Knowledge Weighs Nothing

DIY Emergency Candles: 6 Different SHTF Candles You Can Make

September 22, 2016

DIY homemade emergency candles

DIY Emergency 100 Hour Candles (Cost $1 Each!)

When I say these couldn’t be easier to make, I mean it! You need just three things to make these 100-hour emergency candles – a jar, a cheap table type candle and some shortening (Crisco or cheaper alternative). You simply spoon the shortening into the jar and when almost full you push the candle down into the middle, and apart from a bit of tidying you are all but done! If you like you can add some essential oils to the mix to give the candles a nice fragrance.

Now I said these 100-hour candles could be made for $1 and I believe they can. In the video BacktoBasics Gal purchased the jars, but you can clean out a reuse food jars, so then you just have to purchase the shortening and the table candles. I have seen packs of 12 of these type of candles in Dollar stores and you can pick up large containers of shortening pretty cheap too. You can pick up 48oz tub of Crisco on Amazon for $11.95.

Homemade DIY emergency candeles

How To Make Emergency 50 Hour Candles

Normal candles are fine for the odd short power outage, but if you are going to be days or even weeks without power/lighting, you want something bigger and more efficient like a 50 hour candle.  The problem is these are expensive… The good news is you can make around 15 of your own 50 hour candles for around the price of purchasing two.

You can reuse food jars, so they are free, and you can purchase 5 LBS of soy wax here and candle wicks here from Amazon; you can then make around 15, 50 hour candles for less that $25. For a full tutorial on how to make the candles, check out the link below.

How To Make Emergency 50 Hour Candles

(Photo from: TEOTWAWKI Blog)

Altoids Tin Emergency Candle (Stove & Heater)

Altoids tin DIY emergency candle

This Altoids tin emergency candle is a great little project that actually has several different uses in camping and emergency preparedness scenarios. This DIY Altoids tin candle has a candle with four wicks in the base and some matches and strikers glued to the underside of the lid, to make a complete emergency candle kit.

Personally, I actually think this Altoids candle is far more versatile than simply a light source – in an emergency, you could light all four wicks and it could be used to warm food and sterilize water in small quantities. Also if you were surviving outdoors or camping, I am fairly sure that with all four wicks lit, this would pump out a good amount of heat to help keep you warm, or at least warm up your hands to get some feeling and dexterity back into them. Check out the tutorial below to see how to make this simple but versatile Altoids candle.

Altoids Tin Emergency Candle (Stove & Heater)

(Photo from: EaKLondon via Instructables)

How to Make an Everlasting Candle from Crisco (it doesn’t smell!)

Ok, here’s the thing, I was always going to get around to doing a post on making a candle with Crisco, but then someone commented on our Facebook page about our make a candle with olive oil post saying olive oil is expensive and Crisco is a better option.

This got me thinking and tinkering and do you know what, it’s nice to make an olive oil candle (there is just something nice, healthy and clean about olive oil), but if you are up against it and you want the functional no-frills, but works like a charm option, then Crisco is the way to go.  Also, it couldn’t really be simpler as Crisco comes in a tin, so once you have inserted a wick, you are ready to go!

And NO, No, No it doesn’t stink!  So don’t ask! I admit I thought it would, but to my surprise, it doesn’t.

One thing I would do differently to the video is – I find it easier to use a straw to insert the wick.  Simply cut your wick to size, insert it into the straw and then use the straw to slide the wick in the Crisco, easy! It is preferable to buy and use proper wicks as these burn better, but at a push, any similar sized cord will do if you are stuck.

So there you go folks, but a few tins of Crisco in the cupboard and keep some wicks/string handy and you have cheap everlasting candles, which you could eat if you got really desperate…

You can get your Crisco  and candle wicks from Amazon (Crisco at Amazon, is there anything you can’t buy from Amazon now?)

How To Make An Emergency Candle From Butter

DIY emergency candle made from butter
In the past I have posted about how to make DIY candles from things you have at home: How to Make an Everlasting Candle from Crisco (it doesn’t smell!) and Make a Candle with Olive Oil.

I had never really considered making a candle out of butter, but I guess it makes sense as butter is mostly fat the same as Crisco and olive oil…

The great thing about this candle is you only need two things to make it – some butter and some toilet paper (to make the wick!). Anyway, head over to the Instructables and check out the video and tutorial.

Make a Butter Candle – Emergency Candle McGyver Style!

(Photo from: The King of Random via: Instructables)

Make A Lip-Balm Candle (Another reason to carry lip balm)

I have previously done a post called: How To Start A Fire With A Chapstick but here is another great reason to carry some lip-balm with you… You can make a create little candle with it, whilst still having the lip-balm available to protect your lips.

So for all you tough guys out there that don’t carry lip balm, now you have two extra reasons to consider taking some with you.  It can help you start fires and you can make candles from it. Oh yeah, it will also keep your lips nice and soft!

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, DIY, General, General Prepping, Urban Survival

101 Uses For A Bandana – Survival, Medical, Tactical, Humorous

October 26, 2018


Earlier in the year we featured a similar video from ‘Dan’s Depot’ 101 Uses For Paracord (Seriously, there’s 101 uses listed here)…

Well the folks from Dan’s Depot are back and today they are presenting 101 uses for a bandana. Bandanas are truly versatile and it is a great idea to include one when you go camping/hiking etc. They are also a good thing to have in a bug-out-bag or survival bag.

Another similar, but even more versatile item to carry is a shemagh. For decades shemaghs have been issued to British soldiers and they are now widely used by US troops. Pretty much everything you can do with a bandana, you can do better with a shemagh.

(Photo from: Dan’s Depot)

Filed Under: General Prepping, Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival

Blisters – To Pop Or Not To Pop?

October 17, 2018

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Firstly, let me tell you, blisters are serious business! You should never ignore that hotspot you feel in your boot, take action right away and get a band-aid or some improvised cushioning on the to stop the rubbing. I did a 35 mile day hike once in some new boots (big mistake!), and I ignored the hotspots and blisters; it got to a point at around 25 miles that I knew I was in trouble, but I also knew that if I took off my boots and saw the damage, I probably wouldn’t continue. Anyway the long and short of it is – I made it home, but my feet were a mess and I couldn’t walk for two days afterwards…  They were so bad, they took weeks to heal completely.

If you are bugging-out or in a survival situation, not being able to walk for two days could kill you… Blisters caused by friction from boots and packs are entirely preventable; as soon as you feel discomfort, stop and treat.

Now with blisters themselves, everyone has an opinion on how to treat them…. But medically who is right and who is wrong? Is the best blister treatment to leave it alone, or to pop it? Does it depend on what kind of blister it is, for example a friction blister or a blister from a burn? Does it matter where the blister is located on your body? Thankfully the Survival Doctor aka James Hubbard, MD, MPH has written a post on his website on just this topic.  Check out Dr James’ thoughts below.

Blisters – To Pop Or Not To Pop?

(Photo from: Phil and Pam)

Filed Under: General Prepping, Health/Fitness, Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival

Make 12 Door Or Perimeter Alarms For Just $2.49 (80 decibels!)

October 14, 2018

pulling fireworks

I found these little Pulling Trick Fireworks on Amazon (you may be able to find similar locally) which are designed for pranking friends and family. They have a  5 inch pull string on each side of a 1.5 inch charge; You rig them on anything that opens such as doors, windows and draws to prank people when they open them… I haven’t tried these myself, but providing they work, it appears to me that they can also be used for security purposes to set door/window alarms and perimeter tripwire alarms.

You attach one string to the door/window frame and the other to the door/window itself.  When the door/window is pushed open it pulls the firework in a similar way to a Christmas cracker and it goes bang and omits a 80 decibel bang! You can buy a 12 pack of these pull string fireworks from Amazon for just $2.49 with free delivery.

These pull string fireworks could also be used with some fishing line to create a tripwire perimeter alarm when outdoors hiking, camping or if you’ve bugged-out to the wilderness. Simply tie one end of the trip wire to one of the strings, run your tripwire around the area you want to protect and simply tie the end of the wire to the other string on the firework.

Check out the Pulling Trick Fireworks on Amazon

Filed Under: DIY, General Prepping, Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival

How To Escape From Handcuffs

October 14, 2018

Firstly, this information is not for people who have done something illegal and have been justifiably and lawfully handcuffed (actually law enforcement and military often use zip ties now anyway). This information is for people who are concerned and want to be prepared in case they become the victim of illegal restraint in SHTF type scenarios. This is a very quick and easy technique to learn and implement, as long as your hands are cuffed in front of you and you have a bobby-pin or paper-clip.

(Photo from: .v1ctor Casale)

Filed Under: General Prepping, Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival

Make A Slingshot Bow in 5 minutes!

October 13, 2018

slingshot bow

Fancy turning your slingshot into a slingshot-bow? The short tutorial below shows how to do just that!

The tutorials uses a whisker biscuit for the arrow rest; these can be pretty expensive, so if you are on a tight budget, you can use a keyring and two rubber bands. Simply tie the rubber bands to the keyring and attach each band to each arm of the slingshot (so the keyring sits in the middle!) You will have to adjust the height and tension for accuracy, but it is a whole load cheaper that buying a whisker biscuit…

Make A Slingshot Bow in 5 minutes!

(Photo from: mountainmedic via Instructables)

Filed Under: DIY, General Prepping, Hunting & Fishing, Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival

Stanley FUBAR Demolition Bar (Another Prepper’s Friend!)

October 13, 2018

fubar

Last week I did a quick post: Trucker’s (Preppers!) Friend All-Purpose and Survival Tool. I thought the Trucker’s Friend looked like an awesome bit of kit, which would be ideal for preppers. I liked it so much, that I had one sent to me and I will write a full review of it in due course. When I posted about the Trucker’s Friend on the Facebook page, someone asked why I was featuring it if I had no personal experience of using it. Firstly, I never stated it was a review of the product and secondly, whilst I haven’t reviewed the product, 33 people on Amazon have and they gave it 5/5.

Anyway to try and right the wrong, today I am featuring the Stanley STHT55134 FUBAR Demolition Bar and this is something I do own! The Stanley FUBAR demolition bar has a ground chisel and prying end for ripping cutting and prying, with a nail puller at the other end. The tool is comfortable and a good weight in the hand; once sharpened, the blade can be used for light chopping chores, you can’t throw it, but it could otherwise replace a tomahawk.

I think this demolition bar is the perfect size and weight for a bug-out-bag; the blade is very sharp and it can do many of the tasks of a knife or tomahawk, and for its size, it is great for wrecking, demolishing and gaining entry through doors and windows. It’s also a handy weapon for self-defence. The great news is – it currently sells for just $15.99 on Amazon (I actually paid more!) and I think that represents excellent value.

Check it out on Amazon: Stanley FUBAR Demolition Bar

Filed Under: General Prepping, Tools & Gear, Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival

Field Treatment of Diabetic Shock

October 12, 2018

diabtic-shock

I often get asked about what diabetics should do in survival or SHTF situations… If you are prepping and getting caught up with all the if, buts and hows, imagine for a moment, how much more difficult it would be if you or a family member had a illness or condition which requires regular treatment.

I don’t have all the answers, but below is a post detailing the symptoms of diabetic shock, and how to treat it in the field. It is especially important to know the symptoms as one of the main one is confusion, so the affected person might not be able to say – hey I am diabetic and going into shock.

Field Treatment of Diabetic Shock

(Photo from: Outdoor Self Reliance)

Filed Under: General Prepping, Health/Fitness, Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival

How To Make Hardtack

October 8, 2018


Most people have heard of hardtack, but if you haven’t, hardtack is a hard bread/cracker survival food that has been made and used by soldiers, explorers and sailors for 100s and 100s of years…

Hardtack is simple and easy to make, nutritious, stores for months, and it tastes ok, if a little bland. These four properties make hardtack a vital survival food to make and know how to make. There are only 3 ingredients in traditional hardtack – flour (wholemeal unprocessed flour is best), salt and water.

Watch the video and see how to make hardtack. I recommend everyone has a go at making some, as you might come to rely on it one day…

 

(Photo from: Minnesota Historical Society)

Filed Under: General Prepping, Urban Survival, Wilderness Survival

Top 10 Items You Need To Survive On The Road

October 7, 2018

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If a major catastrophic event were to happen, thousands upon thousands of people will take to the road to get out of dodge. That being said, it only takes one or two cars to break down or just the sheer amount of cars on the road to cause havoc. You could be stranded in your car miles away from civilization for days if not weeks.

See what items you will need to have to at least give you a fighting chance to survive just the initial drive out of dodge.

Top 10 Items You Need To Survive On The Road

(Picture Credit: Shlabotnik)

Filed Under: General Prepping, Self-Sufficiency, Urban Survival

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