Building a solar (clothes) drier

[Mike]

Just completed, all except for stringing the clothes lines. And draging to its final location and turning right side up.

Here in winter we get lots of snow so a linear clothes line not all that useful (a lot of shovelling) so I desinged a compact unit but with much large capacity than those close to uselessly small central pole ones which won't even take large things like sheets.

Think of a giant table, legs in the corners, but no top (12' x 8' x 6' tall). The 8' end peices are drilled at 5" spacing so will have 18 12' long lines, more than equivalent to 200' of clothesline. When up and strung will need to check height. I wanted it just above my head (so I can mow under it without ducking) but Penny is "vertically challenged" (we do not say "short"). Easier to cut off a bit than to add.

More ususal to use posts embedded into the ground, but where we are severe freeze/thaw "mud season" and posts under load tend to "creep". That was the fate of the old one that was here when we moved in, a constant battle to keep the posts vertical. This being a braced structure is designed to be stable against the tension of the clothes lines.

[Mike]

Now turned right side up and strung (90%).

Penny didn't realize that I could turn it over with just her help to steady it (will need grandson helping to move to final location). And I could only get two 100' lengths of line so only 16 of the 18 holes used. Oh well, Penny didn't want those closest to the outside used anyway. At least now she isn't worried about it being too tall. I told her the lines would sag between under load but she really needs to see/feel to believe.

[Dandelion]

Penny is "vertically challenged" (we do not say "short"). Easier to cut off a bit than to add.

Er Mike - you are talking about the washing line and not Penny??

[Compostwoman]

[Mike]

Neither!

The legs of the drier.