Negative. I’ve given up on that method. Way too slow. IF I do go through this process again, it would be with hydros and a way to put the major squeeze on. Plastic bucket isn’t the answer.
you need a cider press. except a cider press saves the juice (water) and disposes of the pulp (what you are trying to save).
Great idea! I'll have to keep an eye out. The slow squeeze is best but when you have 34 tons of pressure, you should be able to go fast. Unfortunately, the slurry squirts out where ever it can. Unless I had something custom made from metal, I don't see it happening and I don't have the passion to seek that out.
Steel pipe section say about 6- 8" dia. schedule40. dont make your slurry so wet, by that i mean after your first slush mix add more dry material until you get to a paste point. You will still have ozzing from drain ports nature of the system. . as you have found you want to have your compression plug a sliding close fit to bore of whatever. Plastics will not stand up to pressure unless extremely thick walled- even then I am not sure. there other tricks depending on how far you want to go.
Also very good advice, thank you. I'll probably keep my eye out for a piece. I looked at old fruit presses.
I was thinking a cheese press might work as well. We don't have a lot of those around here so I have no idea what prices would be.
interesting idea. I bet a metal pail in the 5 gallon range would work. I produce TONS of sawdust, but its almost all PT so that wont work.
Thanks for the reminder! I need to bring these in from my lean-to addition and burn em. Of course, after my big honey locust score I would have had milling dust and noodles to mix in. Hopefully I have some wood to add next go round.
Just now saw this post. Interesting experiments….following…..Would these bricks work equally as well as a fire starter, or are you trying to replace or extend the firewood stash? Inquiring minds…..
Honestly, I’m just trying to utilize a resource that would otherwise get put in a landfill. I’m not some crazy recycler of all things recyclable, but this stuff is free heat. With the plastic buckets standing no chance against he pressure of my splitter, they weren’t compressed enough, so I don’t think they’ll last as long as they could. Next go round I hope that will be different.
At the risk of giving another idea and having it fall short, what about an oil barrel cut in halves? Put your weep.holes in all over, my lady and I punched holes from the inside out on some that were already cut to size but no holes and then she and my daughter set up these as planters. I think they're only about a foot high or so with the bottom still intact. Any little welder for mild steel could help touch up cracks or splits...
to get significant compression need container that will not flex hence the schedule 40 pipe or similar- not plastic , most steel drums are too thin for this. hint an old cast iron sewer pipe might work depending on how bad the interior is. possible to bore it out on a lathe t0 clean up.
That was another thought I had too. A lot of these would be used as fire rings if they were wide enough but that steel would be better if it were rolled you think? I think of cast iron and pressure it makes me envision cracking.
Major pressure isn't needed but would help. Just using this much force: gets the job done but I think more would make them last longer in the fire. But mainly, the bigger size pucks would be impossible to squeeze without help from something. I've been watching for the right piece of metal but nothing has come up yet. Not in any hurry either.
Another years worth of Merchandizers building up so I shredded them and and added a 55gal drum of apple wood shavings from the planer. Slow day at work Thursday and Friday so I just used the brick press and did them there. Let the wood shavings soak for 3 days, paper overnight. Got quite a few done.
Waste not want not. Seeing this is wood, I figured it might extend the burn times from just paper. I think noodles would work better at keeping the bricks more stable. I was hoping the wood would break down a little. It didn’t so we’ll see how they stay together when dry.
