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46
General Discussion / Re: New power
« on: December 08, 2017, 07:29:25 AM »
Thanks for posting the link. It's good to learn of improved technologies but most of it goes nowhere. For anyone interested, the first 30 minutes of this video gets into more of the technical discussions of the engine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kehHbZ5DTU
They claim fewer moving parts, lower emissions, better fuel economy, greater power to weight ratio and lower cost vs. conventional diesels. This video was put out in the fall of 2014. If the engine has all the great attributes that the company alludes to, then why hasn't it started to become mainstream?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kehHbZ5DTU
They claim fewer moving parts, lower emissions, better fuel economy, greater power to weight ratio and lower cost vs. conventional diesels. This video was put out in the fall of 2014. If the engine has all the great attributes that the company alludes to, then why hasn't it started to become mainstream?
47
General Discussion / Re: Stihl MS193C Chainsaw
« on: November 25, 2017, 02:54:04 PM »
Sounds like a fuel issue which means that something needs to be adjusted, cleaned, or replaced. At this point, I would take it to the dealer and let them fix it under warranty. Hopefully, after that, you will have many trouble free years.
48
General Discussion / Re: Christmas is coming
« on: November 25, 2017, 11:19:57 AM »
I don't think you can go wrong with any of the name brand tools. I have most of the brand names, they are all good, although I tend to favour Makita. All my cordless is 18V DeWalt and it's been rock solid for 10+ years. I generally get 5 to 7 years on the nicads, and next upgrade with be to the 20V li-ion, which work in the original tools with the proper adapter.
As far as Christmas, any tools I need are very specific- a surface plate would be nice but probably a bit much as a gift. My request to the wife and kids is a gift to a charity of one's choice or otherwise any gift that be either disposable or consumable. Socks are good, booze is good I do not want people getting me crap just for the sake of a gift. (I know...bah humbug.
)
As far as Christmas, any tools I need are very specific- a surface plate would be nice but probably a bit much as a gift. My request to the wife and kids is a gift to a charity of one's choice or otherwise any gift that be either disposable or consumable. Socks are good, booze is good I do not want people getting me crap just for the sake of a gift. (I know...bah humbug.
)
49
Equipment / Re: Chainsaw oils both bar and 2cycle
« on: November 17, 2017, 06:51:25 PM »
I use Stihl 2 stroke oil for my 25 y.o. 032. They recommend it, so I use it. However, I do not use Stihl bar oil. I go through a chain every couple years = 18 cords.
50
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Some pics of my setup
« on: November 17, 2017, 06:36:38 PM »
What pictures?.............just kidding. House looks great - somewhere Buckminster Fuller is smiling.
51
Home Made / Re: Sizing my owb...build
« on: November 03, 2017, 09:22:45 AM »
I built my own but I am not sure how useful I can be, my design is somewhat different than the conventional barrel in barrel. If you are interested, I posted a bit about the build plus some photos that you can see by following this link. If you have trouble viewing them let me know and I will PM you.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369770
I like larger water capacity boilers as there is more of a "flywheel" effect but I think you are on the right track by not over-sizing it, at least not the firebox. Smaller intensive fires are better than larger lazy fires. I doubt you will be able to re-ignite the exhaust gases. Conventional boilers just don't seem to get hot enough. I have not been able to do it, and my firebox is completely firebrick lined. (although admittedly my air system totally sucks and is now very difficult to redesign) I do recommend stainless steal as a baffle plate, I used 3/16 and do not recommend going that thick. The thing is a pain to move for springtime cleaning. Go 1/8 or less. I also have my chimney exit from the front and have to be careful not to bang my head on it when loading wood so that is a "watch out." Nothing wrong with your build and it should work fine but think of it as training wheels. Next build start to push the envelope. The guys at Hearth.com seem to have ideas on some funky designs -LOL.
I am starting to think of build 2.0. It will likely be a downdraft gassifier, with both vertical and horizontal fire-tube passes, and ideally built modular so that if there is a leak. a HX can be removed, perhaps replaced by a spare, and then repaired. But that build will not happen any time soon.
Above all - keep us posted.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369770
I like larger water capacity boilers as there is more of a "flywheel" effect but I think you are on the right track by not over-sizing it, at least not the firebox. Smaller intensive fires are better than larger lazy fires. I doubt you will be able to re-ignite the exhaust gases. Conventional boilers just don't seem to get hot enough. I have not been able to do it, and my firebox is completely firebrick lined. (although admittedly my air system totally sucks and is now very difficult to redesign) I do recommend stainless steal as a baffle plate, I used 3/16 and do not recommend going that thick. The thing is a pain to move for springtime cleaning. Go 1/8 or less. I also have my chimney exit from the front and have to be careful not to bang my head on it when loading wood so that is a "watch out." Nothing wrong with your build and it should work fine but think of it as training wheels. Next build start to push the envelope. The guys at Hearth.com seem to have ideas on some funky designs -LOL.
I am starting to think of build 2.0. It will likely be a downdraft gassifier, with both vertical and horizontal fire-tube passes, and ideally built modular so that if there is a leak. a HX can be removed, perhaps replaced by a spare, and then repaired. But that build will not happen any time soon.
Above all - keep us posted.
52
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Heating costs expected to go up
« on: November 01, 2017, 07:34:02 PM »
Heating oil has been trending up for the past couple years. It is not near its peak, but it is certainly moving that way. Natural gas, while also trending up, is still very cheap. I am also glad I burn wood, but now I have to leave the World Series for a minute and go and toss some sticks into the boiler.
53
Fire Wood / Re: Wood storage
« on: October 23, 2017, 07:33:29 PM »
The video states the bags are 1.5 cu M and weigh 650 kgs. At 430 kg/cu M, and moisture >20%, it sounds like the bags, when filled, may be rated for softwoods. May have to de-rate the volume for oak or maple.
54
Home Made / Re: Designing my Generation 2 waste oil boiler.
« on: October 13, 2017, 07:56:35 AM »
Marty, I will be following this build and good luck with it. I imagine a source of fuel is not a problem with all the farm equipment that needs to be maintained.
After the vertical HX, will the flue gas pass up to the stack?
After the vertical HX, will the flue gas pass up to the stack?
55
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Happy wife
« on: October 12, 2017, 08:27:33 AM »
I fired up about a week ago. It's mid morning and warmed up to about 40, high today is a tropical 60. Burning through some pine and poplar from trees that were taken down around the property. In a couple weeks, I should be into the "good stuff".
56
General Discussion / Re: Combo press brake/shear
« on: October 07, 2017, 06:04:01 AM »
Had you checked Craigslist for some older USA stuff, or are tools like that unobtainium? My neighbour just picked up an older 8 foot brake but he just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I don't recall whose make it was.
57
Fire Wood / Re: slab wood bundles BTU extraction
« on: October 06, 2017, 05:44:36 AM »
That works out to about $70 a cord. I would give that a shot. Being slabs, you likely do not have to split them. To cut them, I would probably try running my chain saw down through the pile while it is still bundled up.
58
General Outdoor Furnace Discussion / Re: Intermittent problem with oil furnace
« on: October 05, 2017, 07:29:57 PM »
Hi Roger
I am also curious as to what your issue may be. I input your problem and tried some google fu and most suggestions seemed to revolve around water in the oil. One person, who did suggest they had an issue similar to yours, had a bad pump gasket. In case you haven't seen it, here is the link below. Hope you find the problem. You might consider a used burner. So many people are going off oil, at least in my area, that burners are a dime a dozen. I had a perfectly good Beckett burner given to me a month ago, which I promptly gave to someone else.
http://www.contractortalk.com/f6/sputtering-oil-burner-18277/
I am also curious as to what your issue may be. I input your problem and tried some google fu and most suggestions seemed to revolve around water in the oil. One person, who did suggest they had an issue similar to yours, had a bad pump gasket. In case you haven't seen it, here is the link below. Hope you find the problem. You might consider a used burner. So many people are going off oil, at least in my area, that burners are a dime a dozen. I had a perfectly good Beckett burner given to me a month ago, which I promptly gave to someone else.
http://www.contractortalk.com/f6/sputtering-oil-burner-18277/
59
Equipment / Re: Splatfix K 540
« on: September 24, 2017, 10:03:32 AM »
I usually buy a load of logs, and the average seems to be about 16 to 18 inches, but there is generally a few logs around 30". I have watched videos of my friends "to the south" splitting up blocks and have seen stuff that must be close to 5 feet in diameter. You split something 60" and instead of having one big heavy piece, you now have two! 
60
Equipment / Re: Splatfix K 540
« on: September 23, 2017, 06:40:57 PM »
Pretty cool. Couldn't find a price anywhere but I imagine that if ya gotta ask, ya can't afford it. Weighs 6 tons, but only cuts logs up to 21 inches diameter, which to me, seems pretty small by North American standards.