"I knew that".

Here's a quick way to irrigate wounds that not enough people know (although you indeed might):

Take a gallon-size Ziploc-type bag. Fill it with water about 90% of the way, and seal the bag.

Turn it over, and poke a 2-3mm hole in the bottom corner of the bag.

Carry the bag to the injury, turn it right side up, and squeeze the bag to create a steady, clean stream of water into the victim's wound.

To refill the bag, pinch the corner with your finger when refilling. The tricky part is in re-closing the bag with one hand.
 
As has been mentioned before, use sheets of "wet-dry" and paper to sharpen knives. I like 600,1000, and 1200 grits. At home here I have a 1/2" thick piece of glass to put the sandpaper on(using spray glue)and makes for a nice flat surface. They pack well too.:thumbup:
 
Has it been mentioned that steel wool can be made to catch fire using batteries?

Be careful as batteries can be made to catch fire using steel wool , L:O:L
 
Chigger and redbug repellant.

Mix one part powered sulfur with two parts baby powder. Powdered sulfur is available at any drug store. Dust yourself all over in the morning as you are getting dressed and you will never be bothered by chiggers or redbugs again. Be sure to dust well under your socks and waist area. Chiggers infest areas where your clothes fit snug. This stuff really does work. I have used it for over twenty years in Louisiana and the baby powder feels good when outdoors in warm humid climates. The sulfur/powder will not protect you from mosquitoes. You still need your DEET.
 
Although we have many choices for small containers these days (film canisters, pill bottles, altoids tin, etc.); one that I like is made out of two empty shotgun hulls. Use either a 12ga and a 16ga., or use a 16ga and a 20ga. Fill the smaller one with whatever gear you want to keep dry and then friction fit the larger over it. Fits snug and doesn't come apart on its own.

BTW: 12ga and 20ga won't work. The size difference is too great. Also fired hulls work a little better because of the greater ridges caused by crimping.
 
You can dry wet matches by rubbing them in your hair (provided that your hair isn't too wet or greasy (and that you have hair in the first place :eek: )). The generated static electricity will dry the match in minutes. Also, you can increase the chance of lighting a wet match without breaking off the head by decreasing the angle between the match and the striking surface (this works well on safety matches).

Great thread, by the way!
 
-a couple of condoms take up little room,
they can tote water, keep stuff dry, etc.

-Another good one is instead of using a bow drill when starting a fire with nothing, use a loop of cord of any sort thats fairly strong and put it evenly over a knock at the top of your drill. Put your thumbs through it and simply pull down to apply pressure as you spin.

- Water can be boiled in a green leaf. The leaf will burn to the water line but not below. Havent tried it myself yet, but I'm guessing it cant be within the actual fire, but beside it.

- a few old guitar strings make nifty snares, as they have built in loops and seem to be just the right length.

-A good swiss army knife with a few of the "frivolous" blades came come in mighty handy. You dont need the "champ" with all the bells but the victorinox huntsman, or (my preference) the wenger handyman are worth their weight in gold

-try to find a toilet paper brand with loose tubes. you wont really need the tube in the woods, it just takes up space
 
A Compact Disc (CD) makes a great improvised signal mirror. Slip one in a quiet corner of your Camelbak or day pack.
Mac mentioned earlier about a few screw eyes threaded on a cheapy carabiner, that +1. Amazingly handy little things, and the "WOW" factor from the non cognoscenti is very satisfying.
Nylon guitar srings are neat snare material. Forget the metal ones except the B and E strings because they hold human scent in the coils.
Iodine is a great disinfectant and water purifier. Don't leave home without it.
Great thread, lots of good ideas.
 
Paper clips

Carry along some paper clips. 2 sizes small and large.
They take up little room, but with your multi-tool pliers you can fashion all sorts of things.
-fishhooks
-sewing needles
-a hook to hang things from tree limbs.
-with paracord, many jigs, hooks, eyelets.
-they can be sharpened to a point easily on a flatrock.
-make a hook with them, attach it to a long stick and grab things out of normal reach.
-Use them for making devices such as a trigger for a snare.
The lowly paper clip, many uses.

Drywall screws
Your SAK or Multi-tool has a phillips bit, right?
drywall screws will hold like nothing else, and are re-useable.
Carry a few, I like having a 1" and a 2" screw in my kit.
Start them by giving a few pounds with a rock, then, screw them in.
Oh BTW, they work great on your firesteel!
nuff said.


This is a great thread! Keep em coming!
 
Way back in the middle of the last century, I learned from a Scoutmaster named Wilton Goodeaux why the cotton Boy Scout web belts were best left a bit long. While the end usually had a brass tab pressed on, the adjustment end that went thru back of the buckle was free to unravel. There is a lot of cordage in those belts. I used them for several years as a source of fishing line, and found that the same method works on a lot of nylon straps too such as those covering an Alice pack.

Codger
 
Codger ? I am giving you a demerit badge for being so discourteous to a scout Uniform . L:O:L
It has been so long that I do not really remember . I thought the belts were leather ?

I try to support my local scout troop in the small ways I can . From bottle drives to direct donations . In this age of video game driven couch potatoism it is good to see young adults maturing in a healthy enviroment .
 
Kevin the grey said:
Codger ? I am giving you a demerit badge for being so discourteous to a scout Uniform . L:O:L
It has been so long that I do not really remember . I thought the belts were leather ?

.
Click to expand...

Were you in Baden Powell's troop? :D

Really guys, these are great ideas. I have nothing to add personally, as I am an unimaginative house dweller.

Thanks,
Glenn
 
I love the pencil sharpener idea!

Here are a few:

Use LED lights, a GI can opener, a button compass and the like as zipper pulls on all of your field jackets, vests, and such. Those aluminum keychain containers would also work for carrying water purification and firestarting goodies. You should always have one of your jackets with you, so you'll always have survival gear with you. Just remember to remove them before washing! :eek:

If your parka has extra pockets, like on the sleeve, you can use this otherwise wasted and forgotten space for permenant survival gear. First, vaccum seal several storm matches and the striker from a matchbook into a flat little pack about the size of a business card. Next, unpack a space blanket and refold it to fit the pocket. Finally, insert the match pack, a small frensel lense and a couple individually wrapped wet wipes into the folded blanket and vaccum seal it. Trim the extra material and insert it into the pocket.

Save tiny Zip Lok bags whenever you find them. Put a few choice survival goodies inside then tape them inside the various hats or caps you wear afield.

"Finger cots" are like little finger-sized condoms that fit nicely over the barrel of a gun to keep rainwater out. They fit much nicer than a baloon or a condom.

To attach a tarp to a piece of para-cord, snap off a small stick into several lengths. Instead of lacing the cord thru the grommets or tying it, slip a loop of cord thru the grommet, place the stick in the loop and pull it tight. Go to the next grommet and repeat.

If you have a fixed blade or folding knife with removable slabs, you may be able to rout out a slot for a small firesteel.

-- FLIX
 
Here's one some will do, some will HUH?
For cold weather hunting / survival. Bring quart sized ziplocks when it's so cold you just can't bear it, Pee in a ziplock and put it in your pucket to warm your hands. Just be SURE the thing isn't leaking!! It lasts for about 10 minutes if you've got thick pockets.
This is also a great way to relieve yourself in a deerstand if you'r e concerned about scent.
 
1. Powdered drink stuff.
Assuming you have access to fresh water, packing some powdered milk, pwdered gatorade, Tang or whatever can help give you a little boost.

Powered gatorade will give you some electrolytes.
Powdered milk will give some protein and vitamins.
Tang can help with Vitimin C.
Powdered drinks are easy to carry in a zip lock bag, film vial, whatever.

2. 12 oz. aluminum can/sport drink
Take an energy drink with you, even after drinking it, the aluminum container can have the top removed and used to boil water or even to heat up soup, or food, over a fire.
 
Thomas and Betts are the best cable ties made. I use them on all the scuba equipment I own and service. You can generally find them at electrical supply houses (i.e. Irby, etc.)
 
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