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Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: franksolich on August 13, 2014, 05:49:11 PM

Title: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 13, 2014, 05:49:11 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11283364

Oh my.

Now, I'm not sure if this is what the primitive actually proposes to do, but that's the best I can interpret it.  I don't think it'll heat a room very well, though.

Quote
IrishAyes (5,696 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 04:56 PM

For me, a rare brain flash regarding a McGyver solution

Several weeks ago the only electrical outlet in my master bathroom (100 yr-old house) got taken out by a power company surge or something. Anyway, I no longer have a way to heat the room at bathtime in the dead of winter because I don't like propane tanks of any size in the house and I couldn't make a candle/flowerpot rig because it takes 15 minutes to heat up and I'm a little afraid to leave any candle unattended even that long. Not willing to babysit it that long either while waiting for the rig to work. Can't afford those expensive camping heaters run by batteries.
 
So I spent the vast majority of the morning scouring the internet for solutions. Then I read about one setup that used heavy duty motor oil but it was heated by candles. Finally, after a good lunch and long nap to let things percolate, I awoke with a solution that should work safely although I'm reluctant to dedicate one of my precious collected small appliances to do it.
 
I'm adamant about making percolated coffee instead of drip. What I drink is more like espresso! Since I obviously can't afford the average price of a brand new 12-cup percolator - anywhere between $70-$100 - I latch onto every one I find at yard sales, etc. and save it for the sad day when the heating element wears out in the current one. At the moment I have 3 others waiting their turn! And a non-electric stovetop version (or 2) if I ever go through all the electric ones.
 
Anyway, as you've guessed by now, I've decided to buy a bottle of high-test motor oil and w/o the lid on, heat it in my oldest electric perc at a working outlet. Oh, and w/o the stem or basket too! Then I can put the lid back on and with a fair amount of safety move the pot to the bathroom. Since these pots aren't insulated, the hot oil should radiate what little extra heat the room might need. Luckily the room's directly above my downstairs heater, so w/o any extra help at all it stays in the lower 50's.
 
Of course I do plan to get the electric outlet fixed asap, but the friend who does that work for me won't be able to get to it before November at the earliest. He has a fulltime job and anything extra has to be worked in the rare free moments. His wife's my good friend, and anyone who thinks I'm going to try to jump ahead of her own kitchen renovation, they're not giving me any credit for what little sense I do have.
 
Meanwhile I'm content with my temporary solution.

Brand-new thread, so no primitives have seen it yet.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: zeitgeist on August 13, 2014, 06:14:47 PM
Well this certainly sounds like it will have the UL seal of approval stamped all over it. 

(http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/seal-of-approval2.gif)

And the percolator will make a great urn for the ashes! :rotf:
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: GOBUCKS on August 13, 2014, 06:40:45 PM
Sounds like a typical DUmmy crib.

Reminds me of poor old DUmmy Mythsaje, author of intergalactic vampire sex crime novels.

Water and sewage from his upstairs neighbor's leaky toilet dripped through the celing onto his dining room table.

Or poor addled Beth, living in the California desert in a tiny humpbacked camper with her senile mother and two big smelly dogs.

DUmmies have some awful living conditions, all the fault of George W. Bush.

Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: catsmtrods on August 13, 2014, 07:11:55 PM
Tons of fiber supplement, prunes and a lighter!
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Jar Head on August 13, 2014, 07:21:26 PM
That is a shit-pot full of crazy right there.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: ChuckJ on August 13, 2014, 07:22:30 PM
So she's going to make herself a coffee pot of motor oil (aka liquid earth death) to heat a room. BRILLIANT! Absolutely nothing could go wrong with that.

I'm not much of a gambler so can someone figure the odds of eventually seeing an "I've been scalded by extremely hot motor oil and need a donation for medical bills" post on the DUmp?
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 13, 2014, 07:23:40 PM
So she's going to make herself a coffee pot of motor oil (aka liquid earth death) to heat a room. BRILLIANT! Absolutely nothing could go wrong with that.

I'm not much of a gambler so can someone figure the odds of eventually seeing an "I've been scalded by extremely hot motor oil and need a donation for medical bills" post on the DUmp?

Well, I remain curious.

Is it possible for this to actually work, in the least little way?
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: ChuckJ on August 13, 2014, 07:26:00 PM
Well, I remain curious.

Is it possible for this to actually work, in the least little way?

I'm pretty sure that when she stumbles and the hot oil spills from the pot and boils her flesh that she will be warm for a little while
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: hillneck on August 13, 2014, 07:26:12 PM
Next thing will be the story asking for money, because they burnt the house to the ground.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 13, 2014, 07:28:25 PM
Skippy to the rescue:

Quote
NYC_SKP (60,063 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 05:55 PM

1. This sounds like a good solution, I can't think of any down sides.

I'm curious about your bath outlet, however.

There might be a safety issue: if a power surge came along and ruined the outlet or the conductors, it should have blown a fuse or tripped a breaker in your fuse box or breaker panel.
 
If so, be sure to NOT to replace the fuse or reset the circuit until you've had someone check the integrity of that circuit, the conductors, and the receptacle (outlet).
 
OTOH, if you can confirm that all is well, you might be able to use this receptacle again but I would advise against drawing more than 15 amps, better still keep it under 10-- this would be to say don't run a heavy duty space heater or a blow dryer beyond 1200 watts.
 
I suspect that your space heater overstressed the circuit and/or receptacle.

Some of them draw 1500 watts, that's a lot of power for one 100 year old circuit!
 
good luck, stay warm, be safe!
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 13, 2014, 07:30:38 PM
Quote
noamnety (19,083 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 05:56 PM

2. Would it work just as well with plain water?

Not sure of the advantage of using motor oil.

Quote
noamnety (19,083 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 06:36 PM

3. Now that my electrical engineer is home

he said water would radiate more heat because it would evaporate and carry the warmth more around the room. (He made a scattering molecule gesture with fluttery fingers as he said this.)
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Big Dog on August 13, 2014, 07:32:26 PM
Well, I remain curious.

Is it possible for this to actually work, in the least little way?

No. It's the DUmmy version of a perpetual motion machine.

A much simpler solution for non-DUmmies: run an extension cord into the bathroom and use a space heater, which is turned off and removed from the room before getting in the bath.

Solution for DUmmies: Leave the heater in the bathroom, and have fun splashing in the tub!
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: BlueStateSaint on August 13, 2014, 08:04:57 PM
No. It's the DUmmy version of a perpetual motion machine.

A much simpler solution for non-DUmmies: run an extension cord into the bathroom and use a space heater, which is turned off and removed from the room before getting in the bath.

Solution for DUmmies: Leave the heater in the bathroom, and have fun splashing in the tub!

Better yet:  Take the heater in the bath with you!  Water warms up quicker that way! :zap:
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Carl on August 13, 2014, 08:07:14 PM
If somehow a single outlet was damaged then replace it.
Since an outlet is basically a faucet for electrical flow it is hard to believe a surge could hurt it without tripping a circuit breaker or fuse.

Like most DUmbass stories,it makes no sense.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: landofconfusion80 on August 13, 2014, 08:45:39 PM
If somehow a single outlet was damaged then replace it.
Since an outlet is basically a faucet for electrical flow it is hard to believe a surge could hurt it without tripping a circuit breaker or fuse.

Like most DUmbass stories,it makes no sense.

It really makes lots of sense... if the primitive is truly incompetent, it's fair to assume that it's "electrician" friend is too.  A coin jammed in the breaker is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Anyways, I would like to offer the frigid primitive another solution.  Venting not required of course:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3mrAFZg2iY[/youtube]
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: J P Sousa on August 13, 2014, 09:18:59 PM
Here is another DUmmie solution to keeping warm in the shower;

Quote
Teens setting themselves on fire for Internet challenge

The challenge usually involves a highly flammable liquid being poured on the chest in the shower. Participants believe the water will douse the flames and help them avoid injury. However, that doesn't always work as planned.
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/local-fire-chief-warns-new-trend-called-fire-chall/ng2BR/


.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: thundley4 on August 13, 2014, 09:22:06 PM
Here is another DUmmie solution to keeping warm in the shower;

.

Build a man a fire and he will stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. :fuelfire:
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 13, 2014, 09:26:09 PM
Okay.

Here's what might, or might not, be a stupid question.

This is the "master" bathroom the primitive's talking about.

If the primitive's nervous about heating it, why not just temporarily use another bathroom in the house while waiting for the electricity in this one to be fixed?
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: thundley4 on August 13, 2014, 09:41:26 PM
Okay.

Here's what might, or might not, be a stupid question.

This is the "master" bathroom the primitive's talking about.

If the primitive's nervous about heating it, why not just temporarily use another bathroom in the house while waiting for the electricity in this one to be fixed?

The slave bathroom is kept for conservative relatives and is in even worse shape.  :-)
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Dori on August 13, 2014, 10:05:51 PM
Okay.

Here's what might, or might not, be a stupid question.

This is the "master" bathroom the primitive's talking about.

If the primitive's nervous about heating it, why not just temporarily use another bathroom in the house while waiting for the electricity in this one to be fixed?

The dummy probably has to get up several times during the night to pee and doesn't want to sit on a frozen seat. 





Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: RobJohnson on August 13, 2014, 10:25:46 PM
No. It's the DUmmy version of a perpetual motion machine.

A much simpler solution for non-DUmmies: run an extension cord into the bathroom and use a space heater, which is turned off and removed from the room before getting in the bath.

Solution for DUmmies: Leave the heater in the bathroom, and have fun splashing in the tub!
    I suggest dropping a running 1500 watt electric hair dryer, connected by drop cord to a non GFI outlet, into the bathtub, prior to entering the tub to keep the water warm.

It should also keep the bathroom nice and toasty.

Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: DUmpsterDiver on August 14, 2014, 06:44:18 AM
The dummy should just sell the house and move to Mexico where it's warmer and cheaper to live.  Work on raising some anchor kids and have them send money South for his drug addictions.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 14, 2014, 08:28:05 AM
Quote
IrishAyes (5,703 posts)  Wed Aug 13, 2014, 10:18 PM 

7. Especially since I don't know the technological expertise of the writer who

recommended the motor oil, I think now that I'd rather listen to your electrical engineer! Please relay my thanks. I wouldn't be heating the bathroom over half an hour anyway. Thanks again.

Quote
NYC_SKP (60,095 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 12:54 AM

13. Um, evaporating water has a cooling, not a heating, effect. Change of state.

Please check that with him.

And, ask how beneficial it is to have a resistive heating element left on after the fluid has evaporated.
 
I, frankly, think it's unsafe.

Quote
Curmudgeoness (14,571 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 07:39 PM

4. I think that you are right

if the purpose is to heat the room for a short period of time. Oil is often used for heating because it holds the heat for a long time. So I guess it really depends on how long the room needs to be heated.
 
The great part of using water would be that she wouldn't ruin the precious percolator. Win/win.

Quote
IrishAyes (5,703 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 10:40 PM

9. Yes. Please see #7.

I certainly do value my precious percolators. That's the kind of coffee I prefer, damn near espresso and you won't get it from a dripolator. Can't afford a French press! Can't afford the new electric percs either, so I snap up every used one I find. Currently have 3 others waiting in the wings in addition to the gorgeous Art Deco I bought off eBay. Cotton covered cord and everything. If President Obama ever drops by for coffee, I'll take it down off the top of the frig and use it, but otherwise it stays put where it is. Beautiful thing. Carved wood handle, too.
 
Sometimes these old ones I find for $5 max will still last for years and years. I think impatient people buy them because they do make better coffee than a damn drip, but then most people aren't willing to wait 10-12 minutes either. That's probably one reason they ditch the percs.
 
Since you're one of my favorite thrifters, I'll share what I found curbside the last couple weeks. A like-new Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner, and farther on, a giant mahogany office desk where someone had vacated the premises. Must've run out of room on the truck. I took out all the drawers so maybe nobody else would snatch it up before I could return with a truck and help. By evening it was in a far corner of my porch, well hidden from the street by tall spirea and 1/2" lattice. It now serves as a stand for all my potted shade plants, the restored drawers hold various tools etc, and the knee well would make a fine shelter if the dogs ever needed it in an emergency. Of course I covered the top with several layers of newspapers and a tarp, then pieces of leftover tub surround. Thing weighed way over 100 lbs before I put the drawers back and loaded it down with plants; hope the porch boards hold!

Quote
IrishAyes (5,703 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 10:14 PM

6. From what I read, supposedly the greater viscosity of the motor oil will make it

retain heat longer than water, although water would certainly work. I've brushed up against those hot percolators in the kitchen before.

Quote
NYC_SKP (60,095 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 11:15 PM

11. You are correct, sort of. Properties differ.

The thermal capacity for oil is different from that of water. There are patents, in fact, for internal combustion engines that use oil rather than water as a coolant fluid for some of these differences in properties.
 
Also, with water we have to worry about evaporation, not so with oil.

In fact, some electric space heaters that look like old school radiators are actually filled with oil, so you're on the right track.
 
If we really wanted a high efficiency system, it might use liquid sodium but DANG, if that stuff leaks it's all over.

Quote
IrishAyes (5,703 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 12:49 AM

12. Due to recent posts w/info from an electrical engineer,

I think I'll stick with water short periods and not use motor oil until and unless I need it for longer term use.

Quote
NYC_SKP (60,095 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 12:59 AM

14. I've replied to that reply. If you use water, please also use a timer.

The engineer is mistaken, evaporation or change of state of any material from liquid to gas has an endothermic COOLING effect, not a warming effect.
 
Physics 101, change of state. It's why we feel cool when we perspire and the moisture evaporates.
 
All this aside, a heater (in this case, a percolator) that runs out of water is a hazard.
 
Now, my caveat, a percolator filled with oil has it's own risks: oil is a fuel, it could become a fire.
 
Water won't do that, at least.

No need for all this conjecture: Buy a used or new UL approved EnergyStar space heater under 1000 watts.
 
And be safe!

Okay now, this primitive discussion has gone on far longer than what's reasonable.

The primitive has a defective electrical outlet that maybe perhaps can cause a fire.

The primitive says she's going to wait until November to get it repaired, probably because she can get it done for free, rather than hiring a union-card-carrying electrician to get it done now.

The primitive needs it done now, not in November.

As "expensive" (quotation marks intentional) as professional electricians are, they're still cheaper than dealing with the expense and trouble of replacing a burned-down house.

And going back to my original question: exactly how much heat will the primitive's oil-in-the-percolator generate, to warm the bathroom?  I suspect it'd be about as much heat as a burning candle would add to the waiting room of Grand Central Station.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Carl on August 14, 2014, 09:07:05 AM
Quote
IrishAyes (5,703 posts)    Wed Aug 13, 2014, 10:40 PM

9. Yes. Please see #7.

I certainly do value my precious percolators. That's the kind of coffee I prefer, damn near espresso and you won't get it from a dripolator. Can't afford a French press! Can't afford the new electric percs either, so I snap up every used one I find. Currently have 3 others waiting in the wings in addition to the gorgeous Art Deco I bought off eBay. Cotton covered cord and everything. If President Obama ever drops by for coffee, I'll take it down off the top of the frig and use it, but otherwise it stays put where it is. Beautiful thing. Carved wood handle, too.
 
Sometimes these old ones I find for $5 max will still last for years and years. I think impatient people buy them because they do make better coffee than a damn drip, but then most people aren't willing to wait 10-12 minutes either. That's probably one reason they ditch the percs.
 
Since you're one of my favorite thrifters, I'll share what I found curbside the last couple weeks. A like-new Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner, and farther on, a giant mahogany office desk where someone had vacated the premises. Must've run out of room on the truck. I took out all the drawers so maybe nobody else would snatch it up before I could return with a truck and help. By evening it was in a far corner of my porch, well hidden from the street by tall spirea and 1/2" lattice. It now serves as a stand for all my potted shade plants, the restored drawers hold various tools etc, and the knee well would make a fine shelter if the dogs ever needed it in an emergency. Of course I covered the top with several layers of newspapers and a tarp, then pieces of leftover tub surround. Thing weighed way over 100 lbs before I put the drawers back and loaded it down with plants; hope the porch boards hold!

Another garbage picking,lunatic DUmp hoarder.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 14, 2014, 09:54:51 AM
Okay, now I really dislike prolonging the already-overlong primitive discussion, but something about which I never thought, just spurted to the forefront of the mind.

One assumes there's nothing wrong with the primitive's hot water supply, as she anticipates taking baths in winter.

A bathroom without heat in the middle of winter's happened to me--not often, not here, and not recently, but it's happened.

Why not just turn on the hot water in the bathtub, and let that heat the room?

Now, maybe the primitive uses the bathroom at other times, times that don't include taking a bath.  Such as when one goes in to sit down on the commode.

The primitive could rearrange her schedule, so as to sit on the commode while the bathtub's filling up with hot water, warming the room.

If the primitive's sitting on the commode more than twice every four or five days, or three times a week--it should be obvious I'm referring to doing a dump, not a spray--then she seriously needs to sit down and examine her diet and personal habits.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: El Jefe on August 14, 2014, 12:13:10 PM
Jebus, these people never want to do things the right way. A 100 year old house probably needs the entire electrical system overhauled from the meter forward.

If you do it right you only have to do it once.  :mental:
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Dori on August 14, 2014, 02:01:17 PM
I'm thinking this IrishAyes may be up for a Darwin Award in the future.

Quote
Star Member IrishAyes (5,709 posts)

Cheap Easy Attic Fan and one other unrelated idea
 
I've been told by several locals that the only reason they passed on my 100-yr-old house is because of the steep narrow stairs. The second floor 'hallway' looks more like a cattle chute. It took almost a year of searching to find a whole house attic fan narrow enough to fit in the ceiling there. I don't mind because all the rooms are 15' square except the master bath (old bedroom) which only spans 15x12.

Anyway! After 8 years of heavy use, the attic fan has spun its last at last and they don't make that size anymore. No one wants to fix the motor if indeed that could even be done.

So I scratched my hard head until I came up with an alternate solution. Remove the louvers in the ceiling, take out the fan entirely, and put the biggest strongest box fan up there that I can find. Place it on its back (with maybe a few widely spaced furring strips for support) so the air will be drawn up into the attic. Run an extension cord down to the nearest wall outlet, turn on the fan, and let 'er rip.

No problem because I live alone, guests never want to climb the stairs anyway, and there are no little kids to worry about. True, it won't look great but except for bath time I don't go upstairs too often anyway in the heat of summer. And when I do, that wonderful rush of upward air would make ugly looks forgivable anyway.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11283219
................................................................................
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: thundley4 on August 14, 2014, 02:28:04 PM
I'm thinking this IrishAyes may be up for a Darwin Award in the future.
Quote
Anyway! After 8 years of heavy use, the attic fan has spun its last at last and they don't make that size anymore. No one wants to fix the motor if indeed that could even be done.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11283219
................................................................................

I call BS.  The DUmmie is too cheap to pay to have the fan fixed. We've had several people bring in very  old fans from the early 1900's to have them repaired, because they were the original fans in old houses.

We can fix them if they are willing to pay. :-)
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 14, 2014, 02:33:53 PM
I call BS.  The DUmmie is too cheap to pay to have the fan fixed. We've had several people bring in very  old fans from the early 1900's to have them repaired, because they were the original fans in old houses.

We can fix them if they are willing to pay. :-)

They aren't, though.

The Irish eyes primitive, along with the Curmudgeoness primitive and the PaperRoses primitive, are the biggest tightwads on Skins's island; prying a wet paper towel out of a clam's easier than getting money from any of them.  They don't want to pay for anything, ever.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: vesta111 on August 14, 2014, 03:37:17 PM
They aren't, though.

The Irish eyes primitive, along with the Curmudgeoness primitive and the PaperRoses primitive, are the biggest tightwads on Skins's island; prying a wet paper towel out of a clam's easier than getting money from any of them.  They don't want to pay for anything, ever.

Living in the UP of Michigan I saw some really strange ways to heat not just the Saunas but whole cabins or small homes.

One needs a medium size wood burning stove to start.  Weld onto it pipes on both sides open to 2 or more pipes that lead into a couple of old hot water heaters of 50 gallons each with the tops taken off.   The pipes leading out of the water heaters can become 10 to 20 feet long along the sides of he home, camp or Sauna.

Once the heat in the  tanks heat up from the wood burning stove the heat in the pipes radiate into the room the water steams from the tops of the tanks  and as long as the water is replaced every day or so just a couple gallons of water to each tank, and a few logs are put into the fireplace, the doors are left open in the house to allow circulation when the temps go down to -32 the structure is warm and the pipes do not freeze.

Amazing what the old time Finn's   brought to America to survive. So much is still in use today.

Some of America still use steam heat, just heat water.

 I myself use those baby humidifiers in the winter for both heat and to keep my head clear from the nasty's  that dry up my sinuses and cause me head aches.  I can lower the heat by 20+ degrees and sleep well and warm with just one of these small machines in the room.

 
 

   
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: FlippyDoo on August 14, 2014, 03:45:41 PM
It really is amazing. Almost every single time that I read one of these "fixes" that the DUmmies so proudly come up with I just shake my head and think, "that be retardant."

Truly.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 14, 2014, 03:58:11 PM
Someone corrects Skippy:

Quote
noamnety (19,085 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 09:00 AM

15. That's a yes and no thing.

Excuse the translation from engineer to plainspeak, but this is what he says: When we sweat and it evaporates, it cools us - but it does it by transferring heat to the air. That's the goal here, to transfer the heat from the coffee pot to the air relatively quickly. The evaporation will cool the coffee pot slightly and warm the air, whereas the oil that doesn't evaporate would keep longer residual heat in the pot, and not warm the air as quickly.
 
I may have misunderstood, but I read this as they're planning to heat the pot in another room where an outlet works, then unplug it and move the pot to the bathroom. So it wouldn't be left on after the liquid has evaporated - which I agree would be a safety issue.
 
He also added that the amount of heat you'd get off a coffee pot once it's unplugged - no matter what fluid is in there - probably wouldn't make a difference in a full room, though.*
 
I'm not sure about that. I lived on a 21 foot sailboat for 6 months, and in the morning I lit a single candle to warm the space slightly so I could bear to get out of bed and get dressed. (In the harbor, not at sea.) That did make a difference. I have no clue how a candle flame compares to a pot of boiling water, though.

*believes that; believes it wouldn't make a hundredth of a degree of any difference in the bathroom, any more than a candle can add much heat to the inside of that domed stadium in Minnesota.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: GOBUCKS on August 14, 2014, 08:12:16 PM
They aren't, though.

They don't want to pay for anything, ever.

A good example was when the Big Guy from Bellevue, DUmmy Dawes, tried to cadge free tickets to the Nebraska-Wisconsin football game, and even specified they needed to be on an aisle.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on August 14, 2014, 09:23:36 PM
Quote
NYC_SKP (60,095 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 12:54 AM

13. Um, evaporating water has a cooling, not a heating, effect. Change of state.

 :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

There's nothing funnier than a DUmmy misapplying a true factoid from physics or chemistry to come up with something that is 100% wrong.  Hey DUmmie, try cooling your house with steam this summer.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: miskie on August 14, 2014, 09:43:51 PM
What an idiotic concept.

The viscosity of coffee in a percolator is probably not much greater than water, and the pot is designed with that in mind, whereas the viscosity of motor oil is going to be quite a bit higher.

So much so that this idea isn't going to work until the oil is heated to the point where viscosity breaks down enough to be pumped through the system. - That probably wont happen until long after the pot's heating element burns out.  Look at this link, primitive.

http://www.csgnetwork.com/specific_gravity_viscosity_liquids.html

This page details the specific gravity and viscosity of several substances, including motor oil.  Hopefully you understand the problem after reading this.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Chris_ on August 14, 2014, 09:47:47 PM
Quote
Several weeks ago the only electrical outlet in my master bathroom (100 yr-old house) got taken out by a power company surge or something. Anyway, I no longer have a way to heat the room at bathtime in the dead of winter

It's August, you lazy turd.  You've got at least three months to get the damn thing fixed.

Someone needs to forward this information to this clown's insurance agent.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: DefiantSix on August 15, 2014, 01:12:46 PM
This is the kind of shit that happens when a DUmbshit sees a perfectly functional and serviceable piece of hardware - in this case, the DUmbshit has seen one of those oil-filled radiant heaters in a Lowes or Home Depot, or someplace, and realized it was out of s/h/it's price range - and thinks they can rube goldberg together a substitute worthy of MacGyver.  :thatsright:

What an idiotic concept.

The viscosity of coffee in a percolator is probably not much greater than water, and the pot is designed with that in mind, whereas the viscosity of motor oil is going to be quite a bit higher.

So much so that this idea isn't going to work until the oil is heated to the point where viscosity breaks down enough to be pumped through the system. - That probably wont happen until long after the pot's heating element burns out.  Look at this link, primitive.


Actually it's the viscosity of the oil that makes the oil-filled heater the DUmbshit is pathetically trying to ape, work.  When you heat oil, it retains the heat longer - and radiates it away at a slower rate - than would a less viscous fluid, like water or coffee.  This means that the radiant heater can heat up the oil, and then let the heating element cycle off and the oil inside the heater is still radiating heat.

The DUmbshit's problem is that an electric percolator isn't designed to do that.  It's heating element - intended for use with more delicious and less viscous water/caffeine solutions - has shorter "off" cycles than the space heater would, because it's constantly trying to replace the heat that the coffee is constantly shedding.  As a result, I would expect the oil to overheat in the DUmmy's cobbled together engineering nightmare. So long as the idiot keeps s/h/it's towel from becoming a wick, I don't expect the oil to flash, but having a bubble of scalding hot oil burst onto your arm or leg or face ranks pretty high in my "not fun" list.

Dummy posting pics of it's hideous 2nd degree oil burns in 3... 2... 1...
 :popcorn:
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 15, 2014, 01:22:44 PM
By the way, the tightwad Curmudgeoness primitve's a pal of the big guy in Bellevue, although they don't live near each other; I think she lives in Michigan or Pennsylvania.  She's an older woman, the one looking for a charity for the homeless run by atheists.  Although being a flinty tightwad, she doesn't stint on bathroom tissue, always buying the expensive super-soft four-ply plush scented lotioned stuff, because apparently she has a sensitive bottom.

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Curmudgeoness (14,579 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 08:14 PM

17. I am in awe

of your recent acquisition of the mahogany desk. A Dirt Devil that is working is also a great find. Ah, but the desk! Such a shame to have it outside since it sounds incredible, but it seems like a good use for it. I could use an outdoor plant stand, potting stand.
 
I have seen the back and forth about water or oil for the heat. It seems that one poster is under the impression that you will be leaving this pot of water plugged in, and that was not the case, so don't worry. And also, the water will not have a cooling effect on the air in the bathroom---it will have a cooling effect on the pot and a heating effect on the air. I am not sure how much this will heat the room, but it is certainly worth a try. It hurts nothing to try. And if the water doesn't work, try the motor oil as an experiment to see if it works better. (Have you noticed that I love experimenting? )
 
Good luck. I hope you can keep the room warm enough to bathe. And I hope you can get the outlet fixed soon. I know all about the problems with an old house. Mine isn't as old as yours, but 70 years old is still a challenge.

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IrishAyes (5,728 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 09:02 PM

18. Well, the desk has to stay outside (covered) because it's too big to fit through the narrow doors

in this house. I have a certain Art Deco wardrobe downstairs too, because nobody could fit it up the steep and narrow cattle chute stairs. Not complaining - several people told me they would've fought me at auction for this house except for those stairs, so I have reason to love them. Who needs a gym here?
 
Like you, I love experimenting. Necessity being the mother of invention, and all. Another fortunate double find one trash day was a crappy Art Deco desk with great hardware (I'm never w/o a screwdriver) that I took off, and on the other side of town miraculously the exact same desk in great shape except no hardware. I'm good at simple math.
 
I forgot to tell you about the set of 5 big deep wooden drawers from a missing chest that I also found last week. Three of them will go under the elevated bed upstairs and 2 will stay downstairs for dog beds. I'm tired of blankets scattered all over the living room floor.
 
Happy bargain hunting!

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Curmudgeoness (14,579 posts)    Thu Aug 14, 2014, 09:14 PM

19. Your trash days are much better than the ones here.

No one here throws anything out that isn't broken.

That's the way it's supposed to be, lady.

Help Mama Gaia.  Use it up, make it do, wear it out.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: franksolich on August 15, 2014, 01:39:50 PM
Quote
Curmudgeoness (9,759 posts)   Fri Mar 1, 2013, 06:23 PM

5. I used to use coupons all the time.

I used them for groceries, non-food items, meals, just about everything. But that has been years ago. I think the only coupons I use anymore are for toilet paper, because I am a toilet paper snob and 25 cents off is 25 cents.
 
Years ago, coupons would be good for at least 3 months. Anymore, they expire in that many weeks.
 
Coupons are for less money than they used to be.

Meal coupons are now useless, since all I see is "buy one get one" coupons. If I feel like running into McDonalds for a sandwich, and I am always alone if I do that, the last thing I need is two sandwiches----and they aren't something that will keep as leftovers for the next day. I often go out to eat alone, so these buy one get one offers don't work.
 
As stated before, generic products are almost always cheaper, even with the savings of a coupon----by quite a bit. And generic products have gotten as good as the name brands. Years ago, you could tell the difference and the quality was lacking, but no more. I rarely buy name brands anymore.....except for toilet paper.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11282237
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Dori on August 15, 2014, 02:39:19 PM
Just how cold does this bathroom get?  Wouldn't running hot water in the tub/shower warm it up?







Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: I_B_Perky on August 15, 2014, 05:41:20 PM
So a member of the bestest smartest people in the world can't google "How to change an outlet"? They probably got youtube vids on how to do it.

My goodness! I could change an outlet when I was like 8 yrs old!!!

And they call us stupid?   :mental:

Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: miskie on August 15, 2014, 06:05:37 PM
This is the kind of shit that happens when a DUmbshit sees a perfectly functional and serviceable piece of hardware - in this case, the DUmbshit has seen one of those oil-filled radiant heaters in a Lowes or Home Depot, or someplace, and realized it was out of s/h/it's price range - and thinks they can rube goldberg together a substitute worthy of MacGyver.  :thatsright:

Actually it's the viscosity of the oil that makes the oil-filled heater the DUmbshit is pathetically trying to ape, work.  When you heat oil, it retains the heat longer - and radiates it away at a slower rate - than would a less viscous fluid, like water or coffee.  This means that the radiant heater can heat up the oil, and then let the heating element cycle off and the oil inside the heater is still radiating heat.

The DUmbshit's problem is that an electric percolator isn't designed to do that.  It's heating element - intended for use with more delicious and less viscous water/caffeine solutions - has shorter "off" cycles than the space heater would, because it's constantly trying to replace the heat that the coffee is constantly shedding.  As a result, I would expect the oil to overheat in the DUmmy's cobbled together engineering nightmare. So long as the idiot keeps s/h/it's towel from becoming a wick, I don't expect the oil to flash, but having a bubble of scalding hot oil burst onto your arm or leg or face ranks pretty high in my "not fun" list.

Dummy posting pics of it's hideous 2nd degree oil burns in 3... 2... 1...
 :popcorn:

Indeed - However, Id say that the relatively low output of the heating element coupled with a much thinner passage for the heated oil to circulate though than a genuine oil heater would work against the viscosity of the motor oil. Like trying drink a McDonalds shake or a Wendy's Frosty through a straw without letting it melt somewhat first.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Big Dog on August 15, 2014, 09:03:42 PM
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Curmudgeoness

I think the only coupons I use anymore are for toilet paper

No wonder she has a sensitive bottom. Coupons make terrible toilet paper.

Don't ask me how I know this shit.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: DefiantSix on August 17, 2014, 01:47:57 AM
Indeed - However, Id say that the relatively low output of the heating element coupled with a much thinner passage for the heated oil to circulate though than a genuine oil heater would work against the viscosity of the motor oil. Like trying drink a McDonalds shake or a Wendy's Frosty through a straw without letting it melt somewhat first.

However, the idiot did say she was taking the percolation system out of the equation specifically. Essentially, all she has is a vessel for holding hot fluids, a heating element for making fluids hot, and - soon to be boiling - oil. Given thaat she's also talking about leaving off the lid to the percolator, and has said nothing about sealing up the pour spout with anything, I can foresee any number of possible scenarios - a good portion of them involving the DUmbshit consuming s/h/it's favorite mind altering substance to excess - where the DUmbass will acquire first hand experience of what it felt like to attack a castle that wasn't through being beseiged yet.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: 98ZJUSMC on August 17, 2014, 07:10:25 AM
Quote
Several weeks ago the only electrical outlet in my master bathroom (100 yr-old house) got taken out by a power company surge or something.

:thatsright:

Replace the receptacle, you idiot.  You presume to be able to "MacGyver" a solution to a problem that takes 15 minutes, a flat tip screwdriver, a pair of Lineman's pliers and an IQ over 60 to fix?

 :hammer: :hammer: :hammer:

Then again, electricity to some of these idiots, is magic coming out of the wall, invented by a muslim/black guy (take your pick) a hundred years before the evil Columbus sailed for the states, can only be solved by chanting and should be provided free by the government. 

So a member of the bestest smartest people in the world can't google "How to change an outlet"? They probably got youtube vids on how to do it.

My goodness! I could change an outlet when I was like 8 yrs old!!!

And they call us stupid?   :mental:

Heh!  Should have read upthread comments first.   :-)   :cheersmate:
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: 98ZJUSMC on August 17, 2014, 07:28:21 AM
Jebus, these people never want to do things the right way. A 100 year old house probably needs the entire electrical system overhauled from the meter forward.

If you do it right you only have to do it once.  :mental:

Exactly, but if the brain dead can't fix a simple receptacle, I'm fairly certain this conclusion and the expense is waaaaay beyond it's means.  My house was only 30 years old when I rewired it.  I hated where the breaker box was and wanted to bury the 200Amp service from a drop line.

I just have a access panel now to a bank of junction boxes I had to install.  If Mike Holmes doesn't like it?  Tough. 
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: GOBUCKS on August 17, 2014, 01:36:56 PM
I sure hope this DUmmy decides to deep fry her Thanksgiving turkey, and then puts it on YouTube.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: miskie on August 17, 2014, 02:43:54 PM
However, the idiot did say she was taking the percolation system out of the equation specifically. Essentially, all she has is a vessel for holding hot fluids, a heating element for making fluids hot, and - soon to be boiling - oil.

I missed that part. What a DUmbass.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: RobJohnson on September 16, 2014, 04:31:11 AM
I think the DUmmie needs to set up a Wishadoo! account for a new space heater.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: obumazombie on September 16, 2014, 12:03:28 PM
No wonder she has a sensitive bottom. Coupons make terrible toilet paper.

Don't ask me how I know this shit.

I'm asking.
And furthermore, don't we have a sigline from one of our members that will solve this whole mystery ?
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Dori on September 16, 2014, 12:17:31 PM
I think the DUmmie needs to set up a Wishadoo! account for a new space heater.

I think the problem is the plug or electrical wiring.
Title: Re: primitive percolates oil to heat bedroom
Post by: Big Dog on September 17, 2014, 08:04:36 AM
I'm asking.

It's a DUmmy tale, oft told.

Once upon a time, there was  a DUmmy named fizzy, who had a husband named Mr. fizz. fizzy loved to smoke pot, drink beer, and eat gut bombs, which gave her the appearance and demeanor of a koala bear. Mr. fizz loved to screw a chick in his bicycle club- but that is neither here nor there.

One day, fizzy and Mr. fizz were sitting in the living room reading a newspaper fizzy "found" on the neighbor's front porch. Mr. fizz found a coupon in the newspaper, as coupons may often be found.

Mr. fizz handed the coupon to fizzy and said, "Here's a coupon for toilet paper." fizzy, who was buzzing from a half a bowl of Colorado Kush, just nodded, took the coupon, and shuffled off to the bathroom.

About 15 minutes later, Mr. fizz realized his wife had been gone a long time, and went to check on her. He found fizzy sitting on the toilet, covered in shit from her chinny-chin-chin to her toes, crying. She held a tiny shit-covered object in her hand.

"What in the hell happened?", Mr. fizz roared.

"You told me that the coupon was for toilet paper!", fizzy cried, as she waved the tiny shit-covered scrap of paper

"No, no, no!" Mr. fizz shouted. "You take the coupon to the store and you buy the toilet paper!"

And with that, Mr. fizz left fizzy crying on the toilet and went across town to get some primo bicycle-chick sex.

The end.

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And furthermore, don't we have a sigline from one of our members that will solve this whole mystery ?

Something to do with fire, if I'm not mistakenl.  :-)