Edward Lye

Douglas Alpenstock wrote: Ceramic works, but any sharpener using ceramics will load up with metal over time and stop cutting.  

Agreed. I have a Kyocera ceramic plate about 4 inches by 3 inches.
They don't make/sell this anymore . . . like Tullen Snips. One of
my treasures.

As soon as you rub any metal across the surface, it darkens which shows
how effective it is. Diamond doesn't show that. I mostly use it to sharpen
penknives and sewing needles.

OK, here is my trick. I use a pencil rubber to clean it. It whitens up showing
that it is effective.

I collected defective computer chips before I retired. But these were stamp sized.
White, thin and fragile. I gave them away to my sisters-in-laws to sharpen
their sewing needles.

I use "Artificial Bark" if I don't have enough of the real thing
as firestarters or to relight a fire.

Not exactly homemade but willfully repurposed.

The cardboard rolls can be huge - from construction sites or textile
shops. I cut them into rings with a jigsaw. I then step on then to
encourage them to delaminate.

Sometimes I melt some candle wax (spilt wax from my Catholic Church)
and soak strands of discarded mop in it.

At a pinch I might use shredded newspaper but the ones in this
family photo are preferred as they maintain their shape, do not
substantially block airflow, present a large surface area and are
completely dry while sometimes containing a bit of oil.  

They flame readily once in contact with a glowing coal.

Also, wood shavings from a plane or drawknife fit the bill.

The hose and slipper cracked me up.

For more, see the rest on the channel.

I never thought this would be possible in my lifetime - a gyro runway measured in inches!

It is probably North of 200 grand.

M Ljin wrote:With all this talk of flying cars, why not bring up hot air balloons too?

PSA hot air balloons are counter-intuitive as was the case with
        Chrysler's turbine engine.

I wouldn't suggest this unless I can understand this video.

This gyro doesn't need a runway. First time I have come across this BUT
you need a quarter of a million dollars.

gyrocopter

Les Frijo wrote:I wonder if an aircar might work for you....

Gyrocopters/gyroplanes. I would go for this James Bondian contraption.

If the wind is just right, you are stationary in the air just like the
Antonov AN-2 and might even "fly" backwards.

jason holdstock wrote:

I bought a land cruiser for work in about 2007.  

If I bought a new car in Europe today it is loaded with electric stuff I do not want or need, lights and beeps to distract, all adding complexity, weight and cost. A warning light will be a fail at the annual inspection, Dealer required, simple cheap fixes are not in their vocabulary.

Why aren't there small efficient light simple cheap vehicles being made?

My answers in order.

Most bad guys/terrorists in movies seem to predominantly drive Toyota Land Cruisers.
They know something.

Modern car makers are not your friends:



Tightened Government regulations over emissions and safety muscle out small cars: