Found an old electric lawn mower in the shed when we bought our house. Removed the motor and snapped a couple picts. It runs fine, but it looks to be in a bit of rough shape. Trying to figure out what to do with this. It runs at 4000RPM, so I will probably see what I can do to gear it down. Anyhow, just wanted to share:

Ooh! Take it apart! (carefully) See what you can do with a wire brush & blower to clean it up. Good strong motor like that, ready for 110VAC power, absolutely SOMETHING useful & shop-worthy can be made out of it. I've been thinking about cyclonic dust-collection designs; that could easily become a blower motor.

(also, I wouldn't consider this "off-topic"; give yourself a little credit )

I would have posted it to the Local Makers topic, but for some reason, I can't create a topic over there. Anyhow, I'm looking at using it to run my grain mill, but I'd need to gear it down to about 300-400RPMs. I need a Dremel, so I can work on the rust and caked-on grass, but I think that the wife is planning on getting it for me for Father's Day this year. If I ruin another of her gifts by purchasing it for myself (see XBox 360, chest freezer, blowtorch), I will be inflicting willful damage upon my lower region.

I'm thinking, re-assemble the lawnmower, cannibalize an industrial fan for the blades, make a skirt out of an old innertube and have yourself a quick and dirty hovercraft.

I've always wanted to try that.

Sweet monkey, I'm not that light. I'd burn out the motor in no time.

I think I might have an extra IIRC; lemme check & make sure. Gonna be at Common Roots this coming Wednesday eve?

Oh I doubt that. You can make a working hoverboard out of plywood, innertube, duct tape & an electric leafblower. No need to use the big motor.

Yeah, I think so. As long as we're still getting together. Sounds like we don't have the room. Yay, cacophony!

By the way, getting a basic Dremel unit plus a couple of wheels doesn't automatically ruin a Father's Day gift. Think of the accessories!