Sunday at the hardware store

DaleW

DaleW

Joined
Dec 22, 2006
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I gave my son a ride to a CYO camp where he has a summer job and went by a suburban hardware store I don't get to often. I went with wilderness gear in mind and found a few new toys.

I already posted on the aluminun duct and gutter spike windscreen/postand/stove, but those gutter spikes might make a useful PSK addition. My first thought was to use them as spear tips for gigging frogs and fish. I'm sure you could come up with more uses in a tight spot. Of course they make great tent stakes. At $0.16 each, it's a no brainer to get some.

I got a roll of surveyor's tape too. It has been on my list and I kept forgetting to pick some up. $1.79 a roll. I plan to wrap a bunch around a piece of cardboard. Other than marking trails, it could be used for signalling by tieing long flags in a clearing so they can flap in the wind.

I got a blaze orange bandana too. I have a bunch of other colors, but it made sense to have the intense color for signalling-- it just gives one more use to the dozens already filled with a bandana.

Finally, I got a cheapie break-off knife. At $0.79 and 0.4oz, it looked like a great backup for a cutter in a PSK.
 
Good gear. I've had an Olfa break-off for years that's a little different: it's the knife itself without a plastic overlay. So it fits in a dress shirt pocket with the pens like it belongs there. Totally compact.

I've got 3 of these Recon Wraps, in black, OD, and now Hi-Viz Orange. You can use them even in summer as breathing masks to block out smoke or dust, and they seem to last forever through wash after wash. As a headband or bandanna the orange would be a great way to be seen.

You can also get an orange Survival Bandana with pre-printed instructions.
(Please read before emergency! :p )
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Good gear. I've had an Olfa break-off for years that's a little different: it's the knife itself without a plastic overlay. So it fits in a dress shirt pocket with the pens like it belongs there. Totally compact.
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I have a heavier Olfa break-off, but it sure wasn't $0.79! They do make good cutters. These cheap break-off knives should be all over our survival and disaster kits.
 
What is a CYO camp. We have CYA camps, California Youth Authority. Youth offenders.
 
2dogs said:
What is a CYO camp. We have CYA camps, California Youth Authority. Youth offenders.
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Hehehe-- yeah, that would raise your eybrows. CYO is Catholic Youth Organization. They have several camps in Western Washington. My son has a college job working as a camp counselor. Taking care of a cabin full of 9 year olds has really matured him. He went to camp a couple weeks each summer for about 7 years as a kid. He's a sophomore at the University of Montana in Technical Theater. My wife works a couple weeks each summer as a camp nurse and our daughter does the camp thing as well.

They do a good job of blending values and friendship with outdoor skills. One camp is on Puget Sound and the kids get to sail, canoe, kayak, swim and hike, as well as the usual camp craft and singing around the campfire. Other camps have mountain biking and horseback riding. This week my son has a break from camp, so he is working as assistant cook for a leadership retreat for 130 high school kids at one of the camps. I'm sure they'll keep him busy.

CYO also runs the intramural sports for the Catholic schools in the area. http://www.seattlearch.org/BuildingCommunity/CatholicYouthOrganization/
 
Esav Benyamin said:
This is the kind of Olfa I've got.

* ****** **** ****** *
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I see what you mean about no plastic-- stripped right down to the bare bones-- prefect for a PSK.

I have an Olfa L model

olfablades_1958_4060826


You can get a saw blade to fit it too:

olfablades_1958_4505831
 
The saw blade is neat. I have to look into that. I like County Comm's stuff, but not those little razors and saws.
 
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