Pressurized

Steam-powered robot arm for amputees

2007-12-12T01:39:00.000-08:00

No joke. Some researchers are working on the development of a new prosthetic arm that is powered by steam! The article, HERE, explains how the arm uses a catalyst to burn hydrogen peroxide and create pure steam to power it for up to 18 hours of normal use. The steam system produces ten times as much power as other prosthetics but still won't make anyone into a superhuman steampunk robot-arm having hero. Still, it's one of the coolest devices ever to run on hot water-vapor that I've ever seen. Think it will come in copper and brass finish?

The Results

2007-11-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

Great herby taste, high proof, good amount of anise, defined but not milky louche, slightly sweet, HUGE hangover. I freaking love this stuff.

La Fee Verte at Last!

2007-11-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

The still is done! At this very moment, it is slowly dripping a fine smelling Blanche Absinthe! I'm really excited to finish my first batch and try it.
So I figured rather than post a long, instructional guide to building this thing, I'd just tell you what I used and let you do the rest;

8 Quart pressure cooker from WalMart

3 feet of 1/2" OD copper tube for the outlet

10 feet of 3/8" soft copper tube for the condenser coil

A plastic bucket for the condenser reservoir

A cooking thermometer

Various copper and brass fittings

I've been lurking on homedistiller forums for weeks trying to find the best design for my needs and this is what I came up with. I'd have liked to have made it all from copper and have neat gauges and doodads but I think I'll start here and work my way towards a more steampunk version. Anyway, hope you like it.

The Green Fairy

2007-11-05T04:20:00.001-08:00

Recently, I've become enamoured with the proccess of distilling liqours and utterly fascinated by the different equipment and procedures. At some point during my investigation of ancient liquor refinery, I decided I'd try it myself. Absinthe, anyone? The proccess is really quite simple and the raw materials are not hard to find. The fabrication of the apparatus may prove a challenge but I'm fairly certain I can manage it. I've found countless drawings and sketches from old manuscripts detailing not only the construction of the still, but also the recipes and techniques for creating a genuine absinthe. Just the thought of constructing a still from copper bits and pieces, gauges, valves, etc. make me want to start now! I can't think of anyhing more steampunk than building and operating your own still.

Things found arbitrarily.

2007-11-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

I found some pretty cool stuff in my basement, including a really classy antique copper steam pressure gauge from US gauge company, a sight glass, and various copper fittings while... err... examining the cable hookup ( I still don't have cable). Anyway, it's neat stuff and I can't wait to make something cool out of it. I also happened to find a really cool venetian mask in a TJ Max store. It was only 20 bucks and it will make a really cool art project, or I could leave it the way it is. It makes me think of something Professor Moriarty might wear in some unwritten Sherlock Holmes story.

Work in progress

2007-11-02T02:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Pressurized, my steampunk culture/projects blog! I'll have something interesting up soon so check back often.