Practical Action Publishing
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How Africa Works
Occupational change is generally assumed to accompany ‘development’ and to be a necessary part of achieving improved standards of living. But occupational change goes beyond individuals’ economic activities and income-earning to redefine their social identity and contribute fundamentally to the reco...
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How to Build a Cretan Sail Windpump
This windpump design was adapted from a series of low-lift windmills developed in Ethiopia. A very successful windpump which when scientifically tested pumped nearly twice as much water as the original design. Contains constructional details and plans.
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How to Build Safer Houses with Confined Masonry
Tom Schacher, Nadia Carlevaro, Guillaume Roux-Fouillet
Low-rise buildings in earthquake-prone areas in many parts of the world are often constructed by self-taught masons and contractors. How to build safer houses with confined masonry: a guide for masons is an essential ‘how to’ handbook bringing together a collected knowledge of earthquake-resistant c...
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How to Make a Folding Machine for Sheet Metal Work
Gives full details on how to build and use a versatile machine for working sheet metal
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How to Make a Foot-Operated Workshop Drill
Describes how to build a drilling machine appropriate for rural workshops, and gives full assembly instructions. The machine, which is a vertical drill for use with either metal or wood, can drill holes up to 12mm in diameter in 12mm steel plates.
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How to Make a Hand-Operated Hole-Punch
Describes the process of building a machine for punching holes in sheet metal, with full dimensions and instructions. Designed for construction from readily available steel sections, this machine can be built by most workshops or blacksmiths.
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How to Make a Metal-Bending Machine
Using simple plans and photographs this booklet describes the construction and assembly of a metal-bending machine, whose main feature is the ability to form wheel rims from cold flat mild steel; this wheel can be used on farm carts and other basic equipment.
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How to Make a Pipe-Bending Machine
Articles such as hospital and school equipment - bed frames, chairs, tables, handrails - all require the bending of pipe. This manual gives full instructions on how to make a pipe-bending machine, which could be made by most workshops or blacksmiths.
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How to Make a Rolling Machine for Sheet Metal Work
This manual describes how to build a machine for rolling sheet metal into curves and cylinders and gives full dimensions and assembly instructions.
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How to Make a Rope and Washer Pump
Shows how to make a simple, cheap, pump suitable for small-holding and garden use, a pump which can raise water from rivers or wells, with lifts of up to 30 metres. A simple clear text, with line drawings, showing how common materials can be used.