Upcycled/repurposed projects (MANY)

[Joel_BC]

Well let me assure you that the verticle drop does not have to be large ours worked best when when the water velocity was higher. Mass does not drive this pump, kinetic energy of flowing water does. maybe it would help if you knew that they are sometimes called hammer pumps because they work like the effect called water hammer in pipes. I think if you search around this site http://practicalaction.org/hydraulic-ram-pumps you will find lots of usefull stuff because Practical Action is pretty much aimed at third world problems/ ~gd

Thanks for the link, ~gd.

I think I've made it clear that I'm no expert on ram pumps... not even very conversant on the subject.

Well, here is an explanation from this site ( http://www.urbandanger.com/Water/Ram-Pumps.html ):
"A ram pump uses the pressure of gravity on water to pump the water uphill. It generally needs a water source with at least 5 feet (+-) of head (fall) and a minimum of 3-5 gallons per minute of flow in order to function properly. The more head or flow that you have, the faster it pumps the water."

 

[Joel_BC]

This is one of the dang'dest repurposings I've come across! A cordless drill powered rotator for a stove-top, homemade coffee roaster.

http://www.angelfire.com/pro2/panroastingcoffee/scr.html

The guy uses a pipe clamp (band clamp) to hold the drill's trigger in position and keep the drill turning. I think it's got to be a variable-speed trigger, and also with the drill set to it's lowest-speed gear range.

The link above has still pics, video, and a text discussion as to how he made it and uses it.

It would work if you cook with natural gas or propane - I doubt it would, if you cook with an electric or wood stove.

 

[Wannabefree]

HA that's kind cool

 

[doc_gonzo]

too cool joel,

i love coffee & espresso, roasting you're own beans takes it to a whole new level!!! i would actually try that, such a simple concept!!

doc

 

[~gd]

Well let me assure you that the verticle drop does not have to be large ours worked best when when the water velocity was higher. Mass does not drive this pump, kinetic energy of flowing water does. maybe it would help if you knew that they are sometimes called hammer pumps because they work like the effect called water hammer in pipes. I think if you search around this site http://practicalaction.org/hydraulic-ram-pumps you will find lots of usefull stuff because Practical Action is pretty much aimed at third world problems/ ~gd

Thanks for the link, ~gd.

I think I've made it clear that I'm no expert on ram pumps... not even very conversant on the subject.

Well, here is an explanation from this site ( http://www.urbandanger.com/Water/Ram-Pumps.html ):
"A ram pump uses the pressure of gravity on water to pump the water uphill. It generally needs a water source with at least 5 feet (+-) of head (fall) and a minimum of 3-5 gallons per minute of flow in order to function properly. The more head or flow that you have, the faster it pumps the water."

I can't afford to argue but head is different from flow, I was just trying to be helpful.

 

[Joel_BC]

Live near the coast? This is an interesting page with (among other stuff) info & pics about using inverted, old large boats as building on land. Shops, sheds, etc.

http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2011/11/11/boats-to-bags-beds-buildings-17-repurposed-vessels/

Some other interesting and fun stuff on the page, too.

 

[Mickey328]

DH built our chicken coop almost entirely out of material we had laying around from previous projects, a few things we got for free off Craig's List and Freecycle. The only things we had to buy was hardware and paint. Still have most of the paint for future projects so I figure the coop itself cost about $20.

We're currently planning a cold frame and are keeping an eye out for old windows for the project. I just hate buying stuff if you can re-purpose something you or someone else has.

 

[Joel_BC]

There's a lot of repurposed things made into furniture and furnishings on these pages. But I'm providing the link because there is a very nice repurposed-shipping-container house that's on the first page of this (scroll down about 2/3 of the way):

http://www.poetichome.com/tag/vintage-industrial/

There are several other pages, so look for the numbered links to them at the bottom of the page.

(This will no doubt be here on this SS repurposing thread for a long time... it's possible new items will be added to this linked site, so also possible that the repurposed shipping container will have moved down the line to another page. In that case, just use the numbered links to look at later pages. )

 

[Joel_BC]

This one is quite interesting - making a table from wooden crates.

Not only the top but the legs, too, are made from crate wood. Here's a step-by-step fro the DIY woodworker:
http://selfsufficienturbanite.blogspot.ca/2008/08/making-table-out-of-wine-crates.html

At the end of the process, they show a fairly dark staining of the wood. I can see where some people might like that, but actually I think I prefer the wood left lighter. I'd forget the stain, myself, and just coat the table with a varnish to keep the surface more cleanable.

 

[moolie]

There's a lot of repurposed things made into furniture and furnishings on these pages. But I'm providing the link because there is a very nice repurposed-shipping-container house that's on the first page of this (scroll down about 2/3 of the way):

http://www.poetichome.com/tag/vintage-industrial/

There are several other pages, so look for the numbered links to them at the bottom of the page.

(This will no doubt be here on this SS repurposing thread for a long time... it's possible new items will be added to this linked site, so also possible that the repurposed shipping container will have moved down the line to another page. In that case, just use the numbered links to look at later pages. )

That's a really cool house Joel, and there are some other great ideas in there as well--bookmarked.

Just a hint when you find something in a blog that you like, sometimes you can click on the title of the post you like and it will open only that post and then you can bookmark that specific link, this is the one for the shipping container house: http://www.poetichome.com/2009/03/06/home-sweetrepurposed-shipping-container/