Quick Survival Trick Picture Thread

[angelofwar]

You carry three different items that all do the same thing?

Redundancy on some items is actually VERY smart. Things that you should always have more than one of is:
-Means of fire
-Means of water
-Flashlight
-Knife
-Weapon (Gun/Knife/ 2 guns, etc.)

The more you ratchet up the "oh-shit"ness of a disaster/ZPAW Event, the more that 2 is 1, and 1 is none becoems true.

[Murph]

Okay... To get this back on track with pictures... Here's another little thing I've starting doing. I bought a box of nitrile gloves, but have been re-wrapping them. Instead of crumpling up the paper napkin rings you get with your silverware at some restaurants, pocket them for later. You can reuse them as glove wraps. I fold the gloves in thirds, from the fingers to the wrists, and then wrap.

[angelofwar]

Okay... To get this back on track with pictures... Here's another little thing I've starting doing. I bought a box of nitrile gloves, but have been re-wrapping them. Instead of crumpling up the paper napkin rings you get with your silverware at some restaurants, pocket them for later. You can reuse them as glove wraps. I fold the gloves in thirds, from the fingers to the wrists, and then wrap.

Neat trick Murph! They seam to hold up pretty well???

[Roshambo]

This thread is full of awesome. Never said "Doh!" to myself so many times in a row.

I know, right!? lol

Howdy, just wanted to chip in a couple that work for me. I hope it might help someone...

With my little car/ghb I was having a bit of trouble finding a spot to put glowsticks where they wouldn't get bent or beat up. I found one, but it's tough to get to quickly. So, if you have this style of water bottle, (when it's seated) it holds one stick surprisingly snug and easy to reach.

Also, I wanted something simple to hang the fubar with, flexible as far as where it's attached, etc. Using some extra bdu belt that had been trimmed off, it makes for a decent little hanger-thingy. It was going to be a temporary fix, but it's looking like it might work out.

[angelofwar]

Awesome idea on the Fatmax holder! I'll probably end up conconting one of these for my SOG Hatchet.

[Murph]

My new "kydex" axe sheath. I heated up some plastic house siding, folded and molded. Then used some eyelets I had laying around. Trimmed it up and topped it off with some bungie cord. It's not exactly pretty, but it's functional.

I saw the idea here:
viewtopic.php?p=1988362#p1988362

Thanks maldon007!!

[Murph]

One might ask, "Hey Murph, how do I look like a bad-ass with my Tourniquets attached to my MOLLE gear?"
Well, I'll show you!

First cut about a foot of shock cord (thin bungie cord) then loop it through the PALS. Take the ends and knot them together. It might take some trial and error to get the right loop length. Once you've got it, cut off any extra cord and melt the ends briefly with a lighter.


From there rotate the knots inward so they won't catch on anything.


Shown here are two CAT TQs that are wrapped up and slid through the shock cord. They're tight enough that they won't go anywhere, but easy enough to pull off and apply in an emergency.

[angelofwar]

Awesome ideas murph! Thanks for sharing!

[Kidd101]

Great thread.
Tag for later when I can get some pics.

[deadcat7382]

tagging this one!

[Tetra Grammaton Cleric]

Also tagged.

My camera phone might eventually start talking to my laptop again and I have a few gear tricks...

Good thread idea, great ideas so far.

-

[foghern]

Tagged

[CannonDC]

Tagged

[Andy in NH]

Girth-hitching a short piece of cordage around a tree and adding a small snap-link gives you a quick pack hanger to keep your gear off the ground and make it easier to rummage through:

[moab]

Girth-hitching a short piece of cordage around a tree and adding a small snap-link gives you a quick pack hanger to keep your gear off the ground and make it easier to rummage through:

Seeing this as someone with a bad back. This is a great idea. Keeps you from stooping all the time. Which kills my back. I can stand just fine. But that damn stooping. Kills me.

Patrick

[moab]

If you've ever needed to pad something (pack edges, feet where boots wear on you, things that poke you, walking stick handle, axe handle, tool handle, things that would otherwise wear a hole somewhere) this is the stuff to use. It's PVC insulation tape. Can be found cheap in the PVC section at your hardware store. One side is adhesive. But I have found that if I put it down and then cover it with duct tape. It has added strength. Or even laying a layer of duct tape down - then a layer of padding - then a layer of duct tape. Is best. As it will peel right off without any residue. The adhesive on the PVC insulation tape is pretty hardcore. It's quite dense foam padding. And best of all it's cheap. It can even be used to pad your feet in places where a boot on a long hike might rub.





Second things (I've posted these elsewhere I'm sure) is using a small piece of cardboard to wrap up some 50lb braided fishing line. This is the best fishing line, sewing thread(!), wrap, fastening string, boot stitching, repair thing ever! (I also carry an awl with this thread in it.) I cut a little t-bone shape of cardboard and wrapped up a good 200-300 yards IIRC. Comes out very small. As opposed to the original 3" plastic reel it comes on. I also use a ton of little tiny 6mil ziplock bags. In the 2x2 to 4x6 range. They are great for organizing everything. I keep my fire kits, fishing kits, small tool kits, first aid kits and individual first aid items etc etc in them. They are a life saver. As opposed to a pouch full of crap you have to rummage thru. Some of my pouches fit a 4x4 ziplock perfectly. And 6 mil are very sturdy. Makes the pouch almost like a catalog index card group of bags that you can just flip thru to find what you want.

[BullOnParade]

Here's a useful way to store condiments for the trail;

What you need:

Drinking straw
Scissors
Paper
Condiment of choice


Trim the straw,
2 pieces about 1inch long and the rest in tact.
This was a bendy straw, I trimmed the part that bends, and cut the short piece in two.


Fold one end of the straw, slide one of your short pieces over the end.


Pour one serving of your condiment on the paper. Crease one edge and trickle the condiment into the open end of the straw (paper funnels also work).


Seal the open end the same way you closed the other. I flag the straw with tape and mark what's inside.

I'd like to get some large straws and try putting a serving of instant coffee with the sugar in the same straw.

[Ten Eight]

Here's a useful way to store condiments for the trail;

What you need:

Drinking straw
Scissors
Paper
Condiment of choice


Trim the straw,
2 pieces about 1inch long and the rest in tact.
This was a bendy straw, I trimmed the part that bends, and cut the short piece in two.


Fold one end of the straw, slide one of your short pieces over the end.


Pour one serving of your condiment on the paper. Crease one edge and trickle the condiment into the open end of the straw (paper funnels also work).


Seal the open end the same way you closed the other. I flag the straw with tape and mark what's inside.

I'd like to get some large straws and try putting a serving of instant coffee with the sugar in the same straw.

AWESOME!

[BullOnParade]

A friend just posted this to Facebook.

They call them "life hacks", I call them "Quick Survival Trick Pictures" (Even if they don't have a lot to do with "Survival").

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/01/50-life-hacks-to-simplify-your-world/

[elkhills]

A Copenhagen can makes a good single use "Buddy Burner"


More ideas here viewtopic.php?f=34&t=55950&hilit=buddy+burner&start=0

[Nightwing]

http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/life-hacks-how-to-make-your-life-easier-48.jpg

Bacon Pancakes.....my god it is so simple, why have I never thought of it before???

[glaston]

Using medium gauge clear PVC sheeting, and a simple women's hair straightener, you can create sealed packages for storing items.
In the photo I have some backup fire starting materials I keep in my bag.
I've sealed a lot of shit with this method though. Resealed some stripped MRE's and added my own contents to make custom MRE's. The seal is strong enough to use as a makeshift flotation device if you sealed air. I try to remove the air to save space. But I also have some water packets that I made by sealing ice cubes with this method.
I've sealed electronics, gun parts, 1st aid items, etc..
Once you open the package in the field you can't reseal it though. So you want to plan it out and not seal a bunch of items that you aren't gonna use after you open it.

I set the hair straightener to it's lowest setting and press the edges of the plastic between it for barely a second. If you press it together too long it warps and melts the plastic. When done properly, the edges are perfectly straight and take on the texture of the surface of the hair straighteners hot plates. You can repeat the heat application once it cools for added strength. just not too much heat or it destroys it.
This also works very well with empty pouches from rolling tobacco. Like a "Tops" pouch, which is like a mylar plastic that has a greyish inner film. That plastic material is made for heat sealing. You might be able to buy it in bulk even. I'm not sure the type of plastic that it is or i'd buy some.

[Florida_Tony]

Using medium gauge clear PVC sheeting, and a simple women's hair straightener, you can create sealed packages for storing items.

That's a great tip. Where do you get the PVC sheeting, and what exactly counts as "medium gauge"?

[glaston]

Using medium gauge clear PVC sheeting, and a simple women's hair straightener, you can create sealed packages for storing items.

That's a great tip. Where do you get the PVC sheeting, and what exactly counts as "medium gauge"?

I got a large roll of it from Menards for sealing windows in my house during winter. I just reuse it every year so I had a lot leftover. That was a few years ago so I don't remember what gauge it was exactly. But it wasn't the thinnest one they had.
It's just a roll of clear vinyl.
It's not like painters plastic, it's thicker.
It's the same plastic that things like tactical gloves or bed spreads are packaged in.
I'd say it's probably 4 or 6 mil.
You can get small rolls that are maybe 12"x20ft, or larger ones that can cover windows. When I buy more I'll get the smaller size because it's more suited for this purpose.
The large roll was less than $20. So a small roll would probably be around $10. And it lasts quite awhile unless you're sealing large items.