Mother Earth News Fair | Belton TX | Feb 20-21, 2016

“I have constructed a charcoal grinder by
recycling a child’s bicycle and a computer case.
http://imgur.com/EaMCZcE

Do you have other info on how you built that? I don’t remember seeing it in your threads.

I basically copied Gary Gilmore’s grinder as shown in this short video:

The heart of this is the 3" steel tube with pieces of railroad spikes welded on in a staggered fashion. I welded the tube to the steel sprocket on the bike, so I can crank it by hand (wearing a respirator for lung protection). Leaving the handlebars on the bike and using the computer case makes it unique. Whereas Gary uses a slanted screen of hardware cloth to remove fines, I use a frame laying flat on a wheelbarrow, and then use a brush to scrub the fines through the hardware cloth. At that time, I can remove nails and any little pieces of brown wood that didn’t get completely converted to charcoal.

5 Likes

Bump. Anyone else who wants to go, it’s getting down to the wire.

Sure wish I could go but can’t get away this time of the year :confounded:

I will try to make the Mother Earth North Carolina event this spring :blush:

I sent you an email, looking for more info on the logistics.

Well, I guess I’m in. We’ll see some of you there. No February snows this year, the year without winter. Forecast for Belton, TX 75F

2 Likes

Hello Carl,
We will be at booth #4417, which is inside. My wife wanted to attend the Fair, so she volunteered and was accepted for a 4 hour shift, and that is supposed to get her a wrist band for both days. I am looking forward to seeing/meeting the other folks from DOW. Martin’s charcoal gas powered Honda should be a hit. (It is very shiny/pretty…he did good work.)

2 Likes

Hi Ray, I’m looking forward to a great weekend. Will people be setting up Friday night? I din’t know anything about a wrist band. It will be good to see Martin again and the bike, as well as Richard from Marshall, AR. I downloaded the list of exhibitors today. It is very impressive, and long.

1 Like

Carl, I just looked in the file they sent me, and the talk is about badges. The wristband information might be for attendees? https://www.motherearthnews.com/store/product-category/mother-earth-news-fair/belton-texas-fair
We can set up in Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
http://www.motherearthnewsfair.com/wp-content/uploads/Texas-Exhibitor-Kit-2016.pdf
We are considered an Off-Stage Demonstration in the DIY area. (Do-it-Yourself) I believe Richard Craig, Alex Taylor, and Jason McBride are also going to attend, but I don’t know any details about their participation. I believe Alex is giving an on stage talk, and is bringing his lawnmower. It might be in our booth. For sure, I am bringing a charcoal making stove, and a charcoal grinder, and Martin will have the Honda. I will bring samples of raw fuel, raw charcoal, ground charcoal, and fines in sealed plastic jars, for display. (Trying to avoid making a mess…easy to do with charcoal.)

1 Like

I was just going to see if I can get away and attend the show personally. I don’t think I’ll have one of Matt’s gasifiers in time to bring and show to you guys. I really would like to see the portable saw mills demoed and go to a soap making class. My girls are not going to go cause the eldest wants to drive into town do a women’s night out the same weekend. Kind of bummed as she was the one to visit to justify the drive out there.

Glad to see several of y’all going that way you can spell each other and take in parts of the fair. I got hammered at Topeka. There was a lot of things I wanted to check out but couldn’t get away to do so

3 Likes

Somebody please take lots of pictures and videos! :blush:

2 Likes

Chris
Do you want to ship a few books to Carl to take with him?
Just a thought

2 Likes

I was going to hand out the WK flyer Chris published a while back. Books might be a hit.

2 Likes

Had a few people ask if I had them I just directed them to the website. Maybe you have yo strike while the iron is hot.
Chris did you notice any uptick after Topeka?
Just wondering

2 Likes

Carl, I’d be happy to send you some books if you want to try and sell them. Send me an email and we’ll work out the details.

Tom, honestly I don’t remember an uptick but I wasn’t really watching closely.

2 Likes

Sorry, but I just learned no sales without a Texas sales tax permit. 2 week lead time.

1 Like

That’s fine, just send them to the website.

1 Like

Good morning to all the DOW folks in Belton . Sure wish we were there with you . Please take plenty pics and videos .

Wayne :blush:

6 Likes

Carl took me for a ride in his Dakota, I’ll never be the same.

Just wish the food lines were shorter, it’s the only reason I’m on my phone :stuck_out_tongue:

7 Likes