Homemade Wind Generator

Using a few simple tools, you can set up a homemade wind generator. This device will help in reducing your dependence on other energy sources. This in turn means more savings down the line.

Required Tools and Materials

Treadmill motor
Hose clamp
Hacksaw
6 bottles (2 liter)
1 inch pipe
Scissors
Zip ties
Metal bicycle frame
Welding tools

Instructions

Use the welding tools to modify the motor so it is centered on the bicycle pedal’s axle. Before you do this, remove the pedal. Use scaffolding if necessary. Put the motor housing in place by welding a pipe. Make sure the welded material connects the frame section up to the motor housing.

To ensure this homemade wind generator works, double check the motor housing. Make certain the motor is fastened. If it isn’t, the housing will spin along with the axle.

Create the Blades

Get the bottles and secure plastic with the zip ties. Set the spokes so the wheel will spin when the wind blows. Make a cut on the bottle (2 inches) in a spiral manner. Punch a hole and set the zip ties here. Put in another zip tie if there are spaces left.
Make sure about 30% of the wheel is covered with the blades.

Slice the blades so they don’t hit anything when they start spinning. With this homemade wind generator, you can take away the rest of the bike’s components; they are not necessary and will only take up space.

Mounting the Generator

Position the generator high up. Use the scaffolding or ladder if necessary. A pole is the best option. Now set the wires to the power location. You can use batteries. However they can present problems. Number one, they can overcharge. Secondly, it might run the motor and not get a charge.

If you’re going to use batteries, install a heat sinker so it won’t overcharge. If you’re not sure how to set this up on your homemade wind generator, talk to an electrician. Don’t try installing the batteries if you are unsure.

Tips and Warnings

These treadmill motors can be found in a variety of places. Your best bets are the apartments near colleges. These are usually just placed by the dumpster. You can get one there. The Web is also a good place to look for treadmill motors near you.

Be careful when using welding tools and equipment. Follow all the instructions. If you’re not sure how, have a welder shape the pipes for you. Do not stand near the blades when they’re running.

If you are having trouble mounting the generator, have some of your friends help you. This will prove especially useful if you’re going to use the scaffolding.

If the blades move too fast, they might fly off. Double check to make sure they’re installed properly. Wrongly installed blades won’t just fly off; they might shatter and explode.

These homemade wind generators require more work than most DIY projects. However the payoff can be substantial, so it’s worth giving a try.

Homemade Weed Killer

You can save yourself a lot of money if you know how to make and use your very own homemade weed killers. Commercial weed killers though effective do carry an expensive price tag with them. These products not only cost you they also use chemicals that are not only harmful to weeds but may also harm human beings. Homemade weed killers do not only save you money they can also be readily made using the stuff you have at home.

Needed Materials

Liquid Dish Detergent
Salt
White Vinegar

Note: The said materials can be found at home. You’ll also need an outdoor sprayer, be sure to use one that is all purpose. You will make about a gallon’s worth of a homemade weed killer using the materials we’ve outlined above.

Mixing Your Homemade Weed Killer

Your basic ingredient for this weed killer is your white vinegar. Grab a gallon of that and pour it all into your all purpose garden sprayer. If ever your garden sprayer isn’t big enough then you might just want to mix everything up in a bucket and then transfer some of the contents into your sprayer as you run out of weed killer to spray.

If ever you don’t have white vinegar at home you can also use distilled vinegar or even apple cider vinegar. If you like to keep your concoction lidded then you can use any container that has a lid so you can keep your weed killer and use it some other time.

Add a cup of salt to your vinegar and mix thoroughly. Next, add a couple of tablespoons of liquid dish detergent and mix it in as well. You may use any detergent you like however do not use ones that are scented. Once you have all the following into your container or sprayer, mix or stir them all together. Mixing in a garden sprayer is a lot easier since all you have to do is put on its lid and shake it.

Using Your Homemade Weed Killer

Using this homemade mixture is just as easy as making it. All you have to do is to spray it on directly onto the weeds in your yard. If ever you have weeds growing in cracks and crannies then you just simply pour it into the said areas. Be careful not to spray some of this stuff in your eyes, mouth, or nose. Another warning is that you should be careful how you spray this formula as it can also kill any vegetables or plants growing in your garden.

Homemade Rust Remover

Making homemade rust removers will require only a few ingredients. As you’ll see, eradicating rust and corrosion need not cost a lot of money.

Using White Vinegar

This substance is commonly used to get rid of pet urine. However it also works here. Get a small plate and pour some white vinegar. Do not add water. Get a piece of clean cloth and dampen it with the vinegar.

Wipe the rusty object with the cloth. If there is plenty of rust, pour vinegar in a bowl and immerse the object in it. Leave it there for half an hour.

Take the object out. This homemade rust remover can be applied repeatedly if there’s still some corrosion. When the rust is gone, rinse the object with water.

Dry it with a towel. When dabbing an object with the cloth, leave the vinegar there for at least 20 minutes. Repeat the process if needed and then wash it with water. Dry it completely.

Using Borax

For this cleaner you need to combine lemon juice and borax. They need to be of equal amounts. Dip a cloth in the solution and apply to the rusted object. You can also use a bottle spray. Just pour the homemade rust remover into the bottle and seal it. You can then spray the object’s rusty parts.

Of course you can also immerse the object just like in the other cleaning solution. Make sure the object is in the solution for 30 minutes. When the rust has disappeared, wash with water.

Note: the object may appear black after being dabbed or immersed in vinegar / lemon. This is only temporary; rinsing with water will bring back its true color and shades.

Other Methods

Gather cream of tartar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. First add a teaspoon of tartar to the borax (1/4 cup of it will be fine). Next put some hydrogen peroxide in it. Add enough so the mixture turns into a thick substance.

Now you can put this homemade rust remover onto the affected spot. Dab it on the area and leave it there for 30 minutes. Afterwards, use a sponge to wipe the surface.

That should get rid of the stain. If the stain remains, repeat the process. Wash the object with clean water when the rust is gone.

Tips and Warnings

Make sure the bottles you use for mixing vinegar or lemon have never been used with other chemicals. Even if it has been emptied, there may be small traces left. These might cause chemical reactions in the vinegar and affect the cleaning process.

Keep the solution away from children. Do not place the bottle near pets. Wash the cloth you used for cleaning immediately.
You can substitute borax with baking soda and other similar solutions. What you want is a component that will provide grit without being too harsh.

Rust can affect a host of furniture and objects. Fortunately there are cleansers you can use to eliminate it. With these simple homemade rust removers, keeping those antiques shiny will be easy.

Homemade Solar Pool Heater

There is actually a multitude of ways to make your very own homemade solar pool heater to use at home. Sure, it may be easier for you to just dig in your pockets and shell out the appropriate amount of money to buy your own solar heater for your pool. But why pay more when you can simply make your own homemade solar pool heater with a lesser amount of budget for the project?

How are you going to make your homemade solar pool heater?

Here are some of the basic things you’ll need to know to start creating your homemade solar pool heater and start reaping its benefits:

Of course, the first thing you may need to concern yourself with is to gather the materials for your home project. What do you need? A black poly pipe (or, commonly known as, polyethylene pipe), a back board or shed roof, and a pump.

Finding these things may not be a big problem. In fact, you can easily and quickly purchase these things from a garden supply shop or a hardware store near your area. You may also be pleased to find out that most of the materials are quite inexpensive and easy to use.

There are three simple ways to assemble these things to make your homemade solar pool heater.

One is to mount the poly pipe on the back board. Don’t forget to connect a pump to this. Another way is to place coils of the poly pipe on a shed roof. Then, connect a pump. The third way of using this is to mount the pipe arrays on your roof.

However, the third option may be too hard for a beginner to follow since you may have to consider the water flow that will have to pass through the coils. This manner of installation may need a professional to assist you.

For safety reasons, it may be best to stick to the two first options in making your own homemade solar pool heater.

Better bear in mind that the coils of the poly pipe should not have any kinks or leakage when you arrange them on the shed roof or the back board. If it has, this homemade solar pool heater won’t work well as you would expect. So check for holes in the pipe and replace your poly pipe if needed.

Making your homemade solar pool heater does not need the most expensive materials and a complicated manner to follow. Anyone can make their own pool heater as long as the desire and interest in following basic steps is there.

Homemade Wifi Antenna

You don’t need to hire an engineer to setup a homemade wifi antenna. With the right equipment, it will only take about an hour at most to finish the job.

Required Tools and Materials

Duct tape
Bowl (must be made of aluminum)
Soldering tools
Wifi antenna
Drill (optional)
Wifi antenna node

Instructions

First decide on what antenna to use. The directional ones are good for great distances. However their deflection angles have limitations. The width cannot go beyond 30 degrees. What this means is that it’s good for long distance but poor for local transmission. If you want local transmission, use an omnidirectional antenna.

After you have decided what antenna to use, take off the handle from the pan’s cover. Use the hole to pass the homemade wifi antenna’s cable. If there isn’t, make one in the middle. Use a drill to make the hole.

Set the wifi node in the middle of the lid. This setup will force the emanating wave to focus in one direction. There are also other reflectors you can use. Metallic pipes or cans will do just fine. Usually, the parabolic dish has a wider angle so it’s better to use.

Testing the Receiver

Set the wifi dish at the receiver. Give the signal a try. Under certain conditions, the signal can go as far as ten miles. Using a reflector will generate a stronger signal for the homemade wifi antenna.

Tips

The bowl you use will make a big difference. The bigger and shinier it is, the stronger the signal will be. Depending on the setup, you’ll need a wifi adapter. You’ll need a USB chord for this setup to work with your desktop PC.

Put some duct tape on the wifi adapter so it remains steady in the bowl. Use the duct tape and stick the bowl where the signal is strongest.

If you’ll be using long distance and local access, have both antenna types ready. You can’t use them at the same time. But creating both of them is a good idea so you can switch easily
between the two.

Warnings

Consult the manual when setting up the antenna. In most cases the wifi’s standard antenna is called the node. Don’t be confused by these terms. Be patient when setting up your homemade wifi antenna. It’s normal for the signal to fluctuate at times.

Look for strategic places to set the bowl up. Some of the most reliable wifi sources are near libraries, colleges and business offices.

If you’re going to put the bowl near the window, you can put a curtain over it. This should render the object inconspicuous. Make sure the bowl is securely fastened to the spot so it doesn’t fall off. Don’t stand in front of the bowl when you’re utilizing it.

Be careful when using extension chords. Take all necessary precautions to protect yourself. Do not touch the extension chords if your hands are wet.

Making your homemade wifi antenna only takes a few minutes. The stuff needed is so very basic. If you find your Internet connection a little weak, try this out. It might give your Web surfing a boost.