What I am looking for is a system built from sail and wood-- easily repaired, easily made. I don't want a metal monster, no offense. My folks had a monster in TX, and one good sandstorm destroyed the fins and the top portion of the tower- very expensive to repair. The same storm destroyed all the mills in the 5 mile area. Here, we tend to get some good gales ourselves now and then, so I want something that won't be too labor- or finance-intensive to repair, but that will do the trick.

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), January 02, 2002

Answers

I but wonder what one of those TX. sandstorms would do to "sail and wood"??

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), January 02, 2002.

There was a site about an Australian set up that utilize a "wind auger" made from drums that is efficient and stable in high winds. Maybe Mr. Armstrong could direct us to the site as I lost the link with a hard drive crash. Are you familiar with it Don?

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 03, 2002.

Thanks, jrguerra- that helped. I didn't see it in the archives, either, when I searched. Just so you know, Mn doesn't get those hellacious sandstorms, and if we did, it would be easier to fix a wood and sail mill. This is just something I want to try, as cheap as it is, it can't hurt.

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), January 03, 2002.

Jay, I think I saw that wind auger with drums in the archives, I think the book on it was by Hugh Piggot, and if you go into the archives for Alt Energy, do CTRL and F, then type in his name, it should highlight that thread for you (hope that's the one you are talking about).

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), January 03, 2002.

Don't really know, I'm afraid. However, I tried a search at www.google.com with the phrase "wind power generator home-built" and there were heaps of possibilities, including a site by Piggot.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), January 03, 2002.

Here is the link to the Hugh Piggot system mentioned.

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=003T96

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 03, 2002.

I was checking out the site for Lee Valley Tools and came across a book that might interest you. The title is "Windmills and Wind Motors: How to build and run them". It was originally published in 1910. The best part is that it is only $4.50! Hope this helps. Book

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 03, 2002.