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Free Energy - Solar Stirling Engine
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 The sun powered Stirling engine has always been of a great fascination for me. With the topic of energy constantly on the news ticker I started revisiting the concept more lately and I wanted to get the word out about it to people who have not heard of it. It's a great little project that most anyone can undertake and the more people trying it will only breed innovation to make the concept more efficient.
The Stirling engine is nothing new. You can read about it on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine). In real simple terms a Stirling engine uses the cooling of hot air to power a sealed cylinder.
A really good example of how a Stirling engine runs;
(Source; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Stirling_Animation.gif)
There are a lot of informative videos currently on YouTube about the sun powered Stirling engi |
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Epoxy Garage Floors - Do It Yourself Project?
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 I get asked this question quite often. The TRUE answer lies within yourself. In this article I am going to discus the Complete do it yourself Instructions and YOU can decide for YOURSELF.
Most people when they start an epoxy floor project imagine shinny gloss and even flakes like the pictures they see on the internet. But end up with quite a different story.
As with any thing PLANNING and preparation are KEY to getting the results YOU desire.
A few things to think about BEFORE you start buying boxes of epoxy.
#1 Why am I doing this?
To make the floor easier to clean?
To hide stained or damaged concrete?
To keep the floor protected from damage, stains, spills, etc?
To make the floor look unique and colorful?
#2 Do I have EXISTING conditions that would make MY project more difficult |
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Proper Application of Concrete Floor Coatings
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Craig S. Jones | |
on | |
08/14/2008 | |
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 If you have ever wondered how to prepare and apply a quality floor coating system on your concrete surface this article should help you. Most people don’t have any real idea how to prepare and apply a proper floor coating on a concrete surface. Its important to remember that there are two necessary criteria when coating your floor. The first is remove all surface contaminants and second is a suitable profile in the concrete surface for coatings to bond.
The best ways to achieve this are in order:
1. Shotblasting
2. Diamond grinding
3. Muratic Acid etching
4. Other forms of etching like Citric acid
There are many different types of coatings which can be coated and you should find reasonable success from a 1 year coating through a 20 year. The type of coating and thickness will determine the wear resistance and bonding stren |
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Protect Your Home From Hurricanes and High Winds
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Overhead Door | |
on | |
08/14/2008 | |
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 Overhead Door Offers Hurricane-Resistant Products
With many homeowners still recovering from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it has become more apparent than ever that homeowners should take every precaution to protect their homes from high wind destruction. High winds create pressure fluctuations which blow a garage door in or out. Since the garage door is the largest point of entry into the home, it is imperative that homeowners take steps to reinforce their garage doors and make sure it meets proper windload codes.
Windload refers to the forces or pressures that are exerted on a structure and the components that make up the structure. According to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, garage doors are particularly vulnerable to high winds because they take up so much of the front of a home and are made of ligh |
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Garage Retreat Decals Are In
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 For a limited time we are offering GarageRetreat.com decals to any forum members with over 150 posts.
For more information please view the following announcement;
http://www.garageretreat.com/forums/announcement.php?f=14 |
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A Lift Can Create Space Both Under the Car and In the Garage
| by: | |
PhantomPark | |
on | |
08/11/2008 | |
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 By Jan Morgan
Article from "The Robb Report", August 2006
FOR THE CAR COLLECTOR WHO LIKES TO MAINTAIN a hands-on relationship with his machines, the four-post drive-on lift has become the standard solution for storing, detailing, and servicing your automobiles at home. Besides providing easy access for routine maintenance, the four-post lift let you stack two cars in a single parking space.
Above ground lifts come n a variety of sizes and capacities, to store anything from an Abarth to a stretched Rolls-Royce Phantom.
While most lift manufacturers recommend a 9-foot garage ceiling for adequate clearance, it is possible to use a garage with a lower ceiling height, based on the total height of both cars to be stored, plus another 10 inches to accommodate the lift structure. Removable lightweight drip pans ensure that the class |
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Home Plans Buying Guide
| by: | |
Brandon Wilcox | |
on | |
08/11/2008 | |
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 You are about to invest in a big part of your life. You are building a new home, and you want that home to be perfect. Ever since you were a kid you probably dreamed of owning your own home. Maybe you were thinking of having a large master bedroom, indoor pool, maybe a den to watch football. Or maybe you want something simple like a one-story ranch, with a 1 car garage and small living space. Purchasing your dream home plan can be a big decision, but this guide is here to help you avoid some common mistakes, and make your house plans purchase a simply one.
First, consider how big your lot is. Keep in mind the things you will need at your new home such as a backyard, driveway, and storage areas. Planning approximate size and sq ft of your house will prevent you from skimping on other important factors of your new home.
Second, it is |
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Windows; Not Just Another Piece of Glass
| by: | |
Todd McIntyre | |
on | |
08/11/2008 | |
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 It's early in the morning and you've just opened the curtains to bring in the bright new day. Or perhaps the snow is falling softly outside as you snuggle up with a cup of hot cocoa at your window seat and take in the view. Windows have been around for hundreds of years, and while their basic purpose has not changed, they have gone from being a necessary "hole in the wall" to a significant element of design.
What is the definition of a Window? According to Webster's dictionary, a window is an opening, usually framed and spanned with glass, built into a wall for light and air. We still use windows for this fundamental purpose. Properly placed windows can provide cross ventilation and eliminate the need for artificial lighting during the day. Most people have at one time or another been in a dark, dreary room that simply needed the light |
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