The Poor Man’s Prepping

[KnightoftheRoc]

You are so funny! Pry a truck off an orphan's leg. What's an E-tool, btw? I've not noticed something called a hobo-tool there. What is it?

And thanks to both you and Lynn LeFey for clarifying the 'saw' thing for me.

Some E-tools (Entrenching Tool) based on the tri-fold design currently used by the US army and a few others: http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng ... raint=4125

The hobo tool- it's like a Swiss Army knife, sorta, but locks the two sections together into one unit for storage or use as other than eating utensils: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-H ... l/19718066 I don't consider it a particularly recommended piece of kit, but it's not entirely wasted space in a pack, either.

[Lynn LeFey]

An e-tool is an entrenching tool, like a folding shovel.

Here's an example of a hobo tool, basically a set of folding utensils all together.
http://www.amazon.com/Knife-Kingdom-BK697-Classic-Hobo-Tool/dp/B000MMXBIE

I personally think that for utensils, just go to Goodwill or some similar place and get the sturdiest stainless flatware they have for as cheap as possible.

Ooop... Knight ninja'd me.

Also, you can find a good pre-owned swiss army knife at the following location for cheap. $10 to $15 can usually get a really nice one, and they usually have Campers, which have a great saw. Prices listed include delivery.
http://www.edcsource.com/FELINEVET-SWISS-ARMY-KNIFE-STORE,name,100015,user_id,shop

[elektrik]

I am the supporter of idea that the knife should be a knife, the spoon should be a spoon, all of combination three in one and so forth destroy useful properties of separate subjects, all this isn't fully good
I have the tool high-grade, separately плоскогубы, separately a hacksaw, separately a screw-driver, separately a stamestka, separately thieves' фомка and so forth as separate tools can be made better than three in one. All tool I carry in a backpack weight of 2 kgs of tools.
In a nosimy emergency stock I have small мультитул 7 cm the size, really necessary combination of functions in favor of volume reduction, in other cases combination of functions of tools in one device is harmful and isn't practical

три в одном

[zombiepreparation]

Oooooooo.... You guys are good. I actually did see Ozark Trail Hobo Tool at WalMart. What I was actually looking for (not to buy yet of course) was Wenzel Chow Outdoor Utensil Set. I had one of those for years and years and years and they are still only $5. It was so thin lightweight and compact which is probably why I didn't linger on the hobo tool when I saw it. But now I remember I did see it. I window shop a lot.

Our Goodwill has stopped selling flatware completely. Good idea, although I seem to be having challenges with securing my BOB flatware; they don't nest and they don't stay together so I keep 'looking' for the spoon or the fork or the knife. I've just given up and have only packed a spoon now to lessen the annoyance.

Aren't those E-tools heavy? I seem to remember they are heavy. I just pack a rather large one piece stainless steel garden trowel and it is lightweight because of the way the handle is crafted.

[elektrik]

Aren't those E-tools heavy? I seem to remember they are heavy. I just pack a rather large one piece stainless steel garden trowel and it is lightweight because of the way the handle is crafted.

The weight of tools at me made 2 kg (flat-nose pliers, a file, a saw, a screw-driver, a knife, on a tree, and other). But I can make these tools much and quickly. Efficiency is higher more than at three in one.

On a tree I made a hacksaw short, it easily is located in a backpack. Ground a nazhozhvka cloth from both edges, at one edge a big stride of teeth (to saw a log), on other small.

About tableware. The fork this superfluous, is enough spoon from aluminum.

ru
Вес инструментов у меня составил 2 кг (пласкогубцы, напильник, пила, отвертка, нож, по дереву, и прочее). Но я могу этими инструментами сделать много и быстро. Эффективность выше больше, чем при три в одном.

Ножовку по дереву я сделал короткой, она легко помещается в рюкзак. Заточил полотно нажожвки с обоих краев, на одном краю крупный шаг зубов (пилить бревно), на другой мелкий.

Про столовые приборы. Вилка это лишнее, достаточно ложки из аллюминия.

[KnightoftheRoc]

Oooooooo.... You guys are good. I actually did see Ozark Trail Hobo Tool at WalMart. What I was actually looking for (not to buy yet of course) was Wenzel Chow Outdoor Utensil Set. I had one of those for years and years and years and they are still only $5. It was so thin lightweight and compact which is probably why I didn't linger on the hobo tool when I saw it. But now I remember I did see it. I window shop a lot.
I've bought ONE- haven't really given it a good workout yet.
Our Goodwill has stopped selling flatware completely. Good idea, although I seem to be having challenges with securing my BOB flatware; they don't nest and they don't stay together so I keep 'looking' for the spoon or the fork or the knife. I've just given up and have only packed a spoon now to lessen the annoyance.
Walmart has the lock-together flatware sets, too- they come in a clear and brown plastic sleeve. Another 5 dollars or less item.
Aren't those E-tools heavy? I seem to remember they are heavy. I just pack a rather large one piece stainless steel garden trowel and it is lightweight because of the way the handle is crafted.

They can be, a bit. Depends on what you're used to, I guess. I have the folding trowel too (another item available at Wally's), which is great for digging a quick cat hole on the fly. I think it was Jeriah on here who created the TASK (Take A Shit Kit), which is a folding trowel and some TP from an MRE kit in the trowel pouch. An E-tool can be used for it, too, but a trowel won't cut roots, or get the job done in the shorter amount of time- you CAN dig a 2 man foxhole with a trowel, soil permitting, but- would you WANT to?
Every job has a best choice for a tool- an E-tool isn't the BEST tool for much, but it does cover an awful lot of jobs. There's a reason it's been in use for so long.

[majorhavoc]

The weight of tools at me made 2 kg (flat-nose pliers, a file, a saw, a screw-driver, a knife, on a tree, and other). But I can make these tools much and quickly. Efficiency is higher more than at three in one.

On a tree I made a hacksaw short, it easily is located in a backpack. Ground a nazhozhvka cloth from both edges, at one edge a big stride of teeth (to saw a log), on other small.

About tableware. The fork this superfluous, is enough spoon from aluminum.

Your translated Russian reads in English as lovely poetry.

Never again will I see a wood saw as anything but a big stride of teeth.

Forks to me now are forever superfluous; for is enough: spoon from aluminum.

[Lynn LeFey]

I completely agree that forks aren't necessary. Spoons... well, there are just some things you're going to WANT a spoon for.

No flatware at Goodwill: That is a complete bummer. Maybe try yard sales? Or, let's be honest, just take a big sturdy tablespoon out of your drawer of cutlery.

EDIT on flatware: You can drill a hole through the handles of flatware and tie them together with a short bit of line. Wrapping it up the handles also prevents them from clanking around in your pack.

E-tool: Here's something important to consider. If you get an e-tool. DON'T get a cheap one. I've had 2, a cheap one (which broke), and a somewhat more expensive one (which broke). If it breaks, it's worthless. I'd rather someone go out and buy a regular shovel for $10 and cut the handle down to a more manageable length. I have lost every single bit of faith in ever finding an inexpensive AND reliable e-tool.

Zombiepreparation: Look at your private messages! I sent you one. Top of the page, the line that starts with 'User Control Panel'. Right next to that is the link to your private messages. Click on that. Read my message and respond, please.

[zombiepreparation]

Aren't those E-tools heavy? I seem to remember they are heavy. I just pack a rather large one piece stainless steel garden trowel and it is lightweight because of the way the handle is crafted.

The weight of tools at me made 2 kg (flat-nose pliers, a file, a saw, a screw-driver, a knife, on a tree, and other). But I can make these tools much and quickly. Efficiency is higher more than at three in one.

On a tree I made a hacksaw short, it easily is located in a backpack. Ground a nazhozhvka cloth from both edges, at one edge a big stride of teeth (to saw a log), on other small.

About tableware. The fork this superfluous, is enough spoon from aluminum.

ru
Вес инструментов у меня составил 2 кг (пласкогубцы, напильник, пила, отвертка, нож, по дереву, и прочее). Но я могу этими инструментами сделать много и быстро. Эффективность выше больше, чем при три в одном.

Ножовку по дереву я сделал короткой, она легко помещается в рюкзак. Заточил полотно нажожвки с обоих краев, на одном краю крупный шаг зубов (пилить бревно), на другой мелкий.

Про столовые приборы. Вилка это лишнее, достаточно ложки из аллюминия.

Hello elektrik. It is nice to meet you. I am happy you are here.

[zombiepreparation]

I am the supporter of idea that the knife should be a knife, the spoon should be a spoon, all of combination three in one and so forth destroy useful properties of separate subjects, all this isn't fully good

For me it is the same.

[zombiepreparation]

You can drill a hole through the handles of flatware and tie them together with a short bit of line. Wrapping it up the handles also prevents them from clanking around in your pack.

Yes, that is all I want... a way to attach them together.

[zombiepreparation]

E-tool: Here's something important to consider. If you get an e-tool. DON'T get a cheap one. I've had 2, a cheap one (which broke), and a somewhat more expensive one (which broke). If it breaks, it's worthless. I'd rather someone go out and buy a regular shovel for $10 and cut the handle down to a more manageable length. I have lost every single bit of faith in ever finding an inexpensive AND reliable e-tool.

I will remember this. Thanks.

[KnightoftheRoc]

E-tool: Here's something important to consider. If you get an e-tool. DON'T get a cheap one. I've had 2, a cheap one (which broke), and a somewhat more expensive one (which broke). If it breaks, it's worthless. I'd rather someone go out and buy a regular shovel for $10 and cut the handle down to a more manageable length. I have lost every single bit of faith in ever finding an inexpensive AND reliable e-tool.

I will remember this. Thanks.

This is very true. Consider- would you rather have a solid piece of gear that weighs a touch more, and lug it around all the time, or have a light-weight piece that breaks, and get's tossed out rather soon? Sometimes (OK, usually ), "solid" equates to "heavy", and there's no dependable way to get around it. A stainless canteen will outweigh the aluminum version of it, but will probably outlive you and your kids. A steel shovel will out-weigh, well, most everything- but, it'll get the job done. Every time.

[elektrik]

majorhavoc
Similarly to read English transfer, poetry)) interesting the sense, new perception of idea, I study English communicating at this forum, sometimes I understand phrases

zombiepreparation
Thanks and will arrive with you force!))) "Star wars"

ru
majorhavoc
Аналогично читать перевод английского, поэзия)) интересные смысл, новое восприятие идеи, я учу английский общаясь на данном форуме, иногда я понимаю фразы

zombiepreparation
Спасибо, да пребудет с тобой сила!))) "Звездные войны"

[zombiepreparation]

zombiepreparation
Thanks and will arrive with you force!))) "Star wars"

zombiepreparation
Спасибо, да пребудет с тобой сила!))) "Звездные войны"

Try it this way:
Thanks, and the force be with you!))) "Star Wars"

I used Google's Russian to English translator and changed it a little to sound the way English speakers would say it.

And the force be with you also, elektrik!

[majorhavoc]

majorhavoc
Similarly to read English transfer, poetry)) interesting the sense, new perception of idea, I study English communicating at this forum, sometimes I understand phrases

zombiepreparation
Thanks and will arrive with you force!))) "Star wars"

ru
majorhavoc
Аналогично читать перевод английского, поэзия)) интересные смысл, новое восприятие идеи, я учу английский общаясь на данном форуме, иногда я понимаю фразы

zombiepreparation
Спасибо, да пребудет с тобой сила!))) "Звездные войны"

Welcome to Zombie Squad elektrik. It's good to have you on board. Your Star Wars greeting translates to english exactly as I imagine Yoda really says it.

"Arrive with you the force, young Jedi. Mmmm?"

[zombiepreparation]

Poor Man's Prepping regarding Ziplocks: Learn to wash and re-use them.

Sweet, doesn't cost me $$, saves lots of $$ not buying more Ziplocks or throwing them away. No $$ spent, lots of $$ saved not buying new ones, elimination cleaning frustration that leads to them going in the garbage... priceless

[Lynn LeFey]

For some things, I think cleaning a zip-lock is fine. If you had veggies, or some such in it. If it held chicken... I really think you're better off pitching it than HOPING you cleaned the zipper out well and don't have nasty stuff growing in it. Just my opinion. YMMV.

Also, I have been messing around with fire lately, trying out a few things. I've seen a lot of folks that pack cotton balls soaked in petrolium jelly for fire starting. I don't like the mess of the petrolium jelly. I dipped some in paraffin wax. They're not messy, and they burn for about 3 minutes as a fire starter. Pretty nice, and pretty cheap. You can get blocks of paraffin wax in the baking section of most grocery stores, or get those bags of tea candles at a dollar store.

Also, concerning a good BOB spoon. I was walking through Walmart the other day, and saw that they had 4 pretty heavy-duty spoons for $1. I'm not sure if they were Table Spoons or Serving Spoons. They also had larger (certainly Serving Spoons) that look frickin' indestructible. I didn't look at the price, but if you don't mind that it's really big, it could double for light digging duty.

Also-Also... I tried out a 'Buddy Burner' last night and got 45 minutes of burn-time before it started to faulter. A buddy burner is basically a tuna can, cleaned out, then you roll up cardboard inside it, and pour melted candle wax or paraffin wax over it. It's like a giant candle, large enough to boil water.
Example of how to make one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRJiVvdfLLU

[KnightoftheRoc]

I've done the vaso-cotton, and I like the way it works, but as you say, it's rather messy to make them. How do you light the para-cotton balls? Do they take a spark, or do you need an actual flame to start them? Have you tried making this from dryer lint?

[Lynn LeFey]

I just used a bic. I haven't tried it with flint and steel. I've never tried dryer lint, but hey... that's even cheaper than cotton balls. I throw that stuff away!

When I dipped the cotton balls, I didn't completely saturate the ball, so I had a lot of fluff, and it caught super easy. I might try my magnesium block's flint rod, see how that does.

I mostly don't try too hard on the hard-core bushcraft stuff. I've never had bics fail on me, and I always carry backups. I'm considering trying to figure out a way to make a waterproof rubber cap for a bic that would both keep it dry and give it a way to be hooked on a keychain. No solution to that yet.

I did try to start a fire with a magnifying glass the other day. I keep going back to this every now and then, and keep failing with it. Doesn't matter how I build my bird's nest. I get smolder, but never flame. I smoked myself pretty hard the other day trying. (cough...cough) The lens was a $1 circular lens from Walmart. I've also tried it with the dinky lens on the Victorinox Explorer Swiss Army Knife. Again, smolder, no flames.

[zombiepreparation]

For some things, I think cleaning a zip-lock is fine. If you had veggies, or some such in it. If it held chicken... I really think you're better off pitching it than HOPING you cleaned the zipper out well and don't have nasty stuff growing in it.

Excellent advise and advise I will follow. And as most things I use them for are not meat, easy enough. Thx!

[zombiepreparation]

I just used a bic.

And speaking of the bic:

Early in this thread's history I used a lighter that didn't work anymore because of no more fuel in it... but it still made a spark with its little flint... and I started a fire quick as a flash with just that spark from the lighter flint. So I have started hanging onto my lighters to use for fire spark... just in case.

[KnightoftheRoc]

I just used a bic. I haven't tried it with flint and steel. I've never tried dryer lint, but hey... that's even cheaper than cotton balls. I throw that stuff away!

When I dipped the cotton balls, I didn't completely saturate the ball, so I had a lot of fluff, and it caught super easy. I might try my magnesium block's flint rod, see how that does.

I mostly don't try too hard on the hard-core bushcraft stuff. I've never had bics fail on me, and I always carry backups. I'm considering trying to figure out a way to make a waterproof rubber cap for a bic that would both keep it dry and give it a way to be hooked on a keychain. No solution to that yet.

I did try to start a fire with a magnifying glass the other day. I keep going back to this every now and then, and keep failing with it. Doesn't matter how I build my bird's nest. I get smolder, but never flame. I smoked myself pretty hard the other day trying. (cough...cough) The lens was a $1 circular lens from Walmart. I've also tried it with the dinky lens on the Victorinox Explorer Swiss Army Knife. Again, smolder, no flames.

They actually make a lighter keeper that you might want to look for. It's a rubber sleeve with a loop built into it, that fits tightly to the bottom of a Cricket or Bic style lighter, and has a retractable cord going to a belt hook. Not sure how it would work with the lighter in it reversed, but if I remember correctly, my fiance got hers in the dollar store, so it's not expensive, or a great waste of money if it doesn't work out.

I've never had much luck with the lens method either, but if you have "smolder", you should be able to expand upon that like a spark- in theory. Try experimenting with your dryer lint- it catches with a spark, maybe that would work well with the lens.

[Lynn LeFey]

Good to hear ZP.

Knight, I just took one of the cottonballs out and hit it with sparks from my magnesium block's flint rod, and it went right up. Apparently the way I did it... not getting the whole thing covered in wax, works great. The cotton fluff caught on the third strike of sparks.

I also just did a load of laundry, and kept the lint for later mad science!

I know the smolder SHOULD catch, but I've never got it going. I mean, I have a huge (like 30" x 40") fresnel magnifying glass, and that thing will just ignite oak instantly, but no luck with little ones. I have even tried the lenses on black paper, and used a sharpy to blacken a spot on other tinder, hoping it'd make it absorb the light better. Nothing. I tried very dark bark, ground almost to powder. Nothing. I tried dead leaves crushed as fine as i could get them... nothing. Just a lot of smoke. I've done this off-and-on for years, so when i hear folks on Youtube say they'll use the dinky magnifying glass on their Swiss Army Knife to light a fire, I just think 'man, I hope you're not betting your life on that'.