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...

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...

How to Measure the Energy Used to Fire Clay Bricks

What defines an energy-efficient brick-firing technology and how does it compare to other technologies?

Assessing the Technical Problems of Brick Production

A guide for brick makers and field workers to help identify technical problems.

Natural Dyeing of Textiles

This fact sheet looks at types of textiles, equipment, dyes and mordants for home dyeing and very small-scale commercial dyeing.

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.

Micro-Concrete Roofing Tile Production

Small-scale concrete roofing tiles are an affordable alternative to traditional roofing materials and galvanized iron sheeting.

The Survival of the Fitter

John Powell

This book traces the development of Ghana's informal engineering sector through stories of the progress of the actual people involved. The first generation of grassroots engineers are wayside vehicle mechanics, or 'fitters', engaged in repairing machinery. The author argues that the evolution of a f...