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Have you considered having a local tinsmith make one for you?

Axel wrote, in relevant part: "Just have to come up with a 49:1 transformer." No problem, Axel. A 49:1 transformer is accomplished with a 7:1 turns ratio. Choose your form wisely. Ferrite doesn't seem to handle power as well as powdered iron, such as a #2 mix (red toroid). a T68-2 will work at...

I would think that any wood, coal, or pellet stove could be supplied fresh air via a small pipe through the outside wall of the van or trailer. You would want a valve to adjust the air flow or cut it off entirely. This would prevent sucking the warm air out of your living space to feed the fire...

I should point out here that, where where raw, uncovered polyurethane foam is used, you should take note of the fact that this stuff will flake and rub off everywhere. In other words, it sheds. For this reason, a coating of some sort is a good idea. There were a series of home-built cars that...

highdesertstranger said, in relevant part: "No Va in Spanish means, she doesn't go" My reply: Now THAT is truly funny, especially considering GM didn't realize this. I had a '73 with the 350 engine. It was a dawg. I hear their Chevette was pretty popular down there long after it was...

Someone asked about power requirements for sewing machines. Most have 100 watt motors, which means 1 amp at 120 volts, or thereabouts. A 400 watt inverter will likely handle this load, although I'd rather have a 750 watt inverter for it. The reason for this is that a motor, being an inductive...

Thanks for sharing those links, Katie. I won't use the first as it's a yahoo group, and I lost my ARPA account and website due to all the spam generated within minutes of joining one of their groups some years back. While not their fault, it remains an ongoing problem with them. Again, thanks...

Everclear's one redeeming value is the fact that it's multi-use. I carry something better-tasting for that, though, and I either get the gallon can of denatured alcohol for stove use, or buy the HEET-brand stuff in red or yellow plastic bottles from auto stores. One of these bottles holds enough...

If you're going to take a pic or video, by all means livestream it or send it IMMEDIATELY to one of your accounts or someone else's you know and/or trust, preferably someone your stalker can't identify or get to. Then, DISCONNECT so he can't see what you did and delete it. This will leave a clue...

I previously made the following comment on this thread: "Those big 2-megawatt turbines you see on wind farms? They can spin until they fall apart and never generate the amount of energy that went into them." I've since learned that my words, taken from an article I'd read elsewhere, are not...

GeorgiePorgie said, in relevant part: "Someone said a CPAP machine is a loud as snoring. That is completely incorrect." My reply: I'm glad you found a quiet one. The one they tried on me at the sleep study sounded like a vacuum cleaner, and I couldn't exhale at all, as it was turned up much...

My dad's been bugging me lately about my own snoring, which he hears from across the hall. This tells me I'd likely be heard in a van, too, unless I build my sleeping quarters for ME instead of some generic person. Sleeping position is important. As for those thinking a CPAP would help....I...

I've had this "whump-whump" sound on a couple of vehicles, and it was caused every time by either: a) Broken or torn belt in a tire. Not noticable by wheel-balancing, it is only detected by driving on it. Replacing the tire with another new one is the only cure. This is always my last resort...

SternWake said, in relevant part: "Sometimes the diameter proves to be too thin, so I triple it up and stick one end in a drill." My reply: Might sound silly, but some folks just buy two different diameters. I got one about 22ga and one about 16-18ga for the heavier stuff. Need to get more...

SternWake said, in relevant part: Avoid the home depot lead free electrical solder. My response: The lead-free solders all have a much higher melting point than lead/tin solder, commonly sold as 60/40 solder. I learned this to my utter dismay after ruining the entire output network of a popular...

Most of these older sewing machines from the 1920's to the 1970's, although rather heavy, use similar motors, all in the 75-120 watt class. Most are less than 100 watts. I have 5 or 6 old portables here from the 40's to late 60's. I use the same 700-watt inverter for them that powers my air...

I haven't used Wellers for many years, preferring the smaller Antex soldering pencils. I use a 15-18-watt model and I could easily run it from a small inverter. These folks have a 12-volt version that, I believe, is 30-watt. I haven't tried it, and likely wouldn't unless I was bicycling or...

Wagoneer, your Singer Lightweight is the object of much lust and envy. Highly prized among quilters and collectors alike, they are among the best straight stitch machines ever made, and seem to run forever. Perhaps that gal will give you some valuable tips on it's use at the RTR....

In general, any newer machines will be made completely out of plastics with some metal or nylon bushings in them. The older ones from 1920-1970 are usually built like tanks by comparison, being made out of steel until the mid-60's and having a plastic cover on the outside with all steel or brass...

Had a guy in residential construction tell me that, if you install solar, you HAD to tie it into the grid so the power companies could use the excess power you produce. I told him that, regardless of where he got such information, that not only would I refuse to believe it, I also will not...