My Approach To Improvised Hammockshttp://survivaltek.com/?p=6039
http://survivaltek.com/?p=6039#commentsSat, 07 Sep 2019 11:18:57 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=6039Over the years I’ve seen quite a variety of hammocks on the market and have purchased several. It is my preferred method of camping. But what happens in an emergency when you don’t have your regular gear?… you improvise!

My very first hammock was made out of a single bamboo pole. It was quite comfortable and a viable hammock if that resource is available. However, I have always wanted to take a conventional approach to improvising a hammock by using a tarp or similar material. The two things that I had to consider was the length and width of the fabric and how to suspend it.

Rather than tying a rope on either end of the hammock material I decided to tie the material onto a single suspended rope, using the rope as a ridgeline. I was more likely to have a long length of rope on hand and it also provided a set distance to control the slope of the material that was hung from it. I also believe it puts less tension on the fabric.

I used a half inch braided rope and tied two alpine knots that are stable in use yet fairly easy to untie. I pulled a portion of the ridgeline down through each loop and lifted it to the side so I could thread the material through the second loop from beneath and over the side of the alpine loop above it. This created a cinching knot that tightened when tension was applied on the suspended rope and held the fabric in place (see photo).

I first tried a fitted queen sized sheet and because of the stretchable corners I tied the strait center portion at the ends of the sheet into a knot and discovered that approach didn’t work. It created an uncomfortable narrow strip of support down the middle and was unusable as a hammock. That let me know that the entire width at the end of a fabric sheet was needed for proper support and should be gathered and tied in order to give even support.

Then I used a queen sized flat sheet and folded it in half lengthwise for proper width. I accordion-folded it at each end which I then tied into a knot. The resulting support area worked okay but the eighty-inch length was too short, however, when hung close to the ground a person could sit in it and straddle the fabric and use it to sleep in while their feet rested on the ground.

Next, I used a regular poly tarp. It was 9′ x7.5′. I folded it lengthwise to make an appropriate width and gathered the ends together. Manufactured tarps are generally made with a hem around it’s perimeter. When accordion folded it becomes thicker at the edge and doesn’t require a knot to be tied when held by the cinch knot in the ridgeline. Again, it was too short but would probably work fine if it was longer.

I finally used a scrap piece of Tyvek building material left over from a construction project. It was four foot wide and I cut it down from a twenty foot length to eleven feet. I was able to gather each end and tie them in a knot. I tied the two ridgeline knots about 9′ apart to suspend the tyvek tarp. This was the ideal formula. In reality the tyvek hammock was a little more comfortable than two of my commercial hammocks because it did not have decorative accent strips on the sides that tend to form ridges and was smoother to lie in.

As all hammock users know, lying on the bias means a more level lay as seen in the first photo. This was a fun project in which I learned a lot. Next time that you pass a new construction site you might inquire about having some of the Tyvek scraps because they are so useful as when used as tarps for ground cloths, overhead cover, or as in this case a wonderful hammock.

]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=60390Minimal Luggage Strategies For Air Travelhttp://survivaltek.com/?p=6024
http://survivaltek.com/?p=6024#commentsSat, 17 Aug 2019 18:05:00 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=6024For those folks who prepare Bug-Out-Bags (BOBs) or Go-Bags, we usually pack them full of emergency related supplies and that can often be quite robust. Is it possible to be over-prepared? It depends on your plans for travel in an emergency, especially via air travel.

My youngest son has literally traveled around the globe and I’ve been amazed at how little he packs as he travels. He only takes a backpack as his luggage that has a zip-off day-pack attached. As holiday weekends approach he often searches for exceptional air fares for a quick get-away trip on a budget. He found a ticket recently from Charlotte NC to Philadelphia PA for $37 but there was a catch… this airline required passengers to pay a fee for any carry-on or check-in luggage that exceeded the air fare price!

In many cases travel by plane can be a financial challenge, especially in an emergency situation. It may be necessary to think in terms of minimalism when dealing with a limited budget. The question is “what do you really need to carry with you during your flight?” and “what is the purpose of your trip?”. That will determine your luggage requirements.

I have heard stories of folks who at the check-in counter had encountered over-weight luggage fees. They stepped away from the registration desk and returned soon afterwards wearing some extra clothing that had been packed in their luggage resulting in a now lighter luggage weight that avoided the higher fees. That caused me to think that a person could wear items normally packed in carry-on luggage and avoid added fees.

I looked up the fees from the budget airlines that had this restriction and found that they allowed a “personal item” for free. They must be no larger than 14” x 18” x 8” in size and must fit under the seat in front of you on the airplane. That personal item could carry a second set of clothes that would allow you to wash one set while wearing the other and one set may be more formal for any occasion where it was appropriate. If I chose to wear the extra set of clothes I would also carry a compact folding ruck sack so that once I landed at my destination I could remove the extra clothes and carry them separately along with any sundries that I might purchase along the way.

Smaller items such as electronics, hygiene items, snacks, and personal items can be carried in coat pockets. Plastic bags are useful to keep all of the small items together and your pockets dry. It is a simple thing to lay the loaded coat into the TSA tray on your way through inspection. Extra needed items might be purchased upon arrival to your destination.

]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=60240Improvised Bug Bait Boxhttp://survivaltek.com/?p=5989
http://survivaltek.com/?p=5989#commentsSat, 03 Aug 2019 11:58:12 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=5989My friend and I set out to do some fishing at a local pond but left without live bait. The plan was to catch some grasshoppers in order to catch small brim in order to catch some bass. We could see that there were grasshoppers available in the adjacent field but we needed a way to collect a number of them once they were caught. We didn’t have a bait cage or container that can be often found at a bait shop or sports section in a box store so we needed to improvise a container for our grasshopper collection.

I began a search around our location for resources with a thought toward cups but then I spotted an empty water bottle and an idea began to emerge. If I could cut the bottle three quarters of the way through where the cylindrical body meets the neck, the remaining attached plastic would act as a spring loaded hinge. The top could be tilted back in order to load the catch and the top would spring back to a closed position.

The improvised bug bait box worked wonderfully. Once we caught a sufficient amount of bait we headed over to the pond and were able to fulfill our goal of catching the brim and ultimately the bass.

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]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=59890My Over Night Tree House Tent Experiencehttp://survivaltek.com/?p=5976
http://survivaltek.com/?p=5976#commentsSat, 20 Jul 2019 14:28:52 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=5976I prefer hammock camping over tent camping, mostly because the older I get the harder the ground feels and sleeping off of the ground is much more comfortable! Of course there are other benefits to hammocks like not being dependent on level or dry ground, plus, I enjoy the initial gentle sway upon entry.

Occasionally in social media I’ve seen what looks like a three person hammock which piqued my interest but in fact it is a suspended tent that is officially described as a “three-person all-season suspended camping tree house tent”. It is basically a three anchor point triangular canvas covered with an integrated mosquito net canopy. It comes with an optional rain tarp.

I wondered what it would be like to spend a night in one with two other adults, thus testing the advertised three person capacity. As it happens, some friends of mine own one and had it set up. With their permission I was able to share an overnight experience with my two adult sons.

The entry is very unique. You can enter it from below via a zippered triangular hatch in the center. This reminded me of my Hennessey Hammock that uses a Velcroed slit for entry. In addition there are three zippered panels available for entry or egress on the sides of the roomy mosquito net canopy.

After all three of us entered the tree tent it seemed that one end of the triangular canvas floor was a little high, so we tried to correct it. The tree tent is suspended using ratcheted straps. We maxed out the tension on the lower end, and we lowered the anchor strap with a little slack on the high end. We felt that it became more comfortable but may have contributed to the ensuing bowl phenomena that we experienced that night.

The somewhat flat surface of the tarp reminded me of a trampoline but it had less support points on the perimeter so it was more flexible and as we entered the tent it would sag in the middle. When I brought in my gear it would slide toward the entry point.

When two persons share a double hammock there is unavoidable major bodily contact but with the large tree tent canvas I thought that this might be avoided but no such luck. It became apparent as we gathered inside that in order to have personal space we had to lay with our feet to the center and heads at the outward points of the triangular canvas. There is an integrated strap at each point so it is uncomfortable to lay in the center of these areas. The outward edges between the anchor points were unusable as we were inclined to roll laterally inward.

In an effort to not disturb my sons by touching their feet that night I ended up in a fetal position in my corner taking occasional stretches. I was pleased that whenever one of us would shift our sleeping position during the night the resulting shaking was surprisingly minimal. Because we had warm weather we did not feel cold from below that night. We used our sleeping bags only as blankets and realized that we would have slid inward if we had slept in them. Perhaps this problem might have been different using other anchor points and mounting adjustments.

My opinion is that this is a novelty item that is best used for semi-permanent camps or back yard setups. It definitely favors being a tent vs. a hammock. It became evident that my expectation of a hammock was in error but sharing a warm Summer night together with my sons made this a rewarding experience.

After debriefing my friends the next morning they are considering moving the tree tent to a more suitable area with even spaced trees which may make for better anchoring and more even tensioning. If they do, we have been invited to try another overnight hang to help evaluate what they hope will be a more comfortable experience.

- UPDATE -

My friends who owned the tree tent invited me back to try it out after they had tightened it up according to the manufacturer’s instructions and it was more comfortable. I tested it with only one other available adult instead of having my two sons with me but it did exhibit more pronounced laying areas along the sides as apposed to our use of the the corners of the triangular canvas. The bottom line is that a hammock and a tree tent are two different structures and therefore they are set up differently. I had applied my hammock experience to a tree tent when I had adjusted it but apparently that led to my overnight comfort demise. So, lesson learned. Hammocks and tree tents are set up differently and each one offers a different lounging experience.

]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=59760Using Rocks For Fire-By-Frictionhttp://survivaltek.com/?p=5960
http://survivaltek.com/?p=5960#commentsSat, 06 Jul 2019 11:30:06 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=5960Some months ago I was re-acquainted with the fire-roll method of fire-by-friction. I began to experiment with different fibers and powders and finally I tried a different flat surface material for rolling the tinder roll… rocks!

I occasionally walk creeks with the purpose of searching for artifacts and relics. The geology in my area includes a lot of sedimentary stone that flakes apart and with the fire-roll method I began to collect flat rocks that might be suitable for use.

Most of the rocks that I found had some imperfections like bumps, split levels, or curved surfaces but I was finally able to find some that were quite flat. I began to examine the compatibility of the stone surfaces and found a pair that seemed to fit well together. I used the larger stone for the bottom and the smaller stone to be hand held.

I began to process the stones to better match surfaces by rubbing the top stone over the bottom stone much like a sanding block over wood. That action created some dust that I blew off and then prepared a tinder toll to test. The first try did not succeed because the two surfaces where still a little rough and I had to discover the best zones on the rocks to work on. after preparing a second tinder roll I had success!

In a previous post a comment was made that the person had seen a video of someone making fire using rocks and wondered if it was a hoax. I’m here to say that rubbing two rocks together can make fire-by-friction and it was a delight to achieve!

]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=59600Use Cotton Swabs As Matches Using Ferro Rodshttp://survivaltek.com/?p=5947
http://survivaltek.com/?p=5947#commentsSat, 29 Jun 2019 11:20:32 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=5947The nice thing about 100% cotton fiber is that it catches a ferro (ferrocerium) spark easily and is a good resource to have on hand to generate a flame. Sometimes when cotton is used as tinder it can be enhanced by adding petroleum jelly to extend it’s burn time. Cotton can come in different forms such as cotton balls, upholstery piping, cosmetology strands, cotton swabs, etc.. You probably have cotton swabs already in your home and their stem configuration can be used similarly to a match stick when combined with a striker and ferro rod to lite it.

Many ferro rods come with a companion striker, often shaped like a hacksaw blade. You can hold a cotton swab parallel to the striker with the swab portion in front of the striking edge so as the striker travels down the ferro rod the sparks that are generated are cast upon the cotton head and a flame is immediately created. Alternatively, many folks use knife blades as a striker that have a 90 degree spine and the swab can be positioned parallel to the blade with the cotton head next to the portion that does the striking. The head of the swab should be “fluffed out” enabling it to catch the sparks more effectively. The striking process works best if the tip of the ferro rod rests on the ground or log surface, so when the striker travels down the rod, the sparks are confined to the fluffed cotton area, ensuring it’s ignition.

By virtue of the cotton swab’s stick design it can now be used like a regular match stick to light a campfire, candle, or whatever, allowing you to have the convenience of a “match” by using a ferro rod to generate the initial flame. It would of course make sense to keep the cotton swabs in a water proof container for storage so that they will be dry and readily available to catch the sparks when employed.

]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=59470Collecting Iron Oxide “Rust” From Steel Woolhttp://survivaltek.com/?p=5926
http://survivaltek.com/?p=5926#commentsSat, 15 Jun 2019 13:33:42 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=5926Why would anyone want to collect rust? Rust (iron oxide Fe2O3) can be combined with other elements to create fire-by-friction, fire-by-percussion, and even thermite and small rocket propellant. My purpose to collect rust is to make a coal/ember using the fire roll firecraft method.

Steel wool has some interesting properties and comes in different thicknesses or grades from “0” to “0000”, the later being the finest grade. Firecrafters prefer the 0000 grade and will use a 9V battery to touch the steel wool which creates intensive sparks that when combined with fine tinder will create a flame. However, once the steel wool has been lit it will have been consumed as a source of sparks and will not reignite. This is because steel wool when manufactured is coated with an oil to prevent rust and that coating is the part that combusts. So, to collect rust from steel wool it is best to burn off the oil in order to better expose the steel for chemical oxidation.

To burn off the oil coating on the steel wool you can touch it with a 9V battery or use a lighter or in my case I used a propane torch. The steel wool will turn a shade of blue due to the temperature of the burn-off as illustrated in the photo. It will also become somewhat brittle.

After the burn-off you can dip the steel wool into plain water or you can enhance the process by adding salt or chlorine bleach to the water solution then shake it out and lay it down to do it’s transformation over night. In my experimentation I also used hydrogen peroxide (H202) and sprinkled salt on top. Rust was created within hours vs. overnight. When it’s dry, you can rub the rusted areas with a finger while holding the bundle over a sheet of paper so that the iron oxide particles fall below. When finished you can lift the sides of the paper to gather the dust into the center then tilt the paper down to pour the rust into a cup or other container. This can be repeated until you collect a sufficient amount for your purpose. A magnet can be used to separate wool particles but it must be held only close enough for the larger pieces to be withdrawn.

I was able to use my rust to create fire with the fire roll firecraft method and was delighted to add to my firecraft accomplishments. And now you can too!

]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=59260Shepard’s Staff Slinghttp://survivaltek.com/?p=5916
http://survivaltek.com/?p=5916#commentsSat, 01 Jun 2019 00:48:41 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=5916While viewing some social media videos I was introduced to the Shepard’s Staff Sling. This weapon design has been used over past millennia and continues to be viable today. There have been many artist’s depictions of David and Goliath as mentioned in the Bible where David is shown with a hand sling. It is very possible that he used a staff sling instead where Goliath is quoted in 1 Samuel 17:34 “…am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves?”. What is so impressive is the velocity that this device creates and the large size of it’s payload. The staff sling is similar to a trebuchet in that a sling is attached to the end of a pole, thus adding leverage to it’s launch. I knew that it was something that I had to try.

There are only three components to constructing a Shepard’s Staff Sling: a pole, cordage, and a pouch. I felled some saplings that were about as thick as the diameter of a fifty cent piece and cut a five foot length. I had some 550 paracord that I used for straps and a piece of leather scrap that I cut into shape and punched holes for the attachment of the cordage to form a pouch. The top two inches of the staff was trimmed to reduce it’s diameter by about 3/8 inch that resembled a peg when completed. A second 3/8 inch groove was cut three inches below that. The first length of paracord was fastened around this groove and the second length was tied in a loop using a bowline knot that loosely slipped over the top peg portion.

I found that a stone about the size of a tennis ball worked best for me but larger stones can be thrown as well. Rounded stones work best. The action of throwing the stone reminds me of how a lure is cast using a fishing rod: the timing of release is critical but is learned from practice. Another helpful tip is to focus on your target and all of your muscle motor memory will cooperate to deliver the stone to the target. This method works well for anyone who has shoulder injury limitations.

I can see where developing the launching and targeting skills can be addicting and is a lot of fun to learn!

]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=59160The “Carolina Diamond” Airway Blowing Methodhttp://survivaltek.com/?p=5907
http://survivaltek.com/?p=5907#commentsSat, 18 May 2019 10:56:29 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=5907At an event recently I was demonstrating a fire-by-friction method. The goal of fire-by-friction is to produce a coal (or ember) that in turn is placed in a tinder bundle. Tinder bundles are also known as “birds nests” where a coal can be placed in the center and left to smolder a bit then coaxed into a flame by gently blowing on it. The bundle is often held up head-high with both hands and close to one’s mouth while blowing into it. It is wise to turn one’s head to the side between blowings so as to avoid inhaling smoke. Eventially the bundle will get too hot to handle and be set down once a flame is formed.

A friend of mine, and fellow firecrafter, was demonstrating a method of blowing that can be done from a distance while the bundle rests on the ground, thus avoiding the heat and smoke normally associated with the hand-held method. He used his fingers to direct his breath in a focused manner, enabling him to grow the ember from a distance.

As shown in the top photo the tips of both thumbs and forefingers are held together thus forming a small diamond-shaped hole where they touch. Your lips are placed over the top and bottom of the thumbs and fingers while you blow through the hole and the resulting channel of wind can be focused on the coal in the bird’s nest. Properly done there is no sound produced when blowing. Your cheeks act like a bellows to gather air while blowing through the hole. You can practice aiming your breath while blowing over dry dirt or blades of grass to see where the air stream hits.

He mentioned that by tradition the name of the “diamond” method is prefaced by the State where you learned it as long as it is outside of the State that you were born in and so this method and tradition is passed on to the next firecrafter. He also encouraged me to use this method to blow out the candles on my next birthday cake and “wow” the crowd in attendance.

]]>http://survivaltek.com/?feed=rss2&p=59070Turtle Island Preserve’s Families Learning Together 2019http://survivaltek.com/?p=5897
http://survivaltek.com/?p=5897#commentsSun, 05 May 2019 13:20:05 +0000http://survivaltek.com/?p=5897Turtle Island Preserve (located in Boone, NC) lives and teaches traditional and sustainable living skills and methods. I was initially invited by Eustace Conway, the founder, to demonstrate some of my primitive and survival skills and over the last eight years I have enjoyed spending time with the staff, volunteers, and attendees at different events. This year at the annual Families Learning Together event I focused on a single demonstration of “the fire roll” method of creating fire-by-friction.

I’ve just been reacquainted with this fire-by-friction method recently and enjoy the simplicity and ease-of-use to create an ember/coal so I wanted to share it with others, enabling them to try it out for themselves. Folks who tried it were delighted with how quickly they could create a coal that could be placed into a tinder bundle to create fire. The more hefty the firecrafter the quicker the ember would be created when a person’s weight over the top board would cause greater friction when passed over the tinder roll.

In the course of the day some videographer’s from UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina arrived to capture footage for the program North Carolina Weekend (Airing Thursdays, at 9 PM, on UNC-TV) and I was able to demonstrate this fire-by-friction method as well as shared my thoughts on Turtle Island Preserve, Families Learning Together, and Eustace Conway. I was glad to give a positive report!

It is always fun to share my knowledge and skills but just as importantly to learn from others who have come to share their knowledge and experiences. I highly recommend this annual event as a destination for you, your family, and friends next year. Perhaps I’ll see you there.