Recommend no-power gadgets for Steam

[klingon]

Steam is moving to a place out in the wop-wops with no electricity. One of my favourite gadgets for that circumstance is my wind-up radio! Yes, I have a radio that can run off solar power, and it has a crank handle on the side so I can top it up with human-power when needed.

It also has a fluorescent light and a torch built in, but I find the fluoro light unpleasantly harsh so I only use it in emergencies.

I can't find it listed in the Maruia catalogue any more, but I did find this wind-up phone charger:
http://www.nznature.co.nz/mshop:extp...1,IT=3158#3158

They also have a solar phone charger:
http://www.nznature.co.nz/mshop:extp...1,IT=3354#3354

[Swoop]

The ultimate cordless drill.

[Blackbird]

I have a wind-up LED torch with a connector for charging a Nokia mobile phone. When my alternator failed on the south island tour last year and we needed to get from Nelson to the ferry in the dark, I taped one which Bykey Cop lent me to one of my mirror stalks to save using my headlight. Worked fine with the boys front and back riding shotgun . So impressed that I bought one for myself, ~$14 from Mitre 10. A 2 minute crank gives about 40 minutes of light.

[CookMySock]

blow up doll ? (what else would there be to do??)


DB

[Macktheknife]

Don't know where to get them from now, but hand operated pressure washer for clothes. Cost about $40-50 screw the lid on, after putting in clothes and powder, spin by handle for about 4 mins, clothes clean! Often found on boats and some campers, but haven't seen one for sale for about 2 years now, great if you can find one.

[rainman]

I have a wind-up LED torch with a connector for charging a Nokia mobile phone.

These were on special at Bunnings or Placemakers a while back, I seem to recall $7 or so. The supplied cable only fits the big Nokia connector, not the new style little ones, but that's not a huge issue as I have a spare phone with the right connection which I usually take on my travels.

Also has a built in swiss-army knife collection (well, the made in Taiwan version, anyway), and dim/bright/flash settings for the leds.

I reckon Steam is gonna have to build some bicycle powered appliances, at the very least. And there's always wind and water drive. Lots of engineering possibilities...

[Gubb]

blow up doll ? (what else would there be to do??)


DB

You plug in your girlfriend?

[gijoe1313]

I reckon we will be seeing some Heath Robinson inventions over the coming months!

Will be very cool!

[Swoop]

Don't know where to get them from now, but hand operated pressure washer for clothes.

Burnsco Marine in Westhaven.
I'm sure I have seen them in there.

[Dave-]

he'll have to get...steam...powered appliances....

[Trudes]

Deep cycle batteries were our best friends when we had a housebus, ran all our lights, radio, tv, water pump etc on them, cooked with gas and had a gas califont for hot water. There are many many gadgets that you can get that use no power to run, have a look at Burnsco or other similar places that sell camping/boating equipment. One of my fav things was this, think they sell them at Briscoes. (I see Macktheknife was describing this), oh and if you can get hold of an old wringer from an agitator washing machine and rig it up with a handle they are awesome!!

[Ocean1]

Don't know where to get them from now, but hand operated pressure washer for clothes. Cost about $40-50 screw the lid on, after putting in clothes and powder, spin by handle for about 4 mins, clothes clean! Often found on boats and some campers, but haven't seen one for sale for about 2 years now, great if you can find one.

Built one once, from a 44 Gal plastic chemical drum.

Slung it through a pair of lines run between two fence posts and wound it up like a spanish windlass.

Never did figure an elegant way to power it. Didn't really need it, but I'm a genuine lazy bastard.

[Steam]

Oh wow! It's a thread related to me!
I'm famous! Look at meeeee!

Thanks Klingon!

[deanohit]

Cast iron bathtub, bricks, a fire underneath and snow on the ground.
Great for relaxing and can be used as a boiler to wash your clothes in.

[Forest]

I personally wouldn't get him anything, since I don't think he'll make beyond the first two weeks.

But that's being uncharitable. So I recommend that he gets an LPG bottle and a cooking element.