The descent into recycled paper briquette madness continues.
The first 6 gallon bucket of pulp has produced 4 fist sized briquettes and 29 briquettes about 2 inches wide by 4 inches long as squeezed out of a caulking gun. I have yet to start on the second 4 gallon bucket of pulp. This has probably half as much paper to start. The process of making the briquettes itself remains the same- chuck the pulp into the forms and then squeeze out the water. Reverse the tube in the caulking gun and press the briquette out of the form.
Pretty easy, but still slow.
I was sent a cordless caulking gun for review and it has been enormously frustrating to use. It’s slow and the plunger jams which makes it difficult to remove the briquette from the form. The electric gun does make a very firm briquette that seems like it will dry very quickly.
I am not sure the electric caulking gun creates a firmer drier briquette over a form where you step on the plunger or even over the manual caulking gun. It is easier on my hands and wrists, which is it’s one big advantage.
The outside of the caulking gun briquettes are already feeling dry.
Of course the next step is to create a lever press. That will need to wait until later in the year. for now I’m pretty happy with the caulking gun or stepping on a plunger and using my body weight. I do have a jack but it doesn’t make sense to create a jack style press when a lever style would work as well and be faster. A jack press only makes sense to me if I create a form that will make multiple briquettes at a time, and I don’t need to have that level of production.
I have gained a great deal of useful insight at this online resource. Loads of detailed instructions for building presses and forms.