I discuss fire methods using gum wrapper foil that generates enough heat to cause the paper substrate to burst into a flame.

One method that I learned recently uses two AA batteries and staples that can create a red hot point to ignite tinder so I decided to try it.

Apparently prisoners can purchase AA batteries at a commissary for various personal electronics. Staples can be acquired from various printed material.

To begin, one battery is held upright with the second battery Inverted next to it while placed on a metal surface. This creates a circuit in series that produces 3V. In prison, that metal surface might be the top of a sink or toilet. I used an Inverted stainless steel cup.

For convenience I used a rubber band to hold the batteries together. Next, I straightened out one side of each of two staples and used masking tape to mount one on the topside of each battery.

Then I tore off a piece of toilet tissue and placed the jagged edge between the staples so when I rotated the batteries together to touch the ends of the staples they became red hot and ignited the tissue paper.

The masking tape and rubber band are modifications of mine that make this method alot more manageable. The staples get hot to hold but the masking tape helps to buffer the heat while stabilizing them on the battery poles.

It took a little practice to use successfully. I prefer the gum wrapper foil method better but it’s good to know an alternative method when materials might be limited.

I have found that natural fibers work best when choosing a wick, and that a ribbon or tape shape rather than a round shape provides a better light source.

In our medicine cabinet I found a 100% ribbed cotton pad so I cut off a rib to use for my wick. I poured a small amount of canola oil into a small Pyrex dish as my vessel. I tore off a small piece of aluminum foil and poked a hole in the middle. I dipped the wick into the canola oil then inserted it through the hole leaving about a quarter inch on top then placed the foil over the top of the oil. A soaked wick is slow to light but once lit displays a steady flame.

The foil provides a convenient barrier between the oil and flame while suspending the wick in the middle of the dish. An added bonus is that the crinkled foil texture reflects and enhances the light from the flame.

This simple design can provide hours of light when needed. Be sure to keep it away from combustibles and make sure that it is stable as the oil is a liquid and could spill.

Canned goods require some way to be opened. Many cans now have pull-top rings that make it easy to open but not all cans are manufactured that way. The majority of food cans have plain metal lids. The smart move is to have some openers available on hand.

There are kitchen style hand operated models that can be stored along with the canned goods but if you’re on the go, something portable is advisable. I carry a P38 on my keychain and a P51 on another, but I also have an integrated opener blade in my Leatherman that I use quite often. Some folks use a Swiss Army Knife.

Without a can opener more drastic measures can be used to open a can such as punchering the lid with a field knife or by grinding off the lid’s rim by rubbing it on concrete. That’s why I keep one as an “Every-Day-Carry” and recommend that you find one that works for you.

A trip to the local dollar store provided the mitt so I removed one of the many protruding parts and attempted to attach it to a fish hook like I would mount a worm, but as similar as it looks like a worm, it is not hollow but rather a fuzzy string. The tip of the hook could pierce some of the fiber so it had to be in effect woven throughout the length as illustrated in the photo.

To my delight a large pan fish took the bait and I landed it easily. Because of the tenuous attachment to the hook the fuzzy fabric came loose in the process but of course it’s purpose was fulfilled and the task was accomplished.

These microfiber washmitts come in different colors and are very affordable to experiment with. You might not normally pack a washmitt in your gear but it might not be a bad idea to clip a piece off of the mitt for backup to natural bait or lost lures on a fishing trip.

Most folks are familiar with them from takeout meals or from restaurants and have acquired the skill for using them. For those who aren’t I would encourage them to become acquainted and develop the skill as they have been used for millennia in other cultures quite successfully. It only takes a little practice and can be held as shown in the photograph.

Those particular sticks were cut from Locust saplings and were straight and strong. Some folks may prefer to remove the bark but they work fine either way.

This is a bushcraft skill that not only uses local resources but also allows for ultralight backpacking. Next time you snack or cook a meal in the woods give it a try and experience the rewarding feeling of self-sufficiency and field expedient improvisation.

A “bearing block” is any device that is used to bear down on the top end of a spindle to facilitate the stability and pressure of the spindle as it is spun using a bow or strap. There is usually an indentation that keeps the tip of the spindle in place. The best feature of a bearing block is that it is hard and durable while at the same time being as friction free as possible.

As illustrated in the photo some rocks have a natural indentation that will stabilize the rotation of the spindle while in use. Rocks of this nature are often found by lakes, streams, and seashore. Other rocks may have angular crevasses that can be used as well. The material of the rock may vary in surface from smooth like agates to gritty like sandstone but most often has the advantage of not transferring heat to your hand.

For more information regarding bearing blocks in general check out my post “Bow And Spindle Bearing Blocks”

This constriction process has other applications as well. A tubeless tire that has lost air will typically withdraw from the wheel rims thus losing the seal and preventing inflation. By placing cordage around the circumference of the tire and affixing a cross piece, the tourniquet can be tightened around the tire causing the sidewalls to expand outward to contact the wheel rim thus enabling the tire to be inflated.

Another application can be used to tighten a chain link fence during installation. When a hand operated winch is not available, a chain can be used as a tourniquet that surrounds the fence post and stretcher bar. A crowbar is used as a cross piece for winding that will tighten the fencing into position for installation.

These are a few examples of tourniquet applications. I would be interested in learning of other applications in the comments below.

Incidentally, I did a little study on the term “knapsack” and learned that it is associated with a capacity of under 30 liters. A backpack has a capacity typically of 50 liters or more, and a rucksack has a capacity of 60 liters. The knapsack capacity may be limited but it certainly is an asset when you have provisions to transport, and it’s certainly larger than a bandana on the end of a hiking staff.

I wear a double D ring style belt and used it to tie the ends of the legs together. At first they slipped out of the cinched belt loop but then I rolled back each leg’s hem to form a cuff, then slid one cuff over the other, much like some folks fold their socks together for storage. This created a slight knob shape that helped to prevent slippage through the belt’s closed loop. Next, positioning the pant legs on the closed zipper side of the pants, I threaded the remaining belt strap through the pant’s belt loops and fastened the end of the strap through the D rings. The belt strap can be tightened to close the waist over the top of your load. To mount the knapsack I lifted it up behind my head and inserted my arms into the loops that were created by the legs, then I let it slide down my arms and onto my back.

There’s no substitute for the proper tools for a job but when you improvise, it’s amazing what can be accomplished. This is one possibility that could be a real benefit in an emergency situation.

I have tried it and it actually works! But, I like the prospect of something more stable/reliable for floatation so I began to ponder how this method could be improved. In a previous article, “Gallons Of Flotation” I discuss that a gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds, and conversely, a gallon container of air can support eight pounds of flotation. This gave me an idea that empty containers could be used to fill the pants legs to provide reliable flotation if needed. In fact, empty 2 liter soda bottles would fit nicely down the pant legs for this purpose.

 
 
I tied the bottoms of the pant legs together then inserted 2 bottles in each leg resulting in a total of 4 bottles that equated to almost 17 pounds of flotation. Then I tightened the belt to close the waist area. I slipped the pant legs over my head with the tied end behind my neck while I used the remaining belt strap to wrap around my leg to secure the improvised PFD to my body. As I entered the water I was glad to have the strap around my leg as it helped to support my body as I floated on my back and freed my hands to paddle in any direction as needed.

When improvising a PDF, any buoyant material could be used as a filler to any clothing, tarp, net, or other surrounding material.

I have found it helpful to hold a short stick at an upward angle in front of me similar to a bowsprit on a boat to catch invisible spider webs before they reach my face! In preparation for my walk I picked up a small stick off of the ground that had a “Y” branch at it’s tip and found it very useful for pushing aside various obstacles. This made my traverse through the woods much easier. The nice thing about a “Y” stick is that it can be easily fashioned from found recources on the forest floor. I find that a 2 -3 foot length works very well.

Next time that you take a stroll through the woods, pick up a “Y’ stick and try it out for yourself… I think that you’ll be pleased at the asset of this simple tool that will make your travel much easier for a more enjoyable journey.