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Skills:PSK (ITEM 7 IS UP!): A Group Exercise in Creative Thinking and Improvisation

Water: Make a foil channel to direct rain into a folded foil collection device.

Fire: carry a hot coal to start another fire.

Food: store food to eat at a later date, keeping it clean and or warm for transport.
 
Awesome folks. Siguy, we are certainly not ruling out the intended use of the items - that's just the first one that always comes to mind. But it still counts!
 
I've sewn a pouch for a sling with a fish hook and an inner strand of paracord before. I could've just as easily used fishing line instead of the cord.


I like this thread idea. Great post Brian!
 
Aluminum foil--
Shelter:

Fire: Haven't tried this, but could be formed into a parabolic lens to start fire.

Water: container (boil capable with care)

Food: lure; cooking vessel

Signaling/communication: trail sign; reflector


Non mono fish line that is damped will hold fine sand and has been used by aboriginal people to very hard carve stone, such a jade. It would surely cut wood to form tools. Might it create enough friction to get an ember?
 
Aluminum foil--
Shelter:Fairly well covered; water shed, heat reflector, etc.

Fire:Again, fairly well covered; transporting fire, light/heat reflection, possible
parabolic device, etc.

Water:Covered

Food:Covered

Signaling: Can be used in conjuction with the fishing line and two sticks as a spine and spar to create a simple diamond kite. Moving shiny objects :thumbup:


Gautier
 
Gautier said:
Aluminum foil--
. . .Signaling: Can be used in conjuction with the fishing line and two sticks as a spine and spar to create a simple diamond kite. Moving shiny objects :thumbup:

Gautier
Click to expand...
Wow! A flasher that can get above tree level in our dense woods. :thumbup:
 
Ok, we will be assembling all these suggestions into the groups (shelter, fire etc) that they belong under. Let's hit with item number 3:

A small transistor radio with 9V battery. Think about what it contains inside and outside.

You can, of course, continue with ideas for the previous items, keeping in mind that at this stage, we are not combining uses yet.
 
Yep, that was my reasoning. For what it's worth, it does work, but is fragil in winds above 6-12mph. Learn from my mistake. I'd advise lashing the ends of the spar and spine rather than threading it,first one ripped at those holes.
As to why I did it, well, I was bored that day. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


Gautier
 
Dang - some of us have jobs and then we come back and so much has happened!

Aluminum Foil
Food: Container - Use for storage of berries and other edibles - like a basket.
 
Just read this thread for the first time. I wanted to point out the picture of the bow drill in Brian's post is inaccurate. You'll see the spindle wrapped to the inside of the bow when it should be to the outside. Putting the spindle to the outside of the bow allows for longer strokes and it doesn't hit the wooden part of the bow on the end of your forward and reverse stroke. Correct form will be taught at the CT Wilderness Gathering.

I'll have to read through this again and put in my .02 cents. Great idea for a post.
 
k_estela said:
Just read this thread for the first time. I wanted to point out the picture of the bow drill in Brian's post is inaccurate. You'll see the spindle wrapped to the inside of the bow when it should be to the outside. Putting the spindle to the outside of the bow allows for longer strokes and it doesn't hit the wooden part of the bow on the end of your forward and reverse stroke. Correct form will be taught at the CT Wilderness Gathering.

I'll have to read through this again and put in my .02 cents. Great idea for a post.
Click to expand...

Kevin, I agree. The idea was to find (with limited time) a picture that showed cordage use in order to stimulate the ideas for fishing line. I also advocate doing a double-twist to the cord to make it "grippier" on the spindle, to reduce or eliminate slippage. But you're right: Come to the CT Wilderness Gathering! :D:D:D:D
 
Straightened fish hooks have been mentioned a few times but has anyone had success unbending one? I've tried this a few times and each time, the hook will usually break before it bends straight. I've seen this happen with both fresh and saltwater hooks. The only way I could possibly see straightening a hook is to heat it up with a torch then using two sets of pliers.

Maybe I've been doing this wrong all along but I find fish hooks to be tempered hard and thus breakable when unbending. I'll recommed if anyone tries to straighten one that eye protection is worn.

On a side note, fish hooks are one of the best pieces of kit you can carry. They take up no space and they are far superior to any fish hook that can be crafted in the field. As previously mentioned, they have applications other than fishing and can be used in trapping.
 
Kevin, I've had success in unbending when heating it, but more often, I do a careful break so that I can use the straight part as a whole new "drill bit" or other use, and still have the hook available.

Everyone: Right now, I want to stay away from analysis, and concentrate on free-association brainstorming. The when we collate the info, we can review as a whole.
 
kgd said:
Dang - some of us have jobs and then we come back and so much has happened!

Aluminum Foil
Food: Container - Use for storage of berries and other edibles - like a basket.
Click to expand...

kgd, this thread's not going anywhere soon, so you can post at any point about any item. :thumbup:
 
Aluminum foil: Use as a light duty strainer if it has lost it's use for holding liquids.

(Darn it I was thinking of using foil to direct rain water for later use, but someone beat me to it. :P )
 
Okay, so we have three items: fishhook/line, tin foil, and now small transistor radio with 9V battery. I'll lay off posting another item until everyone has had some time to peruse and come up with ideas. I'll edit this post shortly to include a pic of a small radio.

Here's one:
667609.gif


Inside a radio, you have circuit boards, wires, battery (think battery terminals) the casing. All sorts of stuff.
 
ok Brian, the best use I have found for a small AM radio (other than the obvious listening for weather reports etc) is that it can tell you when lightning is over the horizon. Numerous times I have been able to hear the static before I can see the flashes or hear the thunder. good early warning, even if it can't tell you the direction.
 
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