Consumptivity

Lindsay Publications

Hacking iron

I love this catalog. It takes DIY to a new level. Lindsay is the mother-lode for information about making your own stuff, including tools, from scratch. They publish recipes for melting metals in your backyard — and then bootstraping the metal into a lathe which can make all other tools. Now that is cool! They’ve got it all covered: Amazing shop books from the past (metal hasn’t changed much), and how-to-manuals from contemporary eccentrics who cobble together blast furnaces. They specialize in hacking metal. But why stop there? The same skills apply to hacking with chemicals, electricity, and home-made versions of big science equipment. In fact, if it is big, heavy or dangerous, Lindsay will tell you how to do it.

-- KK 04/27/05

Excerpt

Sample books:

Building Small Cupola Furnaces

"A book on home metal casting and building your own foundry."
Now here's an excellent self-published book about melting iron in a cupola. It's a bit on the expensive side, but Marshall knows what he's talking about. And the book is worth every bit the price if you're serious about melting iron. It's one of the best I've seen. There are no photos, but lots of informative drawings, and most important, lots of operational detail. In other words, you get hints and tips that can only come from someone who has done it. If you want to melt iron, you must have this. Expensive, but it delivers. Get one! 8 1/2 x 11 wire spiral binding 100 pages
No. 1442 ... $25.00

Metal Lathe

Build a 7" capacity metal cutting lathe accurate to .001". 12" between centers. 5" swing over saddle. Uses castings produced by the charcoal foundry. Cost only about $50 (fifteen years ago). Some incredible lathes have been built as a result of this classic book. You can do it, too. Detailed, proven how-to. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 softcover 128 pages
No. 177 ... $9.95

Build A Carbon Arc Torch

Put a large electrical current between a slightly separated pair of carbon electrodes and you get a 9000 F flame useful for melting metal, welding and brazing. Meador will show you how to build a carbon arc torch using wood, tubing and commonly available carbon electrodes. You really don't need much money or expertise to build an excellent working torch. You do need a source of high-amperage current such as an arc welder, or use the simple water resistor below. 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 booklet 30 pages
No. 1349 ... $6.95

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