What did you do to prepare today?

Doc Ruby · 26-03-2012 5:26pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

And I'm happy to report that camp fuel works fine, maybe a little less enthusiastic but at half the cost I'm not complaining. I tried the candle test for a full ten minutes this time, still blazing away merrily, so you'll get ten to fifteen on a full tank. Found out the triplex has a little compartment for spare flints as well.

And two weeks later the triplex is dry as a bone, I'd guess the last of it went around day ten since it seemed okay on day seven. Big improvement over the zippo though. The peanut is still working fine, checking inside the cotton is completely saturated, I'd say it hasn't lost a drop.

By my very rough calculations that's about eight to ten years of constant firelighting with the triplex from my cheap litre of fuel, taking evaporation into account. Not bad. Better make sure I don't run out of flints or wicks so.

baords dyslexic · 29-03-2012 11:02pm

Went on a mad buying spree in the UK recently

CRKT KISS 5500 knife - might write a bit more about it in another thread
Another knife, small, very cheap maybe a CRKT knock off (blade like a RSK Mk5 but a folder)
Survival blankets - for car and individual bobs
Wire saw - for Survival tin
Snap n Shake Light Sticks x 8 - for car and individual bobs
Fire steels x3 - for individual bobs
Sporks x3 - for individual bobs
Swan Vesta matches (old fashioned strike anywhere matches) - individual bobs
Wind/Weather proof matches - for survival tin and a bob
Hexi stoves (x2) and spare fuel - for cooking box and or a bob
Folding Spade/Pick - for car or a bob
Stainless Steel Tweasers - for Survival tin
Various Multi tools - presents
Cheap compass - for a bob
Another whistle - for a bob
Paracord - cheap green stuff but strong enough for what I want
AA Maglite LED - for individual bob
Maglite solitare - old bulb style, was cheap, handy for a bob or survival tin
AAA and AA Alkaline batteries about 120 - all long dates not sure where to alocate them. Should set up an HQ reserve

was joking but that might be a good idea.
Camping toaster works on a gas stove - home use in power cut.

I had a longer list but didn't get a chance to get to all the shops I wanted was looking for a larger EDC knife but didn't see anything I really liked (maybe a good thing).

dan dan · 30-03-2012 6:09pm

Oh dyslexic,
I would love to be shopping like that. It must have been great fun. Only problem is you need to buy a big quad and trailer to carry your store. If chicken licken ever gets his finger out, you will be the man. Congratulations again . (yes I am jealous).

baords dyslexic · 30-03-2012 6:26pm

dan dan wrote: »

Oh dyslexic,
I would love to be shopping like that. It must have been great fun. Only problem is you need to buy a big quad and trailer to carry your store. If chicken licken ever gets his finger out, you will be the man. Congratulations again . (yes I am jealous).

Quite borring really - it all fitted easily into a single carrier bag.

Tabnabs · 30-03-2012 6:51pm

Went out and got my hands dirty today

kildare.17hmr · 30-03-2012 7:07pm

Just testin out new gear or out for the crack? What ya cook??

Doc Ruby · 30-03-2012 8:01pm

Tabnabs wrote: »

Went out and got my hands dirty today

Nice, I like the notches cut into the stick there, haven't seen that before. I headed to the beach in the early morning during the heat this week and made an impromptu seafood stew in a remote corner, assorted shellfish with a crushed clove of wild garlic garnished with dandelion, but haven't rolled out the full kit yet.

Tabnabs · 30-03-2012 8:12pm

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

Just testin out new gear or out for the crack? What ya cook??

Bit of both, new gear and a wander in the woods. I'm also doing the BushClass USA "course", but just for myself and adding more as possible.

Cooked nothing more interesting than some soup to have with sandwiches.

waterboy15 · 31-03-2012 9:15pm

Hi tabnabs where did you get that hobo stove from ?. Is it stainless and what are dimensions ?. Thanks.

Tabnabs · 31-03-2012 9:43pm

waterboy15 wrote: »

Hi tabnabs where did you get that hobo stove from ?. Is it stainless and what are dimensions ?. Thanks.

You need to get yourself to Ikea http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/30131716/

Diameter: 12 cm
Height: 18 cm
Stainless steel

The birthplace of all good hobo stoves.

A couple of tent pegs will make a nice rack to sit things on too. You can either make a pouch to hold it in or the British army waterbottle pouch does the job nicely too. I'm hoping something like this will sit inside the stove and then food or tinder etc. inside that.

waterboy15 · 01-04-2012 8:51am

Thanks tabnabs, i have a zebra 14cm they are brilliant pity that cutlery container wont suit i am using an old lolipop tin at moment as my hobo, with 2 stainless skewers shortened to suit as stand.

Tabnabs · 01-04-2012 9:01am

waterboy15 wrote: »

Thanks tabnabs, i have a zebra 14cm they are brilliant pity that cutlery container wont suit i am using an old lolipop tin at moment as my hobo, with 2 stainless skewers shortened to suit as stand.

Feel free to stick up a photo of it, I'd like to see your version.

Doc Ruby · 01-04-2012 2:13pm

Picked up the hexi stoves, drybags, and water carriers from Aldi today.

Hexi is pretty much as advertised, doesn't feel terribly solid but stiff enough when folded out. A bit of research shows that generally people are unimpressed with the hexamine tablets, so I'll be experimenting with various (free) concoctions of pine resin/sawdust/manure/charcoal when I get the chance, to see if I can improvise better fuel in the field. The holes in the base will actually cradle the rounded-base peanut lighter to use as a candle or for cooking as well, once its not jostled, so there's one improv already.

I'm very happy with the drybag though, its huge and fits neatly into my backpack, so any electronics, notebooks etc will be quite safe in there, even if completely immersed for a while.

I'm going to have to reorganise my kit soon, the pile of stuff is getting chaotic!

baords dyslexic · 01-04-2012 3:00pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

Picked up the hexi stoves, drybags, and water carriers from Aldi today.

Hexi is pretty much as advertised, doesn't feel terribly solid but stiff enough when folded out. A bit of research shows that generally people are unimpressed with the hexamine tablets, so I'll be experimenting with various (free) concoctions of pine resin/sawdust/manure/charcoal when I get the chance, to see if I can improvise better fuel in the field. The holes in the base will actually cradle the rounded-base peanut lighter to use as a candle or for cooking as well, once its not jostled, so there's one improv already.

I'm very happy with the drybag though, its huge and fits neatly into my backpack, so any electronics, notebooks etc will be quite safe in there, even if completely immersed for a while.

I'm going to have to reorganise my kit soon, the pile of stuff is getting chaotic!

I've a couple of the same ones and they aren't as good as the old army ones I'd be more used to but only have them as a backup to a backup. Have you ever tried Meta Fuel? I'm not sure you can get it anymore as its poisonous and used in slug pellets - good link http://zenstoves.net/SolidFuelBurner.htm for both stoves and fuel Meta Fuel gets a mention near the bottom.

Doc Ruby · 01-04-2012 3:22pm

baords dyslexic wrote: »

I've a couple of the same ones and they aren't as good as the old army ones I'd be more used to but only have them as a backup to a backup. Have you ever tried Meta Fuel?

Likewise these wouldn't be my go-to cooking method, normally I'd use the kelly kettle, just picked them up as a convenience. Still they are small and light, so no harm. I haven't really used any solid fuel except wood, but I'm curious to see what can be done with pine resin!

I reckon I'll heat some up so it melts then stir in the various substances in various proportions till I find something that can go for ten minutes or thereabouts. Probably a mix of 1:1:1 charcoal:sawdust:resin (basically pine pitch glue) will give good results, although it will sacrifice the smokelessness of the tabs.

baords dyslexic · 01-04-2012 9:47pm

Been out side grass cutting the last few days and just noticed I've got sun burn on my noise (a handy sun shade for the rest of my body mind) so just made a note to add sun block and moisturiser to the bob list. Think they should be in the first aid kit or at least part of it.

ShadowFox · 01-04-2012 10:02pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

Picked up the hexi stoves, drybags, and water carriers from Aldi today.

Hexi is pretty much as advertised, doesn't feel terribly solid but stiff enough when folded out. A bit of research shows that generally people are unimpressed with the hexamine tablets, so I'll be experimenting with various (free) concoctions of pine resin/sawdust/manure/charcoal when I get the chance, to see if I can improvise better fuel in the field. The holes in the base will actually cradle the rounded-base peanut lighter to use as a candle or for cooking as well, once its not jostled, so there's one improv already.

I'm very happy with the drybag though, its huge and fits neatly into my backpack, so any electronics, notebooks etc will be quite safe in there, even if completely immersed for a while.

I'm going to have to reorganise my kit soon, the pile of stuff is getting chaotic!

Fire lighters make good hexi stove fuel so far ive only used chep fire lighters but a block about the same size as the square hexi blocks lasts longer Down side to this is they stink even before you light them

ShadowFox · 01-04-2012 10:14pm

Tabnabs wrote: »

Went out and got my hands dirty today

Cool hobo stove (guess where im heading tomorrow:D) at the moment i use like yourself the patteren 58 kit but i also use the nalgene bottle and nesting cup/pot its 500ml might be an idea in these stoves as you have a a hobo pattern 58 here is a link to the cup/pot i mean
http://www.survivalmetrics.com/id_Space-Saver-Cup-Olicamp

Tabnabs · 02-04-2012 8:32am

grapeape wrote: »

Cool hobo stove (guess where im heading tomorrow:D) at the moment i use like yourself the patteren 58 kit but i also use the nalgene bottle and nesting cup/pot its 500ml might be an idea in these stoves as you have a a hobo pattern 58 here is a link to the cup/pot i mean
http://www.survivalmetrics.com/id_Space-Saver-Cup-Olicamp

Stop it! stop showing me more kit I don't have!!

baords dyslexic · 02-04-2012 11:39am

grapeape wrote: »

Cool hobo stove (guess where im heading tomorrow:D) at the moment i use like yourself the patteren 58 kit but i also use the nalgene bottle and nesting cup/pot its 500ml might be an idea in these stoves as you have a a hobo pattern 58 here is a link to the cup/pot i mean
http://www.survivalmetrics.com/id_Space-Saver-Cup-Olicamp

From your link another http://www.survivalmetrics.com/id_Pocket-Survival-Pak-Adventure-Medical-Kits-0140-0707 caught my eye a survival pack in a transparent plastic ziplok type bag. I really like the idea so I'm now on the lookout for a suitable bag, I might even try taking a larger one and making it smaller by heat sealing the edges to size I want and cutting off the excess?

Doc Ruby · 03-04-2012 2:29pm

Picked up a couple of folding saws as a backup to the knife.

baords dyslexic · 03-04-2012 2:30pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

Picked up a couple of folding saws as a backup to the knife.

Do you have any doors left in your place to try them on

Doc Ruby · 03-04-2012 2:41pm

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Do you have any doors left in your place to try them on

We're reduced to bead curtains at this stage, I'll fire up the oul incense sure, it'll be like the sixties.

baords dyslexic · 03-04-2012 3:00pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

We're reduced to bead curtains at this stage, I'll fire up the oul incense sure, it'll be like the sixties.

Paracord for the bead curtains I hope.:)

ShadowFox · 03-04-2012 3:09pm

baords dyslexic wrote: »

From your link another http://www.survivalmetrics.com/id_Pocket-Survival-Pak-Adventure-Medical-Kits-0140-0707 caught my eye a survival pack in a transparent plastic ziplok type bag. I really like the idea so I'm now on the lookout for a suitable bag, I might even try taking a larger one and making it smaller by heat sealing the edges to size I want and cutting off the excess?

Ive picked up alot of gear from their ebay shop over the years never a problem with any of it all well tested on youtube too (something i must start doing)

Roy Batty · 03-04-2012 3:39pm

I started carrying a key ring with a gerber artifact, fenix ld01 torch, and a tiny lighter.

Threw a leatherman into the bag I carry to work everyday, a steel bottle for water.

RB

dan dan · 04-04-2012 7:02pm

A piece of fresh split stick or a couple of matches minus their heads of course. Floating in water being boiled will absorb all smoke, and you have non smokey drink. Circular saw blades and old handsaw blades make excellent knives if cut and sharpened without overheating and ruining the temper of the steel. Broken glass shards will plane amazing shavings off timber just like feather sticks.

Doc Ruby · 05-04-2012 4:12pm

Ordered some more stuff off dx, that place is bad for me. This time its a solar charger and USB battery charger connection, which should theoretically keep my electronics (except laptop) going indefinetely as long as I have rechargeable batteries.

I'll take a week off during the summer and head out to the lakes for some island camping, fishing, maybe some hunting, with my Nook and the solar charger to test them out along with all the rest of the kit I picked up over the winter.

baords dyslexic · 07-04-2012 10:15pm

Bought some 9cm x 13cm zip lock baggies and repacked some small bob survival tin and first aid kit stuff like plasters, windproof matches, swan vesta matches, wire saw, sewing kit, small fishing items, etc. Bit of a fetish really but its so damp where we live I feel its justified.

The small zip lock bags are also handy for holding AAA and AA batteries in the right quantity for their intended use, so I can pack 3 or 6 AAA batteries with a torch that uses 3 AAA batteries at a time.

btw anywhere know of a good place to get other sizes of zip lock bags? The ones Lidl do are great for many larger items and the ones I've just got are handy for smaller stuff but I can't find anything in between in the shops.

ShadowFox · 07-04-2012 10:21pm

You can get all size zip locks on eBay cheap too

baords dyslexic · 07-04-2012 10:31pm

grapeape wrote: »

You can get all size zip locks on eBay cheap too

Was looking on eBay today and it just doesn't feel right to pay more in postage than the cost of the item.

ShadowFox · 07-04-2012 11:08pm

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Was looking on eBay today and it just doesn't feel right to pay more in postage than the cost of the item.

I bought about 10 differant sizes off the same guy so combined shipping worked out on a bulk order

mawk · 08-04-2012 1:02am

I've been buying medications as I go and have filled a pill box with:

anti histamines
anti inflammitorys
painkillers
vitamins
antiemetics
antacids

a few days worth of each

bonniebede · 08-04-2012 11:17pm

Since I last posted...

More stuff in the garden, little plastic green house.

2 First aid kits and additional first aid bits.

Nice little book in Collins gem series on 'free food' with some interesting foraging info.

fishing rod, some hooks and fishing tackle.

Got a few little tin boxes for survival tins, hmm what to fill them with?

kildare.17hmr · 08-04-2012 11:37pm

Did a deal for a quad which ill hopefully take posession of tomorrow! Its for hunting and fun mainly but it will defo become part of my plans, not as something to rely on but as a useful tool that can be stored in the garage or the van if we get bad weather like last years snow and used to get home along with my GHB

Doc Ruby · 09-04-2012 2:50pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

And I'm happy to report that camp fuel works fine, maybe a little less enthusiastic but at half the cost I'm not complaining.

I've found a greasy residue builds up over time with this stuff which prevents the sparks from catching. Easy to wipe off but something to keep in mind.

baords dyslexic · 09-04-2012 3:04pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

I've found a greasy residue builds up over time with this stuff which prevents the sparks from catching. Easy to wipe off but something to keep in mind.

Strange it is supposed to have a cleaning effect on the Coleman stoves and lamps. Unleaded tends to block them up so general advice is to use Coleman fuel every 3-4 fills, but never actually bothered as its so expensive.

Doc Ruby · 09-04-2012 3:58pm

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Strange it is supposed to have a cleaning effect on the Coleman stoves and lamps. Unleaded tends to block them up so general advice is to use Coleman fuel every 3-4 fills, but never actually bothered as its so expensive.

I dunno, pre wipe it didn't light, afterwards no problems. Maybe there's something else going on there.

baords dyslexic · 09-04-2012 4:04pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

I dunno, pre wipe it didn't light, afterwards no problems. Maybe there's something else going on there.

Put some in a dish just a teaspoon full and leave it somewhere safe to evaporate and see if there is a white residue?

Doc Ruby · 09-04-2012 4:30pm

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Put some in a dish just a teaspoon full and leave it somewhere safe to evaporate and see if there is a white residue?

Might take a while, what will that indicate?

baords dyslexic · 09-04-2012 4:50pm

Doc Ruby wrote: »

Might take a while, what will that indicate?

I'd be surprised if it took that long as the stuff is as volatile as unleaded petrol petrol or at least petrol and Colman camp fuel both work in Colman and other Petrol stoves and lamps?

If there is a greasy residue that doesn't light with a spark then there's the reason for the greasy residue on the lighter - fuel evaporation.

Might also be something in the fuel reacting with the metal in the lighter. The Coleman stoves and lamps I have are all steel or brass.

Doc Ruby · 09-04-2012 4:57pm

What I have here is more viscous than petrol or even zippo fluid. I tried to pull the wick up a bit first and fluffed it out but that didn't have much of an effect. Interestingly it was more effective with the wind shield fully open, so probably the fumes from the residue inside the confined lighting space of the triplex just didn't allow enough oxygen in for ignition. There is a small amount of greasy smoke left after the flame is extinguished too, which I'd say is forming the residue. AFAIK the triplex is stainless steel.

baords dyslexic · 09-04-2012 5:19pm

I'm probably getting mixed up? I've just checked my unopened unused backup 1l bottle of Coleman Fuel and it didn't say what I expected it to say on the bottle which was Coleman Camp Fuel so we are talking about different things - my fault.

This is what I have >

Must check if this is the same >

Edit> neither of those is anyway viscous.

Doc Ruby · 09-04-2012 6:10pm

Well its not terribly viscous, it wicks up alright, which was the weird thing, the wick was quite damp to the touch, and the sparks were landing squarely on it. Lighting hadn't presented a problem previously either. I'll put my money on oxygen starvation since that seems to fit the fix anyway!

kildare.17hmr · 12-04-2012 3:59pm

Got a van load of freshly cut pine, about 350kg or so i reckon, collecting a chainsaw this evening to get it chopped and stacked tomorrow!

bonniebede · 12-04-2012 9:49pm

Have been cooking and filling the freezer. Also stocked up on the pantry goods.

Grizzly 45 · 13-04-2012 10:43pm

Built a 2cord lumber rack for the woodpile out of 2x4in wood.
FWIW
A "cord"of fire wood is appx 4ft high,4ft wide,and 8 ft long of dry wood .Whole or split.
I need to build another six of these racks and fill them with wood by August.:p

bonniebede · 15-04-2012 10:22pm

Sorted out my bug out bag, as i have accumulated a few more bits and pieces, and to be honest it was more of a bug out heap.

Sorted all the new first aid bits and pieces into a bag, next step to revamp home aid kit and bob/ car kits.

Nice to have my bob and boots ready to grab again.

Onanon · 17-04-2012 2:36pm

Got recurring ingrown toenail removed and the nailbed treated with acid. I won't be arsing around with a crutch if I need to GTFO.

Stocked up on 64 hex tabs, two hex stoves, kettle. Practiced using these and constructing wind shelter.

Now have scarf, first aid stuff, SAK, torch on me keyring. Need some twine.

ShadowFox · 17-04-2012 2:59pm

Since I last posted
Ive been trying recipes that can be cooked on a gas stove /open fire /hexi rather than in the oven or on a full cooker and stacking up on supplies for them
Getting the kids used to using pmr446 radios and teaching the older 2 basic first aid
picked up a led lenser M5 pocket torch works off 1 AA battery for 9 hours 92 lumens nice as a backup or edc torch also picked up a Ka-Bar K2 folder from
http://heinnie.com/Ka-Bar-Knives/Folding-Knives/K-2-Komodo/p-155-999-8043/

For the price its a nice knife
and a pair of Praktica sport 12x25 binoculars

What did you do to prepare today?

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