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Acorns And Slingshots

Ken — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 14:27:32 +0000

Around this time of year acorns begin to fall to the ground. On a windy day it is wise to avoid standing under a tree.! I wrote an article called “Harvesting And Processing Acorns” that explains the process of harvesting and preparing acorns as a food source. However, I have a different focus for the use of acorns in this article.

How many readers carry a slingshot in their Bug Out Bag? I keep one in my outdoor bag but rarely use it. The ammunition that I use are usually rough rocks that tend to curve out at their launching. A person can use marbles or steel shot for more accurate shooting but that can be expensive for ongoing practice sessions.

As I was traveling on a country road recently I noticed the abundance of acorns on the ground and it dawned on me that their near-round shape and density would make good material with which to practice shooting with my slingshot. I was able to collect quite a volume of acorns in a very short time to have on hand. I selected the acorns without the caps and with no splits down the side. Split acorns can come apart when shot and can be dangerous to anything along the sidelines down range.

Each acorn has a large dot at the top where it had been fastened to the cap. My best results come when I place that dot in the center of the leather pouch. The acorn shoots straight and I only need to adjust the elevation of my aim. The mass of an acorn is quite devastating.

So take advantage of this season and collect an abundance of acorns to help sharpen your slingshot skill. For shooting tips and inspiration you can watch “Carolina Camera: The Sling Shot Man” to witness some remarkable marksmanship.

Three-Strand Rope Splicing

Ken — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 20:37:26 +0000

I remember as a young lad marveling at a fancy segment of a three-strand Manila rope. My father had spliced two ropes together and I was intrigued by it’s appearance. He told me that one rope could be woven into another rope or back into it’s self in different ways. I asked him to teach me how to do it and then practiced splicing whenever I could.

Because of that early experience I was able recently to redeem some salvaged ropes that gave me a usable longer rope for odd jobs. A few weeks ago I was able to pull my son’s car out of a muddy ditch by using that rope which gave me a real sense of satisfaction.

It turns out that my son’s car had no anchor points to tie onto underneath the rear so I had to weave the rope in and out of the slotted chassis frame in order to attach it. That took some time to accomplish and as a result I decided to buy a “slip hook” for shallow attachment situations. Having one splice in the rope already, I decided to continue the theme by attaching the slip hook using an “eye splice” where the end of the rope forms a loop when the end is spliced into it’s side. A loop such as this can be a great attachment point for other apparatus as well. At the other end of the rope I made a “back splice” that makes a nice termination similar in function to whipping a rope to keep the end from unraveling.

There are a number of “how-to” videos and articles online that are well worth viewing and I recommend that they should be followed by personal practice to gain valuable experience. Rope and cordage skills should be a part of your emergency preparation skills and can save the day when needed.

Emergency Utility Shut-Off

Ken — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 21:57:56 +0000

Hose Clamp & Sleeve Patch

I was taking a stroll by a river this morning when I received an urgent call from my son. “Dad! a water pipe broke in my apartment and the floor is flooded and I don’t know how to turn it off… I could use your help!”. I explained that there may be a main water turn-off valve in the utility closet or look outside for the city meter/shut-off valve and that I was on my way. I stopped by my house on the way and picked up my automotive tool box.

When I arrived I took a quick look around the outside for the city water meter box but didn’t see it so I knocked on the door and my son let me in. The inlet line to the water heater had split before the turn-off valve so fortunately it was cold water that was spraying under pressure. Because it was spraying near the power cable and was leaking through the downstairs ceiling filling the light fixtures, my son had turned off the power at the electrical panel. I used my phone initially as a light source to evaluate the situation. I could not find a main shut-off valve in the apartment either so we decided to call 911 for assistance. After leaving circumstances, location, and contact info I returned to the task of controlling the leak.

I had a hose clamp in my tool box, but I also needed a seal to cover the split. I usually carry a plastic Fresnel lens in my wallet (for solar firecraft) and it comes in a vinyl sleeve. I wrapped the sleeve around the pipe below the split then placed the hose clamp over it. I used my son’s multi-tool screwdriver blade to tighten it down almost all the way, then slid the two over the split and finished tightening it to seal the leak. That ended the immediate crisis.

Valve Turns Off When Bar Is 90°

In an apartment scenario the meters to utilities tend to be found in groups so I circled the building on the lookout. Previously I had pounded on other tenants doors for help but had no responses. His apartment was on the end next to a small hillside and it dawned on me that for the convenience of utility meter readers that it might be right next to the uphill side-street on top of the grassy knoll… presto! There it was. They were unmarked so turned off both end valves to be sure his was covered.

About a half hour later the city water employee showed up and we determined which valve belonged to my son’s apartment. After my son and I determined which areas inside the apartment were not affected by the leaking water we turned on the unaffected circuits so that we could see to clean up and run fans for drying.

The events of this morning caused me to think about preparation for dealing with utility emergencies as they relate to the home environment. There are generally three areas to prepare for: water, electricity, and in some cases natural gas or propane. By code each utility should have shut-offs or disconnects so it is important to know where they are located and how to operate them. We found that the breaker box wasn’t labeled exactly correct, so it will be tested later and labeled more thoroughly. It would be wise to acquire appropriate tools dedicated to these potential needs and stored in a bin that is easily reached and not next to a point of potential hazard. Possible tools might include a crescent wrench, vise grips, channel lock pliers, screw drivers (both flat-blade and Philips), hose clamps, duct tape, electrical tape, and any specialty tools for utility turn-off. I can’t help but wonder if this article might be speaking to someone who will need to be prepared for the near future, so check out your situation now!