Looking for farm-oriented project designs

Tanemon - Saturday, January 3, 2009 - 6:06pm

I'm a long-time carpenter, handyman, tinkerer - living on rural land. Ayear ago, at an estate sale, I bought an oxy-acetylene welding rig (complete with medium to large welding tips, a cutting torch, etc). I learned the saftey stuff and then basic techniques of cutting, bending, annealing, tempering, brazing & welding. I'm interested in finding ideas and plans for making things that are useful on a small farm, or for the home.

So, materials like wood, ferrous metals, brass, or rubber (e.g., wheels/tires) are all feasible. What I'm looking for are good sources for concepts & plans. I realize this may seem a little vague, but bear with me... I'd really appreciate any advice about books that I could investigate and possibly buy, plus Web sites that may offer plans (either for sale or for free), and archives on this or other forums where people discuss such projects and maybe show pictures.

Thanks. Tanemon

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Not really metal related,

Paula - Sunday, January 4, 2009 - 7:28am

Not really metal related, more farm related...have you checked out Mother Earth News? they have an archive of many projects for farms and anything related for the do it yourself-er. http://www.motherearthnews.com/

Hope that helps

Paula
Guthrie, MN

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Paula, very kind of you.

Tanemon - Sunday, January 4, 2009 - 11:14am

Paula, very kind of you. Thanks. I'll log onto that site.

Recently, I did a broad search for home-built compost sifters that run off a small motor (such as a small gasoline motor or, say, a 1/3 h.p. electric motor). By Googling, I found a number of ones shown on YouTube - which was quite interesting, as I wouldn't have guessed it. In one or two of these vid clips, there were enough close-ups that I could truly see how to go about making one.

Anyone reading this: do you know of other sites along the line of the Mother Earth News archives that Paula suggested above?

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Maybe the "farm" thing is

Tanemon - Tuesday, January 6, 2009 - 12:54pm

Maybe the "farm" thing is too narrow, since far fewer people live on farms and homesteads now than, say, 60 years ago.

I was thinking maybe there are Web sites for general tinkerers and 'gadgeteers' - anyone know of any that might offer something along the line of what I'm looking for?

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Farm stuff

warren - Tuesday, January 6, 2009 - 9:10pm

Tanemon,
Now if you are talking about art stuff and not stuff that is suppose to work this site might help. Best thing is just go to Google and type in something you think might be related to what you want. Many many different forums on the old world wide web.
But you know the farm stuff is great art particules. Farm implements and tools have the greatest patinas and shapes. Back quite a few years ago I made a piece from many different parts, never got a picture. But I used some old rings from wooden wheels and some other things like plow bits and tractor seat and can not remember the rest. Anyhow the large rim was at least 4 feet in diameter, and inside that I made a globe with the parts and then a smaller rim for the moon. I called it my farm world and was a pretty neat piece. But I moved and left it hanging on the side of the pump house. Oh well life lives on.

www Metalrecipes -- heat and beat to the desired shape, repeat as necessary.
warren

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