast but I have had a lot of emails from countries where the materials for mechanisation are not available or just too expensive so I'm concentrating on making the device as simple and effective as possible. Power will come later. Thank you for your interest, Best Wishes, Brendan

@pheenix42 14 жыл бұрын

The best ideas/technologies are always the simplest! Just curious, how well do the finished briquettes burn for you? =)

@purewhiteflutterby 12 жыл бұрын

well, i managed to hear you just fine - once i plugged in my headphones. anyway, have you considered filling the tube fuller to make more product for the work you put into it? also, having something to catch the excess water so that it can be reused? just wondering.

@neilhay2155 5 жыл бұрын

Good job. It works for what you need.

@baconsoda 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Neil, I was very ill when I made this video and it was just me trying to find something to do that might help people in fuel poverty because I discovered that some charities charge very poor people a lot of money for plans for presses that takes years to pay back. Ireland isn't the best place to ry to dry the briquettes so this experiment didn't go far but I did get some super replies about it from al over the world so it wasn't a waste of time. Best Wishes, Brendan.

@neilhay2155 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Brenden, If you built a small "hot house" or "green house" that might help speed up the drying, plus you can use a small solar powered fan to help move the air around. A small setup for just doing that does not need to be very big and can help it along a lot, even in your climate. Might be worth having a look at to see how you go. Regards, Neil...

@baconsoda 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Neil, I have had a look at some of those drying boxes on here and they are very easy to set up. You have me rethinking this project now. Thank you.

@thatspecialkindofstupid4600 6 жыл бұрын

Brendan this is a brilliant idea. I've always thought about doing something similar but always assumed the wood wouldn't bind well. Never thought of using paper though! Matt

@baconsoda 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt, I was very ill when I made this, my one and only ever KZfaq video... you see how that went! I saw an overseas aid charging poor people a lot of money for plans for a press so I decided to make one out of junk to see could it be done. I'm not an engineer or anything but that little press has got a lot of views and I've got email from all over the world telling me how it is being used to help poor people make some money or just fuel to cook. That is very satisfying. I intend to return to this and do a press using a lever but I haven't got to it yet. My briquette press hero is Mladen 365 from Croatia, he has some brilliant presses. Here's his channel kzfaq.info Brendan.

@thatspecialkindofstupid4600 6 жыл бұрын

Ya I can only imagine the satisfaction!

@baconsoda 13 жыл бұрын

@yellowmetalcyborg Thank you. I'm sure paper would be fine but it will probably take a little longer to break down than newspaper. If you add a splash of bleach to the water it will help break the paper fibres down faster. Also, I have found that warm water seems to work more quickly than cold. Best Wishes, Brendan.