This weeks preps check-in

[bigpaul]

1. get something when you see it, not when you need it, it'll be gone by then.
2. if you don't know them, haven't worked or spent time with them, then don't trust them.
3. it is better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it.
4. 3 items are 2, 2 is 1, and 1 is none.

 

[Proud Prepper]

Like Survival rule # 2: better to have it and not need it, as need it and not have it.

Survival rule #1: Never waste more energy to get food, that you will get out of it.
Rule # 3: Always take what you get, a neglected opportunity never comes again.
#4: If you do not have time to do it right the first time, where will you find time to do it again.
#5: Never ASSUME anything, you make an ### out of U and ME.
#6: Only trust those objects you have tested yourself and proved, only trust persons the same way.
#7: Never forget to say thank you if given something, the giver will otherwise forget you.
#8: Anybody can kill someone/something, only a true leader knows when to spare a life.
#9: Do not be afraid to do the necessary, many lives depend on a good person to do the right thing.
#10: Be ready to die or kill for that which is intended to preserve your life. Your family needs you.

Live free, Gary

#11 (should be one) one is None, two is one.

 

[tmttactical]

GaRp58 "BTW, ever started a fire with a pencil? Sharpen both ends, connect small alligator clips with a piece of wire to the clips and go with them to the positive and negatives of your battery. The lead (graphite) will carry electricity like a fuse, overheat and set the wooden rest of the pencil on fire, just lay it down, cover with other tinder and wood and then connect up the battery..."

GaRp58, l will have to give the pencil idea a test out. I had not heard of this method before, thanks for posting.

 

[KateMTx]

GaRp58 "BTW, ever started a fire with a pencil? Sharpen both ends, connect small alligator clips with a piece of wire to the clips and go with them to the positive and negatives of your battery. The lead (graphite) will carry electricity like a fuse, overheat and set the wooden rest of the pencil on fire, just lay it down, cover with other tinder and wood and then connect up the battery..."

GaRp58, l will have to give the pencil idea a test out. I had not heard of this method before, thanks for posting.

I've never heard of using a pencil. I've used a 9-volt battery and a piece of steel wool to light things on fire before. How powerful of battery do you need for the pencil method?

 

[Brent S]

GaRp58 "BTW, ever started a fire with a pencil? Sharpen both ends, connect small alligator clips with a piece of wire to the clips and go with them to the positive and negatives of your battery. The lead (graphite) will carry electricity like a fuse, overheat and set the wooden rest of the pencil on fire, just lay it down, cover with other tinder and wood and then connect up the battery..."

GaRp58, l will have to give the pencil idea a test out. I had not heard of this method before, thanks for posting.

A car is a wonderful emergency kit. From it being shelter, an easily seen beacon to its battery being able to weld or start a fire. Many stranded motorists abandon their vehicle when staying with it usually increases your chances of being found.

 

[Brent S]

I've never heard of using a pencil. I've used a 9-volt battery and a piece of steel wool to light things on fire before. How powerful of battery do you need for the pencil method?

A 12v car battery has a tremendous amount of power. It would be interesting to see what you could do with a couple D cell batteries though.

 

[Brent S]

I had plans for today, but it was rainy and generally miserable all day here. I ended up lying in bed all day and eating /snacking. I guess you could say it was productive for the soul, but not anything else.

 

[Brent S]

I hit a clearance outlet and stocked up on some new clothes today. I’m not much for clothes shopping but hadn’t done it in a long time. I loaded up on a bunch of nice shirts, mostly button up long sleeves since winter is coming. Also got a belt, a few pairs of jeans and two pairs of sneakers. Felt good to get something for other than working in.

 

[GaRp58]

Ditto, the wife and I went to the village about 10 miles away and shopped. They have a second hand shop where you buy clothes by the kilo. Ski jackets, motorcycle leathers, boots and shoes, store clearances and insurance claims. Lots of this is new or only used once by the rich, they buy the newest jackets each year, their loss my gain. GP

 

[Silent Earth]

I shop for clothes once a year, 3 prs Cargos, 3 prs Jeans, 10 Polo shirts, 2 Hoodies.

 

[bigpaul]

I don't need to shop for clothes for several years.

 

[GaRp58]

I don't need to shop for clothes for several years.

Buy good, buy quality and go naked??? Makes the rest of us have thoughts....GP

 

[bigpaul]

just got so many clothes that I don't need to buy any for several years, got jackets and t shirts coming out of my ears, got enough trainers to last me a couple of years and enough heavy boots to see me out. need some more socks-can get those at our weekly market less than 1 mile away.

 

[Brent S]

I shop for clothes once a year, 3 prs Cargos, 3 prs Jeans, 10 Polo shirts, 2 Hoodies.

Yeah, I’m not likely to shop more than once a year either. I will say from a prepping standpoint it is wise to keep a lot of extra stuff on hand. If the world does change as so many here feel it will then having those extra shoes, jeans even socks and under-ware will be a really good thing without a Walmart to go to.

 

[GaRp58]

Two of my uncles were in Vietnam, one came home. When we were about 9-10 years old, he came back for R&R, being wounded for the 3rd time. He told us stories of how the VC would take the GIs boots away and make them walk barefoot. The GIs were nicknamed "soft-feet" or something near this. They could not run far (or away) without their boots. Since I was 10 and impressionable, I have since then gone barefoot year round in the house, most of the year outdoors and whenever the job or weather dictates, shoes, mostly sandals, flip-flops and rarely with socks. Got 5 pair of climbing, wandering and winter boots, but they have only been broke in and then treated and stored...
Get a few funny looks shopping, often asked if I think it is hygienic shopping barefoot. After asking how often the questioner washes his shoes to how often I wash my feet, they realise my feet are cleaner that their shoes and they just move on. Like I always say, Live free, GP

 

[GaRp58]

just got so many clothes that I don't need to buy any for several years, got jackets and t shirts coming out of my ears, got enough trainers to last me a couple of years and enough heavy boots to see me out. need some more socks-can get those at our weekly market less than 1 mile away.

Now I remember also: buying great thick socks for the wife and a grand Waxed Cotton rain and bad weather jacket with a flannel liner and a huge brass zipper in the UK. Excellent work on raingear there. Take off hoods and corduroy collars make these clothes allrounders, cold, wet or windy.

 

[bigpaul]

I don't think walking barefoot in a typical city is doable or even recommended, too much filth, refuse and muck to make it okay.
now walking barefoot in the countryside is another matter entirely.

 

[bigpaul]

Now I remember also: buying great thick socks for the wife and a grand Waxed Cotton rain and bad weather jacket with a flannel liner and a huge brass zipper in the UK. Excellent work on raingear there. Take off hoods and corduroy collars make these clothes allrounders, cold, wet or windy.

you probably mean a Barbour jacket, about the only thing for a real heavy downpour.

 

[GaRp58]

Beige/sand colour, 100% cotton, flannel inner and take out nylon liner. Original Royal Spencer. Love it.

 

[GaRp58]

I've never heard of using a pencil. I've used a 9-volt battery and a piece of steel wool to light things on fire before. How powerful of battery do you need for the pencil method?

Hi KMTx, six volts is enough, the norm is 12V. Car, boat, campers, planes, they all go with 12V. Another thing with pencils, if you can get the graphit out of the wood completely, about 2 inches long and connect the alligator clips to it, you will get a 100 watt light bulb arc out of it to use as emergency lighting/signalling.