PREP Overlooked Preps

Kathy in FL

Administrator
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I haven’t read all the replies so apologize if there are some repeats. Some random things that come to mind include: large safety pins, extra lip balm, super glue, duct tape, eye glass repair kit, work and winter gloves, hair ties, hot pads, fly swatters, aluminum foil, dental floss, extra toothbrushes, dish soap, zip ties, binder clips, extra rope, a couple of sturdy buckets, hand lotion, extra can opener,

Much of this can be purchased at the dollar tree. Get it while you can and while it’s $1.00

If you are buying superglue, try and make it those "single serving sizes" because once you open it superglue turns into a superdud fairly quickly because it dries out.
 

Double_A

TB Fanatic
I have a 400 watt inverter that plugs into the car's cigarette lighter outlet or hooks to the car battery.It's only enough to run a couple of lights or a fan or recharge the batteries for some battery run tools. It's necessary to run the car while it's hooked up so as not to run down the car battery, which is a disadvantage, but it has come in handy a couple of times.

I also have a little air compressor that plugs into the car's cigarette lighter outlet and has come in handy to air up a tire a couple of times when the car had a low tire warning light.

A big disadvantage is using the Vehicle Cig Lighter outlet. Typically Cig lighter outlets are wired & fused to blow at ~15 amps.

So your only going to get 150-200 watts using the Cig Lighter outlet, not 400 watts as rated.

However...If the back of the Inverter has screw terminals used to connect the Inverter's Cig Lighter cable, you're in luck!

Make up a bit longer 12ga cable using Ring Terminals(on Inverter end) and battery clamps on the other end. You should get full rated power...connecting direct to the Vehicles battery.

ETA: If you have a 12ga extension cord, worth sacrificing ... you could cut 6-7 feet off and use it for the inverters. Of course after you crimp & solder the ring terminals & battery clamps on the cable. I do this quite a bit, cutting off a section of extension cord for two conductor cable, heavy duty jacket makes extension cables a good thing in a pinch. That's one of my prep items - outdoor extension cables.
 
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AlaskaSue

North to the Future
A piece of red clay brick can be used to sharpen an ax or hatchet. And just a plain, regular leather belt can be used to hone a knife. That 'grit paste' may make it work faster and/or better, but it's not really necessary. As my Dad taught me, about 5 decades ago, "If it'll dull a knife; it'll sharpen a knife". I've got a small piece of pine 2X4 setting next to my computer so I can sharpen my knife to razor sharpness. Oh and when sharpening/stropping a knife, roll the blade over on its back, not the 'cutting edge'. Without realizing it, when you end the stroke and lift the blade from the whetrock, you roll the edge off of it.
One of weeds here has the nickname of knife-weed. Also known as horsetail. The bane of my previous garden efforts. You can actually sharpen a knife with it!
 

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
A 'harder' answer...learn how to twist small diameter rope into large diameter rope. Then make enough of the thicker rope to replace those tires. Oh and it'd be good to also learn how to do a 'blind splice' to connect the ends of the rope. There won't be that 'bump' when the spliced part hits the ground...if it's used on a bicycle, for instance.
Also….many roots of weeds and tree saplings can be twisted into such, as I did way too often this summer! Especially willows, aspen and cottonweed, er, cottonwood!
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
See my post #153!

Summerthyme
OK, boys... either start a new thread (probably in TIO... never saw guys get do heated about tampons before ;-) ), or the thread bans are gonna come out.

Summerthyme


Since it was medical based, I started a thread in the alternative medicine section for perhaps medical discussions about about what we do just because and what we do when we know why, like backboarding people just because of what happened around them vs what we do now which is only the symptomatic ones get back boarded because most of the time they don’t need it and it’s bad for them
 

Double_A

TB Fanatic
they have better, smaller ones than the Minimag.
I have carried one of these aaa in my pocket for years. Batteries last forever and it’s brighter than several of my first high end tactical light


They also make it using an AA cell in Titanium or Copper. The copper they use take a very nice patina. I have a few of the earlier one in Stainless Steel two AAA and one AA , that my 91 yr old mom has claimed as hers. Easy on her hands to turn off/on. Easy to slip into her robe pocket. Small and light enough to hang around the neck if need be.
 

Double_A

TB Fanatic
Rechargeables are good because if you use them a lot, you’re saving money in the medium run. However a rechargeable battery only lasts months in storage.
For long term prep storage, stick to non rechargeable ones, because those last years.

You really do need to try eneloop's! Not only do they hold their charge they don't leak.

Frankly that's where Alkaline batteries do the most damage, installed in something that is forgotten. When found you can't get the end off with vise grips because of corrosion.

ETA: If your using non-rechargeable batteries inside stored items I hope your using Energizer's Disposable Lithium cells the expensive ones. That is what I use in a several hundred dollar pocket size multifunction Radiation detector.
 

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
Nicotine gum if you're a smoker or smokeless tobacco user (like me). It has a good shelf life of 2-3 years. I use it to help me get through the work day and keep a good long term supply.

Or dry and smoke tomato leaves. Yep, the tomato plant is a 'distant kin' to the tobacco plant...and has 'some' nicotine in it. Should be enough to 'ease your craving' in a pinch. And yes...I've smoked tomato leaves before.
 

Quiet Man

Nothing unreal exists
How about lidocaine powder and/or benzocaine powder.
Coincidentally, I was just shopping for these last week. You can get Reagent grade for both in 25 and 100 gram quantities on Amazon. One of the Amazon sellers has a site where you can get larger quantities (500g) at slight discounts:


ETA: Note that solubility of Benzocaine in water is extremely low. Solubility is good in Ethyl alcohol. Be sure to do some homework.
 
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school marm

Senior Member
The doctor I took some off-grid medicine classes from advised having 500 grams of lidocaine for my family of seven (at the time). I was sure I hadn't heard him correctly, so I asked again. Yep, 500 grams. I got mine at MedicalNumbingAgents.com. I've ordered from them twice, though it's been a few years. Was very happy with their service.
 

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
If you are buying superglue, try and make it those "single serving sizes" because once you open it superglue turns into a superdud fairly quickly because it dries out.

Or learn how to make it yourself. For instance, remember looking pictures of 'Native Americans' paddling their canoes on rivers or lakes? Remember seeing black lines 'painted' on the sides? Well, that was their version of 'super glue' they used to glue the edges of the skins used to cover the canoe's frame together. Lol, and in this case, it's better to have made a bit too much than not enough. To make it, collect pine sap in a tin can and set it near a fire. Set it close enough that it gets real runny but not boiling. Then mix into it a goodly bit of charcoal. It's now ready to be used. Oh and they used this 'super glue' for almost everything...their tepees even.
 

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
The doctor I took some off-grid medicine classes from advised having 500 grams of lidocaine for my family of seven (at the time). I was sure I hadn't heard him correctly, so I asked again. Yep, 500 grams. I got mine at MedicalNumbingAgents.com. I've ordered from them twice, though it's been a few years. Was very happy with their service.

Here's a 'natural pain killer' everyone hates and tries really hard to get it to stop growing in their yards...Wild Lettuce. I'll post a link, but not the article...because there's an 'ad' over it and I can't figure out how to get rid of it.
 

Quiet Man

Nothing unreal exists
The doctor I took some off-grid medicine classes from advised having 500 grams of lidocaine for my family of seven...
Can you recommend any on-line sources of information on how to make useful preparations (creams, etc.) with these items?
 

Kathy in FL

Administrator
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Kudzu vines can be braided and used for a lot of stuff as can wild potato vines. Cat's claw is an invasive vine as well that nearly takes a nuclear attack to eradicate it is so hardy. Saw brier is another type of useful vine ... put it to use before it chokes the world like barbwire. I'm only sorta kinda joking.

Kudzu tips and saw briar tips are also edible and can be canned. Cat's claw was used medicinally once upon a time but I'm not familiar enough with it to tell you how.

With that said, always keep a pair of "rose gloves" on hand and good garden shears.
 

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
Went on a search through my 'favorites' list for my dandelion coffee recipe...found this instead. A video telling about *all* the benefits dandelions have for us and our bodies. Lol, this video is about 10 years old. I'll get back later with the coffee recipe...
Btw, do not mess with this Lady...take note of that knife she's wearing on her hip, LOL.

""Dandelions : Edible and Medicinal Uses.""

run time= 5:40
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZURmWxoontM
 

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
Here's the link to the 'coffee' recipe. There's just far too many pictures there to bring it over so it'll still make sense. And it 'tells the tale' from the very beginning...literally from the beginning.

 

Bps1691

Veteran Member
And about saving/keeping your used motor oil...

""101 uses for old motor oil.""
Feb 28, 2014

run time= 8:33
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNSHEpQjwyE
My grandfathers, father and even I used to keep an old oil squirt can in our workshops with used oil in it. It was used when you needed a lubricate for bolts and such.

We also used an old car tire as the base when we did brush fire once a year when we trimmed grandma's orchard. Also cut sections out of (pre-belted) rubber tires to wire over places on the animal gates and certain areas of fences that the animals would rub against to protect them from end wires and bolts and nuts.

Used old auto tire inner tubes for water proof rubber gaskets (not under pressure).

Heck my grand mother saved all the cotton balls from Beyer Aspirin bottles. she cleaned and re-used aluminum foil.
 

school marm

Senior Member
Can you recommend any on-line sources of information on how to make useful preparations (creams, etc.) with these items?
Ok, but remember, you asked.

The links below are to articles I've written and posted on my blog.
Small Scale Preparation of Eye Drops
Lidocaine for Medical Preparedness
How To Make Injectable Lidocaine
TEOTWAWKI Local Anesthesia Options for Everyone

At the bottom of most articles are links to related articles. If you liked them, I'd suggest going next to the articles on Benadryl. And keep in mind, I'm not a doctor, this is all for entertainment, standard disclaimer stuff.
 

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
My grandfathers, father and even I used to keep an old oil squirt can in our workshops with used oil in it. It was used when you needed a lubricate for bolts and such.

We also used an old car tire as the base when we did brush fire once a year when we trimmed grandma's orchard. Also cut sections out of (pre-belted) rubber tires to wire over places on the animal gates and certain areas of fences that the animals would rub against to protect them from end wires and bolts and nuts.

Used old auto tire inner tubes for water proof rubber gaskets (not under pressure).

Heck my grand mother saved all the cotton balls from Beyer Aspirin bottles. she cleaned and re-used aluminum foil.

A while back, my daughter gave me 'faucet' to attach to a plastic gallon jug. It was missing one of the rubber gaskets. I cut one from a bike tire inner tube. Still working fine all these years later. If it's 'cleaned' properly, almost everything can be reused.
 

day late

money? whats that?
Ok, so I've had it with the screechy violin, and really want to purchase a classical guitar.
:hmm: Can I justify it as a prep? Will include some extra sets of strings too, promise.

In all honesty, YES! I can't tell you what it is like to spend long periods of time with other men who haven't even seen a bar of soap in some time. ANYTHING that breaks up the day to day routine is a good thing.
 

Bps1691

Veteran Member
Auto tires with inner tubes went away some time between 1955 and the mid 1980s.
lol - yep it was in the 1980's when you could still buy tire innertubes. I've still got a supply of some old ones in a burlap bag stuck away on a shelf in the shed. In a pinch you can still find some bike tire inner tubes
 

summerthyme

Administrator
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lol - yep it was in the 1980's when you could still buy tire innertubes. I've still got a supply of some old ones in a burlap bag stuck away on a shelf in the shed. In a pinch you can still find some bike tire inner tubes
You can still buy them... many of the older farm implements use car or truck tires... we were constantly putting tubes in them. However, the quality is crap! More than once, a brand new tube came with a blemish and hole!

Summerthyme
 

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
You can still buy them... many of the older farm implements use car or truck tires... we were constantly putting tubes in them. However, the quality is crap! More than once, a brand new tube came with a blemish and hole!

Summerthyme

I've had mine on my car for a while now and no problems at all. Sounds like to me you need to find a new place to buy your tires and tubes from...
 

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
Btw, I bought my 5 tubes...and 5 tires...from a good Christian, owned and operated, store. They PROUDLY display all kinds of 'Christian' things in their store.
 

Milkweed Host

Veteran Member
Beach is extremely effective in dealing with those insect (ants) problems around
the house foundation. I open the gallon jug of beach and pour it out in the area
where the foundation and soil meet, as I walking. I can get about 25' or so from
one gallon. With beach coming back into stores, I'll have to stock up for next
year's insects season.
 
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