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View Full Version : Other uses for parabolic solar cooker?



sofasurfer
08-11-2012, 04:23 AM
What other uses are there for a parabolic solar cooker?
-cooking
-heat water for coffee, washing
-starting fire

What else?

crashdive123
08-11-2012, 08:17 AM
Satellite dish.

hunter63
08-11-2012, 07:55 PM
Cigarette lighter
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/hunter63/PICT0795crop.jpg

tjwilhelm
08-11-2012, 09:05 PM
Heat source for the boiler in a corn-liquor still!

Wildthang
08-11-2012, 09:22 PM
Well you could use it for a mirror to shave by, and signal for help when you cut one of your ears off:smartass:

Wildthang
08-11-2012, 09:23 PM
You could focus it on Zombies and fry their heads thusly saving ammo:smartass:

Rick
08-11-2012, 10:40 PM
Didn't they really make one of those as a cigarette lighter several years back? Kinda of a fad thingy?

wtrfwlr
08-11-2012, 11:20 PM
Didn't they really make one of those as a cigarette lighter several years back? Kinda of a fad thingy?

Yep, sold them at Radio Shack stores in the 80's Here's a Youtube of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CPdv8qVTzk

sofasurfer
08-11-2012, 11:47 PM
You guys....I can tell when I'm not being taken seriously.
Seriously though...I'm trying to justify spending the money on one.

crashdive123
08-12-2012, 06:39 AM
Rather than buy one - make one.

Rick
08-12-2012, 07:18 AM
Since a parabolic solar cooker is for cooking and making hot water the question is what else do YOU want it to do. It looks like there aren't many ideas being posted.

wtrfwlr
08-12-2012, 08:28 AM
A Parabolic Solar Cookers is also great to use when making frozen Margaritas.
A Parabolic Solar Cooker can be used to make boiling water. Boiling water will make steam. Steam can be used to power a Steam Engine. A steam engine can be used to power a Generator. A generator can be used to make Electricity. Electricity can be used to run a Blender and a blender is needed to make Frozen Margaritas!

It's 5 O-clock somewhere so plan your Happy Hour wisely!:wine::wine::wine:

hunter63
08-12-2012, 11:00 AM
You guys....I can tell when I'm not being taken seriously.
Seriously though...I'm trying to justify spending the money on one.

They are used to cook mostly, so temps would be too low for a lot of other uses unless you were to re-focus the lens or mirror to make fire, run a boiler for hot water or what ever.

Might help to post what you had in mind for a solar cooker......?

Mother earth News mag had several versions form a cardboard box to cook chicken to boilers to heat water for a steam......so nor really sure what you are looking for.

Ideas come from tossing at lot of things around, then picking thru what's there, and making them work for you, of sparking an interest....not necessarily posting a blue print.

Yes Rick, and wtrfwlr........post #3 is one of them from Radio Shack.

aflineman
08-12-2012, 12:55 PM
For some reason, when I see the parabolic ones, I think of melting wax for candles. Something about unsing the sun to make light at night seems poetic to me.
Never messed with one much though, so I never had the chance to give it a try.
Grandma did have a box thing that she used for food dehydrating. Thin plywood with tin inside and a old window in front. I was very young, but I seem to remember her having to do some modifications due to the moisture of what she was drying.

finallyME
08-12-2012, 06:07 PM
If cooking isn't justification enough, then leave it alone. I plan to make one, or buy one, just to cook in. That way, in the summer when you have no power, and you are trying to keep your house cool, you can use this to cook outside.

Rick
08-12-2012, 06:23 PM
I have such a device. No, wait. That's called a grill. Sorry.

finallyME
08-12-2012, 06:44 PM
It is easier to "bake" in a solar cooker. Grilling is different. Plus, when it is freakin' hot outside, tending a fire to bake with a reflective oven also sucks.

Rick
08-12-2012, 10:13 PM
I also have such a device for that. It's called a restaurant. It's cool inside.