Waterproofing Matches
The ability to build a fire is one of the most important survival skills you can master.
Not many folks I know excel at starting fires by striking a few rocks together, so it is important that you have some ignition sources in your supplies. The wise person doesn’t rely on just one ignition source, they generally keep at least 3 different sources on hand. For instance, matches, lighters/fluid, firesteel or a magnesium firestarter. Part of being prepared and surviving is that you always have a back up for everything possible.
Matches are one of the most surefire and convenient ways to start a fire. However the problem with matches is they are susceptible to moisture from water or even the humidity in the air. If your matches become damp or wet they will not kindle and could put your survival at risk.
The solution to the wet matches problem is to waterproof your matches. While you could purchase waterproof matches from your favorite survival supply store, waterproof matches cost a premium when compared to ordinary non-waterproof matches, they may not always be available, and could be of suspect quality.
During a survival situation is not the time to discover your supposedly high priced waterproof matches will not kindle. In my opinion you are far better off knowing how to make waterproof matches for yourself. In that way you can personally control the quality and quantity of this very important article of survival gear. Get in the habit of buying a couple of boxes of wood matches every time you go to the store. You can get boxes of wooden matches very cheaply at the Dollar Tree, Dollar Store, Family Dollar, etc. You can never have too many matches. Another habit you should get into is waterproofing those matches as soon as you get them home. That way, it’s already done and you won’t have to worry about it later.
You can often find wooden strike anywhere matches at your local hardware store or wood burning stove dealer. I prefer wooden strike anywhere matches, with them I do not need to rely upon a special striker surface to light the matches. In survival situations the fewer working parts that can fail the better.
Although you could try to make paper matches waterproof they will be less durable and reliable than wooden matches. If you are serious about surviving you are better off purchasing at least several boxes strong wooden matches and reserve the paper ones for everyday use at home.
The process for making waterproof matches is simple:
Set up a double boiler for the melting of wax on your stove or even over a campfire.
Once the wax has melted dump in your matches and stir, making sure that the wax has completely coated the matches.
Remove from the pot of melted wax and put on a piece of wax paper. It only takes a few minutes for the wax to completely harden on the matches.
And there you have it; waterproof matches. The thin layer of wax all around the match ensures the match will catch fire even if it has been immersed in water. As an added bonus the wax will help the match burn longer and hotter.
Store your home made waterproof matches in a waterproof match case and you have gone far toward ensuring you can start a fire when you need to even if your matches get wet.
How To Build a Portable Rocket Stove
By Susan Kerr, eHow Contributor
Portable rocket stoves are easy to make and fun to use.
Rocket stoves have been made and used by campers for about 30 years. They're inexpensive and easy to make, are lightweight and burn commonly available solid fuels such as twigs and wood chips. Having one in your home or auto is a good emergency-preparedness strategy. The following article describes how to put one together for just a few dollars.
Difficulty:
Moderately Easy
Instructions
things you'll need:
* 1 #10 metal can
* Metal soup can
* Work gloves
* Tin snips
* Bottle opener with a point
* Pliers
* 2-inch length of 1/4-inch copper tubing
* 18-inch length of medical plastic tubing to fit inside of copper tubing
* Handful of clay
* Enough sand to fill the bottom of the #10 can about 1 inch deep
* Cooking rack
1.
Making the Body of the Stove
* 1
Stop by your favorite restaurant and ask for a #10 can, which holds about a gallon of liquid. Wash it out, remove the paper label if it's still attached, and discard the lid. Remove both ends of the soup can.
* 2
Put on the work gloves and use the tin snips to cut a hole in the side of the #10 can enough to fit the smaller can snugly, about 2 inches from the open end. On the opposite side of the can, make a hole with the bottle opener large enough to fit your copper tubing.
* 3
Fit the soup can inside the hole you made for it in the large can. Seal any gaps with clay and allow to harden.
* 4
Insert the plastic tubing inside the copper tubing, making sure that none pokes out the opposite end. Crimp the copper around the plastic snugly, but don't crush the plastic.
* 5
Pour the sand into the bottom of the large can. Place a piece of scrap metal on top of it (one of the ends of the soup can will work well).
Using the Stove
* 1
Find a heatproof surface, and set your stove on it. Collect several handfuls of dry fuel such as twigs, moss, leaves or even cardboard scraps.
* 2
Shove the fuel through the soup-can opening of the stove into the larger chamber of the #10 can. Light the fuel.
* 3
Insert the copper end of your tubing in the hole opposite the flap and blow through the other end to provide more oxygen to the flame. As the fuel burns, add more air through your tube.
* 4
Place the small wire grill on top of the larger can. You'recooking.
Read more: How To Build a Portable Rocket Stove | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/how_5022121_build-portable-rocket-stove.html#ixzz1JdlyPdwJ
Olive Oil Lamp
By Dustin Merritt
Make Your Own Olive Oil Lamp
...If you live in an area that frequently experiences power outages due to hurricanes, high winds and other storms, one of the things you want to have on hand during storm season is backup lighting. Candles are a sure bet, but they don’t put out much light and — if you want to choose options made from renewable, organic materials — beeswax and soy candles can get mighty expensive.
There are hand-crank and battery-powered lanterns, but what if you don’t already have one on hand when a power outage strikes? The same problem exists if you’re looking for a kerosene or other oil-style lamp. So, what do you do during an emergency for light? How about something that is easy to acquire, inexpensive and gentle on the environment?
The answer is you can make your own olive oil lamp. You don’t need much in the way of equipment and if you don’t have olive oil, you can replace it with other types of cooking oil — or any kind of liquid fat or grease in a pinch. However, I must warn you that while olive is a 99 percent pure renewable fuel that won’t produce smoke or odor, I can’t vouch for canola or corn oil as being smoke-free or that it won’t make the house smell like burnt popcorn.
Making your lamp is relatively easy, and most likely you will have many of the materials on hand already. Here’s what you’ll need:
A wide-mouthed glass jar (a quart-size wide-mouthed canning jar works really well.
A short length of flexible steel wire (1 1/2 or 2 times the height of the jar) A wick
Olive oil
Putting Together the Lamp
1. Form one end of the steel wire into a long hook, about the same height as the jar. This hook holds the wire on the jar and doubles as a handle to pull the wick up for lighting.
2. Take the other end of the wire and wrap it into a coil, creating a wick stand about an inch or two tall that sits on the bottom of the jar.
3. Pinch the top of the metal coil onto about 2 inches in length of wick so that
about a quarter inch or less of the wick is sticking up above the wire coil. Any longer and the wick will smoke. The other end of the wick will be soaking in the olive oil.
4. Add enough olive oil to your jar so that the level is just under where the wick is pinched by the wire. Any higher and you risk putting out the lamp with the oil.
How the Lamp Works
The olive oil is drawn up the wick where it vaporizes and gets burned by the flame. A few ounces of oil will burn for several hours, so if you are concerned about the cost, it is much cheaper than most candles. If you can find lampante oil (olive oil not suitable for eating, but for burning), you can save money by buying that instead of culinary olive oil.
Want to get fancy with your olive oil lamp? You can infuse your olive oil with herbs, spices or essential oils for a more scented experience.
Olive oil lamps have been used for thousands of years and people have relied on oil lamps in general up until the last few generations. They are reliable, plus they burn bright and long. The benefit of olive oil is that if the lamp gets knocked over, it stops burning because it has a high flash point, meaning that it’s not a very flammable material. As a result, an olive oil lamp is far safer than a candle or kerosene lantern. If you are having problems with it smoking when you blow it out, use wet fingers to put out the flame, or just douse it with the oil in the jar.
Notes on Materials
One of the benefits of using a canning jar is that, when the oil lamp is not in use, you can put a canning lid on top for storage. A wide-mouthed pint jar will also work well, you just need to adjust the size of the wick holder.
For your wick, you can use 100 percent cotton string or twine and salt it to ensure that it burns long. To salt your wick, take your cotton twine, put it in a bowl with a little water and then cover with table salt. Squeeze it dry and let it dry overnight, or until it is no longer damp.
If you need or want your lamp to emit more light, try using a braided, flat wick (a half inch or narrower), adjusting the way the wire supports this kind of wick by crimping it to accommodate the extra girth. You can buy flat wicks from stores that carry supplies for oil lamps (such as Lehman’s). Or, you can cut up an old 100 percent cotton tea towel into strips and use that instead.
Commercial Products
If this all seems a bit too complicated to manufacture on your own and you would rather buy an olive oil lamp, you’ll find old fashioned oil lamps online from Lehman’s. Be sure to check out the book I Didn’t Know That Olive Oil Would Burn while you are at it.
To make the lamp, you form one end of the wire into a hook that fits over the edge of the jar, and the other into a small coil that wraps around the wick.
This olive oil lamp is fast and easy to make at home, and it’s a safe, reliable light to have around
during power outages. So NEVER throw away any rancid Olive Oil.
HOW TO BUILD A TIN CAN ROCKET STOVE-YOUTUBE
http://youtu.be/gO-vPyCShLg
How to Build a Winiarski Rocket Stove
By an eHow Contributor
http://www.ehow.com/how_2265305_build-winiarski-rocket-stove.html
A Winiarski rocket stove is an efficient wood-burning cooking stove that uses insulation to keep a fire burning hot, above 1,100 degrees F. Dr. Larry Winiarski invented the rocket stove while researching wood-burning stoves for the Aprovecho Research Center. The Winiarski rocket stove's simple design and use of common materials make it easily modified for optimal performance.
Difficulty:
Moderately Easy
Instructions
things you'll need:
* Two small cans
* Coffee can
* Wood ash, pumice or dead coral
* Metal mesh
* Wood or paper fuel
* Cooking pot
1.
* 1
Create an elbow joint by joining two cans. Be sure to leave both ends of the elbow open.
* 2
Cut a hole in the bottom on the side of a housing container such as a coffee can.
* 3
Insert the elbow joint into the opening of the housing container so it runs horizontal into the container and turns up.
* 4
Fill the housing container of the rocket stove with insulation such as wood ash, pumice or dead coral.
* 5
Make a shelf to hold your fuel in the elbow joint out of a flattened can or a piece of scrap metal.
* 6
Form a mesh covering over the top of the housing to hold your cooking pot.
* 7
Start your stove by lighting your wood or paper fuel and pushing it into the elbow joint.
Read more: How to Build a Winiarski Rocket Stove | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2265305_build-winiarski-rocket-stove.html#ixzz1Jdl2MHhv
Build Your Own Wood-fired Earth Oven
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/2002-10-01/Build-Your-Own-Wood-Fired-Earth-Oven.aspx
How to Make Solar Ovens from a Pizza Box
http://www.ehow.com/how_4850541_solar-ovens-pizza-box.html
By braniac, eHow User
Solar ovens
You can make a solar oven from a pizza delivery box. Solar ovens are a great way to cook food without using fossil fuels. Solar ovens are approved for use in camping areas where campfires are not allowed. Making a solar oven from a pizza box is also a great way to demonstrate solar power to children. The pizza box solar oven is the most basic form of solar ovens. Larger solar ovens can be built that will cook an entire meal.
Difficulty:
Easy
Instructions
things you'll need:
* pizza box
* box cutter
* aluminum foil
* plastic wrap or heavy plastic laminate
* electrical tape
* black construction paper
* dowel or stick
1.
* 1
pizza box solar oven
The first step in making a pizza box solar oven is to prepare the top. Draw a square on the top that leaves a border of about 1 ½ inches. It will look like a picture frame. Cut the top of the box along three sides of the drawn square leaving one side attached. Fold the cut out square flap back along the remaining line.
* 2
Line the flap with aluminum foil on the inside so that the foil will face the interior of the solar oven when it is closed. Bring the foil to the outside and secure with electrical tape. You do not want tape inside of the box. Electrical tape is recommended because it will stand up to heat.
* 3
Next you will line the interior of the solar oven with aluminum foil. Secure the foil with electrical tape. Do not put the tape inside of the box, wrap the foil over the edges of the box and secure on the outside. You are trying to keep the interior of your solar oven reflective.
* 4
Cut a piece of plastic wrap or heavy plastic laminate larger than the hole in the top. Plastic wrap will suffice if you are only using the oven once or twice. Tape the plastic to the inside of the top of the box making sure it is sealed to prevent the heat from escaping.
* 5
Close the solar oven. Place plastic wrap over the hole in the top and secure with electrical tape.
* 6
Line the bottom of the box with black construction paper. The interior of solar ovens are usually black because it absorbs heat.
* 7
You can form additional aluminum foil into a holder for the food to be cooked or use aluminum pie plates or shallow dark containers.
* 8
To cook in the pizza box solar oven place the food in the box, close the box and place in direct sunlight. Lift the flap and prop it open with a dowel or stick. Adjust the flap to capture the most sunlight and reflect it into your pizza box solar oven. The reflected sunlight will provide the heat and cook the food. Hot dogs are ideal way to start cooking in solar ovens. You can watch things cook through the clear plastic top.
* 9
Once you get the solar oven bug, you will want to move on to more substantial models. There are many forms of solar ovens and solar cookers. Many books are available on the subject. Some links to solar cooking books and books on making solar ovens and solar cookers have been listed in the resource section below.
Read more: How to Make Solar Ovens from a Pizza Box | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4850541_solar-ovens-pizza-box.html#ixzz1JdnL2jJD
How to Make a Rocket Stove for Camping
By Jericho McCune, eHow Contributor
updated: May 25, 2010
The rocket stove was developed in the 1980s to be a portable and fuel-efficient cooking stove. Using a rocket stove creates less smoke and emissions, making them more environmentally friendly than most camping stoves. They are inexpensive and fairly easy to make. Rocket stoves are composed of only four major parts and burn solid fuels such as twigs or charcoal, so they are easy to maintain.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Instructions
things you'll need:
* Large metal can
* Small metal can
* Leather gloves
* Tin snips
* Clay or welding tools
* Sand
* Bricks (optional)
1.
* 1
Cut a hole in the side of the large can the same diameter as the small can with the tin snips. The large can should be at least as large as a Number 10. Both cans should be thick-walled tin or steel. Cut off both ends of the small can.
* 2
Slide the smaller can into the hole until it is about a quarter of the way through the larger can. Seal the gaps between the two cans with clay or weld them shut. Clay is easier and works well but deteriorates quickly.
* 3
Fill the bottom of the large can with sand until it reaches the bottom edge of the small can. If the can is large enough, the inside walls can be lined with bricks. Place the end pieces that were cut from the small can on the sand to use as a fuel platform.
* 4
Optionally, a small hole opposite the small can could be added to allow for a little more air flow. This is more useful when constructing small rocket stoves.
* 5
Place fuel, like twigs or small pieces of wood, into the small can with the ends extending into the large can. Do not overfill the small can--there needs to be enough room for air to flow through. Light the ends of the fuel that are inside the large can; do not light the fuel in the middle.
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Tips & Warnings
*
A pot skirt will improve the efficiency of a rocket stove.
