Category: Traditional Skills/Fieldcraft

An Unconventional Training Opportunity: Short-Term Missions, by Nate C.

When it comes to training, there are many good avenues. Some choose (or are drafted) to serve in the military and take advantage of the training there, ranging from basic to advanced. Others get involved in Scouts. Some piece together opportunities like firearms training, wilderness survival and emergency medical courses. Still others learn through travel. There are many types of travel, and each teaches in a different way, if we choose to learn. A cruise with touristy ports-of-call probably isn’t much of an education, except in the gustatory sense, but foreign military service clearly can be. Not all of us …


Wood Cookstoves: The Alternate Source For Your Everyday Life, by Sarah C.

Wood heat: Is it really the best source, and why? This seems to be a popular question. I’m sure you have heard about the many benefits of an alternative energy source, but how much do you really know about wood heat? Maybe you remember that you grandmother used to cook on a wood cookstove back in the day, but you probably assume that wood cooking is old fashioned and outdated — think again!  How much do you spend a year to heat your home? Not to mention the additional cost of cooking your food, and heating your water. We just …


Letter Re: Acquiring Hand Tools

Mr. Rawles:   Along the same line as Cadet’s recent piece about hand tools, I would like to add that this topic has been on my mind for some time.  I bought a file set from Harbor Freight just to have for light work around our retreat.  When I tried to sharpen an old Collins brand axe head with a fine file, the axe head took metal off the file!  My warning to SurvivalBlog readers: Save up a few extra bucks and buy new American made files that are actually harder than the steel that you intend to use them …


Acquiring Hand Tools, by Calvinist Cadet in Washington

Primitive tasks require primitive tools.  When endeavoring to prepare for an extended grid-down or without rule of law scenario one would do well to have on hand a ready mix of equipment and supplies which can meet the challenges requisite to providing for basic needs.  Would-be survivalists often point to hypothetical situations when which they would gather water from some nearby source and make fire within there hastily crafted shelter beside their tilled, loamy garden bed, while butchering game, harvested casually in some illusionary, post-apocalyptic, Shangri-la. Without primitive or pioneer type tools, basic human functions can become impossible.  A simple …


Letter Re: Antique Kindle E-Books as Useful References

I have found a lot of free Kindle e-books available through Amazon.com. Most of these public domain books are older, out of copyright [pre-1923] or out-of-print but may still have some useful information in them that could supplement your survival bookshelf. Just go to Amazon.com and download the appropriate Kindle Reader application for what you are using–such as PC, Mac computer, iPhone, Android, Blackberry–or if you are inclined you could buy a dedicated Kindle reader. The priced I haven’t tried this, but another SurvivalBlog reader might, see if a Kindle app can be downloaded and used from any computer via …


Simple Prepping for the Suburban Home, by Keep-it-Simple Suburbanite

Our family lives in an average house on an average lot near the edge of an average midwestern city.  While we have two evacuation invitations and are looking into purchasing “camping land”, our primary plan is to shelter in place.  From the very beginning, JWR’s “blinding flash of the obvious” has been the watchword in my quest for simplicity.  Limited time, space and resources have led to some streamlining that might give others a few helpful ideas. Garden Have you ever felt overwhelmed and intimidated by all the great gardening advice you read here on the blog?  If so, why …


A Few Words on Bicycles, by Semper Bike

About 17 years ago I realized that I could not do all the things that I had done when I was in my 20s. I use to play pick-up basketball for hours, play soccer, stay up way too late, hike lots of miles, and a lot of other things, and not feel too much pain the next day. Well, I’m 47 now and I can barely run or do anything that requires lateral movement like soccer or basketball due to multiple operations on my ankles, knee and back. About the only things that I can do pain-free is swim and …


Beans, Bullets, Band-Aids and Bicycles, by Phill in Texas

If you know how to ride a bike then raise your hand.  If you didn’t raise your hand then you are either lying or don’t have hands.  The truth is everyone knows how to ride a bike and everyone at some point in their lives has owned a bike.  If everyone has owned a bike or at least knows how to ride one, then I must beg the question “Why is no one talking more about bikes for TEOTWAWKI type situations?”  Allow me to remedy this quandary. Possession of bicycles  is highly underrated in topic general.  Additionally, from the lack …


Letter Re: Labor Requirements Expectations, Post Collapse

Hello James: This letter is an attempt to throw some stakes into the ground that might serve as  a realistic basis for “expectation management”. People’s ability to soldier onward under adverse conditions is very closely tied to the alignment (or gap) between expectations and the reality of the moment.   People who have had every advantage have given up and committed suicide because their expectation was that they were destined to become the Chief Executive Officer of a Fortune 500 company before their 45th birthday.  Others greet every morning with relentless cheerfulness even though their day meant 10 hours of mopping …


Letter Re: Observations From Fence Building

JWR: Texas Rancher’s comments on fence building are spot on.  Build it right the first time or you’ll regret it.  If you’re in big country, then barbed wire is the way to go.  If you have a smaller place, from a few acres to a few hundred acres, you may want to consider high tensile electric fences.  High tensile fencing has a number of advantages over other types of fencing, particularly if you live in an area where there are trees. If you’re not familiar with high tensile electric fencing take a look at  Kencove.com  They are a good source …


Letter Re: Observations From Fence Building

Dear Mr. Rawles: As a Texas rancher, I understand the difficulties associated with fence building and repair. Too much fence building in a short amount of time will run off a good ranch hand. Mudflap’s comments about proper clothing and hydration when fence building are right and should be given attention. We use twisted smooth wire (no barbs) for horse pens but to contain cattle, barbed wire is necessary. Good gloves are essential. Pigskin gloves are very barb resistant. You will be nicked by the barbed wire, so stay current with tetanus shots. Every vehicle on my ranch has a set of fencing pliers …


Two Letters Re: Strong and Sticky Stuff for Sticky Situations

Jim, Regarding J-B Weld: It is not like most other two part epoxies.  The additives in the product impart a very important characteristic: It can be machined (drilled, grinded, sanded and even tapped.   Normal two-part epoxy tends to chip and shatter when drilled, can’t be tapped effectively and is extremely hard to sand.  J-B Weld, on the other hand, is easily worked with normal home workshop tools.  Just last weekend I had a stripped machine screw hole for the screw that holds one of my car’s sun visors up.  I filled the hole with J-B Weld, let it cure overnight, then …


Two Letters Re: Observations From Fence Building

JWR, I’m a fan of your books and blog reader… in a recent guest post,  Observations From Fence Building, by Mudflap, however, the author stated something that is practically true when exercised with common sense, but is factually incorrect and potentially dangerous. The author stated flatly that: “You cannot drink too much water.  As long as you can freely urinate, keep drinking water.  Don’t keep track of how much water you are downing.” When the contrary is quite true – water intoxication, and hypnotremia could occur – in addition, gross excess of water in your system can trigger a reflex …


Letter Re: Strong and Sticky Stuff for Sticky Situations

Sir: Do you or any of your readers have any experience with J-B Weld? Is it recommended for use as a survival item — i.e., pros and cons versus traditional methods of joining [materials]? Thank you! Best, – J.C. JWR Replies: Yes, it works quite well, and I do recommend it.  But don’t let the “liquid steel” marketing hype fool you.  It is just a two-part epoxy. To be properly equipped for emergency repairs on vehicles, tractors, and assorted gear at your retreat, I recommend watching for sale prices and stocking up on a variety of sticky and strong stuff. …


Letter Re: Machine Shop Tool Recommendations

James, In your blog you recently mentioned Transfer Punches. A more important tool to have is the automatic center punch. These are handy around the shop and in a bug out bag. They are great for emergency egress from an automobile accident. [Since these will shatter the tempered glass used in the side widows of cars.] They are handy, compact and versatile. The ones made by Starrett, though pricey, are the best quality. I used mine at work for over 20 years and once a year would oil the spring and still have it after 40 years. Quality always wins …