Saturday, March 17, 2012

Re: [papercreters] Re: MIXERS;



I would assume you are joking about the horses as the last time I checked, the price of a draft team and the collars, harnesses and other gear would cost way more than a good used pickup. And the price of hay has gone up on a scale comparable to diesel fuel.

--- On Fri, 3/16/12, Alan <rustaholic777@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Alan <rustaholic777@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [papercreters] Re: MIXERS;
To: papercreters@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, March 16, 2012, 5:49 PM

 
You seem to be forgetting the horses I mentioned.
Just a nice walk for them.
Alan

--- On Fri, 3/16/12, JayH <slurryguy@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: JayH <slurryguy@yahoo.com>
Subject: [papercreters] Re: MIXERS;
To: papercreters@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, March 16, 2012, 2:57 PM

Well, lets see if I can make it more clear.

I think the tow mixer is a great design.  It is probably the simplest mixer that can make large batches, and most anyone can scrounge together the parts to build one.  If they have the welding skills or know someone who does, it's a very practical machine.

However, I don't think it is necessarily always the best solution for every situation.  The tow mixer is probably the most energy INEFFICIENT mixer design I have ever seen.  It's a very practical easy to build design, but it leaves a lot to be desired in energy consumption.

Gasoline or Diesel fuel contain a lot of energy, however the vast majority of that energy is wasted as heat or other losses that do not help move the vehicle.
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/transportation/consumer_tips/vehicle_energy_losses.html

Of the fraction of energy that does actually make it to the wheels of a vehicle, most of that energy is used simply to move the massive weight of the vehicle, the driver, the tow mixer, and the large weight of water, paper, and cement in the mixer around.  The goal is not to take your papercrete mix on a scenic tour of the neighborhood.  I don't care how beautiful the scenery is.  Moving it around the block, or up and down the road is a big waste of energy.

The goal is to spin that mixer blade.  I would estimate that of the total energy contained in each gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel that perhaps 1% or less of that energy actually goes in to spinning the blade to mix the papercrete.

In many cases that may be okay.  Sometimes it makes sense to be energy inefficient in order be more efficient in the cost of your tools, or the complexity of your equipment.  I'm not passing judgement on tow mixers as bad.  I'm simply pointing out that they do have limitations, just like any tool does.

The more papercrete someone intends to mix, the more costly it will become in energy costs to power the mixer.  The more papercrete one makes, the more money they can save by building some type of stationary mixer where a much greater percentage of the energy is used to spin the blade instead of dragging your papercrete on a parade route for all the neighborhood to listen to that musical band playing grinding and sloshing sounds.


If someone finds themselves in an area where a gas station is a long way away, then it becomes even more important to ration the use of gasoline. 

An electric mixer suddenly starts to look like a very attractive option.  Batteries could be charged by solar, wind, hydro, a wood powered steam generator, a woodgas powered engine, or just about any other power source.

I like the idea of tow mixers.  Mike McCain came up with an excellent design that has put papercrete mixing into the hands of many average people.  That's awesome.  I simply acknowldege that it is not the only way, and in some situations, it may not always be the best way.

I'm a fan of discussing all the possible options, and letting each individual decide which option works best for his/her own situation.

I'm glad you like your tow mixer.  As long as you are happy with what it does and the cost of operating it for the amount of papercrete you are making, then I applaud your choice.  You don't need my approval or endorsement. 

If someone else is not happy with how much a tow mixer may cost them to operate in their own situation, I want them to be aware of the other options.

--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, Alan <rustaholic777@...> wrote:
>
> Sorry Jay,
> Not clear at all.
> I must say that the best option is the towable mixer.
> Whatever you drive or your team of horses can pull it.
> My tow mixer is still in pieces but it is all scattered around my property.
>  
> Alan
>
>
> --- On Thu, 3/15/12, JayH <slurryguy@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> From: JayH <slurryguy@...>
> Subject: [papercreters] Re: MIXERS;
> To: papercreters@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, March 15, 2012, 11:20 AM
>
> SNIP
>
> Clearly a battery powered mixer would have maximum advantages in an off grid situation. 
>  
> SNIP
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>




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