I inquired about what motivated her to use one and her response was that it was inexpensive to make, easily repairable, and somewhat a renewable resource.

This made a lot of sense. Duct tape is such an amazing resource, and any prepper generally keeps some in their provisions.

She demonstrated how to adhere 5 layers together to form the outside and 4 layers to attach on the inside, allowing the outside edges to fold over inward to create a sealed edge.

Duct tape is so versatile that additional pockets or flaps can easily be added. Her wallet is quite durable and easily repaired.

This wallet is just a sample that illustrates the many crafts that can be fashioned i.e. cups, straps, cordage, etc.. Please leave comments on your crafts and other ways that you have used duct tape.

I grabbed a paddle and headed down to the local river. Being that it was late January it was very cold which may have contributed to the challenges that lay ahead. I decided to “put in” water deep enough so that I would not “bottom out” once I stepped inside. As I entered the bin it was quite wobbly and before I could completely sit inside the bin it cracked all the way down one side! I wondered if it was the cold weather or old age that may have caused the plastic to become brittle and if this perhaps would have been better attempted at a warmer time.

I had to abort the plan, climb up the river’s edge and retrieve the sunken bin from the cold water using my paddle. That night I reflected on the day’s event and decided that I would test the virtues of duct tape and make a repair to the damaged area while fortifying other possible weak areas as well. In addition, I would “put in” the bin in shallow water so that my entry would be stable and I could “push off” to deeper water for total flotation.

I returned the next day with the repaired bin, ready to test my ideas. I successfully placed the bin over the shallow river bottom and as I sat down inside I heard a crack! I could tell that the bottom was compromised and it slowly began to take on water. I began to push off to deeper water but it became apparent that my back end began to lower as my foot end began to rise.

I tried to even out the load by scooting forward while placing my legs over the prow but it only proved to be insufficient and unmanageable. It became apparent that even without the breach of the plastic bottom the improper balance of weight would not allow the bin to be used as a plausible vessel in the water.

In the end it was a fun experience and I was pleased that at least my duct tape repairs and reinforcements held. I walked away with that satisfaction of having tried another proof-of-concept experiment that added to my experience base while providing a very memorable occasion.

The purpose of viewing through the tiny hole is that it reduces the pin-points of light known as “circles of confusion”. A large hole allows numerous “circles” of light that contribute to dispersion/interference of the image that make it look fuzzy whereas a small hole allows fewer “circles” that bring more clarity by eliminating the fuzz factor of overlapping points of light.

When viewing an object, hold the card just in front of your eye, then bring the object for viewing up close until it comes into focus. You would be amazed at the detail that can be seen on a coin, postage stamp, wristwatch, your finger prints, or more practically, medicine bottle labels and instructions. When possible, view your object in good light. This also helps your iris to constrict, thus enabling better focus as well.

On one occasion I made a wallet pocket magnifier that consisted of a plastic credit card sized piece from a coffee can lid with a single hole punched through it. It came in handy when I needed to read a serial number off of a water heater in a closet. In the tight and somewhat dark quarters, I was able to read the number without a flashlight or reading glasses.

When you have a little spare time, make one for yourself and discover it’s amazing ability for yourself.

After pondering various approaches of collection I decided that I could modify the umbrella to make a funnel, thus eliminating the need to monitor the collection process while at the same time maximizing the surface area. The umbrella could be placed over a vessel and left unattended. Because rainy weather is often also windy, a tripod could be used to stabilize the umbrella as illustrated in the photo.

A hole was needed near the tip of the umbrella so I improvised a make-shift grommet by using duct tape. I keep duct tape wrapped around my water bottle so if I needed to, I could improvise this hack while in the field. I placed a piece of duct tape over the inside surface of the fabric to facilitate a clean cut. I then folded the umbrella fabric lengthwise and cut a “V” about 3/4″ wide which created a diamond shaped hole when unfolded. I placed a second piece of duct tape on the outside of the hole and then replaced the inside piece with new tape so that the tape adhesives sealed together through the hole. I folded the tape patch and cut a smaller 1/2″ “V” in the center thus creating a sealed edge lining of the fabric opening. When I placed the umbrella over the collection bin I decided to place a stone next to the hole in order to facilitate better drainage by creating a low point for the collected water to exit.

The open umbrella could also be used to collect dew when left out overnight. Alternatively, a piece of tape can be placed on the outside over the hole so that the umbrella can be used in the conventional manner.

Fire starters are easily lit and are created to sustain a flame while the tinder placed above it catches fire. In lieu of fire starters, selecting a good material for tinder can be an asset. Birch bark is great for this as it has built-in oils that, once lit, burns nicely, even if it gets wet (see “Birch Bark Tinder“). Campers are known to use a small pile of corn chips in a pinch. Even small strips of tire inner-tube work. What took me by surprise is the use of duct tape for this purpose. Who knew?! I had to try it out for myself.

I started simply with a small piece then progressed to a more involved set-up. You can take a 2 inch square of tape and drape it over a piece of tinder and place more tinder over it. Then you can light an edge with a match or lighter. Once it catches on fire it burns with a sooty but strong flame. To provide a longer burn time you can create a free-standing candle. I take a 6 inch strip and make accordion folds, fashioning wings and joining the last adhesive ends together. Then I put a small strip at the top center like a fuse, then light that to start the duct tape fire starter going.

I carry a water bottle when hiking and use it as a spool onto which I wrap duct tape around it’s circumference. Duct tape is so versatile and now I know of a new use that could make a huge difference in starting a fire when needed.

But let’s suppose that you are not swimming under water nor are you inclined to stick your face in the water either. Is there a way to look under water with the same clarity without a divers mask or goggles? And for that matter, why would you want to look below the surface of the water anyway?

Perhaps you want to see where the fish are hanging out under the dock for strategic fishing, or, perhaps you dropped something important overboard like your keys or fishing gear. Seeing where it is will help you retrieve it. Hopefully you have packed a Pringles potato chip can or similar clear-top cannister in your picnic basket or perhaps you can obtain one close by. You can modify this simple container into a spyglass for under water viewing.

First, remove the clear plastic lid and the foil seal beneath it and empty (eat!) the contents. Then, use adhesive tape to seal the lid back onto the canister rim, making sure that it’s water-tight. Next, open the bottom with a P38 can opener or just cut it off below the metal rim. Now, invert the can so that the lid is placed into the water just below the surface while the can’s bottom is topside. You can peer down the cannister tube and see into the water with clarity like a diver’s mask.

When the water is clear and without turbidity it’s amazing to see the depth and detail of the subteranean world. These commom materials will enable you to make this simple device for use in an impromptu or emergency situation.

My friend also share that her husband used to work in the forest service and had to use duct tape all the time to fix shoes or broken gear. He didn’t want to pack any extra weight so he put it on his water bottle. The most interesting time when the duct tape was needed was when he almost chopped his foot off with an axe. He had to walk 12 miles back to civilization to go to the hospital. He said he cut a long strip off his shirt and wrapped it around the cut in a pseudo tourniquet. Then he duct-taped around it to hold it on and offer a little more protection. That worked pretty well but he said he still bled through his bandage, sock, and shoe and left bloody footprints on the trail. She said “I’m sure God had his hand in that one so he is still here with us today.” “We would never go backpacking without it.”

I guess the important point is that they had duct tape WITH THEM on the trail. In a previous blog “Repackaging Duct Tape” I show ways to carry duct tape in a compact way. Their method of wrapping it around their water bottle keeps it ready at hand. Be prepared and find a method that works for you.

Duct Tape is one of the mainstays in each of my vehicle’s tool and supply box that I keep in the trunk. Inside our home we usually keep it in our “junk” drawer in the kitchen which tends to be too full anyway but because of it’s versatility it tends to travel throughout the household and is not always there. So, how can you carry Duct Tape with you for a quick fix and for emergencies?

Duct Tape is wound on a 3″ core which makes it easy to handle and can slip over the average hand and be worn like a braclet, thus allowing the use of both hands for performing repairs. However, Duct Tape packaged this way is not likely to fit in your pocket or purse. The answer is to repackage it on a smaller core and in a smaller amount.

There are two methods that I have found to be quite useful: 1) You can take a small cylinder like a pencil, pen or straw to use as a core and wind a length of your choosing around it, then cut the remaining exposed ends of the new core flush with the sides of your new mini roll. 2) You can save your expired credit card to use as a flat core to wrap the tape around the long dimension. A few wraps could be sufficient for use and still be kept in your wallet.

These smaller packages of tape can now be kept on your person or in portable kits that can travel with you or be kept close at hand. If you use a different method, please leave a comment and share it with our readers.