Nano FAK/Survival Kit

cmdionne

cmdionne

Joined
Oct 27, 2006
Messages
1,578
I've lately been hopelessly addicted to the sugar free altoids. They come in a small rectangular tin, its pretty small and very shallow. I've been wanting to put together a few nano kits, and finally got some stuff together. I was thinking one as a first aid kit and one as a survival kit. I appologize for no pics, but I actually don't have a digital camera (I think I'm one of the few left). Perhaps if I can borrow one I'll get pics when they're finished.

The First aid kit (this is obviously for day to day stuff, cant fit really anything)
2 adhesive bandaids
single use size bacitracin
2 alleve
4 ibuprofen
2 zantac
2 benydryl
alcohol wipe

(This is pretty much packed to the gills for one of these things)

Survival kit (This one is still more in the works)
disposable scalpel with handle cut down to size
matches (I need to waterproof some or get waterproof matches, any advice would be great)
button compass
a bit of 20lb test monofiliment
fishing hook


I am going to sand the paint off of these tins and then either repaint them with some rustoleum or else just leave the metal bare, At the rate I'm sucking down these mints I hope to be able to put a few extras together to give away to anyone that wants them. I would really like some input as to what you all think about the contents. I think this will make a nice project to keep me busy now that my semester is over.
 
It sounds good for a little day to day kit just to carry around. I'd throw in a fingernail clippers too. They are pretty handle to have around.
 
yeah that's a good thought, I'm thinking that the container might not be deep enough for the standard pair, but I tend to keep a pair in my car and in my messenger bag, so I'm never all that far from a pair. They do really come in handy though.
 
Sounds like a good little kit. I would add some pepto pills and maybe tweezers.

To waterproof you matches you can try dipping the heads in some melted wax. This is a cheap/easy way to waterproof.

Here is my little kit by the way. It has some heavy duty foil, tylenol, pepto, water purification tabs, razor blade, fire straw, duct tape, medical tape, fishing line, hooks, sinkers, treezers, fero rod, snare wire and some tinder crumbles.

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Very cool, I need to find that size of tin next, I've seen them around but not lately. The sugar free tins are much smaller than even that, so I'm very limited for space. Tweezers are good, and I have a pair in my jeep thats never all that far from me, but I doubt anything except for tweezers from a SAK would fit into the tin, and they might even be too long.

I'm not really one to have stomach problems (never had), the zantac in my kit is for my girlfriend who has monster heartburn and never is prepared herself. I would add pepto for a trip into the woods, but I can't remember the last time I took anything for my stomach except for a tums, and that was about a year ago.

Thanks for the advice, keep it coming
 
I`ve found a needle and thread, and a couple of safety pins to be real handy to include in a kit.
 
I guess we are about reaching a point where the weight and bulk of tin itself make the items stored inside not so worthy... I undestand the point of having a few handy items arround but the idea of making miniaturizing them all is not so apealing. I don't think we should all haul arround pounds and pounds of geat but... if you want to carry something, carry something usable!

Anyway, great selection of items cmdionne, I don't mean to highjack your thread.

Mikel
 
I thought I would post a crappy pic of what I call my "daily convenience kit." It contains 2 regular bandaids, 4 butterfly bandaids, 2 neosporin packets, mini prybar, 4 pepto tablets, needle and thread, safety pins, mini bic, and one of the "Tin" knives I make. Along with my keyring, which has 3 small capsules on it, 1 containing aspirin, 1 containing aleve, and 1 containing an eyeglass repair kit. I also have a mini flaslight, Vic Classic, Craftsman 4 way screwdriver, and 3 feet of paracord on the keyring. The paracord came in handy two weeks ago when my wife and I went on a day trip. I broke a shoelace, so used the paracord for one.

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cmdionne said:
I appologize for no pics, but I actually don't have a digital camera (I think I'm one of the few left). Perhaps if I can borrow one I'll get pics when they're finished.
Click to expand...

Better buy a camera before the passaround. :D
 
A number of people here have reported problems with waxing matches, the matches become soft and difficult to light. I think matches, while compact, are among the most fickle of fire starters. A scaled down sized firesteel can be put on your keychain ring and out of the way. Perhaps a mini-bic lighter would also be better.
 
Clear nail polish usually works better than wax.

Two coats (the entire match, not just the head) makes for a very water-resistant coating. It also aids in lighting as nail polish (even dry) is somewhat flammable itself.
 
i wont advice on keeping it bare i had a tin which was bare and after a few months it rustd so much that i had to throw it away...

must be the humidity around here...
 
cmdionne said:
.... The sugar free tins are much smaller than even that, so I'm very limited for space. ....
Click to expand...

Wow, that is tiny. I thought it was the same size as mine (that's why I posted the pic). I don't see how you can get all that in a smaller tin. I need to pack a few bandages into mine still and its gonna be tight.

Sorry for hijacking by the way.
 
Most of the stuff I would put in an altoids tin sized kit I already have distributed about my person. My smallest PSK is a cargo pocket / belt pouch sized kit (5" x 3.6" x 1.25") which actually does include a mini altoids tin inside to carry loose bits and pieces.
 
I picked up an altoids gum today, and I think that I'm going to but together a slight larger kit in addition to my nano. the nano first aid kit will be great for urban EDC, and I can fit alot more into the gum container. I'm also going to work on a kit in a fullsize container, and I just might have to pick up one of those handy tin knives that stomper makes. And don't worry I will scam a camera from someone intime for the passaround, or I'll dig out my old film camera and scan the pics in. I'm finally done with final exams, so I've got a few weeks to work on these before I have to hit the books again. Thanks for the input guys, I'll keep you updated.
 
This is a small kit that I actually carry in my back pocket every time I head out for a hike. All this stuff fits in a standard velcro handcuff case from the surplus store. Since it's a soft case it forms to my body and is very comfortable. Dimensions are 4" x 5" x 1".

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Contents: Vic Farmer, Fenix E01 flashlight, mini Bic lighter wrapped with 12" duct tape, tweezers, prybar, ferro rod, compass, pins, tie strips, 12" jute string, ibuprofen, antacids, and a sharpened Gossman striker.

Jeff
 
Hey Stomper,
Do you still have any of those Tin sized knives, and about how much do they cost? Do you have any sort of sheath for it? Thanks.
 
Cuff case is a great idea, and in addition to back pocket, you could even put it on your belt. I'm going to make up a full size altoid tin just to do it, and probably stash it in my jeep, but I have a feeling that this cuff case might be the way I end up going.
 
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