After solar.

[Mattb4]

Help others plan and design their system, or take up fishkeeping, model trains etc etc

On a whim last month I bought a drone from China. Once the weather improves I am going to try my hand at using it. I took it out a day back and checked it all out and could not help pushing the take off button. Lots of wind out and it drove it into the side of my house and it folded back in one of the rotors which shut it down. Nothing appears broke luckily.

Not really sure I can master using it I think you have to be young. But it only cost me ~$20.

 

[Brucey]

The smaller drones are very much affected by wind. Would advise starting out in milder conditions

 

[Crowz]

I spent over $1000 on a dji 4k drone and never fly it anymore since you basically have to have a pilot license to get anything out of it. You can't even post videos you make with it without the license which is the same one a pilot has for the most part. Ridiculous.

 

[Flunkyboi]

Got you one more solar project for you.

Several years ago, I home built a little 6x10 teardrop travel trailer. Loved that thing for impromptu "Hey, let's hit a new state park Friday after work." Basically a rolling sleeper. It had AC and electric heat. DVDs on a big laptop. Check tires, throw in a suitcase, groceries and go.

I note lately there are some pretty nice flexible solar panels that are made to adhere to curved surfaces....

 

[PVGeezer]

Learn to fly. Buy an experimental airplane and learn how to maintain it. Or, if you REALLY want a time consuming hobby get a kit and build one yourself. There's nothing more fun you can do outside the bedroom than flying (or more expensive).

 

[Sweet Tatorman]

Do you enjoy really high quality coffee? If so, learn to roast your own. If you are DIY handy, designing and building your own coffee roaster is a plus. I am a person of modest means but I take satisfaction in knowing that my morning coffee is on par with the best that anyone, anywhere, is drinking. The rest of the day could turn to shit but it would have started on a positive note.

 

[fuzzmunky415]

Reverse Osmosis machines love sucking you solar power.

Then the 700 Watt distiller after....

 

[supersignman]

I've seriously considered turning an air-cooled VW Beetle into an electric car to use the excess solar I produce. From what I've researched, early VW's are the best conversion vehicles. They make complete kits to swap in an electric motor for the air cooled rear engine and it utilizes the original manual transmission which is in front of the transaxle. In addition to being very lightweight, they had manual steering & manual brakes so you don't have to deal with powering them from the electric motor. The other advantage is they would always be registered as a gasoline powered car so you wouldn't have to deal with any extra DMV fees for an electric vehicle. If you had the cash, a VW bus would be great for a conversion, but they aren't cheap any more. Actually, a decent bug will probably set you back at least $5K. I remember when they were a dime a dozen.

 

[fuzzmunky415]

Do you enjoy really high quality coffee? If so, learn to roast your own. If you are DIY handy, designing and building your own coffee roaster is a plus. I am a person of modest means but I take satisfaction in knowing that my morning coffee is on par with the best that anyone, anywhere, is drinking. The rest of the day could turn to shit but it would have started on a positive note.

I knew there was a reason I like you beyond your username. Been roasting since 2000, when I stumbled upon Coffeegeek and built my first roaster, ordered beans from Sweet Maria's and tasted first-hand, the famous Ethiopian Harrar MAO Horse in that same crop year:

Ethiopian Harrar "Horse" by Sweet Maria's Coffee Review | CoffeeReview.com

Tremendous but balanced range and dimension. The acidity is full... 89 points. Read the complete review at CoffeeReview.com.

www.coffeereview.com

Pics of this grower/producer:

https://library.sweetmarias.com/ethiopia-harar-and-dire-dawa/

Nothing compared to the revelation that crossed my lips, and I was down the rabbit hole for good. Money was no object, driven by palate.

 

[bolhuijo]

I took up homebrewing for awhile, but then I forgot how to drive...

 

[ctid]

Whole grain Homebrewing. There's nothing more satisfying than enjoying an IPA that you have made yourself. If you have a garden, couple it with cultivating hops. It is almost as satisfying as free electricity and you will need to upgrade your system if you use an electric boiler, so the solar journey also continues!

 

[Sweet Tatorman]

I knew there was a reason I like you beyond your username. Been roasting since 2000, when I stumbled upon Coffeegeek and built my first roaster, ordered beans from Sweet Maria's and tasted first-hand, the famous Ethiopian Harrar MAO Horse in that same crop year:

Ethiopian Harrar "Horse" by Sweet Maria's Coffee Review | CoffeeReview.com

Tremendous but balanced range and dimension. The acidity is full... 89 points. Read the complete review at CoffeeReview.com.

www.coffeereview.com

Pics of this grower/producer:

https://library.sweetmarias.com/ethiopia-harar-and-dire-dawa/

Nothing compared to the revelation that crossed my lips, and I was down the rabbit hole for good. Money was no object, driven by palate.

We started about the same time, probably 2002 for me. Sweetmarias is also my go to source for greens.

 

[ScrodusGargleRotten]

I find myself about as far as I can go with my solar hobby. The home is powered, the equipment works, and sufficient backup is in place. I need a new hobby to while away the day. Solar was great for a few years of activity, shopping, building and learning. Hard to think of something that would provide as much entertainment. Pretty much have hit the major hobbies through the years already so the potential pool of things is sparse.

Any of you Post Solar folks with any suggestions?

Esp32 programing

You can do wonderful things!

 

[Zwy]

Funny you should mention making sugar. A local person I know of harvested around 10 gallons of tree squeezings last week and is now processing it into syrup. I think he said he would get a couple of quarts of it. Once he does he is throwing a family get together where the syrup can be consumed.

Somewhat limited time for when the sap rises in the trees. Several hardwoods besides maple will produce liquid that can be boiled down into syrup. I suppose it could be further concentrated into a sugar material.

I thought about it, the local Mennonite hardware store has pails hanging from the maples. The electricity used will be excess.

Either that or a still.

 

[fuzzmunky415]

We started about the same time, probably 2002 for me. Sweetmarias is also my go to source for greens.

Built Stir Crazy/Turbo Oven as my first roaster...it worked, but of course we're all about controls and thermocouples these days. Pull shots on a Vibiemme Double Domo, Mahlkonig K30 grinder, and when I want to tweak flow rates/pressure I pull on a Flair 58....lots to play and experience.

 

[sumpower]

Build a composite boat and go fishing!? Add solar to the boat! Is there life without adding more solar?

Glacier Boats of Alaska

Your source of boat building plans for building your own commercial or serious recreational offshore boat. Build the boat of your dreams now, the Great Alaska by Glacier Boats of Alaska! Or go all the way and build the Kodiak Model of the Great Alaskan! This DIY Do it yourself set of plans is...

www.glacierboats.com

Tolman skiffs?

 

[Zwy]

I never run out of projects or hobbies. Street rods, rat rods, I have a really nice boat (actually 3 boats), tons of ice fishing gear, a truck camper, an electric bike, too many guns (full time job cleaning them), and a host of other things.

I never worry about what I will be doing next. I can always hook up the boat and go fishing, take the wife on a trip, load up the bikes and head to a trail we haven't rode yet or just go cruising in a street rod or rat rod.

 

[grebaba]

I enjoy building my own firearms and shooting on my 1000 meter range.
Greg

 

[Zwy]

Build a composite boat and go fishing!? Add solar to the boat! Is there life without adding more solar?

Glacier Boats of Alaska

Your source of boat building plans for building your own commercial or serious recreational offshore boat. Build the boat of your dreams now, the Great Alaska by Glacier Boats of Alaska! Or go all the way and build the Kodiak Model of the Great Alaskan! This DIY Do it yourself set of plans is...

www.glacierboats.com

Tolman skiffs?

Ice boats are the best, I locked myself in the shop 25 years ago and built one.

Post in thread 'What was your most interesting recent non solar project?'

Mar 22, 2024

My whole life has been one giant project. My wife says I always have projects.

Remodeled a few houses, built a few buildings, camper mods, build just about anything from scratch. Life is about the experience and taking advantage of the ability to do whatever you want. Here a few projects ranging from an ice boat to remodeling the shower in my truck camper.

• Zwy

• 

 

[Danke]

Become a Lion Tamer.

 

[Fisherguy66]

Back around 2010 I had myself a small mill. It is indeed a great hobby though with time I pretty much run out of things to use it for. I sold it for not much less than I purchased it for back a decade ago. I think you will really enjoy it if you go ahead and get yourself one. If I did it again I likely would use an electric motor rather than a gas engine.

Thats awesome, yea if you keep them in good shape they pretty much sell for what you bought em for. I'm goin gas for simplicity. I'm retired now so looking for ways to supplement some income. I figure selling wood might be profitable with all these new tarriffs.

I like the canopy idea to protect it but might limit the ability to drop logs on the mill with the excavator.

 

[OzSolar]

I get it. In between multiday river trips on the Buffalo, Kings and the many rivers in SE MO I've been enjoying my bottom of the line smoker a lot lately. It's electric and most of what I've been making is yummy. The occasional fails are chalked up to experiments and don't take away from my enjoyment of it at all.

Masterbuilt 30 in. Digital Electric Smoker in Black MB20070421 - The Home Depot

Make a stunning and adorable addition in your kitchen space with the selection of this inexpensive Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker in Black.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Flunkyboi]

I get it. In between multiday river trips on the Buffalo, Kings and the many rivers in SE MO I've been enjoying my bottom of the line smoker a lot lately. It's electric and most of what I've been making is yummy. The occasional fails are chalked up to experiments and don't take away from my enjoyment of it at all.

Masterbuilt 30 in. Digital Electric Smoker in Black MB20070421 - The Home Depot

Make a stunning and adorable addition in your kitchen space with the selection of this inexpensive Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker in Black.

www.homedepot.com

I'm in the South, so I gravitated to bass fishing in my young life. Married, raised kids and I just let that fall away, aside from taking the kids. About 15 years ago, I screwed up and carried some light tackle on an outfitted kayak drift. That was like six fishing kayaks ago. It still gives me a rush every single time I shove off from a bank or beach. I feel ten years old again. I'm not kidding.

 

[42OhmsPA]

I get it. In between multiday river trips on the Buffalo, Kings and the many rivers in SE MO I've been enjoying my bottom of the line smoker a lot lately. It's electric and most of what I've been making is yummy. The occasional fails are chalked up to experiments and don't take away from my enjoyment of it at all.

Masterbuilt 30 in. Digital Electric Smoker in Black MB20070421 - The Home Depot

Make a stunning and adorable addition in your kitchen space with the selection of this inexpensive Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker in Black.

www.homedepot.com

If you haven't already, you need to make these.

Dutch's "Wicked Baked Beans"

WICKED BAKED BEANS (Beans that will even make Chili Heads happy) 6-8 strips of bacon cut into 1/2 inch squares 1/2 Medium onion, diced 1/2 Bell pepper, diced 1 - 2 Jalapeno Peppers, diced (seeding is optional) 1 - 55 ounce can Bushs Baked Beans 1-8 ounce can of pineapple chunks, drained...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[BDMN72]

DIY nuclear reactor with steam generator to power your neighborhood?