My renos require building permits. My house uses Electric Radiators and radiant floor heat. It seems that the City got a preview of the 2011 Building Code, where they now require that I install a Heat Recovery Ventilation unit (HRV), even though I have a huge 350 CFM in the kitchen and a 110 CFM unit in the bathroom plans. So I snooped around for pricing. $800 plus taxes (15%) plus installation. Luckily, the code doesn't stipulate what the energy source has to be, nor what lobbyist's codes should be followed. So snooping away, I found one site that helps determine the total throughput necessary. I only need a 34 CFM unit to change the air 6 times a day. The kitchen fan (36" BROAN) will suck out more warm air cooking a roast! http://www.warmair.com/html/air_to_air_exchangers.htm Another site that showed some homemade solar units: http://www.greenterrafirma.com/solar-air-heating.html And THEN!!! with PDF instructions and plans for free! http://makeprojects.com/Project/Heat-Exchanger/279/1 http://makezine.com/18/heatexchanger/ Should be able to build this by springtime, for about $100. Might even run it with mother nature's own power. The code doesn't mention mechanical conversion of wind energy. So I went to their MAKE PROJECTS page. Plastic moldings, castings, all kinds of goodies. http://makeprojects.com/
Vacuum Forming http://makeprojects.com/Project/Kitchen-Floor-Vacuum-Former/68/1 A cheap Forge (tempering chisels?, making parts?) http://makeprojects.com/Project/-30-Micro-Forge/65/1 Tools stands and welding tips: http://makeprojects.com/Project/Welding-a-Pair-of-Stands/8/1 and oodles more for the car, shop and home.
A car-battery powered Welder! Might not do heavy-duty stuff, but tack-welding? http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/10/how_to_car_batterypowered.html
I like the little forge. I've been considering building one myself, but a little bigger than that. The spool gun mig trips me out.
