The Sweet Smell of Success for Survival

Quite often survival is a simple process of utilizing all of your resources to provide solution to your problems. We can often fail to utilize everyday things that could make a big difference in whether or not we succeed or fail in that process. There are few things that will give you a more positive feeling about your chances for survival than the sweet smell of success.

One of the main things that may be required in a survival situation is the ability to start a fire. What we fail to sometimes realize is that we may be carrying exactly what we need to reach a successful goal. In simple terms, a fire will require fuel as a basic component and we may already be carrying a fuel source without even realizing it.

Perfume or aftershave has alcohol as a significant constituent of their ingredients. Alcohol also makes an excellent source of fuel when you need to start a fire. It only takes a few drops of aftershave or perfume to make your firestarting efforts a success even if you don’t have a significant amount of tinder available.

While most guys don’t carry aftershave in their pocket, it might not hurt to keep a small bottle in the glove compartment or console just in case. Most of the ladies almost always have a small bottle of perfume handy in their purses and most won’t leave home or go anywhere for that matter without some type of perfume.

In a survival situation, it is important to remember that everything will become a multi-use item, even a bottle of perfume or aftershave.

Got Old Spice?

Riverwalker

Prepping Project - DIY Wood Storage Rack

One of my recent prepping projects that was recently completed was a wood storage rack. It was built with some used lumber "scrounged" from a construction site. It's approximately six foot long and about eight feet across at the top. It was made two feet wide to accommodate standard cord length for firewood. This was made to fit on the back porch for my daughter as a place to store some firewood in a place that would be dry and out of the rain.

The outward supports were done at an angle as straight supports have a tendency to bow out from the sides due to the weight of the wood. By angling the outward supports, the weight is focused towards the bottom. The end supports do require some extra bracing to make them sturdy and were attached with some carriage bolts to make them even more secure (see above pic). This allows easy access to the firewood without the need for cross bracing at the top of the rack.

Now all my son-in-law has to do is fill it up with firewood!

Do you scrounge?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Choosing a Hydraulic Log Splitter

Fireplaces are great as an alternate heat source but require a lot of wood and you may want to consider using a hydraulic log splitter to ease that burden. You could also use it to create an alternate source of income. When you are purchasing a hydraulic log splitter, you must keep in mind the following considerations: service, loading, horsepower, the capacity in tons, and the maintenance requirements.

A hydraulic log splitter is a good investment for those who own a fireplace and need to cut wood in large quantities. They are especially useful to those who may want to operate a business cutting wood to make extra money. If you have such a business, then you are quite familiar with the long hours of back-breaking work involved. A hydraulic log splitter can do everything you need in a smaller amount of time and save you a great deal of labor in the process. These powerful machines not only chop and split firewood, but they can also be used to prepare pieces of wood for other types of wood-working projects that could generate additional income for you.

Considerations for Choosing a Hydraulic Log Splitter

1.) Service

Your first priority in selecting a hydraulic log splitter is to understand how it would be of service to you. Select a high-end model if you will be using the splitter to split logs that will be used for commercial building projects. If you need to chop firewood, a cheaper model is a better option for you and will save you money. Don’t be fooled by fancy extras on certain models, especially when they don’t suit your needs.

2.) Loading

Another consideration when using a hydraulic log splitter is how the logs are loaded. There are two ways to do this, either horizontally or vertically. When you do your work on a sloped terrain, a log splitter that loads horizontally will be the better choice for you. This type also ensures your safety and makes it easier to operate.

3.) Horsepower

One of the things you’ll need to know is the rated horsepower capacity of the splitter. If it will be used for chopping and splitting wood, you can settle on one with about five to eight horsepower. If you need to use this for commercial or business purposes, you will probably need to purchase one with a larger horsepower capacity and a much stronger engine. This is mainly for safety purposes. Overusing a weak log splitter with a heavy load can create unsafe working conditions, cause damage to the machine and may also overheat or burn up the engine.

4.) Capacity in Tons

The capacity in tons of your log splitter should also be part of your consideration. A hydraulic log splitter’s ton capacity is generally in the range of one to twenty-five tons of splitting power. One to five ton capacity is capable of splitting logs and wood to be used in a fireplace. One that ranges from five to twenty-five ton capacity or higher is better suited for professional or business use.

5.) Maintenance Requirements

Before making your purchase, inquire about the maintenance requirements of the hydraulic log splitter. It is advisable to purchase one that is self-lubricating and can maintain itself without too much time and effort on your part. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with constant sharpening of the blades because regular usage makes them dull rapidly.

Always remember to follow the manufacturer’s safety precautions in handling and using your log splitter. You should also learn from a professional operator or one who has experience with this machine before handling one yourself. It also won’t hurt to do a little extra research about hydraulic log splitters in order to have as much information about their use as possible.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Denatured Alcohol - Fuel for Your Alcohol Stove

Denatured alcohol (ethanol with methanol added as a denaturing agent) is known by a variety of names. This is probably the best choice of fuel for your alcohol stove because it burns cleaner and produces more efficient heat.

It is also called methylated spirits, shellac thinner, marine stove fuel, liquid fondue fuel, or chafing dish fuel. It is easily found in marinas, boat shops and in the paint departments of most hardware or big box stores. Many brands of this alcohol are specifically marketed for use as marine stove fuel, fondue fuel or chafing fuel.

This form of alcohol fuel contains a high percentage of methanol and other poisonous chemicals. There is a large variety of chemicals in the contents of denatured alcohol that will affect the burn rate and cleanliness when being used as a fuel for your alcohol stove. You can test the quality of any brand of denatured alcohol by burning a small amount in an open metal or ceramic dish and then checking for any residue afterwards. If there is a large amount of residue, you will probably need to use a different brand.

It is an unsafe practice to store even the small propane cylinders in a vehicle. Because of this, an alcohol stove is a much better choice for an emergency heat source that can be kept in your vehicle with your other emergency supplies. Its main advantages are its low cost, its ability to be extinguished by water, and it is easily transported without the use of special containers.

Denatured alcohol will also be easier to find in an emergency situation and will probably be more readily available over a longer period of time. Retail stores often run out of propane cylinders or other forms of stove fuels very quickly in an emergency situation. The probability of a loss of electrical power may make other fuel sources scarce or unavailable.

Most types of alcohol, such as isopropyl alcohol (“rubbing” alcohol”), can be burned for fuel as well. They may be more costly or they may not burn as clean but you will probably be able to find it still on the shelf in an emergency.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker