Workshop In An Alternate Homepower Environment

 

I am posting this subject in three different groups to hopefully get a
good cross section of ideas. I apologize ahead of time if this offends
anyone.

When one considers a workshop with metal and wood working capabilities,
what tradeoffs have you made to have a working shop in an alternate
homepower environment where every amp is precious?

Obviously hand nonpowered tools take on a special importance.

Cordless tools come to mind but which ones and what batteries?

When considerng stationary tools like drills, lathes, mills, saws,
grinders, etc., which ones fit best in an environment where one is off
grid?

Special operations like welding and using air compressors would seem to
need consideration because of their unique requirements.

I would be interested in hearing how others have approached this
situation and what implementations they have adopted.

Thanks for any suggestions or comments that you can offer.

TMT

 


cordless tools violate the 'every amp is precious' premise.

Charging batteries is *extremely* ineffcient.



PTO-driven ones.  The 'drive' can come from nerly anything -- a water-wheel,
a steam-engine, a tread-mill, etc.  Even an electric motor, in extreme
circumstance. :)


Welding -- gas, instead of electric arc.

Air compressor -- gasoline/deiesel engint, steam-powered.

 

Good point on the battery charging of cordless tools.

I was thinking that they might fit in where they could be run from the
main bank of batteries themselves.

TMT

 

I second what Robert Bonomi has said.  What's wrong with good old
fashioned human power?  Such machinery was once very common.  Take a
look at some pictures of old machinery, and you will find an apprentice
who is busy turning a flywheel all day long, and observing his master
at work, thereby gaining a firsthand knoiwledge which no number of
words can communicate.  Nowadays, however, such flywheel turners tend
to be very expensive.  Therefore, I recommend that you build yourself a
squirrelcage apparatus, and purchase a greyhound to run in it.  Retired
racing greyhounds are put to death if nobody wants them.  I know a lady
who has a retired racer, and he is a wonderful pet.  A racer is happy
when he is racing.  This is of the very nature of a racer.  So give a
veteran a job, for god's sake, and build a squirrelcage power plant.

Mike Mandaville
providing meaningful solutions for the workaday world

 
Along the same lines, I would suggest to build an internal combustion
engine powered by the the farting gas. You need to assure a steady
supply of beans and cabbage if you want this to work well. You will
need a flexible vinyl line for supplying gas to the engine, if you
want to move about the shope while the engine is running.

i