Thread: PREPPERS - Those who plan to survive

Originally Posted by hick

Bushcraft

She needs it...

In reality, I think Maanaam and ENT would get on like peas and carrots round a campfire.

Sure would, ^ they could talk shit to each other round the camp fire.

Anyone know how to boil water over an open fire in a paper bag?

Sorry. I can only use the bag to aid in igniting the kindling and then put the fire out with the water.



But,...one thing that's been tripping me up a little.

Lots of plots for sale in AK - some owners willing to allow me to camp there to check it out firsthand - NO owners willing to allow me to camp there AND have a fire(!)

It seems wildfires are THAT big of a menace, danger and concern.

Finally got it explained to me:



"Depending on the season's rainfall, Alaska can get very dry and vice versa. One thing Alaska has an abundance of is tundra and it is very flameable. Fairbanks (interior) normally has a lot less rainfall than the rest of AK. WILDFIRE is an ever present danger and many times they burn an area in Alaska bigger than some states. Even with great care, and past experience elswhere, a stray spark can start an unseen fire underneath the tundra and spring up a week later. Sometimes it will travel underground and spring up a mile away.

If you do go see my property in the summer, I would prefer that you don't even start a fire anywhere even close to the property. I've seen many get out of control. I have no problem at all of you camping there but please, NO FIRES. The danger is not exaggerated. "

R U allowed to use one of these?



Stove made from 6mm copper tube and 70 ml glass jar. Approximate time of burning with 60 mm (2 oz) of alcohol around 30 minutes.

Make one yourself,...easily.




Another approach to the same job;





Even smaller




This copper coil burner is made from 50mm stainless steel pipe as the fuel tank and 8mm copper pipe as the burner. It will be used for heating up the water for the shower on my camping trailer.


Multiple burner types.





Another type, non-coil, loops with pinholes in the top-plate.

Hick just thought I should mention another knife that I can't do without and it is actually super cheap. It is the Mora Companion. It comes in two models the standard and the heavy duty. It is a razor sharp scandi grind;

https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Comp...SP7PDT1CC1F2KW

https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Comp...1Q6P15VW43XMKN

I usually throw one of these in my pack as a backup and for use around the campsite. Mora makes lots of different styles of knife and people really swear by them. Super lightweight as well.

Originally Posted by ENT

Still dodging the question about your claim to be a qualified NZMAF meat inspector.

Not dodging at all. If you had had genuine curiosity instead of accusatory doubt, I would have been happy to tell you.

Originally Posted by ENT

I never made those claims

You implied them when you accused me of having no academic or scientific discipline. You also claim to be a scholar/scientist/anthropologist.

Originally Posted by hick

In reality, I think Maanaam and ENT would get on like peas and carrots round a campfire

Doubt it. I don't suffer fools, liars or jerks very well. Not that I think ENT's a jerk; to be fair, I think he's crazy, deceitful, and grumpy, but not a jerk.

[QUOTE=Maanaam;3545266]

Originally Posted by ENT

Still dodging the question about your claim to be a qualified NZMAF meat inspector.

Not dodging at all. If you had had genuine curiosity instead of accusatory doubt, I would have been happy to tell you.

You're jumping to conclusions. I asked a simple question that you refuse to answer, which in itself implies an inability to do so.

Originally Posted by ENT

I never made those claims

You implied them when you accused me of having no academic or scientific discipline.

Stuff and nonsense, you jumped to an irrational conclusion again.

You also claim to be a scholar/scientist

I never have.

anthropologist.

That I am.

Originally Posted by ENT

Anyone know how to boil water over an open fire in a paper bag?

This is how;

After getting a nice pile of hot ash and embers after the initial blaze of your campfire, get a thick brown paper bag, double layered sugar bags work best.

Wet the bag carefully without tearing it, then half fill the bag with water.

Twist the bag closed at the top, not too tight, to let the pressure off as the water heats.

Carefully place the bag of water upright on top of the hot coals and ash.

Make sure there's no wind or draught to whip up flames or cool the water-bag.

The water will heat quite fast without the paper burning, not quite to a vigorous boil, but to a low simmer, suitable for making a cuppa, adding to a mug of noodles etc.

You can continue to wet the outside of the bag if you need to, especially if you're simmering meat or other stuff in it.

You can do the same using a heavy duty canvas cloth bag, but the bag will eventually char after repeated uses, paper bags can only be used once, usually.

The same trick can be done using a fresh skin or pelt,, suspended on a quadripod made of 4 x 4ft lengths of branch arranged round a fire. three quarters the way up each 'leg' of which is firmly tied a corner of your fresh skin, hair side down, to form a shallow bowl.

Pour in a litre or so of water, a hot stone from the fire to heat the water faster and to keep the skins weighted down and stretched. Then add bits of meat, veges, wild herbs etc to that hot water and it'll all soon start to simmer slowly. Keep replacing the cooled down hot stones with fresh hot ones to increase the temperature quickly.
A touch of salt towards the end of cooking time works wonders. ( you need a little salt daily or you'll dehydrate)

You can lower or raise the skin 'bowl' by moving the legs outwards or towards the fire as you see fit.

Shelter from wind is essential.

Yum....

Originally Posted by ENT

R U allowed to use one of these?

I really don't know how this will play out fully. I can't see your vids for another 2 hours (this pc needs an update) but I'll basically have a very basic camp stove (fed from pellets and/or candles) and primitive fire plans, that's it.

There's what people say and then there's being out in the bush and doing what you have to do. You read what the man typed. He paints a fairly grim picture of tundra sparking out there. I'm sure I'll have a much better idea of fire safety (dos and donts) after my 1st week.

Originally Posted by bsnub

Hick just thought I should mention another knife that I can't do without and it is actually super cheap. It is the Mora Companion.
I usually throw one of these in my pack as a backup and for use around the campsite. Mora makes lots of different styles of knife and people really swear by them. Super lightweight as well.

Thanks! I'll check that out!

[QUOTE=ENT;3545353]

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Originally Posted by ENT

Still dodging the question about your claim to be a qualified NZMAF meat inspector.

Not dodging at all. If you had had genuine curiosity instead of accusatory doubt, I would have been happy to tell you.

You're jumping to conclusions. I asked a simple question that you refuse to answer, which in itself implies an inability to do so.

Originally Posted by ENT

I never made those claims

You implied them when you accused me of having no academic or scientific discipline.

Stuff and nonsense, you jumped to an irrational conclusion again.

You also claim to be a scholar/scientist

I never have.

anthropologist.

That I am.

All the above.....

Originally Posted by ENT

R U allowed to use one of these?

I certainly like the idea, novelty, size and obvious lack of sparks.

I'd be concerned about hauling the liquid gas (alcohol) but will watch each video, read some more on them and then decide whether to pursue it.

PS: Bushcraft book is fantasimo! Thanks again.
Pretty bulky so I'll snip, catalogue and save particular sections to take on Ipod.

Originally Posted by bsnub

Mora makes lots of different styles of knife and people really swear by them. Super lightweight as well.

REALLY like the look of those sturdy handles there...

At the moment I'm holding a Columbia pocketknife that I'm pretty comfortable with:

Looks a little like this:



It was handmade in Sürmene/Trabzon, Turkey which is the country's most well-known region for bladesmiths and knifemakers. So, anyways - the knife means something to me as the experience was something to remember.

Having said that - (again) I really like those Moras and just like steel altogether. So, maybe I'll add-in a little cutlery ( ) shopping while I'm in FL. Can always make room for another blade.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

Is my manliness still intact?

Yes, mate, it's intact.
I have no problem with blood and guts, but I'm Queen Victoria when it comes to shit.
Can't even change a baby's nappy without gagging.
So if we ever had to face-off, have a dump, pick it up and threaten me with it and I'm surrendering or retreating.
Odd thing is, when the shit is in the colon of an animal I'm dressing, I have no problem with it (pig). Once an omnivorous animal's shit comes out, I'm helpless.
. I have no problem with herbivorous animal excretia.
Not everyone can handle blood nor guts. No biggie.

Originally Posted by hick

Originally Posted by ENT

R U allowed to use one of these?

I certainly like the idea, novelty, size and obvious lack of sparks.

I'd be concerned about hauling the liquid gas (alcohol) but will watch each video, read some more on them and then decide whether to pursue it.

PS: Bushcraft book is fantasimo! Thanks again.
Pretty bulky so I'll snip, catalogue and save particular sections to take on Ipod.

Cheers.

One method of carrying the alcohol/meths/petrol/white spirits/kerosene/paraffin fuel for that little cooker is to fill the tubular frame of your backpack with the desired type.
There are often bungs fitted to both ends of the tubes. Make sure that the bottom bungs are well sealed in with some epoxy or such.

Make sure that there are no rivet or bolt holes going through the frame, or any cracks in the tubes, if so weld them up and make sure they don't leak with rough handling. If there are rivet/bolt holes, see if you can arrange whatever fitting that attaches to them to be practically by-passed in favour of an outer sleeve fastener for them.

A tube 2cm inner diameter x 70 cm length (minus 1cm off each end for bungs) will carry 213.63 cc of fuel. A tube on either side gives you 427.26 cc of stored fuel.

At 2 fl oz (=56.82 cc) per burn, that's a max of 7.5 x 30 min burns = 225.58 mins = 3.75 hours of fuel per two tubes.

Alternatively just velcro onto the frame a couple of tubes of whatever diameter you like to carry the fuel.

A pair of 4cm ID aluminium tubes velcroed one onto each side of your pack will carry approximately 0.855 litres of fuel, combined,... enough for 7.5 hours of burn...a week's supply if you're careful.

If you're traveling by motorcycle, you've got a tank-full of the stuff, to syphon or tap out.

Originally Posted by hick

Originally Posted by bsnub

Mora makes lots of different styles of knife and people really swear by them. Super lightweight as well.

REALLY like the look of those sturdy handles there...

It'd make a good all purpose skinning butchering knife too.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

Now, a question to you esteemed huntsman.

Even though my Dad was a skilled rabbit hunter and skinner, chook killer, sheep 'de-baller' etc ... the thought of killing/skinning an animal,
except if my Family's lives depended on it, is something I would find difficult to do.

Is my manliness still intact?

Do I have any street cred?


You stalk/kill/skin then ... and I'll eat them ... but just the yummy bits!
.

My personal opinion is that if you're going to eat meat, you've got to be prepared to kill an animal some time for the privilege of eating it.

It makes you think about why you're doing it, eating meat and so on.

Otherwise all you know is that nice looking steak or whatever is just what you want, without a thought of where it comes from.

I rarely eat meat these days, but would be happy to murder my own chooks or a few fish for a feed if need be.

Would eating a live oyster ^ count enough as killing your own food to eat?

Originally Posted by wasabi

Would eating a live oyster ^ count enough as killing your own food to eat?

Only if it screams.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

I have no problem with herbivorous animal excretia.

bathed, perhaps, in a light vinaigrette and accompanied by a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio...

Originally Posted by tomcat

Originally Posted by Maanaam

I have no problem with herbivorous animal excretia.

bathed, perhaps, in a light vinaigrette and accompanied by a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio...

A bit light, that.
I think for cow patties, a mourvedre is a betting pairing.

Originally Posted by tomcat

Originally Posted by Maanaam

I have no problem with herbivorous animal excretia.

bathed, perhaps, in a light vinaigrette and accompanied by a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio...

I fail to appreciate a Pinot Grigio.

Have tried a few, it's just not my palate.

What is the appeal for you?
.