Years ago we had a newspaper-to-fireplace-log maker. It consisted of a shallow trough with a winding device mounted above it. Some water and detergent went into the trough, and the newspaper slid through it as you wound it, wetting it. When you had wound up the desired thickness you removed it and let it dry. Burned faster than a log, but was a great starter for the real wood.
I remember those log-rollers! Very efficient and fun.
I make these out of newspapers for fire starters. They work like a charm:
I also make a lot of my seed-starting pots from newspapers and toilet paper cores cut in half when I’m starting plants in the spring for the veggie garden. Easy-peasy and cheap!
Which is good enough to sit around the fire at the end of an evening.