Primative Fire building

True Survivalist can make fire using NO man made materials. This is what I call "PRIMITIVE fire starting" and what we will focus on in this post.  This means a friction fire and dry materials to work with. Even then, its not easy and it takes practice. Preparation and selecting the right wood represents at least 51% of a successful fire.

For more on selecting the best fire wood click HERE.

For those who haven't tried it, I'm going to assure you that true primitive fire building is challenging. But as we have taught in our Rule of 3 which we use for setting survival priorities, shelter and warmth is our #3 top priority.  In a wilderness survival situation, #2 is likely irrelevant, making shelter and warmth our #2 priority.

In studying fire building, I found an awesome website on making fire, so rather than re-invent the wheel, I am going to simply list links to their site and add comments within the links. So here we go.

Stay Hunting on Fire building

   1- ​Build a Fire Pit

   2- Gather Materials​

   ​Tinder

   Kindling

   Firewood 

   Water

   Ignition Source

   3- Six Popular Ways You Can Build a Fire

   ​3.1- The Teepee Fire

   3.2- The Lean-to Fire

   3.3- The Cross-ditch Fire

   3.4- The Log Cabin Fire

   3.5- Upside Down (Pyramid)

   3.6- Create a Star

   4- Bonus: Tips/Tricks When Building a Well-built Fire

   4.1- ​Choosing the Fire Location

   4.2- Choosing the Foundation​

   4.3- Best Time to Start a Fire in the Wild​

   4.4- Safety Tips​

Pro Tips to Start Fire in the Real Challenge Situations- Advice from the Famous Blogs

   1 - Start a Fire When Wood is Wet - From EHow

   2 - Start a Fire When It Raining - From ArtOfManliness

   3 - Start a Fire  When There is Snow - From OffTheGridNews

   4 - Start a Fire  When it’s Windy - From ModernSurvivalBlog

   The Dakota Fire Hole​

   Top 20 Best Ways to Start a Fire Without a Match Lighter

Fire by Friction

1. Hand Drill
Simple components, but hard to generate fire.  Requires a dry little finger diameter "drill" rod about the length of your lower leg or arm and it must be straight and smooth.  The bottom end should be roughed up, or sanded with a rock; the top end pointed and smooth. Soft Popular, Cyprus, Willow, Cedar woods are good to use.  A dry fire board with a new hole and V notch in the edge is the second component, along with a base board to catch the coal.  Then after about 2 minutes of hard work, you should have a coal.

2. Fire Plow
Female sotol or yucca, found in dry regions, is the best wood to use.  With a minute and 20 second of friction work, you can have a coal.

3. Bow Drill
This is the easiest method, IF you have good cordage.  If not, you can spend more time finding, making and repairing cords than building fire with the Hand Drill. 

4. Fire Saw
With large dry bamboo takes about 1 minute of friction generating work after 10-15 minutes of getting ready.

5. Fire Thong

​
6. Flint and Steel

​7. With a Dead Lighter

Using the Lens Based Methods

8. Lenses (Mirror/Glass/Magnifying)

9. Fire from Ice

10. Coke Can and Chocolate Bar

 

11. A Flashlight

12. With Water: Five Ways to Start Fire with Water

Using Chemical Combustion

13. Potassium Permanganate Crystals and Glycerin​

14. Brake Fluid and Chlorine

​With Battery

15. Batteries and Steel Wool​

​16. Gum Wrapper and Battery

​17. Jumper Cables and Car Battery

18. Pencil and Car Battery

Use the Simplest Way to Start a Fire

19. Use the Fire Piston​

20. Using Fire Steel

Correcting Common Mistakes When Starting a Fire

​Smothering the Fire

Starting Fire Without Enough Firewood Around​

Leaving the Fire Unattended​

Using Rocks from the River​

Final Verdict

For additional information click on the link below:

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The Rule of 3 (set priorities by this)

Emergency Essentials Disaster Preparedness

 

The above link provides useful information that is free to learn on the following topics and more.

Flood
Fires
Economic
Earthquake
Winter Storm
Tornado
Drought
Hurricane
Power Failure

For additional information see the following links:  
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PVC Survival Tube

Using a short piece of PVC pipe with some end caps, you can make your own PVC burial tube to store a host of supplies (list below).  The end caps glue on one end and press/screw on the other end for easy removal, OR glue on both ends for the most secure long term water tight seal.

Using a 6 inch (or larger) diameter PVC pipe sized to fit your stainless steel guns, you can use two of these low cost flexible PVC caps to cover the ends: http://www.amazon.com/Fernco-Inc-PQC-106-6-Inch-Qwik/dp/B000VZPZNG?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

An advantage, or possible disadvantage of this model is that the metal hose clamp would be easily found with a metal detector.  It could also rust and be hard to get off or even break and fall off over time making it ineffective.  So I might limit this to a shorter term, lower cost alternative.

Another alternative are these slip/glue on caps that can be used on one or both ends:  http://www.amazon.com/Genova-40156-Cap-Sewer-Drain/dp/B000BQPAJ4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=A1SV1BYDTUK2Z5

A more expensive alternative is to use on of the above glue on caps on one end, and these two items on the other end for a screw on/off access: 
http://www.amazon.com/Spears-Series-Fitting-Cleanout-Adapter/dp/B009H4245Y/ref=pd_bxgy_328_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1FZAXFPZTXCND1PZ7QXJ

AND

http://www.amazon.com/Spears-P106-Series-Fitting-Cleanout/dp/B009H41U1S?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_3&smid=A2LMF55FDXFV7T

These two combined look like a common sewer clean out port and can be installed in plain sight and still look normal.  They are also likely to last the longest.

There are also off the shelf Burial Tubes for firearms that are available like this one, but remember that PVC has been used for underground pipes for many years because it lasts the longest.

Including some desiccant to absorb moisture along with some of the long term storage bags might be a good idea. Be sure to bury them in a location that you will be able to find them for many years to come, and share one but not all of your locations with different trusted family &/or friends.  Keep a record of who you shared each one with for obvious reasons.

Here are some of the things you can store in a PVC Burial Tube:

1. Take down Stainless Steel 22 caliber survival rife (Marlin or Ruger).
2. Stainless Steel Revolver
3. Ammo with Chrome/Nickle plated casings if possible.
4. Gun oil
5. Old US silver quarters and dimes
6. Magnesium fire starter
7. Water straw filter
8. Para cord
9. Stainless Steel Knife & saw
10. Fish hooks (plated), steel leaders and braided fishing string.
11. Candles
12. Compass
13. Small survival blanket

Remember buried storage items are likely long term which is why stainless steel and other more durable goods are suggested like a filter straw instead of tablets for treating water, or a Magnesium fire started instead of matches. Putting perishable items like batteries could age, corrode and damage many of the other goods in your tube so caution is advisable.  Water containers could leak, so avoid including water (and other liquids), but rather add a water filter.

For some additional ideas on what to pack see the following video:  Wilderness Survival Pack
For additional information see the following links:

Blog Table of Contents

Here are some additional links for building a PVC burial tube:

http://preppers.org/pvc-survival-time-capsule-make-one/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe_vXdMrHHseZ_esYUskSBw

45 uses for Alcohol

It has been said that ethanol alcohol—the kind of alcohol that makes us drunk—was the first synthesized product that humans made. Originally made from honey, fruits, berries, grains, and other plants left in the sun to ferment, alcohol and its first use documented as far back as 10,000 B.C.

Historically, fermented beverages:

• Acted as a substitution for water
• Fixed nutritional deficiencies
• Served medicinal purposes

Alcohol also had its place in religious ceremonies and even used as currency. Supposedly, vodka was an ingredient in early European gunpowder. And of course, people drank alcohol in order to become intoxicated.

When shopping for liquor, you will find two different numbers on the bottle. One is the percentage and one is the proof. The percentage is the amount of true ethanol alcohol content, while proof is the official government designation of how much alcohol content is in the beverage. Divide the proof in half to get the actual percentage of alcohol.

Use number six: Molotov cocktail for zombie and other hostile elimination.
The term proof comes from 18^th century distillers. To prove the correct alcohol content in their distilled beverages, they added gunpowder. If it did not ignite, there was not enough alcohol. If it burned blue, they declared the alcohol 100 percent proof, or 50 percent ethanol alcohol.
Liquor has its place in a post-apocalyptic world even if you are a teetotaler. Stock up on cheap, high-alcohol content liquors and add it to your long-term food and gear storage. The best liquor for its many different purposes is Everclear. Everclear, made by Luxco, is pure grain alcohol. You can purchase Everclear in 95 percent alcohol content or 75.5 percent. The higher alcohol content is more popular and more effective for survival use. Everclear is illegal in Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and banned in Chicago (of course.) If you live in a state that restricts the sale of Everclear, you may substitute high-proof vodka. Of course, after SHTF and no laws exist you can start moonshining.

If you choose an alcohol other than vodka or Everclear, such as whiskey or gin, purchase at least 70 proof or higher. This ensures the alcohol will burn.

To store alcohol—Everclear, vodka, whiskey, brandy, gin, or rum—purchase glass bottles. These liquors will store indefinitely in the right conditions. Keep your alcohol in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Keep the bottles upright and do not open them. Once opened, the liquid will evaporate and lose its flavor after six to eight months.

Here are 45 survival uses of alcohol

1. Fire starter
2. Barter and trade
3. Alleviate boredom
4. Calm anxiety
5. Sleep aide
6. Molotov cocktail
7. Antiseptic for wounds
8. Sterilize needles, tweezers and other instruments
9. Disinfect questionable water
10. Relieve poison ivy
11. Kill odors
12. Refresh clothing
13. Bug repellent and killer
14. Surface cleanser
15. Anesthetic for tooth pain
16. Lamp fuel
17. Make herbal tinctures and elixirs
18. Facial astringent and toner
19. Topical treatment
20. Clean skin before an injection
21. Fuel for vehicles
22. Stove fuel
23. Gun cleaner
24. Solvent
25. Mouthwash
26. Rust prevention
27. Clean optic glass
28. Clear congestion and sinuses
29. Stop the itch of bug bites
30. Fire accelerator
31. Numbing agent
32. Starter fluid for IC engines
33. Hygienic soak for razor blades and brushes
34. Weed killer
35. Chemically cook food
36. Deodorant
37. Make perfume
38. Clean electronics
39. Kill mold
40. Remove stains
41. Dry wet clothing
42. Break the bottle and use the glass shards as a weapons and cutting tool
43. Cough suppressant (warmed whiskey mixed with honey and lemon works best)
44. Help repopulate
45. Muscle relaxer

If you can think of any more, feel free to comment below.

This article was originally published on CheaperThanDirt.com

For more information see:
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New Years Resolution

Happy New Year! As a New Years resolution, lets pledge to protect our families against common disasters for our area. Events like earthquakes or severe weather such as hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, freezing cold and whatever other disasters that are likely to occur over the next few years. With all the rioting going on, we should include that too.  At the very least, put a plan in place. 

The following is an excerpt from the Prepper Handbook that can be previewed for free on Amazon.

Prepper Incremental Strategy
Now let’s talk about common sense prepping. Not going overboard or becoming obsessed, but rather build your preparations slowly over time. Few of us have unlimited funds to go out and buy everything we need at once. Therefore, we must organize, prioritize, and develop our preparations over time. I call this our Incremental Strategy Plan. As you read this book, you should develop your own plan. The following table is an excellent example to follow and can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

This table gives you several columns that represent the approximate times that you might be able to survive with no outside support. The columns and rows are in order of priority. Starting on the left is the minimum level of preparations that you should have. Start at the top row of the first column and work down. Once you achieve the first column level titled “0 – 25%, 7 days” then it is time to move across and start securing the second column of preparations titled “26 – 50%, 30 days.”  Continue this process until you are comfortable with your level of preparation.

You will notice the first item shown in the first column and first row is Ammo and at least one firearm. It doesn’t matter what preparations you have in place; you won’t be able to keep them unless you are armed.

Prepper Incremental Strategy Table

        Column 1^st priority         2^nd priority      3^rd priority      4^th priority

Prep Level &Period of time: →	0–25%7 days	26– 50%30 days	51 – 75%6 Months	76 – 98%1 Year +
Comment on potential cause, symptoms and consequences	Flu, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, chemical leak, wildfire. Power / water out a few days. Minor looting. Less than 1% population loss	Serious pandemic, massive chemical or radiation leak, wildfire, rioting & gang looting.Power / water out for weeks.Single digit population loss.	Social upheaval, terrorist or limited nuke attack, large organized gang looting. Indefinite power outage. Double digit population loss.	EMP, Economic Meltdown, hyperinflation,Organized Militia, possibly foreign “help imposing order”, confiscating weapons & supplies for the common good. 50+% population losses.
Security(1st priority row)	200 rounds of Ammo & at least one personal protection firearm. Solar Powered Lawn Lights that use AA Batteries.Crank radio & flash lights.Whistles for emergency communication.	Increase to 500 rounds of Ammo per firearm & at least 1 pistol & rifle.Add: Solar Powered Motion detection alarms (Home Brite) and Walkie Talkie Radios, CB, ham radios, trip wire, guard dog.	Increase to 1,000 rounds of Ammo per firearm.Add: at least 1 pistol & rifle per adult; Gen 3 Night Vision & a bullet proof vest for every 2 – 3 adults.	Increase to 5,000 rounds of Ammo per firearm.Add Bow & 24 Arrows for each adult; Black Powder Flintlock rifle & bullet mold.Also one Ruger or Marlin Stainless Steel .22 Rifle per Teenager.Gen 3 Night Vision (2).
Watch(2nd priority row)	Radio, TV, daily scouting in pairs / visit neighbors. Sleep with 1 eye open.	Night watchman	24 – 7 Armed Security Watch	Community Organized Constitutional law enforcement.
Air(3rd priority row)	Gas Mask per person. Recall smoke inhalation kills, not the house fire.	Add: Gas Mask for each vehicle & extra set of filters per family member.	Add: 2 NBC (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical) Suits.	Add: another extra set of filters and 2 NBC Suits.
Shelter(4th priority)	Stocked primary residence & backup tent. Outdoor barking dogs.	Add: Get out of Dodge (GOOD) pack; Neighborhood organized.	Add: remote retreat with underground shelter & sufficient fuel to get there.	Add: Security posts for community watch with good cover & communications. Restore utility services.
Water(5th priority)	1 gallon of unscented bleach per family and 7 gallons of stored water per person.	Increase to 30 gallons of stored water per person.Add: Water filtration.	Increase to two (2) gallons of bleach.Add:  renewal water source – creek, pond.	Increase to four (4) gallons of unscented bleach.Add: water distillation.
Food(6th priority)	Kitchen pantry & cabinets well stocked with your normal foods, especially dried goods and those with long shelf lives. Have a small “practice” garden and a few hand tools.	Add:  Freezer stocked with ¼ to ½ beef & commonly used frozen foods. Electric Generator and gas to run freezer. Canning book(s), water pump, matches & fire starters. Larger garden.	Add: 6 month supply of dried food for each person. 1,000 canning Jars & extra lidsGarden Seeds. Chickens & Incubator for eggs & meat. Rabbits	Increase vitamins & food supply to 12 months.Add:   Heirloom seeds & hand / garden tools for extended food production.Cows, goats, sheep, horses.
Health & Safety(7th priority)	Advanced First aid Kit.Keep plenty of vitamins & medicines. Fire protection	Add: Extra First Aid supplies like alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, triple Antibiotic cream, acetaminophen, ibuprofen & Vitamins.	Add Books – When there is no Doctor & When there is no Dentist. Expand fire protection.	Group Doctor or nurse. Trauma & surgery first aid kit. Books on nutrition.
Barter / Share(8th priority)	Cash, Water & dried foods. Extra First Aid kit(s). Extra Batteries & LED head lights  Basic first aide kits	Add: Extra first aid supplies Basic Skills, Survival & Medical Books, Bibles. Rechargeable batteries.	Add:  Extra ammo in common calibers.Extra Stainless Steel 22 Rifles to arm trusted neighbors.	Add: US Silver &/or Gold coins. Organized weekly community barter & swap events.Extra Hand & Gardening Tools.
Extras(9th priority)	Quality AC inverter (120 volt Plug) for your car(s). Police Scanner, can openers. Pet food.	Several 5 Gal Cans of Gas & maps. Propane (long shelf life), Kerosene & Lamps. Para Cord (Mil Std 8 ply).	Solar power system,  hand water pump, rain water collection, grain grinder,	Trauma and Surgical Kit, home school books, encyclopedia, fish nets, and Alternate resort off site stores cached for retreat plan.

This table is an example to present the incremental strategy concept. The actual priorities may vary depending on your situation. If you live near a nuclear power plant, NBC (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical) Suits are a higher priority. If you live near a chemical plant, refinery, or areas with frequent wild fires, then Gas Masks & extra filters become a higher priority. If you live in a crowded area with no place to go (Bug Out), then you need more security and motion detection, community organization and weapons to share with neighbors for strength in numbers.  See the post Urban Survival Plan

For additional information see the following links:

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