survival tin

callum wallace

i want to make one, what would you put in yours and why....feel free to post ideas or even what makes your tin.....:) thanks

thermo

got one of these and added a couple of plasters, a condom, 2 tampax, 2 scalpel blades.

baords dyslexic

thermo wrote: »

got one of these and added a couple of plasters, a condom, 2 tampax, 2 scalpel blades.

Looks like one of the better ready made ones - some have lots of items but can be poor quality, whats the box like? The advantage of the old 2oz baccy tin was that it was virtually indestructable. The altoides tins are OK but I find them just a bit too small to get enough items in.

bonniebede

Silvermints have been doing a hinged 2oz tin recently, i sam them in a garage and picked up 3.:o

Haven't packed one up yet, but have been collecting bits and pieces for it...dental floss, fishing hooks, mini led light, matches and vaseline/cotton wool tinder.

Another tin i have found useful is the small vaseline tin, i now have one in each bob stuffed with vaseline soaked cotton wool for tinder. Seemed like an obvious and unmessy way to carry the stuff.

ShadowFox

This is one I made up I dont have a fishing kit or wire saw in it as i carry this in mostly an urban area here is what it contains
1) Emergency Hexi stove & 2 blocks
2) Duct tape wrapped around a card 15m
3) 1lt water bag
4) 10 water purification tablets
5) Magnifier card / glass
6) 2 tablet towels
7) 3 types of matches (storm,strike anywhere & normal)
8) Mini super glue
9) Mini sharpie
10) P38 can opener
11) Folding razor blade
12) Folding saw
13) Mini Lighter
14) Mini Light
15) Ka-Bar neck knife
16) 2 Pair ear plugs
17) Signal Dog tag
18) 2 1.5" 6 hour light sticks
19) Cotton wool (stop the rattle)
20) Rite in the rain paper (phone numbers on it)
Need to add cash and maybe a phone card

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baords dyslexic

You had me going there for a minute when I read "hexi stove" and thought you must be carrying a biscuit tin around with you to fit it into , afaik that particular flat packed stove is issued with French military ration packs.

ShadowFox

Just in case anyone is looking for a compact hexi here are a couple
http://www.survivalmetrics.com/id_fold-flat-survival-emergency-stove-with-fuel-grabber
or
http://www.survivalmetrics.com/id_camp-stove-wet-fire-tinder-ultimate-survival

baords dyslexic

Was also looking around the web for a similar stove and found one nearer home at amazon.co.uk only problem is I'm not sure it will go small enough to fit into a survival tin.

Also found this flat packed stove on Ebay in the US but 10euro inculding postage is a bit much for a piece of punched out steel sheet.

ShadowFox

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Was also looking around the web for a similar stove and found one nearer home at amazon.co.uk only problem is I'm not sure it will go small enough to fit into a survival tin.

It is I have a couple of them

baords dyslexic

grapeape wrote: »

8) Mini super glue

Thats a good idea , the euro shop (or 2 euro shop as ours is now) do a pack of 10 mini tubes for 2euro which I can recommend as I've used them a few times with success. Just remember that super glue has a shelf life so replace the mini tubes with new ones occasionally. I think the reason that I have had success with the mini tubes is that they are sealed untill you use them and I use what I need from one tube and throw whats left in the tube (safely) away.

ShadowFox

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Thats a good idea , the euro shop (or 2 euro shop as ours is now) do a pack of 10 mini tubes for 2euro which I can recommend as I've used them a few times with success. Just remember that super glue has a shelf life so replace the mini tubes with new ones occasionally. I think the reason that I have had success with the mini tubes is that they are sealed untill you use them and I use what I need from one tube and throw whats left in the tube (safely) away.

Thats the ones I use they are very handy and cheaper in the long run

thermo

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Looks like one of the better ready made ones - some have lots of items but can be poor quality, whats the box like? The advantage of the old 2oz baccy tin was that it was virtually indestructable. The altoides tins are OK but I find them just a bit too small to get enough items in.

the box is pretty good it seals well (i still waterproofed the seam with tape,,,, old habits) the box's are availible to buy empty for approx €5.

thermo

on another note instead of buying small stoves, you can use hexitabs or similar with 3 6inch nails to rest your kettle/pot on, its cheap, they last years, if you dont loose them, and they take up feck all room.

callum wallace

thermo wrote: »

got one of these and added a couple of plasters, a condom, 2 tampax, 2 scalpel blades.

1 condom and a sock can hold 1.5 liters of fresh water

Doc Ruby

callum wallace wrote: »

1 condom and a sock can hold 1.5 liters of fresh water

See if you can get the unlubricated ones though or the water will taste of spermicide.

callum wallace

i know a guy who has a candle made from animal fat in his tin has two uses......1 light and to keep a source of fire......and 2 is to eat for energy

krissovo

callum wallace wrote: »

i know a guy who has a candle made from animal fat in his tin has two uses......1 light and to keep a source of fire......and 2 is to eat for energy

Going back quite a few years I used to have animal fat candles in my tins. They are not as good as they sound as when it gets hot you may find it will melt all over your tin

Not so bad in Ireland as our weather sucks but in hot countries it can be a challenge.

Eating for food/energy is a interesting point, not much energy in a survival tin candle so for me better lighting and longevity of a paraffin based candle wins.

callum wallace

krissovo wrote: »

Going back quite a few years I used to have animal fat candles in my tins. They are not as good as they sound as when it gets hot you may find it will melt all over your tin

Not so bad in Ireland as our weather sucks but in hot countries it can be a challenge.

Eating for food/energy is a interesting point, not much energy in a survival tin candle so for me better lighting and longevity of a paraffin based candle wins.

thanks...well i hve never tried them personally, but he did sow me nothe source of energy nd that was earth worms he showed me how to dry them out in the sun then i had to try one...wasnt the best i have to say :):p:):p:):p

baords dyslexic

I'm making up a couple of smaller survival tins (altoides size) and decided any form of traditional candle was going to take up too much room so I've put 2 birthday cake candles in each. While I was looking for birthday cake candles I found "Magic Re-light Candles" (pack of 10 €1.24 from Super Value) once lit and burning well you can blow them out and yes thats right they re-light. Just trying one now, and they are almost impossible to stopo burning, the flame goes out but the wick still glows and after a few seconds produces a flame again, downside is they are a use once item unless you are going to wet the wick, burning time with my messing around trying to blow one out a few times was almost exactly 10 minutes.

Magic Re-light Candles might also make a handy delayed action thermal fuse?

Only thing now is I need to find a good way to hold them upright as I don't have room for a birthday cake in my survival tin (bent safety pin sort of works, sharp bit bent up and pushed into bottom of candle).

bonniebede

baords dyslexic wrote: »

I'm making up a couple of smaller survival tins (altoides size) and decided any form of traditional candle was going to take up too much room so I've put 2 birthday cake candles in each. While I was looking for birthday cake candles I found "Magic Re-light Candles" (pack of 10 €1.24 from Super Value) once lit and burning well you can blow them out and yes thats right they re-light. Just trying one now, and they are almost impossible to stopo burning, the flame goes out but the wick still glows and after a few seconds produces a flame again, downside is they are a use once item unless you are going to wet the wick, burning time with my messing around trying to blow one out a few times was almost exactly 10 minutes.

Magic Re-light Candles might also make a handy delayed action thermal fuse?

Only thing now is I need to find a good way to hold them upright as I don't have room for a birthday cake in my survival tin (bent safety pin sort of works, sharp bit bent up and pushed into bottom of candle).

Try a small twist if tin foil with a flattened base. Tinfoil is useful to have anyway. or a thumbtack

mawk

I was in a shop today and they were selling small clamshell hard cases for cameras.they are tough seeming and zip closed. going to make a survival tin our of it and see how it goes

baords dyslexic

mawk wrote: »

I was in a shop today and they were selling small clamshell hard cases for cameras.they are tough seeming and zip closed. going to make a survival tin our of it and see how it goes

:D:D done that, still use it but looking to change it, biggest problem is you can't fully open the clamshell so packing it is a tad tricky, that aside its a nice handy case that fits well into a pocket.

krissovo

callum wallace wrote: »

thanks...well i hve never tried them personally, but he did sow me nothe source of energy nd that was earth worms he showed me how to dry them out in the sun then i had to try one...wasnt the best i have to say :):p:):p:):p

Sun dried worms......I must try that:pac:

Actually fresh worms are "nice" cooked with a scrambled egg, its the first meal we cooked on my first survival course so kind of sentimental.

baords dyslexic

krissovo wrote: »

Sun dried worms......I must try that:pac:

Actually fresh worms are "nice" cooked with a scrambled egg, its the first meal we cooked on my first survival course so kind of sentimental.

I'd be more worried where the egg came from :eek: probably laid by a lizzard

bonniebede

krissovo wrote: »

Sun dried worms......I must try that:pac:

Actually fresh worms are "nice" cooked with a scrambled egg, its the first meal we cooked on my first survival course so kind of sentimental.

Yumm! Don't forget the pickle though.

baords dyslexic

I hate you 3 and boards.ie I do a long post and get Service Unavailable :mad:;)

Anyway once again and pulling in mawks Survival "Tin" post from the What did you do to prepare today? thread

mawk wrote: »

its a lot of work to unpack and photo.. but it contains:

• lighter
• superglue
• meds- iburofen, aspin antihistamines
• four plasters
• alcohol wipe
• 2 single edged razors
• plastic handled craft type knife
• spool of thread and a needle
• s/g shot and fishing hooks

thinking now, it needs a button cell led torch. and some wire. and some tape...


oh, and a small strip of bike tyre rubber which lights fires well and even burns in the lashing rain.

the whole thing is small, all goes in a small camera case

I'm just making up a couple of small Altoides type survival tins to be "Issued" along with a PFAK (Upgraded Lidl Personal FAK) so no meds.


So far I have with some useful space to spare:

• Bic Butane lighter - the small type
• Roll of Dental Floss - could reduce amount to increase availble space
• 3m snare wire - not made into snares as it takes up less space in one rolled up piece might be too much for a small tin
• Mini Compass - just useable to tell NSEW
• Safety pins - always easy to fit in a few
• Magic Re-light cake candles x2 - mentioned elsewhere
• Craft knife and blade - dismantled and handle carved (hacked) to fit
• Stanley knife blade - its flat and easy to fit in
• Frensel screen maginfing glass - again flat and easy to pack
• LED keyring type torch - might remove key chain for more space
• Couple each of Fishing hooks, swivals and split lead shot.
• Pencil

Must add:

Needles - have some somewhere already bought
Fishing line - but still looking for a way to store it, I don't want to wind it around the tin so it needs removing when you open the lid
Non-lubricated condom
Tinder

Like to add:

Another source of fire - not much room for a decent sized fire steel but I did see a small thin one once on a pressed metal frame?
Whistle - again room is an issue so looking for a really small one perhaps long and thin but not metal.
Super Glue - might just put in PFAK instead?
Duct Tape - might stick it on the bottom of the base of the tin, about 60cm wound into a base size shape and held in place with another piece of Duct Tape?
Tin Foil - if I'm sticking the Duct Tape to the base I could pop a square of Tin Foil under the tape?

What I really need is a Survival Tin like Dr Who's Tardis.

thermo

don't forget to add a can of coke/beer to your survival kit

Tabnabs

thermo wrote: »

don't forget to add a can of coke/beer to your survival kit

Warning, may not be suitable for Irish climate.

thermo

Tabnabs wrote: »

Warning, may not be suitable for Irish climate.

not suitable 362 days of the year. :eek:

baords dyslexic

Found the little fire steel I was looking for on eBay .



I'm only putting in these little half arsed fire steels as I'm making up 2 small survival tins that don't have much room, the bob and my own larger "tin" have larger much better quality fire steels.

Now just looking for a small plastic whistle, having genuinly seen someone stuck to frozen metal I would carry a metal whistle just in case.

btw took the risk and bought a couple of the small fire steels from a HK dealer on eBay that had them for just over a pound each including shipping - time will tell.

callum wallace

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Found the little fire steel I was looking for on eBay .



I'm only putting in these little half arsed fire steels as I'm making up 2 small survival tins that don't have much room, the bob and my own larger "tin" have larger much better quality fire steels.

Now just looking for a small plastic whistle, having genuinly seen someone stuck to frozen metal I would carry a metal whistle just in case.

btw took the risk and bought a couple of the small fire steels from a HK dealer on eBay that had them for just over a pound each including shipping - time will tell.

i have owned about 3 of them in my life time very very very very good pieces of kit and one thing i would advice use a knife or a piece of steel with a saw blade like feature on it :)

baords dyslexic

callum wallace wrote: »

i have owned about 3 of them in my life time very very very very good pieces of kit and one thing i would advice use a knife or a piece of steel with a saw blade like feature on it :)

I'd be afraid that they would snap if used with too much force but Survival Tin beggars can't be choosers unless this is your survival tin

krissovo

If that was my survival tin I would use this everytime to light a fire:

Dawn Rider

This plastic whistle should fit in you tin easily enough.
http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/product_info.php?products_id=39247&osCsid=9d53827a611a20f31e163d7f87ac7470

I keep one like it in my wet-suit as a back-up when sea swimming.

This one goes around my wrist, and is VERY loud!:eek:
http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/product_info.php?products_id=30815&osCsid=9d53827a611a20f31e163d7f87ac7470

Dawn Rider

If you want to make your own tallow candles for the survival tin, here's a link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXaYCWZ8NYY&feature=g-all-u

I don't think there's enough nutrition to overcome the ickyness though

Doc Ruby

Dawn Rider wrote: »

I don't think there's enough nutrition to overcome the ickyness though

Once you've swallowed things lively enough to kick going down, ickyness becomes a relative term in these parts.

baords dyslexic

Dawn Rider wrote: »

This plastic whistle should fit in you tin easily enough.
http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/product_info.php?products_id=39247&osCsid=9d53827a611a20f31e163d7f87ac7470

I keep one like it in my wet-suit as a back-up when sea swimming.

This one goes around my wrist, and is VERY loud!:eek:
http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/product_info.php?products_id=30815&osCsid=9d53827a611a20f31e163d7f87ac7470

Looked that those and they are way to big, its only a small (50g sweet tin) survival tin. Even if I keep with whats already in there (list above) then there is no room, shape is also an issue, long and relatively thin might do it. I normally have a football whistle for the dog with me and an another in my larger survival tin which is also with me when I'm out so I might not bother - only thing is I'm not making the tins up for me so might just tie a whistle in each bob.

Dawn Rider

baords dyslexic wrote: »

Looked that those and they are way to big, its only a small (50g sweet tin) survival tin. Even if I keep with whats already in there (list above) then there is no room, shape is also an issue, long and relatively thin might do it. I normally have a football whistle for the dog with me and an another in my larger survival tin which is also with me when I'm out so I might not bother - only thing is I'm not making the tins up for me so might just tie a whistle in each bob.

Just had a look at a 50g sweet tin, and you're right, it won't fit.
There are flatter whistles you can get in camping stores. But, it's still a space issue.
Probably best to attach something like the Fox40 to you jacket. It works for me.

baords dyslexic

Dawn Rider wrote: »

Just had a look at a 50g sweet tin, and you're right, it won't fit.
There are flatter whistles you can get in camping stores. But, it's still a space issue.
Probably best to attach something like the Fox40 to you jacket. It works for me.

I'm making up two survival tins that will be complemented by personal first aid kits for relatives they will both also have a bob packed so best location for a whistle seems to be the bob itself. I doubt the users will have the same dedication to carrying a survial tin as I do so it will probably also stay in these users bobs. Its the usual toss up between, cost, size, weight, usablity/utility and likely need. But then again once I've made them up I might UPgrade them to a 100g tin - these survival tins are becoming a fetish, its a bit like a game of sudouo where you are trying to fit everything in.

baords dyslexic

The little firesteels (above) arrived today and they really are tiny, but just what I wanted to fit into a small 50g survival tin.

tbh I don't think you could make them any smaller and get any use out of them.

I was going to say they are crap untill I found the best way to use the striker on them. If you use the toothed part of a hacksaw blade you really are wasting your time but if you use the cut end and flick it down the steel you get a 1000% better results. Maybe I've been doing it wrong all along ;)

I'll post some pics of the Tins and PFAKs when I'm finished - I'll try and throw in some prices so we can see how much making up the kits cost compared with buying premade ones.

krissovo

baords dyslexic wrote: »

I was going to say they are crap untill I found the best way to use the striker on them. If you use the toothed part of a hacksaw blade you really are wasting your time but if you use the cut end and flick it down the steel you get a 1000% better results. Maybe I've been doing it wrong all along ;)
.

The teeth of the blade are only any good once you have "broken in" the steel, when all the smooth layer is nicely roughed up. For a new steel use the spine of a good sized knife to strike the steel this should give better results until its nicely broken in.

baords dyslexic

A picture to give you an idea of the size of tin (50g) and little firesteel.



A more std cheap firesteel (yellowstone afaik) shown at top to see why I had to opt for something smaller here.

Midnight Oil

Does anyone know where to get lube free condoms so that water does not come out tasting of spermicide?

Thanks

mawk

chemist? or amazon?

Midnight Oil

mawk wrote: »

chemist? or amazon?

are they readily available in chemists?

mawk

Midnight Oil wrote: »

are they readily available in chemists?

I've never specifically looked, but I'd be surprised if not

Midnight Oil

Mine is one of these but in effect I actually stripped most of the contents out.

I have 3 x birthday candles instead of the a night light,
whistle
scalpel blades
wire saw, decent one not the crap ones that come with the tins
snares x 10
sewing kit with decent needle and very strong thread and spare thread whick will double up as a light rope (it really is that strong)
decent fishing kit
chemical lights
plasters
compeeds
tiny pencil sharpened at both ends
oxo cubes
boiled sweets
tin foil for cooking or as a space blanket if necessary
nail file for knife sharpening
natural tinders such as birch bark or thistle heads

I also have a firesteel and knife on my belt

nuub

I love my Survival Tin (photos when i get time) but this lad has taken it to the next level. I would love to see some of these on here and what your take on it would be :P

www.instructables.com/id/Pill-Bottle-Survival-Kit

Doc Ruby

nuub wrote: »

I love my Survival Tin (photos when i get time) but this lad has taken it to the next level. I would love to see some of these on here and what your take on it would be :P

www.instructables.com/id/Pill-Bottle-Survival-Kit

Very nice. I'd have added a roll of brass wire around the lot for snares and many other uses, some vaseline dipped cotton wool for tinder too. Being honest I don't have a survival tin or pillbox, most of what I need short term is between my ears and I keep the rest on a keyring. Not saying its a bad idea at all though, its a great idea to have one of these kits handy.

lockon...

Midnight Oil wrote: »

Mine is one of these but in effect I actually stripped most of the contents out.

I saw that tin in Millets over the weekend.

I bought a Altoids Spearments Tin in Dunnes Store and have made the following survival tin:

• €20 spare cash
• a small lighter
• a small nail clippers
• pen & some paper
• USB
• Painkillers & some other tablets
• paper clips
• safety pins
• glue
• alcohols wipes
• bandages
• a button and sewing kit

I plan on adding a emergency phone charger, once I find a decent one.

I carry a Leather Squirt PS4 and a small torch on my keyring

nuub

I'm always wondering about how to make my survival tin that bit better and I noticed I had no ointments. I have plasters , needles , anti shock cream etc. But I didnt have any Savlon or Deepheat or other such creams I would use for treating basic wounds. But after a brief conversation with the brother this is the conclusion we came to.

No . 1

I got my tin (top of the photo) and assortment of various ointments I wanted (not all pictured) and some Mcdonalds straws ( because there free)

1.jpg


No. 2

Take the straws and cut them into roughly equal pieces or to suit the size of your tin. Then literally just squirt the ointments into the empty straws

2.jpg

No . 3

Take a lukewarm hair straightner ( if using your parnters get permission saves a lot of hassle ) and hermetically seal the ends. If the hair straightner is to warm it will just destroy the straws and make a mess.

3.jpg


No . 4

Seal top end and place in box . Now my box has the ointments I want. Plus my brother took some lighter fluid soaked wool and filled a straw up with that and when you cut the top and pull a little wool out it makes a great little firelighter :rolleyes:

4.jpg

If anyone comes up with any more improvements let me know. This is a great space saving technique.