What type and manufactor of fine inlet flter does most folk recommend after the leaf catcher. This will be going on a whole home use system. Thanks If you are using a kind of screen wiring to keep leaves and June bugs out of the gutter stream, then that is a good idea… the next […]
Category: Do It Yourself
Is it Illegal to Collect Rain Water in the USA?
[q]It is illegal for you to collect rainwater in buckets and water your plants or wash your car. In the U.S., the government owns the water.[/q] [a] Might be helpful to point out that this is true only in two western states, Utah and Colorado, as far as I’m aware, and results from water-rights laws […]
Quonsit Hut Shaped Barn Rain Collection System
[q]I have a barn shaped like a Quonset hut, approx. 200’x80′. It has corrugated tin running vertically all the way to the ground. I can’t figure out how to build a gutter system for that or how to get the water into a tank even if I do. Any ideas? I asked this question last […]
How Much Water Do I Need?
[q]To water the blackberries I plan to plant this year, two 300 ft. rows, I will need to pump water into a storage tank from a draw that only has water in it once or twice a year. Any ideas on how much storage capacity I’ll need or how to figure it out? Will probably […]
Harvesting Snow & Question About Where to Calculate Gravity Pressures
[q]I’m considering design requirements for a cistern system that will utilize two sets of storage tanks. One would be for primary storage, and would be down hill from catchment sources. The other would be the secondary storage, and would be up-hill from the primary storage tanks and dwellings. My thinking is that I’d utilize the […]
The Air Well, and Dew Ponds All Work Due to Condensation
[q]The dew ponds and air wells are fascinating subjects. I followed your idea and googled both. Interestingly, there does not seem to be agreement on what makes a dew pond work. The theory behind air wells don’t seem to have achieved high levels of theory, either. So there is plenty of room here to rediscover […]
Poison Ivy Allergy
[q]I know this may be a long shot, but here is my problem. My husband’s friend, who takes down trees for a living, dropped off a load of wood and brush for us. It is covered in poison ivy, my husband and i are allergic to it and don’t know what to do with this […]
Modifying an Automotive Alternator with Permanent Magnets
How to make a Permanent Magnet Alternator. Get any alternator in good working condition, (Make and size is not important, just be sure it works) disassemble by removing the big nut on the pulley end, and sliding the nut, washer, pulley, spacer, cooling fan, second spacer off the Rotor (Remember it ROTates) shaft, they should […]
Coffee Can Wood Stoves
[q]We have some good discussions running concerning small wood stoves. These are really neat, and simple to make, from a couple of old coffee cans. Ideal for mucking about with evenings or weekends. Don’t be afraid to experiment. The blue flame, which Carl spoke of, occurs when the volatiles are all used up and the […]
Spontanous Charcoal Combustion
[q]It seems we are trying to figure out how a pile of stored charcoal can burst into flames. First, embers can stay alive in charcoal for long periods of time because the insulation factors involved. This is even more pronounced in coal mine fires. Even a small amount of air will continue the burn. Hot […]