A small example of worthwhile forward planning

[AE-NMidlands]

just don't try sucking or even licking one of those super-cold ice cubes! I can remember sticking to a back door handle once...

[Joeboy]

just don't try sucking or even licking one of those super-cold ice cubes! I can remember sticking to a back door handle once...

I was fortunate to work in Kazakhstan back in the early 90's. Really soon after they won independence. It could get down to -35 deg c.in Winter. I remember picking up a 9/16th spanner and it welded itself to my . First day there two dead when they rolled their lada niva tumbling off the elevated roads into desert and later that night wolves came in and dismembered a camp dog. Proper work experience!,

[Joeboy]

The cubes are fine as is the Icebox chilled beer n glass. The lime stuck itself to the bottom of the glass for G n T a la 9/16ths & doorknobs(cheers AE). The evaporative cooler will be here on Monday and we are off up to eye clinic tomorrow in Aiyden for the first eye. I hope to report back tomorrow night with good news, aye aye!

I just love the thought of getting my eyes done in Aiyden.

[Joeboy]

10.30 departure day, it's 40 degs in shade, interested to see how long for the freezer cubes to melt. Beercan purely for scale!





SWMBO is hunting for a decent used chest freezer for the cabin back home. Should be able to fill it with chilli's, garlic, apples, Rhubarb, plums and I am going to try to make potato cakes then freeze. Do all the prep while there is excess solar and usd it in the dead of Winter. Any space left over will go to the brine test. Apparently Santa's might be bringing me a small polytunnel if im a good boy...

[Fintray]

10.30 departure day, it's 40 degs in shade, interested to see how long for the freezer cubes to melt. Beercan purely for scale!


Apparently Santa's might be bringing me a small polytunnel if im a good boy...

Hope you took a jumper with you for when you get back.

I have one of these polytunnels and can recommend it for strength, it also has rainwater collection and sides that can be rolled up for ventilation.
https://gardentunnels.co.uk/

[Andy]

Seems I can't look at anything anymore without thinking of timeshifting energy use.

Have you looked at using the excess to kiln dry your firewood more? That would save a lot on having to evaporate the water.

[AE-NMidlands]

Seems I can't look at anything anymore without thinking of timeshifting energy use.

Have you looked at using the excess to kiln dry your firewood more? That would save a lot on having to evaporate the water.

...apart from the embodied energy of the kiln! Not sure leaving a kitchen electric oven full of wood on low (with the door open?) would go down well here...
I sense a new thread coming, with reclaimed materials (scrap storage heater parts?) to run a simple convective dryer when electrons would otherwise be wasted!

I was tempted by - but never made - a smoker from stuff I have or could have found. Loads of wood available (well, more than enough for this anyway) from fruit tree thinnings and hazel coppicing.) Maybe I will try it this winter. Rough low-temp brick Firebox, maybe just mortered with clay (It's how I bult my stoves in the garden as a kid). Length of heavy pipe. Smoking chamber of some sort, but strong enough to suspend food! Exhaust vent. Should be easy enough....
what to buy to put in it though? I tried bought smoked garlic once, not a success!
A

[Joeboy]

10.30 departure day, it's 40 degs in shade, interested to see how long for the freezer cubes to melt. Beercan purely for scale!


Apparently Santa's might be bringing me a small polytunnel if im a good boy...

Hope you took a jumper with you for when you get back.

I have one of these polytunnels and can recommend it for strength, it also has rainwater collection and sides that can be rolled up for ventilation.
https://gardentunnels.co.uk/

Thank you Fintray, bookmarked for when we buy, cheers!

6 hours later a little ice remained, amazed at that when it was 40 degs..

[Oldgreybeard]

6 hours later a little ice remained, amazed at that when it was 40 degs..

Ice has pretty poor thermal conductivity, it's why igloos and ice hotels can be reasonably comfortable and not melt very quickly with warm people inside. Ice has a thermal conductivity of around 2.0 to 2.5W/m/K, copper is around 350 to 360W/m/K, brick is around 0.6 to 1.5W/m/K, so heat won't be conducted to the cold core of a big block of ice very quickly, hence the long time it takes to melt.

[Joeboy]

6 hours later a little ice remained, amazed at that when it was 40 degs..

Ice has pretty poor thermal conductivity, it's why igloos and ice hotels can be reasonably comfortable and not melt very quickly with warm people inside. Ice has a thermal conductivity of around 2.0 to 2.5W/m/K, copper is around 350 to 360W/m/K, brick is around 0.6 to 1.5W/m/K, so heat won't be conducted to the cold core of a big block of ice very quickly, hence the long time it takes to melt.

Thank you, I can see why ice blocks were such big business pre refrigeration, very effective.