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When Lethal Weapons Grew on Trees

While manufacturing modern firearms and bullets depends on a global supply chain and fossil fuels, bows and arrows can be made anywhere out of anything, using only human power and simple hand tools.

Long-arrows

Continue reading "When Lethal Weapons Grew on Trees" »

Posted on November 23, 2022 at 11:55 AM in Cover story, Craftsmanship, DIY, Weapons, Wood, Zero emissions | Permalink | Comments (7)

How to Build a Practical Household Bike Generator

We built a pedal-powered generator and controller, which is practical to use as an energy source and exercise machine in a household — and which you can integrate into a solar PV system. We provide detailed plans to build your own, using basic skills and common hand tools.

Bike-generator-living-room

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Posted on March 07, 2022 at 02:20 AM in Bicycles, Cover story, Energy, Energy production, Human powered machines, Low-tech solutions | Permalink | Comments (26)

The Revenge of the Hot Water Bottle

Imagine a personal heating system that works indoors as well as outdoors, can be taken anywhere, requires little energy, and is independent of any infrastructure. It exists – and is hundreds of years old. The hot water bottle could save a great deal of energy and money without sacrificing thermal comfort.

Hot-water-bottles-bar-terrace

Hot water bottles work both indoors and outdoors. Illustration: Marie Verdeil.

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Posted on January 21, 2022 at 10:50 AM in Cooling, Cover story, Heating, History | Permalink | Comments (65)

The Printed Website: Volume III & The Comments

The printed archives of Low-tech Magazine now amount to four volumes with a total of 2,398 pages and 709 images. All books are printed on demand. 

All-four-books

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Posted on December 02, 2021 at 11:17 PM in Access to information, Books & References, Cover story | Permalink | Comments (11)

Fascine Mattresses: Basketry Gone Wild

Around the 17th century, the Dutch started reinforcing their dykes and harbours with sturdy mats the size of football pitches – hand-woven from thousands of twigs grown on nearby coppice plantations. These “fascine mattresses” were weighted with rocks and sunk into canals, estuaries, and rivers.

Zinkstuk1

This article contains many images and would be a 12.1 MB download from this website. Therefore, I kindly invite you to read the article on our solar powered website, where it has been compressed to 1.90 MB.

Posted on November 04, 2021 at 07:50 PM in Basketry, Coppicing, Cover story, Water management, Wood, Zero emissions | Permalink | Comments (14)

How to Build a Low-tech Solar Panel?

George Cove, a forgotten solar power pioneer, may have built a highly efficient photovoltaic panel 40 years before Bell Labs engineers invented silicon cells. If proven to work, his design could lead to less complex and more sustainable solar panels.

COVE-1910

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Posted on October 06, 2021 at 12:12 PM in Cover story, Energy production, History, Low-tech solutions, Solar energy, Solar powered machines | Permalink | Comments (12)

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Recent Posts

  • Can We Make Bicycles Sustainable Again?
  • What if We Replace Guns and Bullets with Bows and Arrows?
  • When Lethal Weapons Grew on Trees
  • How to Build a Practical Household Bike Generator
  • The Revenge of the Hot Water Bottle
  • The Printed Website: Volume III & The Comments
  • Fascine Mattresses: Basketry Gone Wild
  • How to Build a Low-tech Solar Panel?
  • How to design a sailing ship for the 21st century?

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