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BOOK REVIEW: It's easier than you think with the right tools and materials. |
"This book, CD and online class was designed by Craig Mead, who studied under
Jerry Borucki for 6 years and still does. Jerry spent four decades
at NASA Ames, worked extensively with wind tunnels there and flies
a 9 foot wind generator on his sailboat, 'Alpha Wolf'. Craig designs
educational classes for firms such as Wadsworth/Thomson Learning and
has designed educational software and tools for firms such as
The University of Phoenix, AC Delco, even for NASA Astronauts!
The class covers wood selections, tensile strengths, aeronatucial
theory and design at an easy-to-follow, basic, understandable level, and shows
students how to design and carve effiencient, quiet and very
powerful wind generator airfoils. After students have carved a blade or
two they can dip into the section on advanced theory and design to
modify thier creations or try making new ones. This is a 100% hands-on
class.
The class also includes sections on designing a variety of inexpensive and robust
mounts, circuits, from simple to complex, even diagrams on desulfators
and invertors to help a home, ranch, cabin or sailboat 'go off
the grid.'
Students learn how to carve airfoils several ways, with different types
of power tools, hand tools and there are a variety of methods discussed,
including sections on designing airfoils for specific local wind conditions. The course
has wind maps of North America, Australia, the U.K. and Europe, allowing
students to custom carve their airfoil to suit local wind
conditions and get the maximum power from their airfoil.
There are also articles in the appendix from old classics on the
subject, dating back to the 1930s, that take a look at the
developments in wind generator technology and with rising oil
prices, it just might be time for you to consider one for your
home or week-end getaway!"
317 pages, including tear-out blank student work sheets and 154 images
The class is made for beginner and intermediate wood workers; no
special shop tools are required. A belt sander makes it easy,
but a simple draw knife, Japanese rasp, hand plane, a few
different sanding blocks and sand paper can produce a beautiful
airfoil; The class includes a section on creating a beautiful
finish and insuring there are no waves in the final product.
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For more information on that program, click here. |