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comment by Drylandfish
Drylandfish  ·  3398 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Manual Tools to Put Less Stress on Solar Power Sources

I've built some projects in remote areas with minimal power using manual and some battery-driven tools. The manual ones are also great for when the batteries run out. Power circular saw goes down, put it on the charge and pick up the handsaw. I've got an old brace drill and a smaller egg-beater style drill. A crosscut saw, that while a lot slower, is less noisy and dangerous to use than a chainsaw.

A treadle sewing machine is a great score. You could likely run some other tools with the treadle belt.

Have experimented with 2 off-grid homesteads in temperate/subtropical climates on a shoestring budget.





user-inactivated  ·  3398 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I went to this museum, that was a house of an engineer built the 1870's. He had a windmill, that powered a lathe, mill, as well as, fans throughout his house. I have also been to a community that had an all mnemonic tool shop.

I like the story because it is a good practical example. I don't believe in not using electricity, but saving it for important things is smart. I have a whole list of everyday products that use manual power. Some of them are expensive, but they could be nice to have access to.