Making Stabilised Soil Blocks

Deals with the two main problems that can arise with earth buildings: stabilisation and compaction.

A Simple Retort

How to make and use a simple retort for separating gold-mercury amalgam.

A Woodworking Bench

This technical brief shows how a woodworking bench with vice can be made without the use of steel components.

Utilization of Cow-dung in Brickmaking

Addition of certain organic materials improves the plasticity of clay making it more workable.

Technology Development in Rural Industries

Hannah Piek

This book is a study of the development and acquisition of technology by a group of small and medium-sized rural industries in Sichuan province, China. The enterprises are mainly collective ones, but they are compared with other ownership groups, such as private and state enterprises. Careful analys...

Plant Fibre Processing

Cyril Jarman

This is the last of the Small-scale Textile series and covers the pre-spinning processes which make plant fibres suitable for textile manufacture. The book includes not only familiar plant fibres such as cotton, sisal and jute, but also less well known fibres from plants such as Himalayan nettle, pi...

How to Make Carpentry Tools

Aaron Moore, Musaemura Sithole

Squares, gauges, clamps and planes are among the tools whose construction is described in detail in this book, along with useful guidance on the maintenance and repair of woodworking tools. These low-cost tools are suitable for use in large training institutions or small workshops and are designed t...

Metal Casting

Steve Hurst

An introduction to small-scale non-ferrous casting. Includes step-by-step instructions on how to make equipment using local materials; and provides information on moulding techniques, pattern making, core making, the use of wax and metal preparation.

A Small Lime Kiln for Batch and Continuous Firing

In 1996 Practical Action commissioned Paragon Ceramics to build an experimental lime kiln at Dedza in Malawi in partnership with local lime burners.

Hot-dip Galvanizing

M. Hornsby

The demand for more durable fasteners to extend the life of equipment such as fishing vessels makes this illustrated introduction to hot-dip galvanizing an invaluable addition to the bookshelves of works managers, engineers, government officials and field project officers. Hot-dip galvanizing is...