Gravine Prototype Progress Update for August 2026
August 2026 was a month of finishing and preparing in the Gravine workshop. All of the radial guide rails and radial guide rail supports are now built, the guide rollers are varnished, and we turned our assembly sleds into a drying rack for the next round of varnishing. We also started building the cutters and jig that will make the wooden dowels for the prototype. The video below, filmed on August 11th, 24th and 26th, walks through that work.
Progress Highlights from August 2026
With the core wheel components taking shape, this month was about finishing parts, protecting them, and preparing the tools for the next stage. Here is what happened:
Radial guide rails and supports finished: James, one of our volunteers, has completed all of the radial guide rails and radial guide rail supports. The guide rollers have also been varnished.
Sleds turned into a drying rack: The sleds we used to build the guide rails got a second life. We glued and screwed leftover slats onto them and joined two sleds with beams in between. The result is a rack that holds the freshly varnished radial guide rails and supports while they dry.
New dowel cutters: The dowel cutter made earlier in the build went missing, so a replacement was cut from a length of steel pipe, with a second pipe set aside for a spare. The larger cutter, just under 1.5 inches, is now done. A smaller cutter is being shaped with the grinder and finished by hand.
Dowel-making jig: Work has started on the dowel-making jig and its parts. Once the cutters are mounted on it, we can begin producing the dowels.
Waiting on the heavy parts: The main axle and the piston weights are still being made by our supplier. We are following up with them on timing.
One practical note from the workshop: the cutters can only be ground outdoors, because of the sparks and the sawdust in the shop, so rainy days slowed that part of the work. The finished edges are very sharp, so gloves stay on at all times.
What This Means for Donors and Supporters
Every finished rail, roller and cutter brings the Gravine one step closer to a working prototype, and your support is what keeps the workshop moving. The Gravine Project is working to raise $18,000 to complete the build. Here is how you can help:
Share this update and the video with your friends, family and networks
Follow and engage with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube
Donate toward the final stages of development
Join the conversation and ask us questions about the build
Call us at (613) 416-9501, and press "2" to set-up a donation over the phone with out new fundraiser.
Donations are made through the Planetary Association for Clean Energy (PACE). Please include a memo or note that says "For Gravine Project" so that PACE can pass your gift on to the project.
Why This Project Matters
The Gravine Project aims to help communities access clean, affordable energy without relying on fossil fuels. A working prototype is the first step toward a manufacturable machine that can be carried in a cargo van and put to use where it is needed most.
Looking Ahead
Our next steps are already lined up:
Varnish the remaining radial guide rails and supports and let them dry on the new rack.
Finish the smaller dowel cutter and mount both cutters on the dowel-making jig.
Start producing the dowels.
Receive the main axle and piston weights from our supplier.
We will share the next round of progress in our upcoming update. Thank you for following along and for supporting the Gravine Project. Your continued support will be vital in turning this prototype into a real-world solution that helps communities thrive.
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