Manic Moment

I've been a little manic lately and therefore very lax in my blog. I've been working on several projects but haven't finished any as we're always short on funds. I only nickel and penny (I can't afford to dime) my projects so as not to put a strain on the bank account and thus on my family. I have done HOURS of research on everything I have an interest in though.

A list of my projects:

1) Started a VERY large project first. I'm planning on making a metal shop - completely by hand, myself. I have the furnace done, finally, and have melted my first batch of aluminum. The idea is to melt aluminum to create the parts of the machinery to make other parts for other machines. I've got the first step almost finished, I just need help welding some things from my father (retired master welder) to finish the first step. Then more money is involved for the sand casting.

2) I'm changing our diet/saving money. I ordered a grain mill (which should be here any day) to grind corn, wheat, rye, and barley for homemade... well, everything.

3) Another project I'm interested in starting goes hand in hand with the grain mill. I'm looking to make an alcohol still. Not for drinking but for fuel. I have collected the data to apply for a licensed and found out that if I want to make methanol I don't need a licensed. I may get one just to have it. Now to make the still, which I have several plans for but again, little funding.

4) To coincide with the still, after a period of time I would like to either save for a cheap car or to convert our current car to run on the alcohol I'll be making.

5) I have to build a shed for the machine shop so I have multiple plans ready. Now I need to decide which one will work best for me.

6) If I plan on getting the alcohol license I will need to build a special shed for the "processing plant" and storage.

7) I would like to make a solar water heater. Have plans and am very interested.

8) I want to work on the wood burning heater in the basement and modify it for multiple purposes.

9) I also want to buy an old diesel car to convert to biodiesel. I've started getting containers for the waste vegetable oil and made a sample batch of biodiesel.

10) Looked into many different forms of alternate energy and would like to "experiment" with them to see how well they work. This is a back burner (very back) project.

If there are any other things I can't think of them at the moment. If I think of them later I'll restart the list.


I say I've been manic as my insomnia has come back with vengeance. I'm not sure which one facilitates the other: am I manic because I can't sleep or can I not sleep because I'm manic and can't let my mind rest?

That's what I've been up to. How about you?

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