Bob Warner
KNIFE MAKER
Hey guys.
Just wanted to give you guys a little information on a project I am working on with a good friend.
One of the things I have always wanted to do is to make an impact on this planet in a positive way. I have done some things that have helped people in the past and have definitely been on the receiving end of generosity myself.
However, I have a friend that lives close by and I have worked with him in the past. We bounce ideas off each other on welding projects and other ideas, both of us playing devils advocate for the other guys ideas. In the end it works out for the best.
The guy I am talking about is Harvey Lacey. Harvey is a very artistic guy that has done some pretty outrageous projects over the years.
Harvey called me about three weeks ago to talk to me about an idea he had. Since talking about it we worked on it and shared it with others. It has now taken off in a major way and I want you guys to know about it.
There is a HUGE problem on this planet with plastic trash. There are a lot of people that are trying figure out how to help the trash problem and Harvey has an idea that he and I just proved to be viable.
The plastic problem is huge and so is the problem of third world countries and shelters for people to live in. A lot of companies are trying to find a way to provide inexpensive homes to the poorest of the poor. Harvey had the idea of compressing plastic trash into usable building blocks that could be used to build buildings.
Harvey and I worked together to build and test a hand operated machine that could be built cheap to make these plastic blocks. They could then be donated to a village in Kenya or other areas that need homes.
We decided that the plastic blocks could be compressed and then tied similar to bales of hay. These blocks could then be used to build structures if they could hold the weight of the blocks above it.
SO, we went to the local trash collection place and asked for a bunch of plastic trash. Boy did we get trash.
We loaded the machine with plastic trash and cranked the handle. The plastic smashed into an 8X8X16 block. We then tied the block with wire to keep it together. We tested the block by driving my F150 onto it. IT WORKED. We have proven that it is possible to build a usable block out of trash plastic.
The goal of course would be to allow the local people to gather their own trash plastic (Cost is zero).
Use the community machine to make their own blocks (Cost is zero)
Build their own homes with the blocks they made (Labor is zero).
These people who are mainly not working and can't afford even the simplest of homes are living in cardboard shacks because that is all they can find.
Since there are no jobs the people are not working so they have the time to gather materials, make the blocks and build the homes. Since they provide everything, there is nothing to owe to anyone. Even the kids can help gather plastic and load the machine.
Eventually there would be trade started where one guys gathers the plastic and someone else makes his bricks in exchange for enough plastic to make his own bricks.
The plastic problem in Kenya would be reduced and many people would have a place to live.
Harvey shared this idea with several people and now we have a lot of people involved. Architects, engineers, colleges, the Hunt institute and many others. We also are working with Waste Management the largest waste disposal company in the US.
This thing is taking on a life of its own and Harvey and I are amazed at the rapid rate it is moving. We are also impressed with the people that have we have supporting the concept and offering help to make it happen. One architect in Kenya has solved a huge problem with sewage and created a system that creates methane for cooking. His name is Ronald Omyonga and is a big help in this project. Feel free to search him on Google, you will be amazed a this guys accomplishments. Another (among many) is Owen Geiger who has also created a method to transform plastics into blocks but not as simply or inexpensive as what we are working on. Search Owen Geiger On the web and you will see that sustainable housing is his life's goals.
Owen is currently writing an article about this project for Mother Earth News.
After making and testing the first block we realized a few problems with our machine design and are currently rebuilding it to incorporate in some modification to make it faster and easier. This will be used with nothing but human muscle power so we need to make it as easy and efficient as possible.
Some may offer that hydraulics or electric motors would be better and they would BUT, anything shipped over there that has value will be stolen. Trash is trash, nobody wants it. The machine is only good for this application and would be secured by the community. The rest is labor and that can't be stolen.
The next thing we plan on doing after refurbishing the machine is to get enough plastic to build a 12X12 building to prove the structure will hold up. Once the structure is built we will fill the inside with dirt to the top of the first course of blocks. This will help avoid flooding in the house and it will secure the building to the ground.
There is more to do but we have a pretty good start and a pretty impressive group believing we have a great concept that can make a major difference in third world countries.
If anyone here is interested in this project, please visit www.harveylacey.com to watch the progress.
If anyone thinks they can help or knows anyone that can help, please pass this information on. The more that know about it the greater its chances of success.
As Harvey says; "We did the basic proof of the concept, now we need some smart guys to make it a reality in the world."
Here are a few photos:
Loading it with plastic
Inspecting as we crank it by hand to compress
Overall of the machine built from our scrap piles
The final block under load test
Just wanted to give you guys a little information on a project I am working on with a good friend.
One of the things I have always wanted to do is to make an impact on this planet in a positive way. I have done some things that have helped people in the past and have definitely been on the receiving end of generosity myself.
However, I have a friend that lives close by and I have worked with him in the past. We bounce ideas off each other on welding projects and other ideas, both of us playing devils advocate for the other guys ideas. In the end it works out for the best.
The guy I am talking about is Harvey Lacey. Harvey is a very artistic guy that has done some pretty outrageous projects over the years.
Harvey called me about three weeks ago to talk to me about an idea he had. Since talking about it we worked on it and shared it with others. It has now taken off in a major way and I want you guys to know about it.
There is a HUGE problem on this planet with plastic trash. There are a lot of people that are trying figure out how to help the trash problem and Harvey has an idea that he and I just proved to be viable.
The plastic problem is huge and so is the problem of third world countries and shelters for people to live in. A lot of companies are trying to find a way to provide inexpensive homes to the poorest of the poor. Harvey had the idea of compressing plastic trash into usable building blocks that could be used to build buildings.
Harvey and I worked together to build and test a hand operated machine that could be built cheap to make these plastic blocks. They could then be donated to a village in Kenya or other areas that need homes.
We decided that the plastic blocks could be compressed and then tied similar to bales of hay. These blocks could then be used to build structures if they could hold the weight of the blocks above it.
SO, we went to the local trash collection place and asked for a bunch of plastic trash. Boy did we get trash.
We loaded the machine with plastic trash and cranked the handle. The plastic smashed into an 8X8X16 block. We then tied the block with wire to keep it together. We tested the block by driving my F150 onto it. IT WORKED. We have proven that it is possible to build a usable block out of trash plastic.
The goal of course would be to allow the local people to gather their own trash plastic (Cost is zero).
Use the community machine to make their own blocks (Cost is zero)
Build their own homes with the blocks they made (Labor is zero).
These people who are mainly not working and can't afford even the simplest of homes are living in cardboard shacks because that is all they can find.
Since there are no jobs the people are not working so they have the time to gather materials, make the blocks and build the homes. Since they provide everything, there is nothing to owe to anyone. Even the kids can help gather plastic and load the machine.
Eventually there would be trade started where one guys gathers the plastic and someone else makes his bricks in exchange for enough plastic to make his own bricks.
The plastic problem in Kenya would be reduced and many people would have a place to live.
Harvey shared this idea with several people and now we have a lot of people involved. Architects, engineers, colleges, the Hunt institute and many others. We also are working with Waste Management the largest waste disposal company in the US.
This thing is taking on a life of its own and Harvey and I are amazed at the rapid rate it is moving. We are also impressed with the people that have we have supporting the concept and offering help to make it happen. One architect in Kenya has solved a huge problem with sewage and created a system that creates methane for cooking. His name is Ronald Omyonga and is a big help in this project. Feel free to search him on Google, you will be amazed a this guys accomplishments. Another (among many) is Owen Geiger who has also created a method to transform plastics into blocks but not as simply or inexpensive as what we are working on. Search Owen Geiger On the web and you will see that sustainable housing is his life's goals.
Owen is currently writing an article about this project for Mother Earth News.
After making and testing the first block we realized a few problems with our machine design and are currently rebuilding it to incorporate in some modification to make it faster and easier. This will be used with nothing but human muscle power so we need to make it as easy and efficient as possible.
Some may offer that hydraulics or electric motors would be better and they would BUT, anything shipped over there that has value will be stolen. Trash is trash, nobody wants it. The machine is only good for this application and would be secured by the community. The rest is labor and that can't be stolen.
The next thing we plan on doing after refurbishing the machine is to get enough plastic to build a 12X12 building to prove the structure will hold up. Once the structure is built we will fill the inside with dirt to the top of the first course of blocks. This will help avoid flooding in the house and it will secure the building to the ground.
There is more to do but we have a pretty good start and a pretty impressive group believing we have a great concept that can make a major difference in third world countries.
If anyone here is interested in this project, please visit www.harveylacey.com to watch the progress.
If anyone thinks they can help or knows anyone that can help, please pass this information on. The more that know about it the greater its chances of success.
As Harvey says; "We did the basic proof of the concept, now we need some smart guys to make it a reality in the world."
Here are a few photos:
Loading it with plastic
Inspecting as we crank it by hand to compress
Overall of the machine built from our scrap piles
The final block under load test
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