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06-21-2025, 08:51 PM #9931

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Home » Project Gallery » Free Plans » By Tools » Kreg Jig
DIY Bathroom Mirror Storage Case
By Shanty2Chic
Posted onFebruary 14, 2014
136 Comments
DIY Cubby Storage Desk
Free Woodworking Plans • DIY Rolling Storage Ottoman
DIY Bathroom Vanity
DIY Farmhouse Storage Mirror and YouTube Video Tutorial
DIY Floating Storage Nightstand
DIY Farmhouse Bathroom Vanity
DIY Storage Cubby
DIY Closet Storage • Towers
I am just slightly excited about this DIY Bathroom Mirror Storage Case I am sharing today. Ok, just kidding. I’m giddy! I shared a little sneak peek on INSTAGRAM last week, and I am so happy to finally reveal the whole thing! I have imagined it in my head, and the results are even better than I was hoping. I have always wanted a full length mirror. It makes checking out the final outfit before heading out the door so much easier than using the reflection of my glass shower door or my blank computer screen 😉 I thought it would be so great to add some function to this new mirror. May as well kill two birds with one stone! I decided to build a big storage case behind the mirror to hold all my goodies and I am LOVING the results! Here is how it turned out!

How fun is that guys? Who doesn’t love a some beautiful function in their bathroom?? I DO! I will walk you through the entire build below, and you can also download the FREE printable plans HERE or by clicking the button below!
Let’s get started!
DIY Farmhouse Storage Mirror and YouTube Video Tutorial
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DIY Full Length Mirror!
12
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DIY Floating Desk with Storage
39
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83
DIY Farmhouse Bathroom Vanity
18
DIY Bathroom Vanity
38
DIY Closet Storage • Towers
89
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27
Pantry Ideas • DIY Canned Food Storage
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DIY Cubby Storage Desk
21
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13
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15
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61
DIY Storage Cubby
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DIY Mirror • Pallet Art
12
DIY Wooden MIrror
44
DIY Utility Storage Cabinet
65
DIY Pub Mirror
30
DIY Bathroom Mirror Storage Case – Supply List
2 – 1 x 6 x 8 pine or whitewood boards
4 – 1 x 4 x 8 pine or whitewood boards
1/4″ hardwood plywood cut to 19″ x 63″
Full Length beveled mirror (found at Home Depot)
3M Stainable Wood Filler
ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape
3M Advanced Abrasives 120 grit sanding paper
3m safety glasses4 decorative hinges1 pull or knobmagnet closures
wood stain of your color choice
I bought all the supplies and wood for this project for under $100.
DIY Bathroom Mirror Storage Case – mirror door
I started by building out the mirrored door. I used this great mirror I found at Home Depot for $25. I love it because it is beveled and it’s also a great quality mirror. It won’t give you the whole clown house distorted view when you look into it as some of the cheaper full length mirrors will. This project is done off the specs of this mirror. If you choose to use a different one, you will need to fix your measurements to fit it.

I started with my 1×4 hardwood plywood back. I had the nice guys at Home Depot cut mine down for me.

Next, I cut my wood for the frame. I used 1×4 pine boards for this part. You can also use whitewood to save money, but make sure it is straight! Watch our How to Use a Miter Saw video HERE!


Next, I used my Kreg Jig to make 3/4″ pocket holes in each end of my 16″ pieces.


Check out our How to Use a Kreg Jig Video HERE
DIY Bathroom Mirror Storage Case – Sanding
Before attaching all of my pieces I like to use a sanding pad to quickly remove the splinters on the edges. This paper works great because I can keep it in my pocket and pull it out as I need it quickly… Perfect before attaching your boards!


I attached my 16″ pieces to my 67″ pieces using 1.25″ pocket hole screws.

After attaching both ends, my frame looked like this…

Next, I added some wood glue to the frame and attached it down on my 1/4″ hardwood plywood.

I used my Ryobi cordless stapler to attach it from the back.

After building out the door, I moved onto the frame of the case.For this part, I used 1×6 pine boards. I cut two pieces at 23 1/8″ and two pieces at 68 3/4″. Again, I added 3/4″ pocket holes to my shorter boards.

I used my Kreg Right Angle Clamp to hold everything together while I attached it using 1.25″ pocket hole screws.


Next, I added my top and bottom braces. These were the same length as my shelf pieces, so I cut seven 1×4 pieces at 23 1/8″ each.

These will be used to attach the cabinet to the wall. You can see here where I added pocket holes to these boards before I attached them. This is a shot of the back. These brace pieces will sit flush with the back of the cabinet.

Now, it should look a bit like this…

DIY Bathroom Mirror Storage Case – Time for the shelves!
I added 3/4″ pocket holes to each piece. You can attach yours wherever you would like, but here is where I attached mine for your reference.

Before moving on, I filled all of my pocket holes with wood filler.

I filled each hole and then used a scraper to flatten it out.

This wood filler is stainable, and I prefer using it over the plugs on holes like these. This covers them well enough, and it’s also very easy to do. Once the putty dries, I use the sanding pad to go back over it again.

That’s it for the build!
I stopped here and stained everything using Varathane stain from Home Depot in Dark Walnut. I love this stuff!
After the stain completely dried, I attached my mirror to the door. I used this mirror adhesive I found at Home Depot to attach it. I just ran a thin bead on the back side of the mirror all around. Then, I laid it on the door and used tape to hold everything in place.

My final step was attaching it to the wall. I used a stud finder to find my studs in the wall and marked on my frame where the studs would be. I then used 3″ torx or wood screws to go through my braces and into the wall attaching to the stud. I did pre drill before going through the brace pieces to keep the wood from splitting.

I also added 2 to the bottom brace piece.

I made sure everything was level before attaching the door…

To attach my door, I used two clamps to hold the door in place while I added my hinges. I attached the hinges to the door first and then the frame.

DIY Bathroom Mirror Storage Case – Hinges
How cute are these hinges I found at Home Depot!

My final step was adding some magnet closures and my pull to the front. These just screw into place… Super easy!


And here she is all finished up!

A little shot of the goodness inside…

I used 3m Command strip hooks to hold my rubber bands and also for my curling and flat iron below.

And these are those great SnapWare containers I use in my pantry for this shelf! These are great because they won’t break if they ever do get dropped. 5 kids… It could happen 😉

What do you think??


I personally LOVE everything about it! I finally have a full length mirror, and a ton of storage at the same time. Can’t beat it! I would LOVE for you to share and PIN my storage case with all your friends!
Happy Building!
DIY Bathroom Mirror Storage Case - Shanty 2 ChicIf you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-21-2025, 09:04 PM #9932
Using A Solar Yard Lights In A Power Outage
- Home
- Emergency Preparedness
- Using A Solar Yard Lights In A Power Outage

Melissa Francis
March 19, 2014
Emergency Preparedness, Household Tips
lighting, lights, power outage
Using A Solar Yard Lights In A Power Outage
Sometimes a simple tip can be amazing tool like using a solar yard lights in a power outage that lasts for days. Solar yard lights recharge by collecting energy from the sun and releasing it in the evening so they can be placed in a window sill each day. The great thing is solar yard lights are sold in multiple packs so be enough for an average sized family.
Ever Never Again
Click here to read about using a solar yard lights in a power outage:
http://everneveragain.blogspot.com/2013/09/be-prepared.html
Ever Never Again
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Posted by Haley @ Ever Never Again September 12, 2013
Be Prepared!
Well, just when you think you are going to settle in to "normal," there's a natural disaster to keep things interesting terrifying. It's still raining here, and many of our friends have been either been evacuated, lost power, or lost drinking water. It's pretty crazy here. We are thankful to be safe so far. Being in an emergency does give you the chance to make sure you are prepared for the next one.
Here's an idea I had this summer that we are putting to use here today. I bought some solar yard lights at the dollar store and they have worked fabulously in the yard all summer. I bought an extra set to save for power outages. (When I say save I mean I just didn't pull out the plastic tab that makes it start working until today). I filled a few short jars with beans (which I had left over from the sensory bin). Sand or rice would also work well. If it's not a 24 hour downpour, you can set them outside to charge during the day. I had to just put ours in the window, they still charged.

At night when it's dark you have a night light that's safe to leave on while you sleep. Thing One felt much better knowing he'd have a night light even if the power was out. These are so much safer to have around kids than candles!

Here's the link to the Red Cross's flood preparedness list. They also have other emergency preparedness lists. Check them out and be ready for anything! I have to admit I'm kind of hyper prepared when it comes to disasters. But I honestly couldn't have even imagined this scenario. There are so many creeks in our town literally everything is cut off. Depending on where you live, all the roads are closed. Emergency personnel has asked everyone to stay off the roads. There's no running out to the grocery store, or home improvement stores....we had to already have everything we need to ride out this storm. That's what being prepared is about. Be safe, and be dry Colorado friends!
Labels: new uses
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Posted by Haley @ Ever Never Again August 03, 2016
Rio 2016: Opening Ceremonies
If you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-21-2025, 09:17 PM #9933If you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-21-2025, 10:11 PM #9934

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How To Test Your Soil pH Without a Kit

Melissa Francis
March 19, 2014
Gardening
dirt, garden, ph levels, Soil, test,testing ph
How To Test Your Soil pH Without a Kit

There are a couple different methods of how to test your soil ph without a kit such as the Cabbage Water method and the Vinegar & Baking Soda method. Finding out if you garden soil is alkaline or acidic will help impact which type of fruits and vegetables to grow or how much soil amendments will need to be added to create healthy soil.
Click here to read Preparedness Mama’s How To Test Your Soil pH Without a Kit:
http://preparednessmama.com/testing-...without-a-kit/
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Using A Solar Yard Lights In A Power Outage
How To Test Your Soil pH Without a Kit - The Homestead SurvivalIf you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-21-2025, 10:25 PM #9935PreparednessMama
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Home » Blog » Testing Your Soil pH Without a Kit
Testing Your Soil pH Without a Kit
By Gabriela on January 23, 2024 *
I’m always looking for quick tips to make my gardening chores easier. I ran across a couple of gardening hacks about testing your soil pH without a kit and I thought I would try them out and see what I need to do with my garden. Let’s do a little kitchen chemistry!
►Videos at the page link
You can measure your pH level by pouring white vinegar over a couple of teaspoons of soil. If it does not fizz, then you can turn a couple of teaspoons of soil into a mud mixture and pour baking soda over it. You can also use red cabbage by simmering it with water, straining the blue/purple juice, and pouring a couple of teaspoons of soil into the juice. The color will give you a good idea of your soil’s pH level.
Read on for a more in-depth explanation of how to use household items to determine your soil’s needs.

But first…
Why Should You Care if Your Soil Is Alkaline or Acidic?
Knowing your soil pH is the key to understanding if essential minerals will be available to the roots of your plants. You will also know which soil “amendments” are best for your garden (Here are the whys and the hows of improving soil structure, in short: 4 Reasons to Improve Garden Soil.)
What’s more, you will be able to determine if all the hard work you put in your yard or garden pays off. For instance, if the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, nutrients will have a hard time dissolving in water and reaching plants’ root systems.
As a result, plants outside the range for a particular crop will struggle and stress out, leading to poor harvest from one year to another. Most beginner gardeners will try to fix the issue by applying store-bought chemical fertilizers in a desperate bid to address what they believe is just a nutrient deficiency.
However, improper soil pH affects not just nutrient availability in soil but also vegetable crops to absorb the nutrients already present in the soil. So, instead of recklessly applying fertilizers to fix the issue and potentially causing fertilizer burn and other problems while you’re at it, measure the soil’s pH first to see whether that is the real issue.
So, a quick amendment to achieve the best soil pH for your plants and seeds to thrive can be added just in time.
Plus, fungi are less likely to affects your plants if the soil is alkaline and dry enough (below pH 4.5, expect plenty of fungal issues). Soil is too acidic under pH 7 and too alkaline above pH 7. Most plants thrive in slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5 to 7) so reaching a balance is of the essence in gardening matters too.
So, testing your garden’s soil pH is critical for the well-being of your plants in the long run. You’ll need to consider not only soil pH but soil texture as well (a no-fuss DIY method to determining the soil’s texture is the “mason jar test.“) But soil pH is the critical indicator of the health status of a garden.
The pH of your soil will determine which plants grow better in your garden and which ones will struggle (without amendments).
According to The San Francisco Chronicle,If you live in an area with alkaline soil — which has a pH above 7.0 — you have two options. You can either take measures to lower the pH, or you can choose plants well-suited to growing in alkaline conditions. If you take the latter path, you have a wide variety of plants to choose from.”
The pH scale courtesy of www.chesapeakquarterly.netYou can lower the alkalinity of your soil by adding organic materials like pine needles, peat moss, and composted leaves. You should always make small changes, over time -so make your soil amendments and wait for it to work before making any more.
According to the article, Your Garden’s Soil, in Mother Earth News, “Raising the organic matter content of the soil will usually move the pH of both acidic and alkaline soils toward the neutral range. This is because organic matter plays a buffering role, protecting soil from becoming overly acidic or alkaline.
Finished compost usually has a near-neutral pH, so regular infusions of compost should be the primary method you use to improve the soil with extreme pH issues. If your pH readings are only slightly acidic or slightly alkaline, compost and organic mulches may be the only amendments you need to keep your crops happy and your garden growing well.”Learn two homemade soil pH testing methods#1 – You Can Test Your Garden Soil pH with Vinegar and Baking Soda
Fortunately, you can test your garden soil pH without a soil test kit for a fraction of the price. Collect 1 cup of soil from different parts of your garden and put 2 spoonfuls into separate containers. Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the soil. If it fizzes, you have alkaline soil, with a pH between 7 and 8.
If your soil doesn’t react at all it is neutral with a pH of 7 and you are very lucky!

If it doesn’t fizz after doing the vinegar test, then add distilled water to the other container until 2 teaspoons of soil are muddy. Add 1/2 cup baking soda. If it fizzes you have acidic soil, most likely with a pH between 5 and 6.
This test was fun to do. After I added the vinegar there was no reaction in my bowl and I thought my kitchen science experiment didn’t work.
Then I added distilled water to another bowl of soil and poured on just a sprinkling of baking soda. Instant fizz! So much fizz that I could see it immediately and hear it working. There’s no doubt – I have acidic soil in my new garden.
#2 – You Can Do a Red Cabbage Water pH Test at Home
Measure 2 cups of distilled water into a saucepan. Cut up and add 4-6 red cabbage leaves. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow it to sit for up to 30 minutes.
Strain off the liquid – which will be purple/blue. This will have a neutral pH of 7.

To test: Add 2 teaspoons of garden soil to a jar and a few inches of cabbage water. Stir and wait for 20-30 minutes. Check the color. If it turns reddish/pink, your soil is acidic. If it is sea blue/ yellow-green, your soil is alkaline. Neutral soil is usually purplish/blue.
Don’t add too much soil to each jar as the cabbage juice may turn grayish-black and you’ll need to redo the test. Here’s a chart with what colors you should expect for each pH reading.
Red cabbage juice pH indicator colors (Photo courtesy of anishsbioblog.wordpress.com)
Important Notes Before You Start Off
- Why is it important to use red cabbage in this test? Unlike white cabbage, red cabbage contains a coloring compound, anthocyanin, which turns yellowish green when in a basic (alkaline) environment (pH > 7.0) and reddish pink when in an acidic environment (pH < 7).
- You can use the red cabbage pH test to test your tap water hardness. Hard water is usually alkaline (pH 8 or more) due to the minerals in it. That’s why it is critical to perform the cabbage soil test with distilled water, which has a neutral pH.
- Tap water or well water may be too alkaline while rain water may be too acidic (it usually stands at 5.6 pH) for this DIY soil pH test.
- Before you start testing the soil, you can test the pH of various ingredients around the house and garden in small cups to see which color is associated with which pH number: Egg white has pH 8, baking soda (1 tsp) has pH 8.4, black tea – pH 4.9, cow’s milk 6.5 – 6.7 pH (depending on how it’s treated), potatoes – pH 6.1, vinegar pH 2.5, coffee grounds are very close to pH neutral (6.
so they are often used as a natural buffer in the cabbage soil test (after 30 minutes they should turn the cabbage juice clear).
Is Red Cabbage Better than Litmus Paper or a Digital Meter?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Litmus paper is paper treated with a mix of dyes derived from lichens, which change colors depending on the pH.
While litmus paper has little color variety (red for acidic conditions, purple for neutral, and blue for alkaline conditions), red cabbage has a much wider range of colors, which can help better estimate the pH in the soil.
Also, the red cabbage soil test is believed to be even more accurate than digital meters as it has some clear advantages:
- Unlike a meter, the cabbage test allows the soil to soak in the juice and release elements that after interacting with the anthocyanin in the cabbage juice will lead to a more accurate result;
- Cabbage doesn’t require calibration after each soil sample; even some of the most expensive digital meters need to be calibrated before each test, as a result, you can test as many soil samples as you wish at the same time;
- It is cheaper (around $1 versus $15-$200).
Click to view on Amazon.com!
Acidic Soil-Loving Plants
There are quite a few fruit and vegetable plants that thrive in acidic soil. These include (I’ve added the optimal soil pH for each plant):
- Blueberries (soil pH 4.5 to 5.5)
- Beans (soil pH 6.0 to 7.0)
- Broccoli (soil pH 6.0 to 7.0)
- Beets (soil pH 6.5 to 8.0)
- Bok choy (soil pH 6.5–7.0)
- Garlic (soil pH 6.0 to 7.5)
- Kale (soil pH 5.5 to 6.5)
- Lettuce and other leafy greens (soil pH 6.0 to 7.0)
- Parsley (soil pH 6.0 to 7.0)
- Peas (soil pH 6.0 to 7.5)
- Potatoes (soil pH 4.8 to 6.0)
- Onions (soil pH 6.0 to 7.0)
- Spinach (soil pH 6.0 to 7.5)
However, you should do some research before adding these plants to your garden as some may love acidic conditions while others may only tolerate them.
You can also read more on crop rotation and why it is a must for any organic vegetable garden in our “Vegetable Families and Crop Rotation” post.
You could also consider crop rotation as acidic soils tend to become depleted of critical nutrients such as phosphorus and packed with elements that may prove poisonous to plants, such as aluminum. (Here’s a critical post by Preparedness Mama on properly feeding your soil – SMART Composting: Turn Your Spoil into Soil)

If you want to know more about soil conditions and prep for houseplants you can read more at “Optimum Ph for Houseplants”.
Alkaline Friendly Plants
If your soil tests slightly alkaline (pH between 7 and
you’ll be able to easily grow these vegetables without making amendments:
- Artichoke (soil pH 6.5 to 7.5)
- Asparagus (soil pH 6.0 to 8.0)
- Brussels sprouts (soil pH 6.0 to 6.8
- Cabbage and Chinese cabbage (soil pH 6.0 to 7.5)
- Cantaloupe (soil pH 6.0 to 7.5)
- Grape vines (soil pH 5.5 to 8
- Leeks (soil pH 6.0 to 6.8
- Lima beans (soil pH 6.0 to 7.0)
- Mustard and other leafy greens (soil pH 5.5 to 6.8
- Orange (soil pH 6.0 to 7.5)
- Peach tree (soil pH 6.0 to 7.0)
- Spinach (soil pH 6.5 to 7.5)
- Sugar beets (soil pH 6.0 to 8.0)
- Swiss chard (soil pH 6.0 and 7.0)
- Turnips (soil pH 5.5 to 6.8
Here’s a handy list of delicious but insanely low-maintenance perennials every gardener should not miss: 5
8
Click to view on Amazon.com!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you correct pH in soil?
The easiest way to correct your soil’s pH level is to get some acidic fertilizer and apply it according to the written instructions. Regardless of which product you choose, it is important to follow the instructions to a pulp, even if it means buying extra equipment like a special spreader or applicator to get it right. The reason is that one brand of fertilizer might be more concentrated than others, so over-applying would cause a massive spike in the pH levels.
What happens when soil pH is too high?
When a plant’s soil pH increases, which is what would happen when its food’s pH is too high, the plant’s ability to absorb certain nutrients is disrupted. As a result, some nutrients cannot be absorbed properly. The soil’s high pH prevents the iron present in the soil from changing into a form the plant can absorb. In short, it basically deprives plants of important nutrients. Do yourself a favor and fertilize the soil so that the pH will always be as close to neutral as possible.
Does water pH affect soil pH?
Soil can be affected by water depending on its texture. Soil particles that are smaller, like clays and clay loams, are more influenced than coarse, sandy soils. Fine-textured soils have a higher number of very small particles called colloids. These colloids are sites where positively charged ions are retained. The ability of soil to retain these ions is called its cation exchange capacity. Ions in the soil solution are exchanged with ions on the colloidal particles. Negative ions in the soil solution have less influence on soil pH. In short, yes, soil can be affected by water pH but it depends on the type and even on how deep the water has managed to penetrate.
To Wrap It Up
Knowing the pH of your soil will help your plants grow by absorbing nutrients better from the soil. Their ability to do it depends on the nature of the soil and its combination of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter.
The makeup of soil (soil texture) and its acidity (pH) determine the extent to which nutrients are available to plants. Use these 2 ways to test soil pH and have a great garden this year.
How Can I Test My Soil pH Without a Kit? | PreparednessMama
If you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-21-2025, 10:35 PM #9936
Build A Vertical Wind Generator from Washing Machine Motor
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Instructables is a great website with loads of survival, homesteading and great DIY projects. I saw this over there and had to share with you. This is a great power generator from recycled old washing machine parts.
If you are lucky you could crawl craigslist and see if any one is giving one away or find a very cheap one. I think alternatively you could use any old car alternator too.
If you had the time, space and brains I think this would be a great addition to your off the grid needs. See the full instructable below.
If you liked this post, maybe you will like some of our others, you can check some related articles below or search via categories on the right, be warned, you will be on here for hours. Enjoy 🙂
Build A Vertical Wind Generator from Washing Machine MotorIf you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-21-2025, 10:48 PM #9937
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A Vertical Wind Generator From Washing Machine Motor
By Teslaphonics in WorkshopEnergy
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Introduction: A Vertical Wind Generator From Washing Machine Motor

By Teslaphonics
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Have an old front-load clothes washer and some PVC pipe lying around? Make a vertical wind generator and go GREEN the DIY way.
Step 1: Remove Motor From Washing Machine

This step was the most destructive using various implements to separate the motor assembly from the washing machine. I'll leave it to your imagination and whatever tools you have on hand. The output of this step should be the coil assembly and the magnet assembly. Keep the shaft and bearings if you can also. Mine were pressed into the washing drum and were difficult to remove without destroying them. Keep the bolts from the coil and magnet assembly also. You may want to use them for your new hub.
Step 2: Clean the Parts


Clean the magnets and coils, and remove any rust that may have built up on the ends of the coils. Then put a light coat of oil on the metal parts or a light layer of clear coat to keep them from rusting again.
Step 3: Design a New Hub

This may be the most difficult part. You need to design a hub that will space the coils in line with the magnets, and also have some sturdy bearings at each end. I started out with a block of plastic used for an automotive brake rotor holding fixture. You could make the same on a lathe, or build one up from layers of wood or other plastic, etc.
Step 4: Shaft Fit

I saved part of the original washing machine drum shaft where the two bearings were located and cut off the rest. Then I added some threaded rod in the end where the original bolt was located. The threaded rod will attach to my blade assembly.
Step 5: Hub and Coils

Here is the hub bolted to the coils with a cutout for some wiring. At this point, I haven't rewired any of the coils. There are many DIY generator projects on the web using these same washing machine motors and some describe various ways to rewire them for different voltages and currents. Your application will define your wiring.
Step 6: Finished Generator Assembly

Here's a photo of the magnets and coils mounted on the new hub and shaft assembly. At this point, you can spin the assembly and measure the voltage output, current output, vs. RPM. These measurement steps, and a way to determine the required torque to spin the generator I will save for my next Instructable.
Step 7: Blade Design and Construction

My blade design is based on some vertical blades I've seen, and in particular, a spinning porch ornament I purchased a few years back. The Idea is to have a cup-like section of the blade always in the direct flow of the wind.
Step 8: The Blade Design

First mark the cutting lines on the PVC pipe. You can sand off the marks after cutting and/or paint the blades if needed.
Step 9: Cut Blades

I used a jig saw to cut the long flat cuts.
Step 10: Cut Blades

I used a hack saw to cut the rounded sections.
Step 11: Drill Center Hole for Post

I used a hole saw to drill the center holes for the PVC post. The center post has caps on the ends to secure to the threaded rod.
Step 12: Completed Generator

Here's a photo of the completed generator ready for mounting on a porch, or in a tree, or wherever. This motor was rated at about 400 Watts, so I'm hoping for 50-100 watts in a good wind.
I hope you've enjoyed this Instructable, See you all next time......
Step 13: Measurements

No load and full load torque was measured using a strain gage load cell mounted on a rod located one foot from the center of the hub. Data was captured using a national instruments DAQ card and DasyLab daq software. No load was all wires open, full load was all wires shorted. I tried to move the rod 90 degrees in 5 seconds at a steady rate manually.
No load torque averaged 0.39 ft-lbs, ful load torque was approx. 1.25 ft-lbs
Step 14: Measurements

Full load Plot.
Step 15: Part Numbers

LG Washer model WM0532HW
6501KW2002B
Sears Part Numbers
Stator assembly
PART NUMBER: 4417FA1994G
$97.60
Rotor
PART NUMBER: 4413EA1002B
$63.65
Sensor assy
PART NUMBER: 6501KW2002
Call for availability
(800) 252-1698
Bearing
PART NUMBER: 4280FR4048E
Kenmore 41473
$25.04
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A Vertical Wind Generator From Washing Machine Motor : 15 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables
If you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-21-2025, 11:49 PM #9938
5 Healing Homemade Soap Recipes
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The ability to make healing homemade soap recipes will get you one step closer to the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency.
Even better, you will never have to buy soap again if you learn to make them yourself. Additionally, they can promote healing for a number of ailments!

You may think of soap as a simple cleaning agent for your body that helps remove all the dirt and grime that your skin picks up after a long day at work. But there’s actually a lot more to soap than just that!
Composed of the right ingredients, soaps can also have certain healing properties that improve health and well-being. This is amazing, imagine just having a bath or a shower, and you are infusing natural properties into you, making you feel better!
Soap & Hygiene When SHTF

The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Cable, Kelly (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
One of the dangers of a SHTF situation is going to be a lack of basic hygiene. We can look back in history and see the effects of poor hygiene on a population. They are pretty stark! It is never long before you have a serious disease outbreak.
Without plenty of running water and access to solvents, like soap, you will see things like Typhus break out. And that can happen fast.
In fact, there was even a recent outbreak in LA County, California! This just happened in the last few months, a time when modern methods of personal hygiene are readily available.
Imagine a collapsed landscape where clean water is a commodity as well as things like soap and toothpaste.
What you will realize is that knowing how to make soap from scratch will be an incredible skill to take into the SHTF scenario. There are many reasons for this, but the most important is to control the reign of disease.
We all invest in guns and ammunition to fight bad people. Why not invest in this skill to fight off the bad germs?
Try to learn some simple healing homemade soap recipes to make your soap-making experience a delightful and relaxing one.
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By Author SHTFPreparedness
Posted onLast updated: May 6, 2024
Categories
DIY
5 Healing Homemade Soap Recipes - SHTFPreparednessIf you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-22-2025, 05:26 AM #9939
4 Wild Teas Every Survivalist Should Know
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Videos 4 Wild Teas Every Survivalist Should Know
Top 5 Electric Kettles for Perfect Tea
These 4 wild teas are just fantastic, they can give you much-needed nutrients and boost morale if you find yourself lost in the woods. Or if you want to show off when camping 🙂

If you’re not sure about all this plant eating and foraging, don’t let a few bad plants scare you away from gathering wild foods.
Take a respectable field guide with you, and use it. My top recommendation is “Peterson’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants.” It’s usually around 10 bucks and well worth it!
All of the teas on the article are easy to make and all taste yummy, I can actually say I have tried all of these and more.
When you start to feel the warmth of the tea on a cold night, you will sit there glowing knowing that mother nature has your back. You just have to learn the skills. 🙂
4 Wild Teas Every Survivalist Should Know

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4 Wild Teas Every Survivalist Should KnowIf you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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06-22-2025, 05:33 AM #9940If you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)


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