Horse manure briquettes

[Clippy]

I just rang him up, i've bought one! He's delivering it today and gonna fix to the wall adjacent to my muck heap. Basically, you use any waste which comes out of your stable - hay, straw, shavings, wood pellet bedding, miscanthus, ANYTHING + the poo! He said he sold one to a rancher in Texas who's got 100's of horses and he can't rate it highly enough. He's stopped felling trees for firewood now and reckons the manure briquettes burn better than wood.

My muck heap is pretty huge and costs a fortune to get rid of. Meanwhile i'm buying logs for the fire, so for me it's a no brainer.

 

[Yertis]

We have them and use in a woodburner, there is no smell. When we were experimenting our neighbour offered to burn them to test, wasn't until 2 weeks later that we found he was burning them on an open fire, they still didn't smell!!
It is quite labour intensive and the poo doesn't stick together very well if you just put poo in the mould, OH found the best way (experimented for 6 weeks whilst off with smashed shoulder blade lol) was to fill wheelbarrow 3/4 full with poo then add water to top, stir it all to mix then put in mould. It seems odd to add more water then to squeeze out in the mould but it worked the best to make the brick stick together. Initial drying was to put the brick onto a wire mesh panel laid onto concrete blocks, 2 dry days of this and they were ready to stack under cover but with air circulation, they were dry enough to burn in 2 months. We use wood pellet bedding and don't have a lot if waste but bedding lowers the calorific burning value of the manure.
"As expected the charcoal gave the most heat (21,638 joules). Next was the buffalo chips (19,286 joules).
Horse manure (12,701 joules) and then wood (10,349 joules) was last"
http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2002/Projects/J0928.pdf
It seems to burn quite slowly, 2 bricks in our 5kw woodburner will keep the fire in overnight.
Will certainly use again but had 6 large trees come down in our woods so have plenty of logs at the moment.

 

[HeresHoping]

I just rang him up, i've bought one! He's delivering it today and gonna fix to the wall adjacent to my muck heap. Basically, you use any waste which comes out of your stable - hay, straw, shavings, wood pellet bedding, miscanthus, ANYTHING + the poo! He said he sold one to a rancher in Texas who's got 100's of horses and he can't rate it highly enough. He's stopped felling trees for firewood now and reckons the manure briquettes burn better than wood.

My muck heap is pretty huge and costs a fortune to get rid of. Meanwhile i'm buying logs for the fire, so for me it's a no brainer.

Clippy, did you 'phone him on the YouToob number? And, if you don't mind me asking, how much is he charging? I can't find him on the Bay of E and my husband is suddenly all excited that there might be an RoI (albeit a small one) on my horse!

Our entire central heating system (27 radiators) and the hot water is run off a wood burning boiler (Boris is the second one down here: http://www.ecoangus.co.uk/wood_burning_boiler.html). Coal is sooo expensive but it's the best way to keep the temperature over night. These look like they could be a very viable alternative but H is convinced a heavy-duty briquette maker is the only way they'll be good enough.

 

[ozpoz]

hmm, am out to go shopping for one. I am buying briquettes in, which is crazy when I have a perfect never ending source

 

[Clippy]

Clippy, did you 'phone him on the YouToob number? And, if you don't mind me asking, how much is he charging? I can't find him on the Bay of E and my husband is suddenly all excited that there might be an RoI (albeit a small one) on my horse!

Our entire central heating system (27 radiators) and the hot water is run off a wood burning boiler (Boris is the second one down here: http://www.ecoangus.co.uk/wood_burning_boiler.html). Coal is sooo expensive but it's the best way to keep the temperature over night. These look like they could be a very viable alternative but H is convinced a heavy-duty briquette maker is the only way they'll be good enough.

I did a bit of digging and found this on Ebay - same seller but the design is modified to dispense the brick...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170933970919?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

He's only very local to me so he's doing it for £100 delivered and fitting it too!

There's a link in the listing to another video. All that paper mixing and messing isn't needed for us horse owners. I reckon i'll scrape it from the wet part of the midden and teem it straight into the mould so ot should only take a minute or so to make each brick. I'll have to make some space and shelving to store them until they've dried.

I can't believe how excited I am about this

 

[WelshD]

This doesnt look as good but could be an option maybe?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Dut...FireplacesMantelpieces_RL&hash=item53ef4dabff

 

[vicky1221]

I read somewhere that it can give off harmful gases that cause lung problems is this true?

 

[Clippy]

This doesnt look as good but could be an option maybe?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Dut...FireplacesMantelpieces_RL&hash=item53ef4dabff

Yeah, was considering trying one of those but I think it would be fiddly, take longer to make the bricks and would need more drying time as you wouldn't get as much liquid out

 

[HeresHoping]

I did a bit of digging and found this on Ebay - same seller but the design is modified to dispense the brick...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170933970919?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

He's only very local to me so he's doing it for £100 delivered and fitting it too!

There's a link in the listing to another video. All that paper mixing and messing isn't needed for us horse owners. I reckon i'll scrape it from the wet part of the midden and teem it straight into the mould so ot should only take a minute or so to make each brick. I'll have to make some space and shelving to store them until they've dried.

I can't believe how excited I am about this

Brilliant. Now why didn't I find that? Thank you very much.

 

[HappyNeds]

I've thought about this on and off for ages - as someone who also has lots of horse-poo and a wood burner, but I've never found anything that looks like it's worth a go, but this chaps presser looking amazing

I did a bit of digging and found this on Ebay - same seller but the design is modified to dispense the brick...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170933970919?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

He's only very local to me so he's doing it for £100 delivered and fitting it too!

I was just about to buy one (not close to me so I'll have to pay postage!), when I was wondering if several of us want one we should either club together and place a bulk (cheaper!) order, or ask H&H Co-Buy to approach him, and see if he wants to corner the market for horse owners with wood-burners??

What do you think?

 

[Clippy]

I've thought about this on and off for ages - as someone who also has lots of horse-poo and a wood burner, but I've never found anything that looks like it's worth a go, but this chaps presser looking amazing



I was just about to buy one (not close to me so I'll have to pay postage!), when I was wondering if several of us want one we should either club together and place a bulk (cheaper!) order, or ask H&H Co-Buy to approach him, and see if he wants to corner the market for horse owners with wood-burners??

What do you think?

Well I would suggest you ring him up and tell him you've read about it on a horse forum on the internet because I told him i'd spread the word. I think if you approach him this way rather than Ebay where he'd have to pay 10% commission on every sale, then you'd get yours for £100 too

 

[HappyNeds]

Well I would suggest you ring him up and tell him you've read about it on a horse forum on the internet because I told him i'd spread the word. I think if you approach him this way rather than Ebay where he'd have to pay 10% commission on every sale, then you'd get yours for £100 too

Hi Clippy,
Great idea, I'll call him this afternoon - can you let me know, was it John or Paul you spoke to, only there's phone numbers for both on the item, and it would be good if I could speak to the same person you did
Thank you

 

[Clippy]

Hi Clippy,
Great idea, I'll call him this afternoon - can you let me know, was it John or Paul you spoke to, only there's phone numbers for both on the item, and it would be good if I could speak to the same person you did
Thank you

John - he's just been and fitted mine. If i'd known it was that simple, i'd have fitted it myself.

We've done a few tests, looking good. I don't think they'll take that long to dry out. You have to be careful handling them when you take them out of the press. By the time i'd handed a few round they were falling apart. The trick will be to put them straight on a drying rack and leave them alone. Use the juicy part of the midden! They're a perfect size to go on an open fire or in a burner but still big enough to stack.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

I read somewhere that it can give off harmful gases that cause lung problems is this true?

Breathing in any smoke can harm your lungs. Your chimney or flue should draw well so you don't get smoke or fumes in your house, or at least nit enough to cause concerns.

 

[HappyNeds]

John - he's just been and fitted mine. If i'd known it was that simple, i'd have fitted it myself.

We've done a few tests, looking good. I don't think they'll take that long to dry out. You have to be careful handling them when you take them out of the press. By the time i'd handed a few round they were falling apart. The trick will be to put them straight on a drying rack and leave them alone. Use the juicy part of the midden! They're a perfect size to go on an open fire or in a burner but still big enough to stack.

Wow that was quick Clippy, when you said he was delivering and installing it I didn't think you meant today! I will call John now and tell him you've already done a test with it Perhaps we'll have to keep this thread going and compare notes on if to mix with water/how long to dry out etc

 

[RockinRudolph]

I'm really interested in this. We had a wood burner fitted a few months ago and have been using it loads. I have been on free cycle to look for scrap wood too as we are going through a fair few bags of logs. My dad had a burner fitted a while ago and he has one of these briquette things but I don't think he's used it yet. His plan was to recycle wood ash and shavings from cutting up the wood - so I've just suggested it to him! Free fuel, yay! Think I will have to have a go at this. My hubby was slightly horrified at the idea, but if it doesn't smell then I'm sure he will come around to it!

 

[Clippy]

Well i've made my first batch

A pretty full wheelbarrow and half an hour and i've made 17 bricks. I had a piece of very strong shelving mesh and put them on there, it was unbelievably heavy when I came to move it. I'll have to make a dedicated drying place so they don't get disturbed.

I ended up using my hands to load the manure into the press, it's easier than trying to spade it in. Once I got going my bricks got better. Press them slowly and you get a better result and handle with care. I'm sure once they've dried out they'll be great to stack.

I'll let you know how quickly they dry and how well they burn

 

[HappyNeds]

Thanks for the tip Clippy - I've been on the phone to John earlier and ordered mine! He seemed just as excited by us all trying it with manure as I was

I think I'm going to try to collect those plastic mushroom boxes (sometimes fruit/veg shops throw them out) and see if I can use those to stack them in - it means the boxes can stack together high but there will still be air moving around them to dry them out.

John did mention on the phone that it might be best to add a little water to the muck in a barrow/bucket first to make the mix more even, but I guess we will be doing a little trial and error anyway.

 

[Merlin11]

Definitely interested in this as have a wood burner and tonnes of poo! Looking forward to hearing how it goes and in particular if it smells. OH doesn't think we can use them in the house due to the smell.

 

[Dab]

What a brilliant idea. All i need to do is get round to getting a wood burner fitted this have given me re-newed motivation...getting rid of the muck heap, free'ish fuel...what more could you want

 

[Diesal]

Oooh! I would be really interested in knowing how these go once any of you guys start burning them. It sounds like a great idea!

 

[Clippy]

HappyNeds I think those boxes will be great to stack them in, i'm also thinking those plastic trays used by bread makers. If I can get a bunch of those I can stack my bricks high in a relatively small place and i'll know which batches will be ready first.

Merlin11 there is no smell I've already investigated and they're fine for in the house.

 

[Merlin11]

HappyNeds I think those boxes will be great to stack them in, i'm also thinking those plastic trays used by bread makers. If I can get a bunch of those I can stack my bricks high in a relatively small place and i'll know which batches will be ready first.

Merlin11 there is no smell I've already investigated and they're fine for in the house.

Thanks Clippy. Just need to convince the OH!

 

[Dab]

Clippy have you got a picture of your one installed? I was wondering why the o e in the U-Toob video was up so high (i did watch without sound - so it might have been explained)? i was thinking more ground'ish level with height enough to get the brickette out of the bottom?

 

[Clippy]

Clippy have you got a picture of your one installed? I was wondering why the o e in the U-Toob video was up so high (i did watch without sound - so it might have been explained)? i was thinking more ground'ish level with height enough to get the brickette out of the bottom?

I've not taken any pics and it's dark now but it's at a convenient height to use so I can fill it easily, pull the lever and retrieve the brick without bending my knees.

 

[Dab]

cheers

 

[Tnavas]

Clippy have you got a picture of your one installed? I was wondering why the o e in the U-Toob video was up so high (i did watch without sound - so it might have been explained)? i was thinking more ground'ish level with height enough to get the brickette out of the bottom?

I think it's that height to make it easier to operate - no bending down and you can get better leverage when you can use your weight to bring the handle down to compress the brick.

I have the silly little one that you lean on to make the bricks.

 

[Dab]

thanks

 

[goatbabies]

Could you not just leave normal poos out to dry for a few months? Would be the same shape and size as coal, and would save all this faffing around making briquettes?!

 

[Tnavas]

Thats what I was thinking, so long as your horse does nice breakapart droppings would work well.

I'm thinking how low my electricity bill wouold be through winter if I could get my fire going on poo!

I have some of those bulk fruit/vegetable trays so could stack them in layers to let the air flow around them - then roof the gap between the two sheds and I'd have a great storage place.

Instead of a coal scuttle we'll need a poo skuttle.