Diy off the grid projects

[yiolas]

Hi everyone,
It would be great if we could all share instructions or tips on how to make or construct items that we might need for off the grid living.

I'd like to share these simple instructions for making a Homemade Vegetable Oil Lamp.
All you will need is:
pliers, a nail, a jar, vegetable oil, a piece of wire, some wick or rope.

http://www.judyofthewoods.net/images/lamp_659.jpg

Here's the link for complete instructions:
http://www.judyofthewoods.net/lamp.html

[xbusymom]

what a great idea!

I have found several links to instructions/recipes for making all kinds of soaps from scratch:

http://www.thetruthpuzzle.net/DIYcleaning.html

[Strat]

Here is a really cool youtube channel that has all sorts of information for different projects to try http://www.youtube.com/user/GREENPOWERSCIENCE. Some of the projects may seem a bit intimidating if you aren't handy with tools however. I haven't tried any of those yet however I am working on a stirling engine that works off of the same principle as one of his.

I had a link somewhere for plans to make a really easy wind turbine. It isn't very powerful, but it is very cool. It was built from a scrap treadmill motor, a large pvc pipe, and tin. I first saw it on pbs, but I know the video is somewhere on youtube. I'm considering building one when my current projects are out of the way.

[stardustaquarion]

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This is workable in the UK too, mostly for 6 months only. Done rice, beans, vegetable, roasted nuts:tea:

[yiolas]

Hi Strat and welcome to Off-The-Grid at Project Avalon !

Thanks for the in-put . I will check out the videos. I'm a weekend DIY'ER myself.

Coincidentally, I've been mulling around with the idea of a wind turbine myself. I have a deep water well that currently runs on the electrical grid. I've been thinking of ways to pump the water out without electricity if I have to, without spending tons of money . Would greatly appreciate it if you could find that wind turbine video or anything else for that matter.

Hope to hear from you again soon.

[yiolas]

Thanks Stardust ! That is really cool.

[Strat]

Hi Strat and welcome to Off-The-Grid at Project Avalon !

Thanks for the in-put . I will check out the videos. I'm a weekend DIY'ER myself.

Coincidentally, I've been mulling around with the idea of a wind turbine myself. I have a deep water well that currently runs on the electrical grid. I've been thinking of ways to pump the water out without electricity if I have to, without spending tons of money . Would greatly appreciate it if you could find that wind turbine video or anything else for that matter.

Hope to hear from you again soon.

Here ya go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vnyYWV78zk

I imagine cutting that pvc will be the most difficult part of this task. Sanding it will take a while too if you don't have a belt sander. If you don't have a drill press, a machine shop will drill those holes out for cheap. You may be able to negotiate a price with a local mechanic shop to do that because that should only take a few minutes.

[Lost Soul]

Convicts/inmates have saved margarine, melted it and placed it in an plastic ice cream cup. They then get a strand of string from a mop which is placed into the center of the margarine. That becomes their night light/reading lamp.