» Survivaltek  » Tag » Automobile https://survivaltek.com Teaching the Ways and Means to Survive Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:00:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.41
Make Fire With Headlights https://survivaltek.com/?p=3546 https://survivaltek.com/?p=3546#comments Sat, 04 May 2013 14:14:33 +0000 https://survivaltek.com/?p=3546

Reflective Solar Fire Method

One of the fun things that I enjoy is finding useful trash that can be used to improvise solutions in an emergency situation. It’s amazing what you can find along a roadside. It’s not unusual to find broken car parts resulting from automobile accidents. One of the elements of this trash that I have used to make fire has been broken headlights by using their optical properties of concave reflection or convex refraction.

The mirrored surface of a headlight reflector is described as “concave” in shape, similar to the interior surface of a rounded cup. It reflects light from a light-bulb that is mounted inside it and shines outward. Some of the newer headlights use a “convex” lens that transmits light through it. It is fashioned from a solid material such as glass or plastic that focuses the light from a light-bulb outward as well.

Refractive Solar Fire Method

In each case we reverse the process of light reflection and refraction to gather light from the sun into a single focal point in order to create an ember from tinder that we strategically place where the light-bulb was originally mounted. Simply point the reflector or lens toward the sun and minimizing the “hot spot” onto the tinder.
In both cases it’s good to know that automobile headlights can be used to start a fire in an emergency situation when you have sunlight by using either the reflective or refractive nature of it’s parts. Next time you pass a roadside, keep a look-out for these usable part and try it out for yourself!

]]> https://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=3546 0 Popping Off Bottle Bottoms By Hand https://survivaltek.com/?p=3040 https://survivaltek.com/?p=3040#comments Sat, 13 Oct 2012 12:28:12 +0000 https://survivaltek.com/?p=3040 Bottle bottoms? Why would you want to remove them? This may seem an odd thing to do at first thought, but there are a number of reasons, and this task can be accomplished without tools.

My interest in removing bottle bottoms is that it provides material that I use to develop my flint knapping skills. Admittedly, a 40 oz. bottle is preferred because it provides the most glass to work with but requires a rod of some sort to strike it out from within the bottle. But a regular 12 oz. size bottle still has usable material for practice and is much more plentiful to acquire.

There are other uses for the remaining bottle. For instance, when inverted, the bottle becomes a funnel and can be strategic for adding fluids to your automobile in an emergency situation. Another use is as a stationary or mobile candle holder complete with integrated chimney and handle.

How do you remove the bottom? Begin by filling the empty bottle with water until it is 2 inches from the top. With one hand, use your thumb and fore finger to surround the lip of the bottle while holding the neck, and with the other hand strike the opening with the butt of your palm. It’s best to do this over a soft area like a lawn to prevent breakage of the released glass and to absorb the spilled water. Be sure to pick up any remaining glass shards that fell to the ground during the process. It’s important to note that thin glass bottles might crack upwards while releasing the bottom. I have had no problems from this but you should take any safety precautions that you deem necessary.

With a little practice you should experience success. I’m still working toward larger bottle sizes with hope of overcoming the 40 oz. barrier of resistance.Click HERE to view a short video demonstration.

]]> https://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=3040 4