T Blankinship

Deane Adams wrote:If you have the space how about an outdoor line or two?  That's all I use these days and a line in the basement.  But I live alone and only do laundry every two weeks or so.  Also I can use an indoor folding dryer rack near my new wood stove.

Peace

I have an indoor folding rack and I have a rope in my den that I use to dry bed sheets and other big things. I have in the past used outdoor lines when it was 100F and in 15 minutes things were very dry. The more I think about how I can use the space that the dryer is currently using. The more fun I am having!

So for the past few years I have not used my clothes dryer as a dryer. I have been using the top as table. Now I come to a point where I am thinking about selling/giving it a way/other ideas.  It is a 30 year old or older gas dryer and I have ideas on what to do with the space. I know there are places on this planet that do not use dryers. There is a part of me that thinks I should keep it "just in case". The main reason I stopped using it was to save money and to stop toxic fairy dust getting on my clothing. So here are some of my ideas on what to do:

Find a "just in case" way to dry clothing.
1. Use a laundromat as a back up or friends/family dryer.
2. Find a permies way to dry clothing. Years ago my father told me about a dryer using centrifugal force to dry. Has any used one and liked it?
3. I know Paul Wheaton in Building World Backyard book or in a Podcast talked about using a dehumidifier in a room to dry clothing. And I can not forget using a Solar dehydrator as a dryer too.

This to do with the space.
1. Make more storage for things and may be an area to line dry.
2. Or since I brew turn the area into a small brewery.

Well what are your ideas?

Removed old shower insert and found more surprises on the walls. I knew most likely an issue would come, I just hoped it was not very big. The issues wear the bath and wall met water had deteriorated the dry wall, about a 3 to 4 inch strip was no more and light water damage was seen on the walls. The corners of the bath tub was fixed by putting plumbers putty into the corners to try and make a waterproof area between the tub and wall.

So I put up an PVC liner that is 40 mil (about 1 mm) then adding the Shou Sugi Ban on top. The liner is in and looks to be protecting the wall. Now I am trying to find a way to attach wood to the walls. Saunas use tongue and groove on the edge of the wood to join them together. I do not know how to fasten the wood to the wall.  What type of fastener would work? That is a question I need to answer.

Update on mushroom insulation, not good. The test has gone bad due to what I think is bacteria contamination. Smells like ammonia and therefore I will not be making another thread or using it. I have a new batch of Ganoderma lucidum growing now and  after I have the bathroom done using the mushroom insulation under and/or above the room.

So need to change a few items on this project

Mushroom Insulation: I am growing a test using Ganoderma lucidum and old Azure Standard flyers, random copy paper, and junk mail. I will put this in another thread and will not be using it in this project.

Water proofing: I was talking to my local lumberyard about this project. I said that at Wheaton Lab old billboards are used for water proofing and he found a product that is like the stuff that billboards are made out of to water proof the wall.  I was reading Permaculture Magazine I cannot remember the issue but long story short. Osmo Oil looks like it could be a water proofing for wood. Also I need to see if one could use Osmo and Shou Sugi Ban to treat the wood. In Shou Sugi Ban linseed oil and turpentine (1:1) is used as a sealant for the wood.  See https://www.shizenstyle.com/post/the-complete-guide-to-yakisugi-shou-sugi-ban-1 for more on information.

Sourcing wood: I was again in my local lumberyard and when I walked in and man who mills his own wood was talking to the owner. After they finished I asked if he could get cedar. He has some cut up and ready to go I just need to get him the square feet.

Flooring: So what happens when a pallet of slate hits the ground? Some broken slate and the owner asking if I want to use some of it in my project. Answer is yes and I am thinking about using it as trim and flooring.

What is next? Getting all needed measurements and a good cleaning. Then planning out the order of events and making sure supplies are in place.

Benjamin Bouchard wrote:
Coarse scratch pattern, extra-crisp apex. Use a coarse stone to set the scratch pattern, then jump to a very fine stone. This will help eliminate any burr at the apex by cutting it off without actually erasing the "serration" of the coarse scratch pattern. Then finish with a wooden "whipping stick" to strop the blade. No polishing compound is needed -- just the bare wood. I like to make my whipping sticks from 1/2" x 2" pine or spruce, though any wood will do, and shape a grip on one end then sand the broad faces so they have a slight convex shape to them. The wood will grab any microscopic folds or unevenness in the apex at that stage and draw it straight.

This would make the blade sharper right?

Nancy Reading wrote:This sounds intriguing! I don't see why it shouldn't work....Sauna's often have wood finish interiors don't they? What sort of wood or protection do those use?

I think cedar is the wood that is used in sauna. I do not know how cedar would stand up to a cool wet area. I would need to experiment with this idea and talk to my lumberyard about what type of cedar to use.

You can build a door using wood and mushroom insulation so why not a bathroom shower?
Beau built a door it at Wheaton Labs and made a webinar. So how about a bath that uses wood to replace the existing old plastic and mushroom insulation behind to help keep the bathroom at a good temperature.  

Outline of idea

Bath has three walls and one is an outer wall of the home. Both inner walls will have mushroom insulation used and if outer wall's insulation is not good it will be replaced with mushroom insulation. After insulation is in place wood would then be put on top. Wood needs to have water proof surface and last a for years with little maintenance aside from cleaning.  Total area to be done is about 50 square feet or 4.6 square meters.

Issues that would need to be solved

Water proofing both wood and insulation. Prevent build up of unwanted mold, bugs and etc.

Shou Sugi Ban or Yakisugi be used on pine or other woods and stand up to daily use of shower?

What other ways could one waterproof wood that are nontoxic?

Does there need to be a layer water proofing layer between the insulation and wood and/or between drywall?

Could the mushroom insulation be grown in place and would the drywall need protection?

What other issues do you think I have missed?

Here are my ideas for  8 to 10. Right now I am between 3 and 4 on cleaning a paintbrush. I have tried poo-less once but I need to try it again. I could get to level 5 one issue is oil from engines and other toxic things that would be bad for a greywater system. I just need to read Art Ludwig's books.

Level 8: Starting to recharge ground water with better water than what is in the ground

Level 9: Starting to recharge fossil water

Level 10: "Holzer water" Water is so good no treatment is needed. People come from all over just to drink the water.

paul wheaton wrote:
I know that I need about a quarter of "dawn" compared to what I'm used to.

This is a little odd to me. When you say a quarter of "dawn" do you mean a US $0.25 or quarter of a bottle? I think TBS or tps would explain the amount better.

Nicole Alderman wrote:

T Blankinship wrote:
Just a thought, what about a Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, etc. series? Start in one state then do a circle back to the beginning. Living in Kansas there is the Kansas Permaculture Institute doing projects throughout the state. It would just be a matter of getting things set up in each state.

I'm thinking Paul might be keen on something like this if people do the organizing. I know he's usually overworked with too many things on his plate and note enough hours in the day. But, if people get everything set up, that makes it a lot easier and probably more feasible.  

Good point! Overworking is no good and is stressful. Maybe someone will in the next few months start a thread about another hosting or potluck event.