Survival

helitack · Post by **helitack** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:35 am

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:No shit, amigo. Thinking about doing the jump myself.

I'm still trying to figure out why there were a metric shitload of TSA officers waiting for our train when it got into Sacramento this AM. 1 or 2 for each door... and a couple standing by the walkway to the train. Gotta love this place.

BTW... speaking of gun racks... I gotta try this out...

My gun, your rack?

Post by **Elderberry** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:36 am

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:No shit, amigo. Thinking about doing the jump myself.

I'm still trying to figure out why there were a metric shitload of TSA officers waiting for our train when it got into Sacramento this AM. 1 or 2 for each door... and a couple standing by the walkway to the train. Gotta love this place.

BTW... speaking of gun racks... I gotta try this out...

I doubt that would be very concealing on the average size wearer.

JK

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:51 am

Good thing I don't deal in averages, then. (I wonder about the way the butt hits the right boob - that might get uncomfortable after a while - if it had a cant instead of str8 up and down it would prolly feel (and conceal) better...

I *have* seen the one that runs like a pair of crossdraws (butt fwd) under the arms... a friend has it, likes it but she says it has a tendency to pinch. It's set up for smaller framed sidearms (PPKish)... the spare mags sit under the boobs. Pretty cool rig. And yeah, unless you're wearing skimpy or less, it works surprisingly well.

BTW, Heli, you can put your gun on my rack anytime!

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:04 am

Firestarting. Came up on another list. Saw they recommended one of these expensive torch lighters, but I've had lousy luck with them.

Just got a couple firesteels - one for my bag, one for my wife's. Played with it a bit-once I got the "protective gray coating" off it it seemed to work pretty well. Been thinkingiabout tinder - some say use wood, others say cotton balls soaked in vaseline. I was thinking about impregnating that with magnesium powder - what do you think? good or bad?

Q - what do you rely on for emoergency fire? someone said a zippo but the things evaporate out fuel pretty quick. What else can be used in a zippo besides zippo fuel? There's the ubiquiteous Bic lighter - they seem to last for years and years and still work. comments?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:45 am

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:Thanks for continuing the OT stuff elsewhere!

Firestarting. Came up on another list. Saw they recommended one of these expensive torch lighters, but I've had lousy luck with them.

Just got a couple firesteels - one for my bag, one for my wife's. Played with it a bit-once I got the "protective gray coating" off it it seemed to work pretty well. Been thinkingiabout tinder - some say use wood, others say cotton balls soaked in vaseline. I was thinking about impregnating that with magnesium powder - what do you think? good or bad?

Q - what do you rely on for emoergency fire? someone said a zippo but the things evaporate out fuel pretty quick. What else can be used in a zippo besides zippo fuel? There's the ubiquiteous Bic lighter - they seem to last for years and years and still work. comments?

Sue, The fire wheels will woek great.. ( I use flint strikers) To catch the sparks use fine steel wool.. I have built a couple Rocket Stove.. The flint and steelwool work great with them.. Will bring a rocket Stove to the playa this year.. You can cook a good sized meal with a small bundel of twigs.. Any kind of chem lighter or starter fual messes with your food taste.. OH, And keep the steel wool in a plastic jar type container.. Also I have a (brand name) WetFire stove.. It and one fual shot is 13.04g.. Just dig a sloped hole the size of you pan for a wind break.. Then again the chem fual taste.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:55 am

Theres always a flashlight with dead batteries.

Remove the reflector, poke a stick up through the middle, and point it at the sun.

Works every time.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:00 am

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:Thanks for continuing the OT stuff elsewhere!

Firestarting. Came up on another list. Saw they recommended one of these expensive torch lighters, but I've had lousy luck with them.

Just got a couple firesteels - one for my bag, one for my wife's. Played with it a bit-once I got the "protective gray coating" off it it seemed to work pretty well. Been thinkingiabout tinder - some say use wood, others say cotton balls soaked in vaseline. I was thinking about impregnating that with magnesium powder - what do you think? good or bad?

Q - what do you rely on for emoergency fire? someone said a zippo but the things evaporate out fuel pretty quick. What else can be used in a zippo besides zippo fuel? There's the ubiquiteous Bic lighter - they seem to last for years and years and still work. comments?

I also have some firesteels in both of our vehicles and plan on getting more of them. As far as firestarter, I also use the cotton balls and vaseline mix, but I also mix in dryer lint as well. I don't have any advice on the mag powder.

I also carry a number of bic lighters. I have 2 of the windproof survival lighters I bought from Campmor, 1 works great, the other did as well till I needed to refuel it but wasnt able to. So, 50/50 on those. Zippo's are nice as well, have one of those also. I like to have multiple fire starters, I also stock waterproof matches.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:06 am

.
Boy Scouts sold fire starter at one time.. They were made up in tuna cans.

Cut cardboard in strips.. Wind the strips into the tuna can.. Melt and pour wax over the cardboard.. Leave the cardboard above the wax so it can be lite. These were sold as fireplace starters.. But I think you coukd cook over one if needed..

moonrise · Post by **moonrise** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:35 am

unjonharley, I saw those on tribe.net, they used BACON GREASE (or candle wax)

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:50 pm

FIGJAM wrote:Theres always a flashlight with dead batteries.

Remove the reflector, poke a prick up through the middle, and point it at the sun.

Works every time.

I still don't understand

I just leave Bics here and there. It seems that when you really need a fire, there isn't any dry wood to be found. If you don't have vaseline and cotton,,, drain oil and sawdust works well. Magnesium ribbon works OK but, you need to get it to a pretty high temp to ignite.
A couple of "space blankets" are a great idea also. They can be left everywhere without taking up much space.

Trishntek · Post by **Trishntek** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:58 pm

If you still have a few antiquated "film cans" for 35mm film. I still have a couple around with sawdust soaked with diesel fuel. You can light them with pretty much anything that throws a spark,,,, even shorting out a 9V battery is enough heat to start a flame.

We also like the magnesium/steel fire starters and have them scattered pretty much everywhere for emergency fires.

We have an ecclectic collection of Zippo lighters and always keep extra flint and fuel on hand. We also have Bics scattered all over the place. Magnifying glass is also kept handy here and there,,,, mostly cuz we cannot see like we used to,,,, but can make fire in a pinch.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:13 pm

Jeeze, I just reread my post.

Sorry for the confusion.

The reflector act like a small solar oven.

When you poke a twig through the back of the reflector and point it at the sun, it will ignite at the focal point.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:22 pm

I have a dumb question (yes, I know there are no such things!)... I know It's supposedly possible to replace the wick in a Zippo... how? I've tried a couple times and so far have a couple wick-less Zippos for the effort

I'm going to experiment with the cotton/vaseline/mag pwdr later... will let you know if it's OK, awesome, or stupid (eg burn the house down)... but I am thinking if it works I could damn near ignite wet wood (plenty of that in my woodstack right now!) using the combo...

Oh yeah - has anyone here successfully built a fire using the bow method more than once? I remember it being such a PITA it was worth doing anytng to not deal with that hassle again...

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:38 pm

figjam, your post was completely understandable. In a feeble attempt at humor, I changed stick to prick.
Sue, if you go looking for Magnesium to file down to a powder, look for an old; lightweight triangular highjump bar. Old VW engine cases were fairly pure magnesium. I've filed a TON of it. Just be sure not to mix the magnesium filings with the powder from a highway flare in a mixture of 1 part mag to 3 parts flare powder. That makes red flash powder. It actually burns slower than photo-flash powder. I expect that one spark from flint would light it up nicely.

Trishntek · Post by **Trishntek** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:45 pm

Most quality cigar shops have the replacement wick and reservoir material for Zippo. I've never done it, but would think a needle and a roach cli,,,,errrr hemostat would be the only tools necessary.

The real key to using the bow for "rubbing two sticks" thing is having dry tinder and a stable base to keep the stick focused on one spot. The steel wool with wood/bark shavings works pretty good. I used to teach survival at youth camps and Search and Rescue conventions. It is indeed a PITA and requires patience and stamina. Even under the best of circumstances it take a good 5 minutes of continuous masturbating action to get sufficient smoldering to get a flame.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:50 pm

Bay Bridge Sue wrote:I have a dumb question (yes, I know there are no such things!)... I know It's supposedly possible to replace the wick in a Zippo... how? I've tried a couple times and so far have a couple wick-less Zippos for the effort

I'm going to experiment with the cotton/vaseline/mag pwdr later... will let you know if it's OK, awesome, or stupid (eg burn the house down)... but I am thinking if it works I could damn near ignite wet wood (plenty of that in my woodstack right now!) using the combo...

Oh yeah - has anyone here successfully built a fire using the bow method more than once? I remember it being such a PITA it was worth doing anytng to not deal with that hassle again...

Run flos through the hole.. Wrap the flos tightly around the new wick..Pull in aways then back a little then pull. Go gental Trying to push it in.. Is a lot like pushing a noddle up a wild cats ya

The solid fuel tablets they have for sports stoves are real cheap.. You can find them along with a tin stove.. The tin stove would handel your cotton ball"thing"

That rubing two stick togeather might work if you put some steel wool in..

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:32 am

First comes air,,, then water,,, then food. Don't forget.
"To feed all those mouths, "we will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as we have in the last 8,000," said Jason Clay"
"By 2050 we will not have a planet left that is recognizable" if current trends continue, Clay said."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110220/ts ... lationfood

Post by **Elderberry** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:44 am

can't sit still wrote:First comes air,,, then water,,, then food. Don't forget.
"To feed all those mouths, "we will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as we have in the last 8,000," said Jason Clay"
"By 2050 we will not have a planet left that is recognizable" if current trends continue, Clay said."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110220/ts ... lationfood

It will become easier as growing meet in a laboratory is close to being perfected according to an article I read recently in Scientific America.

JK

Post by **Elderberry** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 8:15 am

Just thought I'd post this here as who could better give survival tips and possibly win something for doing so. I bought my camping oven and stove from this company and recommend them highly. I'm sure this contest is to get fans on their Facebook page, but I think the odds of winning are goingto be pretty good. http://www.outdoorcooking.com/eblasts/O ... ml#contest

JK

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:49 pm

jk, you will still need some kind of "stock" to grow meat. I don't imagine that the poor in Pakistan will be able to grow it anyway. Food reserves are at a very low level;
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-2 ... rowth.html
It is absolute insanity to grow corn for ethanol when it cuts down on the acreage available for edible corn. We subsidize the ethanol corn. What overall gain is there? Ignoring of course the farmers who receive the subsidies.

Trishntek · Post by **Trishntek** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:05 pm

Hang on to your butt! $4 /gallon gasoline by Friday! I just replenished my stockpile today at $3.80

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:54 pm

Corn is fucking topsoil. We're dumping topsoil into the Atlantic.
10,000 years to make it. It's nuts.
Hydrogen 3. I'm all for it. We got no budget though to make it happen.
Fuck.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:03 am

Trishntek wrote:Hang on to your butt! $4 /gallon gasoline by Friday! I just replenished my stockpile today at $3.80

What's a source for gasoline stabilizer? Is it like available at Wallyworld, or on line or ??? I've never used the stuff before, but it's starting to look like maybe a good idea...

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:15 am

Its called "Stabil" I believe and they sell it at autozone.

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:24 pm

Pep Boys sells it here, and so does Home Depot.

JK

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:17 pm

$9.36 a gallon over here - its part of why i can't afford a car

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:25 pm

graidawg wrote:$9.36 a gallon over here - its part of why i can't afford a car

Maybe if it went to $10.00 over here we'd have an incentive to move forward with alternate fuels and stop driving all the gass guzzlers.

JK

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:56 pm

Alternative firestarting might be a fun activity for a theme camp.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:38 pm

.

Tx. is super sizing there ambulances.. Everything in Tx. is bigger huh?
Survival of the fatest...

Trishntek · Post by **Trishntek** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:38 pm

I just refreshed my stash of gasoline and used Stabile. 2 oz per 5 gallons is supposed to keep it for a year.

Large in TX for sure! I was training someone to do my field of expertise in Dallas. 80% of the patients were over 250#.

While driving through L.A. today, I saw diesel for $4.30 per gallon. I filled up in Ventura for $4/gal today.