I cut and pasted from the natural database site, just the basics. This is a medical databae and they are talking about the extracted medical dose not the unprocessed fruit. Probably more than you wanted to know. Human useage: Orally, bitter melon is used to treat diabetes, psoriasis, gastrointestinal upset, ulcers, colitis, constipation, intestinal worms, urinary tract stones (kidney stones), fever, and hepatic disease. It is also used orally to induce menstruation and as supportive therapy for patients with AIDS/HIV. Topically, bitter melon is used for skin abscesses and wounds, and anorectal herpes lesions. Safety ...when used orally and appropriately, short-term. Extracts of bitter melon fruit appear to be safe for up to 3 months There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of bitter melon when used topically. PREGNANCY: LIKELY UNSAFE ...when used orally. Proteins from bitter melon fruit and juice can stimulate menstruation and have caused abortion in animals LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using Adverse reactions: Orally, bitter melon is well-tolerated at a dose of 1 gram three times daily (extract dose) for several weeks. In some patients it can cause diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, and epigastric pain. Ingestion of the seeds has been associated with headaches. Two cases of hypoglycemic coma and seizures have occurred in children after drinking bitter melon tea. Elevated liver function tests have been reported in animal studies, but the clinical significance is unknown. Interaction with dieseas: DIABETES: Bitter melon can lower blood glucose levels and might have additive effects when used with antidiabetes drugs. This might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE (G6PD) DEFICIENCY: People with G6PD deficiency are at risk for developing favism after ingesting bitter melon seeds. Vicine found in the seeds is related to constituents of fava beans. Favism is characterized by hemolytic anemia, headache, fever, stomach pain, and coma. Advise these patients to avoid bitter melon. SURGERY: Bitter melon might affect blood glucose levels. Theoretically, bitter melon might interfere with blood glucose control during and after surgical procedures. Tell patients to discontinue bitter melon at least 2 weeks before elective surgical procedures.

I have to run out but will try to answer some (if not all!) of your questions later tonight. Here are some close-up pics of our Turbonics kickheaters: First pic is the side of the island facing our pantry wall and the doorway to the kitchen. Second pic is the side of the island facing the sink wall. We used the black plastic grates supplied with the units--they fade away and are barely visible unless you are looking for them. They do (or did) offer metallic-look plastic (much like the silver pedal on our trash cab opener I'd imagine), but we opted to stick with the ones we had. We have ours hooked up to switches seen here (had the switchplate made to custom specs by arnev.com--took a few tries to get it right, and DH had to carve out the back of the final version a little to fit the switches in snugly, but the end result is perfect): There are various options for hooking them up as you seem to already know; with or without having them hooked up to the switches, including running both (or in your case, all three) units off one switch. We mostly run ours on low speed, unless it's bitterly cold, and we want to jump-start the warming! :-) Anyway, have to run, but will pop in later with more info. FWIW, we are very happy with ours, and our plumber, who tried to talk us out of getting kick-heaters, was impressed with these when he installed them and tested them out. PS If you do a search at the bottom of the Kitchen Forum page, you might find some older threads with some of my posts about Turbonics.

I usually just lurk here but I'm attaching a link to an upholstery class in Chicago. I don't know of it's close to you but they might be able to steer you to someone closer to you if they don't work out. I have never upholstered myself but I think it would be in your best interest to practice on a piece first, especially if you are going to be doing antique furniture. It can be easy to split the wood if you don't know what you are doing. As for your tools, does it take staples? When ever I buy staples there are always those marked for upholstery so I assume they get used. Is your fabric specifically for upholstery? If so, then all cotton is great as long as it's rated for high usage (a lot of rubs). You might want to rethink using regular fabric. It won't wear well and won't look as nice on the furniture. I think a hands on class will help to answer a lot of your questions. Here is a link that might be useful: upholstery class in chicago

A vapor barrier - even if you could seal at every possible place that air will move between the inside and outside - will not protect you from radiant heating. If you have an option to have a shed builder construct the shed for you, they typically give options to do a full air sealing and insulation. You should probably tell us what climate zone you are in, and what are typical extreme temperatures in summer and winter.