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DIY Simple Spinner Targets

Ken — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 12:00:40 +0000

I am happy to have found a convenient and economical way to maintain my shooting skills in an urban environment by using a BB gun and slingshot aimed at DIY spinner targets. In my case there is a hillside in my back yard that works as a safe backdrop but a basement or garage could be used as well. You may need to improvise a suitable backdrop by using boxes or a hung canvas tarp.

Awhile back I decided to make a spinner target so that it would signal a hit without having to replace a toppled can or a perforated paper target. I could open my backdoor to shoot from either inside the threshold or step out onto my porch while observing safety precautions from either position to confirm a clear down range. Although commercial spinner targets are very robust and durable when used with conventional gun ammunition, they are not needed for most BBs, small rocks, or acorns.

The materials needed to make a DIY simple spinner target are made with household items such as a metal coat hanger, tin can lids, and one and a quarter inch binder clips. The only tool needed would be a pair of pliers for bending the coat hanger.

I wanted to use different sized can lids for targets that ranged from three and a quarter inches to two inches in diameter and hung them in descending order by size. You can vary the lid size, quantity, and distance to your own liking. I bent the wire to include small “bumps” to act as barriers between each can lid with a slight sag between them that enables the cans to recenter after being hit. Then I opened a binder clip over the wire and clamped it onto the top edge of the can lid.

I found that sometimes a can lid may be sprung out when hit but that is the advantage of having multiple lids hanging on the coat hanger wire so you can continue practicing. Because the stones or acorns used with a slingshot have more mass, the can lids are more prone to be sprung loose.

I have had a lot of fun using the DIY simple spinner target and it has enabled me to sharpen my shooting skills. I recommend making one for your own benefit and enjoyment that will help you be better prepared.

Off the Grid Super Stack

Ken — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 03:16:18 +0000

Generally I write about bushcraft and survival skills but I was approached by infostack about offering an “Off the Grid” premium collection of training, tools and resources designed to help you survive and thrive off the grid. I believe that this is a great value for your own reference library enabling you to be prepared.

For those who are earnest about homesteading, prepping, and disaster preparation you’ll learn from 35 world-class experts on survival, including:

Know what plants to forage in the wild and in your backyard garden with NY Times featured Ellen Zachos, top international authority on wild edibles.
Take on the challenge of living in the wilderness with Joel Van Der Loon, a participant in Discovery Channel’s Bushcraft Build-Off
Master Silat Sharaf self-defense with top martial arts instructor Pendekar Hussein and unlock the potential of weaponized willpower
Expert intel on how to secure your home against the risks of earthquake, flood, hurricane, tornadoes and more from Damien Brindle, Amazon’s #1 best selling author on survival and emergency preparedness.
Discover survival tactics from elite Special Forces Veteran Mykel Hawke, star of Discovery Channel’s reality show Man, Woman, Wild.
Can your own fruits and vegetables with Renee Pottle, featured in Mother Earth News and many other top homesteading publications.
Plan and grow your own sustainable garden with Lynn Gillespie, Organic Farmer of the Year and greenhouse expert for The Grow Network.

And the list goes on…

This is a great collection for your own reference library!

Click here to see everything you get
https://survivaltek–infostack.thrivecart.com/otg/

And just a reminder:

This is a limited time deal so check it out before it’s gone!forever.

“Over the past 35 years we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of people get prepared for every type of emergency. But we’ve never seen such a comprehensive preparedness library as we found in the Off the Grid Super Stack – and the price is amazing.”
– Steve Conlee, SVP Emergency Essentials –

First Aid Stabilization

Ken — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 12:00:03 +0000

As part of my job requirements I attend First Aid and CPR classes bi-annually for certification. The training begins with an extensive on-line curriculum followed by actual hands-on training. In my case, because of the public/corporate environment where I work, other segments included were the operation of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Emergency Oxygen Administration.

These classes fit well into my preparedness and survival regimen because whether I’m in an urban or wilderness setting there is always the possibility of injury or illness. Typically there is more advanced equipment available in urban settings but general first aid and CPR are applicable in each environment. Knowing what to do in an emergency can save lives!

The photo illustrates the Stabilization Method to prevent any further trauma to potential spinal/neck injuries. The only time that a person should be moved in this event is if the person is in eminent danger of environmental events such as fire or life threatening situations. It is best to stay with the person and monitor their condition until help arrives.

First Aid and CPR courses are developed by organizations such as Red Cross, American Health & Safety Institute (ASHI), and American Heart Association and may be offered online or at different locations such as YMCA, Red Cross centers, Colleges, your workplace, or other Public Service organizations. It’s a great investment of time and money for the ability to save lives, including yours!

Reflections On My Heritage

Ken — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 09:51:01 +0000

Even though I grew up in the city I always had an interest in bushcraft and wilderness ways. I spent much of my childhood in my backyard hanging out in trees and pretended to live in the woods. After reading a book on Indian and outdoor lore I set out to recreate some of the crafts… making cordage from vines, a spear using slate flakes, twitch-up snares, and practicing archery among other things.

Part of what fed my outdoor and wilderness interest was my Grandfather (my Mom’s Dad) who grew up on a farm in Minnesota. He would recount his hunting stories and showed me a photo of a hut that he and his brothers made on an island in a nearby lake. Later in life as an explorer he became a “rock-hound” and hunted for agates, Jade, and found many arrowheads in the process.

My Dad grew up on a farm in South Dakota where his skills centered around repairs and innovations to keep things running. He also stumbled upon an Indian artifact in the field which he later donated to his home town museum (Historical Society of Lake Norden). Later in life also took our family camping in various state and national parks where we could put our feet in the soil and wade in the water.

These family stories and activities contributed to my pursuit of primitive and survival skills despite my urban up-bringing. It was during the Y2K scare that my wife and I homeshooled our sons. The internet was burgeoning with “survival” information and while researching for projects for “science night” I ran across an article about fire by friction using the bow & spindle method. That “sparked” my interest in firecraft that continues to this day. I broadened the scope of my research and began to practice what I read. I was able to share these skills and knowledge with the Boy Scout troop that my sons and I joined.

I have endeavored to teach my sons these skills so that they can pass them on to their children. I’m grateful for my “roots” and hope to be an inspiration to my “branches”. I heartily agree with the Scout motto to “Be Prepared”.

Fifty Ways To Make Survival Tools From Trash And Household Items

Ken — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:35:36 +0000

In any survival situation we are surrounded by resources. Recognizing those resources as assets can be literally a life saver. Who knew that duct tape can be used as a magnifier? That a plastic bottle can start a fire? That combining a soda can and a potato chip bag can pasteurize water, making it safe to drink?

I am pleased to announce that I have written an eBook entitled “Fifty ways to make survival tools from trash and household items“. It is a valuable collection of survival tips, tricks and “how-tos” that can be viewable by eReader on your smart phone, tablet, or laptop. This format will allow you to learn these techniques at your leisure apart from dependance on WiFi or the internet.

To purchase your own copy CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW

How To Prepare For A Power Outage – With WXII12

Ken — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:48:45 +0000

Although we haven’t experienced the severe Winter weather in our area that some of the more Northern States have, we still have occasional power outages that can take you by surprise. As a public service to North Carolina residents, WXII meteorologist Michelle Kennedy produced a news segment on “How To Prepare For A Power Outage”. I was honored to be asked to contribute to this effort as a “survivalist” to offer tips on how to survive during a power outage that might last for days or perhaps weeks.

I packed up my supplies into several bins and headed to Winston Salem for the video taping. Once I arrived we spent about 3 hours with discussion, set-up, presentations and demonstration that ended up with about 2 minutes in the finished piece. Kudos to photojournalist Chris Petersen for his creative camera work and editing.

My focus was to show folks how to stay warm, have light, and how to cook using various methods without the electrical power in which most folks have become dependent. The segment also included a visit to a local store Great Outdoor Provision Co. showing various equipment and supplies available for a power outage situation.

In the end, we hope that the information provided will help viewers to be better prepared when power outages occur. You can view the teaser “Tonight at 5: When the power goes out” and the full segment “When the power goes out: Survival tips” on the wxii12.com website. Take a peek and perhaps there will be tips that you might want to implement for your own preparedness plan.

Survivaltek Articles At PREPARE Magazine

Ken — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 17:30:52 +0000

This year it has been a pleasure to be a contributing writer for PREPARE magazine. PREPARE has excellent content from a diversity of contributors for emergency preparedness and self reliance. It also features great resources offered by it’s advertisers.

My latest article appears on the 3rd page of the year-end issue and is entitled “Survival Prep On A Shoestring Budget“. While many folks are thinking ahead about emergency possibilities, they are concerned about how to approach acquiring provisions and tools. In my article I offer a beginning point of “Every Day Carry” items that is an initial start to preparedness.

You can learn more about PREPARE magazine by visiting their website at preparemag.com where you can register for a complimentary subscription. In their effort to offer both digital AND hard copy magazines, they are running a campaign offering benefits to contributors and partners.

Book Review – “When Things Go Boom”

Ken — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:51:05 +0000

Today the term “preppers” has become a buzzword in today’s society that often conjures up visions of extremists who are paranoid. Personally I liken it to the Scout motto “Be Prepared”. “When Things Go Boom” is written by Brian Howard who is a veteran of the armed services, a family man, and a disaster preparedness expert. It’s the “Boom” of extreme events such as natural disasters or human chaos that can radically alter our lifestyle and this book presents a VERY practical approach to being prepared for the interruption of services and amenities that our communities normally provide.

The book is split into 7 parts: personal defense/safety, water/filtration, food/nutrition, shelter/habitat, medical/first aid, communications/navigation/signaling and general. The reading is easy and I found the content to be quite engaging. It is clear that the author walks his talk and provides specific brand names and models of equipment and supplies that he has personally used and trusts to perform. At the end of each section he lists Tips, Do Now!, and Checklist. “Tips” offer survival techniques and cautions, “Do Now!” offers practical actions to begin the preparedness process, “Checklist” lists items to have on hand or acquire – a.k.a. a shopping list.

The author admonishes us to procure supplies and practice survival skills NOW before they’re needed. I hardily recommend this book for those individuals who have resolved to be ready for the time when things go “Boom” and want to learn more. It is a great resource for beginners and experienced individuals alike. I’m glad to have added this book to my personal reference library and find it helpful in developing my own strategy.

Order Your Copy Today!

Seasonal Harbingers

Ken — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:00:13 +0000

For those who observe, and not just see, there are small changes that foretell the change in the next season. For example, in the Winter, you may notice buds of crocus or daffodil poking up out of snow, heralding the approach of Spring. Sometimes you can feel that the temperature and humidity of the air has a significant change. On a less beautiful side, you can monitor “road-kill” and notice what critters are coming out of hibernation. You may begin to hear frogs or bugs in the twilight hours. There are different flowers for each season, and each flower has a length of bloom. As Fall approaches we begin to see tree leaves change color. Folklore can offer many insights such as “Wooly-Worms” (caterpillars) will show solid colors before a harsh Winter.

As we become aware of these signs, we can anticipate the next seasonal change and better prepare for it. And within these seasons, there are recognizable conditions for weather that can prepare us in the short term as well. As the saying goes – “forewarned is forearmed”, so begin to observe some of the things mentioned above, but I would love to hear from you, and what other harbingers that you have observed.

Extreme Cold Conditions

Ken — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 11:00:55 +0000

Years ago, one of the required readings in school was “To Build a Fire” by Jack London. This poignant story tells of an inexperienced man traveling alone in the Yukon, with only his dog as a companion. After falling through ice and into frigid water, he emerged and began his battle with hypothermia. Although he succeeded in starting a fire, it was built under a snow laden tree and the resulting heat caused the snow above it to fall and extinguish it. He continued to shake violently from the cold and could only use his teeth to strike a match. However, his hands were so cold that he could not feel them and lost control over the fire and it went out, resulting in his death.

Many folks who are reading this grew up in snow country and have learned to prepare and adjust to the extreme cold. But there are many more who have not experienced the effects of hypothermia such as violent shaking and reduction of motor functions. This leads me to suggest that it would be beneficial to familiarize yourself with frigid conditions in a safe and controlled environment in order to gain this valuable experience and knowledge. If you don’t live in snow country, try stepping outside some early morning and hose yourself off, clothes and all. See how long it takes to begin shivering and try to perform survival tasks. Wear gloves and see how it effects your dexterity. How well do you function when using a striker bar, or when striking a lighter, or when opening a pocket knife? Perhaps your tool selection might change if you experience difficulty in the process.

Hypothermic conditions are magnified when you are wet and exposed to the elements, so remember to stay dry and insulated. And if you’re starting a fire, build it on a dry surface. It helps to light an intermediate short-term fuel like a candle or a tire inner-tube strip to provide heat while the tinder that surrounds it dries enough to sustain a fire.

Any comments offered from actual experiences are most welcome. They could prove to be invaluable to our readers.