Steve Evans asked:


fication is the process of turning wood into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reacting the raw material (wood) at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen. Without oxygen, the wood can\’t burn so it transforms into gas. This gas can be used as fuel in an internal combustion engine.

During World War II wood gas generators where used to fuel automobiles in Europe. If you/\’ve been thinking about building one and seeing if I for example you could run a small lawn mower engine off of wood gas. We would encourage you to give it a try.

Gasification is here, now, and possible within the economic means of many Americans. Gasification scales up very easily and cost effectively. That old chevy 350 engine in your garage can power a 100kw generator if asked to.

Don\’t let the guys with college degrees suggest that this is rocket science which the average person who can use some metalworking tools cannot use to produce their own highly efficient sustainable renewable energy.

Gasification was an important and familiar 19th and early 20th century technology, and its potential and practical applicability to internal combustion engines were well-understood from the earliest days of their development. Town gas was produced from coal as a local business, mainly for lighting purposes, at least initially, and experience in the trade was widespread; most practicing technical people would know a good deal about it.

Gasification of fossil fuels is currently widely used on industrial scales to generate electricity. However, almost any type of organic material can be used as the raw material for gasification but wood is a good place to start. You can use a host of different biomass sources, or even plastic waste. Gasification addresses the problems of efficiency and smoke. However, with the cost of wood so cheap, in many forested areas cost efficiency won/\’t be a problem.

The term wood gasification may come across as a bit technical or feel like it requires a graduate degree in chemical engineering to truly understand. In truth the secret is that its pretty simple at a practical level, and for making a wise wood boiler purchasing decision, there are only a few things you need to know.

In the temperature range of 395 ° F to 535 ° F (i.e. a regular fire), the majority of the gases are released from the wood in combination with the smoke. Those gases contain about 50% to 80% of the heat content of the wood. This process results in a gas mixture that is often referred to as synthesis gas or syngas or in the case of a wood fuel – woodgas.

Wood is a renewable resource and as we have said already the gasification process is both environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Those benefits are very attractive to the many home and business owners considering the use of wood as fuel for heating or hot water.

Here is an example of a gasification system of this type which is on the market. According to web posts we have seen, Econoburn™ wood gasification boilers now carry “the Energy Star label. The Energy Star label, is respected by the majority of users and has become recognized by more than 70 percent of American consumers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\’s commentator. So, you should take notice when a product carries that seal.

Availability of domestic and small business gasification boilers and stoves is not just limited to the US. In Europe you find there are also good vendors of Wood gasification plants from Wolfhagen-Ippingh - Germany.

We suggest that you obtain more information on spare parts, servicing, maintenance, repair or accessories directly from the registered micro-gasifier supply companies. You can also search for the term wood gasification plants for further products and services.

wood plans

Gen Wright asked:


You may be fretting over the ideal piece of wood furniture for your home or office. Here is a simple guide to help you choose the right piece of wood furniture.

There are several things to consider when choosing a piece of wood furniture. Ultimately, your choice depends on what you need. So let’s start by considering your needs.

1) Indoors or outdoors.

First, consider whether you need the furniture for indoor or outdoor purposes. Wood furniture has different type of finishes, which make some ideal for outdoors, and others ideal for indoors. Generally, outdoor wood furniture have a stronger and more resistant finish on the exterior. So even when exposed to the sun and rain, it should still last.

There are many outdoor places that may need a good piece of wood furniture. For example, you may want to place a piece of furniture in a balcony, in the backyard, beside the swimming pool and so on. Fortunately, there are no lack of wood furniture for the outdoors. So you should be able to find what you need rather easily.

Next, ask yourself if you need the furniture for work or for leisure.

2) For work or leisure. / For home or office.

This has more to do with the overall setting of the location (which we will come to later). Usually, your office furniture or study room will look very different from your home furniture.

Wood furniture that is ideal for the work environment usually look more formal with ordinary shapes. They are also stronger and are expected to last longer. Observe the furniture in most study rooms. Often, people will choose strong wood such as oak or teak for study room furniture. They are ideal for tables and shelves, which are meant to hold strong items such as books for a long period of time.

In contrast, wood furniture in a more relaxed environment doesn’t have to be as formal. They can be oddly shaped, and created from a large variety of wood. You can easily find comfortable sofas, dining tables, and other home furniture made from wood.

In addition, when choosing wooden furniture, keep in mind the overall theme of your home or office. Sometimes, a piece of great wooden furniture may look perfect when standing alone. But when it arrives on location, it turns out to be a wrong fit. Nobody would like that to happen. So be sure to consider carefully how a piece of wooden furniture will fit before making a buying decision.

If you have a budget in mind, you may have to consider the type of wood as well. Different types of wood affects the retail price of the furniture. Mahogany, oak, walnut and cherry wood are examples of fine wood that will cost more.

Again, due to the wide of wood furniture available, there is always something for every theme you can think of. Wood can be made to fit into modern themes, fun themes, English themes, and many other popular and fashionable themes. So let your imagination run wild, and choose the right piece of wood furniture.



KENNY

Rami Nseir asked:


A solid wood floor can add warm tones and a stunning finish to any room. Constructed with pieces of solid wood they have tongue and groove sides so they can be easily connected together. Each piece has a different grain which combines to form a unique look whenever it is used. There is a huge variety of solid wood floors available with many types of wood species, colours and widths available at hardwood flooring suppliers.

The most popular option is oak wood flooring. Europe and America are both the main consumer and producer of this type of hardwood flooring. Oak is available in various types including red, white and European oak, each with their own hardness, grain and colour characteristics.

A cherry wood floor is another popular choice due to its striking grain markings and solid composition. Like other wood floors it is highly resistant to damage. Over time cherry wood flooring darkens from a pale pink colour to warm dark red tone

Exotic hardwoods can give a room a unique look are now readily available at major hardwood flooring suppliers. They can be found for sale alongside other classic real wood flooring such as maple, oak and ash. Real wood flooring can be purchased in pre-finished or unfinished styles. When laying unfinished wood flooring the product can be recoated many times to increase its life and make it last considerably longer than other flooring options.

When laying solid wood floors, begin with a flat, dry and solid sub floor such as concrete, wood or cork. Carpet is not suitable as a sub base and must be removed. Any deviations in level should be rectified with suitable floor filler. A plastic barrier to stop moisture is recommended for floors that are being installed on concrete or in damp areas. Harwood flooring should also be allowed time to acclimatise before it is set down by leaving it the room for several days.

If you are using a wood floor sub base the solid wood floor should be installed at right angles to the original floorboards to aid strength and stability. An expansion area around the perimeter of the room is also recommended to allow for contractions and expansions throughout the winter and summer months. This expansion gap can be covered with skirting boards or a cover strip.

Solid wood floors are tough and hard wearing and by taking care of them their life can be prolonged. Keep gravel, dirt and grit at bay by using a doormat outside and inside the front door. Regular sweeping and vacuuming will take care of any dirt that does settle on the floor and will reduce scratches and everyday wear and tear. Avoid wearing stiletto heels on solid wood floors and if possible only wear indoor shoes or slippers on its surface.

Nothing comes close to the finish that can be achieved with a solid wood floor. By installing solid wood flooring the value of a home often increases and it can give a home the edge over similar property on the market. Solid wood floors are stain resistant and do not trap dust so are especially good for allergy sufferers. There is a wide range of tones, styles and prices on the market so whether you are looking for a cheap wood floor or the ultimate in hardwood flooring, you are sure to find the right match for your room.



SANDY

Ariel Vanderhorst asked:


That depends on the stove you have in your mind’s eye. The old-fashioned, pot-belly stoves that appear in most Western movies didn’t do the atmosphere any favors. But today’s wood burning stoves, engineered with fuel economy in mind, are a different story.

Back in the days of cowboys and general stores, wood stoves could have been mistaken for indoor smokestacks–and that wouldn’t have been too far from the truth. But modern stoves are actually one of the “greenest” sources of radiant heat available to home owners today. Here are some of the big reasons why.

Let’s start with a little history. In the early 20th century, even the most efficient wood burning stoves left a lot to be desired and it wasn’t hard to tell. The smoky haze these stoves produced was a telltale sign that an unknowing home owner was literally giving the torch to his heating budget. Fortunately, there has been a revolution in stove design since those days.

Around 1990, there was a growing interest in alternative heating sources, caused by the rising awareness of the impact of fossil fuels (oil, coal) on the environment. In addition, the goal of energy self-sufficiency caused home owners to reevaluate wood stoves as a heating method. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) got involved, instituting demanding emissions standards to make sure that new stoves would be kind to the environment.

As new stoves were produced, engineers incorporated the EPA standards, and the “modern” wood stove came into being. Since 1990, every new wood stove is approved by the EPA, and produces a mere trickle of smoke (2-5 grams per hour) and very little ash. This amounts to a 33 percent increase in fuel efficiency over the old potbelly stoves, and a 90 percent decrease in emissions. In plain English, this means that advanced wood burning stoves burn a lot less wood and are simultaneously kinder to the planet.

At this point, a natural question would be, “Don’t wood stoves put pollutants into the atmosphere just like other heating sources–gas, oil, or coal?” The answer is nuanced. When fossil fuels are extracted from the earth and consumed, they release carbon dioxide into the environment at unhealthy levels. And after the monumental costs of extracting and producing these fuels, once they’re burned, they’re gone for good.

As a fuel source, wood is different on several counts.

Trees, like all other green plants, take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and convert it to fiber in order to grow. When trees die, and wood decomposes, this CO2 is released back into the air. But in this case, it is a natural cycle, since all trees eventually die. The same thing is true when wood is burned. Making the wood-burning cycle sustainable is the fact that wood is a renewable source of fuel.

We started this article asking the question, “Are wood stoves good for the environment?” The answer, when you compare stoves to other heating methods, is yes. Today’s stoves are fuel efficient: they produce more heat with less wood, keeping emissions to a minimum by meeting strict EPA standards. Best of all, perhaps, they don’t deprive the earth of non-renewable fossil fuels.

So, call to mind that rusty, black iron stove you saw in a Western movie, a vacation lodge, or at your grandparents. Then prepare yourself for an updated picture as you explore the world of modern wood stoves. Environmentally speaking, today’s stoves are very green.



wood cabinets

Proverbial Quimby asked:


I’ve seen on TV shows where you can paint wood and use a spray bottle of water to water down the paint and make it more like a stain. How do I do this?

I’m having trouble matching the stain color on quarter-rounds to the cabinet. I’m thinking it might be easier to do it with paint and use this spray water technique. Is it easy? Is this a good idea? Is there any resources to tell me how to do this?

lake wood

Len Q. asked:


If you’re going to be a wood carver and not just a whittler, you’ll need to select a number of tools. There’s just no way around it. So what are the right tools for wood carving?

Tools for Sharpening. Before the carving tools, it seems appropriate that tools for sharpening them should come first. After all, first we sharpen and then we carve.

At the very minimum, you should have a sharpening stone and a strop. The sharpening stone is used to get your edges to sharpness. Many sharpening stones come in different shapes and in different sizes. Some are very accommodating to the typically short blade lengths of wood carving blade edges. Diamond coated slipstones are very nice. Some sharpening stones can even be found on a key chain or be as small as a credit card. So very convenient.

A strop is meant to remove the burr and all micro-bits still clinging to your well-sharpened blade edge. This is very important in wood carving. Anything added to the edge will only slow your progress. You’ve got to get everything off. If you prefer, you could use a honing compound or a honing board to smooth out your edges.

If you’re really serious about becoming a wood carver, it is highly recommended that you learn how to sharpen and strop a knife. Once you’ve learned that, you’ll also be able to sharpen most other carving edges. The need for smooth sharp edges is a constant in wood carving. Knowing how to achieve them will put you way ahead of the game.

Tools for Shaping. Each type of carving tool that is meant to shape wood has a specific function. At the very minimum, you should have carving knives, wood chisels, wood gouges, wood rasps and rifflers, a mallet and maybe even a power drill.

◦ Carving knives. This is your most basic of all carving tools and there are many kinds. There are straight-edged knives, skewed knives, bent knives, chip knives, detail knives, special pocket knives modified for carving and folding knives with lockable blades. And these aren’t all of them. There are even micro-knives or micro-tool kits, if you’d like.

It’s a matter of functionality. Each edge is target specific. When you’ve learned what each type of knife can do, and you’ve considered the carving project ahead of you, then you’ll know which knives are best for that job. The best knives used for one specific task may not be the same knives that are best for another. That’s why you’ve got choices.

◦ Wood chisels. Most chisels are ground on both sides but it is possible to find them with a bevel on only one side. The head may be slanted or square in shape. They may even be bent forward or backward. You’ll have quite a selection.

◦ Wood gouges. This is one of the most used tools in wood carving. There are many shapes and sizes. Some are very short and stout while others extend for a few inches with an extended blade edge. You’ll probably end up with several kinds. That’s not a problem. Surely, you’ll use each one at some time or another.

◦ Wood Rasps or Riffler files. Shopping for these tools could be a bit confusing. Really. Some stores call it a rasp, others will call it a riffler. And yet another will call it a rasp riffler. How to know, how to know. Well, the majority of merchants appear to agree that a rasp is a very coarse, straight file. The tool itself may be thick and rectangular like a sharpening file but don’t be surprised to find those that are slender with a curving head, looking just like a riffler.

Rifflers, on the other hand, are usually slender with a curved head. Many times these curved heads can be found on both ends of the riffler. You can even find kits that offer you different shaped heads and at different sizes.

◦ Mallets. These little hammers are invaluable in the right circumstance. They are a must for chip carving, relief carving and intaglio carving. (What am I saying?) Mallets are a must for all wood carving. You may need just a few millimeters off of here and no more, maybe add a little notch there, an indent over here, maybe create a shadow. It really is such a valuable tool.

◦ Power tools. There are some pretty nice power tools for wood carving. There are power drills, rotor saw burrs, power chisels and mini grinders. You can even find power carving kits. There’s even a wood carver’s kit that offers its own selection of power grinders.

These tools are quite extraordinary in how much time and labor they can save wood carvers. Many consider them only for life-size or extremely large carvings. It’s all up to the carver. Hey, how about a carving created entirely by power tools? (Wonder how big that’d be.)

Tools for Sanding and Smoothing. When all the wood carving and shaping is done, you’ll want to sand and smooth all surfaces. This is an important step that precedes any painting or varnishing. In doing so, you’ll remove any remains from any previous finishing process and you’ll also prepare the wood to bond with any non-penetrating chemicals. Sanding can be done using sand paper, sanding clothes or sanding sticks.

◦ Sanding is often accomplished using sand paper. There are many grades, from very, very coarse to very, very fine. There’s quite a selection. Something very similar to this is the defuzzing pad. It does as it sounds. It removes all fuzz still clinging to the wood surface.

◦ There are sanding clothes that come in a roll and are available in varying grit sizes. Sections may be cut from the roll and rolled or folded as you wish. Best thing is, you don’t have to worry about it cracking or falling apart on you.

◦ Sanding sticks may also be found in varying grit sizes. You can also find sanding stick kits or sanding detail kits that can remove glue or minute remains of your finishing products. Mini-belt sanding sticks or sanding belts may be used for large sanding jobs.

Wood carving is an amazing craft to develop. You could use just a handful of tools and work with small projects. Or you could use a bunch of tools, including power tools, to work on really large projects. Either way, it’s very relaxing, oftentimes exhilarating and extremely satisfying. Have fun!



wood floors

MajereR asked:

Elijah Wood gets interviewed by Dominic Monaghan, however Dom is posing as a German interviwer, and Elijah is oblivious to Dom…for a while anyway (very funny)

RANDOLPH

cklbg asked:

gimme little sign

MAJOR

Kurt J Schefken asked:


There are few things that make a home look more beautiful and add more value than wood floors. They are more popular among homeowners than flooring of stone or slate. Beautiful wood adds a lovely color and warmness a home that you do not get from any other flooring.

There is a wide variety in choices of wood flooring. You can choose anything you like, depending on your taste or the kind of decor you have chosen. Wood flooring looks good in any area of the house, except perhaps the kitchen or bathroom where there is a lot of moisture.

One of the most popular choices for wood flooring is hardwood. Hardwood is a certain kind of wood that comes from trees that are more dense than others. These include bellawood, walnut, maple, hickory, cherry and oak. You can stain hardwood to just about any color you like, or you can leave the wood in its original. There are hardwoods, like walnut or cherry that have such a rich texture that you do not even have to stain them.

After you choose the type of wood you want, you have to decide upon how you want it finished. You can purchase prefinished wood, which has been pre-stained and covered with a coating of polyurethane. It is more expensive than unfinished wood, but it saves a lot of time.

Or, you can install the wood and do the finishing yourself. In this case, you have to do the sanding, staining and finish coat such as urethane. You let dry and sand the wood between coats, so this whole procedure will take several days. If you decide to put on extra layers of polyurethane, the process will be lengthened, but you will have more protection on the wood.

Some people liked the option of reclaimed flooring, sometimes called distressed floors. These floors have their own unique character, with a rough finish that does not show every little scratch and nick as a smooth surface will.

Outside of using traditional wood flooring, you can also choose laminate flooring. These resemble hardwood and with the best laminates, you will have a hard time telling the difference between the laminate and a real hardwood floor. Such well known flooring companies like Armstrong make quality laminates. Some other choices in wood flooring are cork floors, or bamboo.

If you take care of your hardwood flooring, it will last a lifetime, no matter what you choose: real wood, laminate or one of the other choices. Caring for them is essentially the same for all of these.

Make sure you dust or vacuum your floor frequently to reduce dust and dirt. These scratch the surface which, over time will wear away at it.

Put mats down at all of the entrances. This will remove a large portion of the dust and dirt from coming into the house at all.

Dust the floor lightly when required. Use a mop that is only slightly dampened when you mop; water sitting on the surface may leak between the boards and damage the floor, which will cause warping as the backing of the floor is damaged. It may also cause mold to start growing under the floor.



wood board

blitzxp asked:

These frogs freeze completely when winter comes, entering a hibernation period. They actually stop their heartbeat, and thaw when spring comes..

red wood