Hi; Has anyone used,seen or built anything that uses a gas or diesel engine (or PTO)to power anything like tools or pumps or anything interesting? Besides being able to use them in remote locations 3.5 - 10 horse gas motors are cheaper (to purchase not operate) than electric. I envision belt driven woodworking tools with 'more horsepower'. I guess it is like a 'step back in time' like a whole shop powered by a huge belt. Any and all comments or ideas welcome. Ourfarm

-- Ourfarm (Ourfarm@noaddress.com), October 28, 2001

Answers

The Amish in our area frequently do all the things that you talk of with gas engines. Most of them have small "cottage" industries now with various "machine shops".

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), October 28, 2001.

The welder, in Indiana who used to do our welding when we lived there, is an Amish. His whole shop was run by a Diesel generator.

-- ruby (mcfays451@aol.com), October 28, 2001.

Technology has changed since the 1800's when large machine tools were powered by belts from a common power source (steam, water and a few wind mills). With the invention of electricity, it is much more convenient (and energy conserving) and safer to use electrical wires instead of power shafts with drive belts. Many remote shops commonly use diesel or gas driven generators to power work shops.

-- Joe (CactusJoe001@AOL.com), October 29, 2001.

If you will look in industerial catalogues, such as WW Grainger or Northern Hydraulics there are charts comparing electric motors to gas engines. A one hp electric is equal to about 2 1/2 hp gas for torque deliverable; electricly driven machines are much more portable and repostionable than gas and are lower maintancewise.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 29, 2001.

hi; I understand your replys and have read the conversion charts before (I have also bought from Northern and Grainger).I was thinking more of things like larger 'weed eater' type things on wheels (before they were 'massed produced',and PTO log splitters and or grain mills,cement mixers or other 'Rube Goldberg' stuff. I am just looking for ideas and information to read :) Ourfarm

-- ourfarm (ourfarm@noaddr.com), October 29, 2001.