I have about 15' by 10' available id like to have a work bench that is about 12 ft long and the length of my arms deep. Hoping to make is modular so it can be moved but sturdy enough to run power tools and beat metal on. I plan to make it of the same height as my table saw and router so that I can feed them off it and put my stop cut on the table if needed.
There is more space on either end of the 15 ft but I wish to leave space to move pieces around when needed.
I have a folding table and a chest freezer that serve as my work bench currently. I wish to design a work bench for small round wood medium dimensional woodworking and light metal work and black smithing. Perhaps I'd use it for building electronics as well so I can get all my irons and powersulplies etc out of my bedroom.
Would it be best to focus on one bench per job or could I make an efficient incorporation of these things into one world domination appropriate tech birthing super bench?
What features would you include in your dream incredi-bench?
I would like to incorporate....
Metal vise
Small anvil surface
Dog hole pegs (also a remove able surface to cover these holes)
Movable lighting
110 receptacle and USB power.
Drawers for hand tools
A wood vise
A magnet for holding small metal parts
does anyone have a viable option for footwear that is equally durable protective and versatile to commercially available toxic gick filled boots? I'd love to do away with all toxins glues and water proofing spray petroleum based products etc and this includes in my wardrobe!
Now I've made a scarf and I could see making my own clothes perhaps even a pair of moccasins but when it comes to boots it seems that I'd have to devote a lifetime to make my own of any count.
Does anyone have a simple design for homestead made footcoverings that will serve the purpose of a good work or hiking boot with out sacrificing quality?
Craftmen and artisans Please show me your homemade shoes!
I have had several instances where I either didn't have the right tool for the job or it simply didn't exist!
The thing about tools and gear is that usually when you need it you need it now!
What tools have you made or retrofitted as a product of your appropriate tech or homesteading journey?
I've made jigs and vises I've made 10 ft holesaw extensions and long handled screw drivers.
I'm sure many of you innovators have some home made tools and gear to brag about and share with us all!
Below are some pictures of a poor mans scotch auger that I made when my brace jaws broke!
Chris I would really like to see more about your project as it goes.
I believe the local barber would probably be a good place so long as he's the owner. I fwel like there might be more regulation or policy to get in the way if it were a corporate chain. I know that when I collected coffee grounds for a composting experiment that Starbucks mostly told me they weren't allowed to give it away then another location said I could have it but it will have other trash mixed in and ill have to get it from the dumlster but a local coffee shop actually gave me a gift card for coming and picking the stuff up.
I wonder what the r value of hair would be. It usually keeps my face and head pretty warm. We could stuff the walls of a shed with it for insulation little by little but that would probably be done better by collecting large volumes from a barber of stylist like you mentioned.
I just thought that perhaps it could be used to make fine paintbrushes for artists. Now that would be an intimate gift for an artistically inclined loved one. Brushes made of you by you.
I like the binder idea added into cob or Adobe. It would be an interesting experiment. I'd steer clear of using it for rocket tech until tested. What would be worse than spending the week installing a rockety thing in your home only to light it and have the house smell of burnt hair ha
David thats awesome. I have seen it used in making mats to protect tree roots but I've not thought of actual clothing or rugs.
I guess there is a lot of taboo associated with using any human product especially in something that people touch and use with skin contact.
I have red wrigglers! I was unaware of their taste for hair. Ill have to give that a test run.
My first thought was mulch but I thought from just one household it would be such a small amount that it wouldn't make much difference or that it either would not break down or that it would blow away!
I have read an article suggesting that hair can be used to replace fiberglass even to make structural beams but my question is more toward a human scale backyard use.
I understand that hair does not have to be cut and that even if one chooses to cut their hair it does not create a great volume of waste but I am looking to for a useful part of the ecosystem or community that cut hair may be used.
If we are to have zero waste then how do we make this a resource?
Thanks Mike I thought that might be the best course of action but I did notice a few people commenting or asking questions about bb skills in the place that I believe is saved for certifying bbs.
I wanted to point out that this could be mitigated by having a separate thread for asking questions and having that thread noted in the first post. This would allow for people that have completed the bb to connect with those that need help and possibly create more community.
I realize people could just go to the appropriate forum and create their own thread and that would result in much much less labor for the staff.
Thanks for letting me know what you need most. I will look over the bbs that need creation and work on one to get the format down before I do more.
Hey peppers! You all are doing awesome!
Thank you for your hard work.
I had a thought today when someone asked a textile help question in a BB thread. I answered their question but hesitated because I did not want to track the thread and get it off course.
Just a thought I won't be offended if you shoot it down.
Would it be a good use of my time to create bb question threads for badge bits that already have threads and then report them so the staff can link them to the top of the thread and avoid getting off topic while still encouraging learning and questions?
Would it be more helpful if I tried my hand at creating BB threads ?
Connie Zoeller wrote:Although I'm not bothering with the BB bit I'm gratified to learn how to do this. I actually have one of those mushroomy things (minus the stem) inherited from my mother though I was never taught how to use it. I do have a question though and I hope it isn't stupid. I see that no knots are done at the beginning or end of the strands and they are just snipped and left. How does it work that they don't unravel or slip out what with washing and wearing? Am I missing something? How closely do you snip the thread and doesn't it end up catching on something if not short enough?
Hey Connie! I,much like you, was never taught this skill.
I have completed the bb and done about 10 more mends.
Igs really great to learn new things. I was also concerned about the lack of knots but mine have not come unraveled.yet but on my later mends I've begun to tuck the folded back portion of the string into the weave and then cut off the excess very close to the weave. It seems to hold extra tight look neater and have not bumpy or uncomfortable feel.
I hope this helps. But even if you don't use this trick the weave holds it tight as shown
Oh man i wish Otis could taste this!
2 cups basmati rice fried dry in bacon fat and olive oil
Then drowned in chicken stock add a little cumin cayenne pepper onion powder garlic powder oregano black pepper salt and chili oil
And the tiniest bit of mustard powder to make the oil mix into the stock. Covered and allowed to steam until the stock is fully absorbed makes this frugal staple a meal for kings!
oh and don't forget to top with butter before serving!
Mike Haasl wrote:It has to go from hard/dry grain to cooked grain on the stove. I'm not sure how fried rice is made otherwise I'd give you an easy yes or no...
Thanks Mike that was answer enough.
Fried rice goes in the pan dry its fried in a fat or oil till golden then you add seasoning and stock and let it simmer covered for about 10-15 min until all the stock is absorbed and the rice is fluffy.
Pep bb sand animal care
Planting 200 seeds for humming birds
I procured a humming bird and pollinator mix from a local seed saver.
I raked a leaf litter and compost bed that was started last year and hand cast the seed before raking and walking over it again the cover the seed and watering them in.
Please forgive the noise in the video. My neighbor has recreational mowing syndrome.
I planted
Fern leaf yarrow may-june
Common yarrow may-aug
Columbine may-june
Marigold april-july
Cornflower June-august
Wall flower april-june
Shasta daisy may-august
Lance leaved coreopsis april-july
Golden tickseed june-september
Sweet William april-july
Foxglove sept-oct
Purple cone flower june-oct
California poppy March-august
Blanket flower june-july
Indian blanket june-sept
Baby's breath april-august
Dense blazing star july-oct
Blue flax may-august
Crimson flax april-sept
Birds foot trefoil july-aug
Lupine may-june
Evening primrose june-sept
Red poppy sept-oct
Mexican hat july-sept
Clasping coneflower june-july
Black eyed Susan june-sept
I dumped a hand full of chicory and comfrey seed i had in there as well both of those are currently in bloom here in KY.
This is my second attempt as my 4 year old didn't hit the record button when I did this Saturday.
Submission for metalworking make a chicken funnel.
Major tip....after you have the sharp spring like metal in place and drilled is not the time to find out you havea 3/16 head and a 1/8th rivet.
Another thing I learned is that springy metal doest stay still like conduit or wood. Make sure that you have your edges aligned and that you grip it firmly while drilling or your edges may be slightly wonky.
I think you could make 5 of these for under 10 bucks easy and I believe with a few extra well placed rivets and some proper sheet metal pliars they could be just as nice as the cones in the feed store.
Mike thats awesome! I have made bread quite a few times but I've never used a a bread machine. It seems more intimidating than just making it by hand...honestly I don't even know what it does. I thought it was an oven box haha
My wife was given a bread maker recently so I may have to see what all the fuss is about.
I looked up the sun oven...they look nice but for the price I guess I should just build one save money and get a BB.
Planted 20 g of mixes perennial butterfly humming bird and bee beneficial wild flower seeds today.
My 4 year old stopped the recording of sowing haha so no badge bit today but I did get some good seed in the ground!
Thats a pretty snazzy patch!
I bet the armpit of a sweater is difficult to darn. I think a flat surface would be easiest then an exterior 90 like the heel of a sock but an armpit is an interior 90. Maybe they are all the same but it seems that an armpit or crotch would be the most difficult mends.
I know its ugly but its actually very functional and comfortable!
I have so much more confidence taking on some more of the textiles. This was a great bb to fill the rainy afternoon!
Its raining...no wood working but luckily this yarn and darning tool came in the mail today!
I was skeptical when I started but its a surprisingly solid mend! I am very pleased and plan to work on this more to improve the asthetic value of my darning but for a first time needle and thread guy I'm happy. Please let me know if it does not meet you qualifications for some reason. I believe it does.
Yeah, I have a healthy woodworking shop and tree cutting gear and blacksmithing gear but I don't even have a spoon carving knife or an adz. Looking forward to some garage sales...
Garage sales sound great. Do not get the cheap adz on Amazon.
It doesn't have a good curve and the edge that came on it is about like the back side of a machete.
I think I may use a power tool for sharpening it haha
Mike that sounds like a great friend! I'd love to go get those trees!
Yes I'm a low voltage and controls electrician and I have a small wood working hobby shop so I thought I had lots of tools...until you and Paul made me want to do everything by hand!
I used a green piece of magnolia for the head and a dry piece of Japanese maple for the handle.
I did not have a brace so I cobbled a poor man's scotch auger together and got to twisting.
I need to buy a brace because this thing took an hour to drill!
After completing the hole I smoothed out the handle and notched a dead stop cut into the connection end of the handle and use it to make clean cuts with a carving knife getting the connection down to the largest size that I could pound through the green wood head. I'm excited to see how well or poorly it dries. Its pretty solid already.
paul wheaton wrote:I kinda wonder for folks that want a super dry stick for the handle, if putting is somewhere warm for a few days would help. Or maybe "bake at 150 for an hour"? :)
To get my wood dry, I tend to stick it in front of my woodstove, or near it in some fashion (about 2 or 3 feet away, so it can't catch fire, but does get dry and heated). One could also stick it near their hot air vent, if they have electric heating (my vents push out barely hot air, so it's not like it's a fire hazard. Those with hotter vents, should distance their sticks further).
I was drying jerky in the oven when I made my spoon bb so I experimented with this drying method to take advantage of the extra space in the energy intensive oven. I had the door propped open at 160 and my spoon wood was dry enough to sand in about 2 hours.
I use rocks in the strawberry patch to prevent the plants from getting washed away in rain storms. It works really well and they get more benefit from the slowed down water and have earlier growth im assuming from the thermal battery of the rocks.
