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Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF

 
Don'tBeAfraid

User ID: 1110734
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12/27/2012 06:54 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Your honey is probably missing pollen and that “maple syrup” isn't maple at all

A lot of people understand that honey has some healing properties, but did you know that there's an excellent chance that what you're purchasing isn't “honey” by definition at all? In most cases, if you're buying a brand label of honey, it's probably been ultra-filtered and so all of the collected pollens by the bees has been removed. It's even possible that your honey has ultimately come from China and isn't produced domestically at all.

One of the health benefits of honey for allergy sufferers is that by dosing themselves with locally produced honey they weakly stimulate their histamine response by the pollen collected. This results in a lesser case of hay fever. If there's no bee pollen in it, then it's not doing anything.

The best way is still to buy local honey whenever you can find it. Join a food cooperative if you can as they're very careful about what bulk foods are purchased.
[link to www.foodsafetynews.com]

People who weren't raised on maple syrup often use fake maple-flavored syrup or even simply corn syrup. Open your cabinet and read the label on your pancake syrup. Chances are you're dosing yourself with one of the most harmful substances known to man. In a survival situation, when growing corn you want to harvest as much food as possible, so you allow the stalks to stand and harvest the syrup from them. Otherwise, you avoid corn syrup as much as possible. A good pecan pie is made from corn syrup, but you're not eating it all the time.

If you have the time and maple trees, why not actually purchase a spile this year from a local farmer's supply store and harvest some maple syrup at the proper time for your area as the sap rises from the roots? It takes awhile to reduce the water content, but then you know you're getting true maple syrup plus adding in some needed humidity to your home.

There's simply no substitute for the delicious taste of maple syrup. I urge you to try the real thing on some homemade french toast or pancakes (add in some wheat germ for a treat) and you'll never eat that fake maple-flavored corn syrup again.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/27/2012 06:55 PM
Don'tBeAfraid

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12/27/2012 07:36 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Start a garden this year especially if on food stamps

If your food security is threatened, why not learn how to garden this year? If you're wasting time cutting grass, why not dig up some of that turf that not providing you with any nutrients and grow some of your own food instead?

Many first year gardeners make lots of mistakes. They don't send their soil in for analysis. They don't add the soil amenities to get the pH to the level that's needed to best produce vegetables. They assume they know how to best weed, water, fertilize, do pest control, and harvest the plants. They assume that they just broadcast seeds any old way and it'll produce food. Nope.

Even though January is coming, now is the best time to start thinking about that new garden. Use this time to read through community resources at your local library. Network to find mentors to help you plan a garden. Find out the best ways to preserve any food you collect. Chances are that will mean dehydrating food as well as canning. Food stored in freezers is great since it preserves flavor, but if you lose power, you lost it all.

There are some classic texts on gardening like “Square Foot Gardening”. It's deliberately written for novices and details simple ways to begin learning.





Reusable canning lids are available. They're more expensive, it makes good sense to purchase them.

Herbs are very expensive to buy from the spice aisle. Fresh herbs make recipes taste wonderful, and you can easily collect them and dry them to use throughout the year.

Plan now how you will best water your garden. Explore inexpensive ways of drip irrigation. The simplest means is having some water diverted to rain barrels and using drip hoses to slowly water your rows of plants. This means reducing a need to rely upon city water. Check your local laws to see if it's a possibility. A lot of people don't like to water their gardens, and the cycle of dryness and soaking results in poor root growth. You don't have to spend a fortune on a professionally installed system. Make do with something simple that works but isn't an eyesore.

In many places there's hard clay soil and this makes gardening tough. The easiest thing to do is add river sand. The more you work it into the clay, the more it will break up and allow the roots to penetrate.

Mulching saves you loads of weeding, keeps the water from evaporating into the hot weather, and creates an even climate for your plants. Try to do things that minimize your time in the garden in order to best manage your time.

A lot of novice gardeners end up getting a rash from handling nettles. Buy some good gardening gloves and learn to identify those nettles to avoid it. Find a comfortable way to weed that doesn't hurt your lower back. It's a frequent complaint.

Don't buy everything at once. It's daunting to spend lots of money on tools and garden carts. Buy a little every year. A lot of times you can buy gently used equipment at rummage sales off-season. Maybe it needs a new handle and it's not hard to replace it, or maybe a little TLC and you can fix that cart.

Watch some youtube videos to get excited about planting time and to see how other master gardeners raise their crops. Learn from their successes and failures.

Don't try to raise everything this first year. Raise the most common things you like to eat. Remember that a lot of the crop comes in at once, so stagger your planting of vegetables (succession planting) and ask gardeners what they do in your area. Trade produce as much as possible. Read up on recipes to best utilize your harvest. Otherwise your family will complain about eating the same vegetables over and over. Even the best tasting zucchini bread gets tiresome to some people. Not me! I love it!

Read about the seed varieties that best suit your local climate. If you're way to the South, then you need to worry about the heat-resistance and bolting. If you're way to the North then you need frost-resistant species. You can't grow everything well the first year, but it's a joy to grow something that others have trouble with.

Many new gardeners make mistakes on starting seedlings. The light levels are too low and so their seedling get leggy and so they fail. Not everything can be transplanted, but you can get a jump on cabbage family plants in the Spring by starting seedlings, and later tomatoes, pepper plants, etc. Visit your local garden center and see what they offer in early Spring. If you have some grow lights and some simple shelving then you can raise your own. Watch some youtube videos which show EXACTLY how people do it. Don't assume anything.

The alternative is to continue to pay high prices for your food and see smaller and smaller portions for what you purchase.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/30/2012 12:46 PM
MzTreeChick

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Hong Kong
12/27/2012 08:35 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Hi D.B.A cool2

Glad you have decided to hang around.

* Several months ago I purchased a heavy duty jump starter for less than $100 from the local auto store AND a solar panel to recharge for less than $30. The jump starter has LED work lights, cig lighter input and extras to recharge phones and laptops etc. It is usually in the boot of the car but due to Queensland storm season its up stairs in the kitchen.

Every 3mths I just hook it up to the solar panel to keep the battery fully charged. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.



About to start Vege garden 3.0.



hf rockon
* Eat recycled food, it's good for the environment and O.K for you. (Judge Dredd)
Don'tBeAfraid

User ID: 1110734
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12/27/2012 10:27 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Hi D.B.A cool2

Glad you have decided to hang around.

* Several months ago I purchased a heavy duty jump starter for less than $100 from the local auto store AND a solar panel to recharge for less than $30. The jump starter has LED work lights, cig lighter input and extras to recharge phones and laptops etc. It is usually in the boot of the car but due to Queensland storm season its up stairs in the kitchen.

Every 3mths I just hook it up to the solar panel to keep the battery fully charged. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.



About to start Vege garden 3.0.



hf rockon
 Quoting: MzTreeChick


GREAT! I'm glad. This kind of preparedness offers you more security. Note that a charge controller is recommended if you end up using it frequently. That keeps it from overcharging the battery.
Don'tBeAfraid

User ID: 1110734
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12/27/2012 10:27 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Understanding the term “prepping” as a phenomena
[link to www.google.com]

Here is a Google Trends chart showing the relative stability of the search term “prepper” throughout time until is suddenly took off in 2012. My theory is that the sudden concern about the Mayan prophesy of 2012 resulted in boatloads of people becoming interested in the phenomena and deciding they'd better “do something”. In addition to that, I think that overall people are worried as they get older and realize that the global economic situation has become untenable.

People arriving late to the game are naturally the ones who have least prepared and have invested the smallest portion of their lives in the movement. It'll be very interesting to see how many much the trend falls away now that the moment of the great worry of the Mayan Calendar has come and gone without a hitch.

Fear is never a good motivator. It's akin to hearing a fire and brimstone sermon and fearing Hell and so attending church to “get right with God”. This never lasts, and that's why the churches were packed after 9/11 and why even a few weeks later those same folks had moved on to other things.

What are good motivators? I think saving money is a very good motivator. Who doesn't want to preserve wealth as best they can especially during times of uncertainty. Knowing we have inflation in food prices, but a decline in market value of hard assets like real estate, it only makes sense to find ways to save money by growing things yourself.

I think getting in better health is a good motivator too. People who spend more time outside, as long as they use sunscreen to protect their skin, get more fresh air, exercise, and often eat better because they've noticed that eating prepared food comes with a lot of additives that they really don't want in their bodies. Drinking more pure water is like that too. It results in a better hydrated state with clearer skin, a healthy glow, a state of calmness and serenity, and better overall health. Growing fresh produce results in eating more salad, using the delicate taste of baby vegetables and fresh herbs and so a more delightful diet. It facilitates better and more varied cooking.

Setting priorities on living things that sustain us, being in touch with our position in the Grand Design of the Source, and more at one with the complex ecosystem we live within, these are excellent motivators. A feeling of overall connectedness with God and Nature is far more affirming versus the selfish pride of considering only ourselves.

So forget the fear of the unknown. It's not going to keep you interested. But life and learning about the rich connection that you share with the simplest lifeforms, these things cannot help but excite and thrill you. There is joy to be found in that journey into the Green.
Don'tBeAfraid

User ID: 1110734
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12/28/2012 12:23 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
61.8% of the USA under drought conditions
[link to www.wunderground.com]

If you're not planning on ways to deal with gardening under these conditions using drip irrigation, then you're not being wise at all. I've been preaching about this for months. Please make plans now as it's singularly the worst threat to basic survival.

You still can use drip irrigation without rainfall by slowly drizzling city water to your garden. It's really a good idea as otherwise the water will simply evaporate off.

Store water now. Research ways to put water in containers and using some homemade bleaching solution from pool shock, purify it longterm, but rotate it.

I would not be at all surprised if we exceed the Dust Bowl conditions of the Great Depression.

Low rainfall will end up having an effect on crops, animal life, economics, the supply chain, employment, just about everything.

Even if we receive tons of snow this year, chances are it won't be enough to make a significant effect.

Since we export a lot of grain, this affects world grain prices and subsequently affects livestock prices.
Don'tBeAfraid

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12/29/2012 12:23 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Prepping begins with deep introspection

Most people begin to notice things about the world that disturb them. They get some insight into the inner workings of the real world, and in that epiphany is the seed of change. When they begin to see more and more evidence of future issues, they alter the course of their journey to minimize the effect that outside influences play on their lives.

It's akin to riding in a canoe on flat water. You look ahead and see rapids. If you are fairly near to the shoreline, you can pull into a safe cove, examine the stream ahead for rocks and currents, maybe make a meal, calm down some, and then when ready, navigate the rapid. Maybe the trip upstream is not essential, and since there's a spring melt, the stream is faster than normal and simply waiting will alleviate much of the issue. Maybe you're not up to the rapids yet, not being in adequate shape, and unless you really like putting that to the test, you avoid dealing with it for now. Or maybe you can portage around that difficult place, carry your canoe and supplies around the rapid even though it takes more time. This is the essential process of preparedness.

However new people to the movement, they buy the best equipment for rapids even when there's no rapids around, just the threat of them. Rather than exercise to get stronger and eat right to reduce the boat's load, they think that a better canoe, even a bigger one is a better way to cope. In some cases they don't have much in the way of assets so they simply buy a better shinier paddle. Maybe they prepare an essential bag of goodies they think they need, but other than that, they haven't prepared much at all.

You can almost bet that they don't have a life jacket. It doesn't have any coolness factor whatsoever even though it's the one essential item that would most likely help them since it's directly applicable to their situation.

Fear often is their motivator, and if you've been reading along you know that it's really not a very good coping mechanism for survival, much less for living life in abundance. Since they know in their hearts that they aren't strong, or skilled, they throw money at the problem, and like most times in life, that doesn't work at all.

Fear can overwhelm us. A close examination of the rapids of life can paralyze us. They are always there, it's just we've been distracted by other things, mindless entertainment usually, because to allow ourselves to be distracted is easier than coping. Then suddenly aware of every rapid around us, we think we'll drown. The reality is far different. Though we think things are bad, and we were in fact slowly drowning, we weren't immediately drowning, but clinging to a rock and waiting for something to change.

Sometimes the wisest course of action is to pull yourself out of the stream when wet and struggling, sit down on that rock, and THINK. This is a tough choice for some, because it seems like thinking is not doing. Of course jumping back in the water and trying to swim through that rapid seems like madness, but a lot of people will do that rather than spend the time to develop a plan.

Others have it very rough. They have no rock to cling to: family, friends, God, the Church, education, skills, strength, constitution, tenacity, mentors, etc. Almost always if you look for allies, you can find them. They can help you since once they were also drowning, but the cold water splashed in their face, and they were forced to cope. For some it's a vivid memory and if they're altruistic, they don't want you to have to struggle as much as they were forced to.

If you find yourself alone and alienated today post-Christmas, then the best way to begin is to start over. Start with the least broken thing in your life and work on that to make it better. Most likely it's your physical endurance and strength. Fix yourself first.

Despite seeing the buff action heroes in action films, and thinking that it was easy for them to get healthy because of _______, in reality most of those people who look so slim and muscular got that way by patience, training, discipline, deprivation, and hard work.

One of the amazing aftereffects of physical training is that it also sharpens the mind. All of that time lifting weights and running could be spent in a vague fugue state, but probably the person training starts to think about the events in their life and how they wish things were different. Seeing the weight peel off of them, and the renewed tone in their muscles builds optimism though. And what happens in that transformation? Usually people notice the change in your life, compliment you, and the flickering flame of Hope is ignited.

The flame might never be built up if you quit, or if you get bored, but if you stick with it and keep exercising and eating right, then inevitably you start thinking about journaling. Maybe writing down some ideas, committing to a plan, listing what worked or didn't work, will help you to keep succeeding.

The more you do that, the more the journal is not about yourself, but about ways to change for the better. Usually you begin to see deficits in what you know, and the natural way to cope is to read and learn.

You see prepping is not about the best sharpest knife, though that is a valuable tool. Hone your mind, spirit, body into the strong tools that you most need.

Get back in the canoe. Those rapids that once were rough will seem more tame. You'll be stronger, more deft and agile in your movements, less afraid, wiser. Even though the canoe and your equipment is the same, you are not. You've allowed dynamic change to occur, bettering yourself, believing in yourself and maybe have found some foundation to cling to when troubled.
Don'tBeAfraid

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12/29/2012 08:57 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Moving heavy objects

When organizing your new tribe, you're going to come across very heavy logs that need moving when constructing or when cutting down trees. Other times you may need to move something very heavy and hopefully fairly regularly shaped. There's a couple of principles mentioned in this video which illustrate how to best handle heavy objects using a fulcrum.


If you happen to have pieces of pipe, you can place those underneath, and then moving the weight along, then replace the pipe as you inch it forward.
[link to dart2.arc.nasa.gov]


Another simple way is dragging an object on a carpet.


Here it's demonstrated...


This dragging method works well with rocks, but the difficulty is getting the rock on the carpet, so that's where the fulcrum and dowel rods or pipe comes into play.

Remember, it can take weeks to get over a pulled back, so use your head and organize the folks moving the object so NO ONE gets injured.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/29/2012 09:05 PM
Don'tBeAfraid

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12/29/2012 09:02 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Appropedia's public domain books link

[link to www.appropedia.org]

Here are tons of resources from Appropedia on lots of homesteading resources. It would be wisdom to download the pdf files, and even print some of them. Maybe you don't need a book on Hogology today :) but you might in the future be raising some free range pigs and need the knowledge. It wasn't uncommon to raise a pig during wartime Britain, that is if you wanted some pork.
Don'tBeAfraid

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12/29/2012 09:14 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Using a cheater bar

The longer the handle of a wrench, the easier it is to apply downward force to turn a frozen nut. Since you might be the only one around and maybe aren't that strong, you have to use your noggin to figure out how YOU can turn that nut for disassembly.

For that purpose, but not for regular use, a cheater bar is made to extend the handle.
[link to pontificatingnobody.com]

This makes it way easier to turn, but be CAREFUL. Make sure there is no slop in the tightness of the wrench for if so, you could round off the nut and make it impossible to remove.
Don'tBeAfraid

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12/29/2012 11:50 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Tapping a hole for proper threads




Many times you need to attach a bolt into a piece of metal, and so you need to tap the hole first to prepare it for threads for the bolt to screw into it. Here's a video which demonstrates the process, but in actuality it is far better craftsmanship to use a tap wrench and slowly create the threads. Why? As you hold the drill, it's oscillating and vibrating and almost impossible to hold perfectly straight. That means you will be making it “wallered out” from the slop in your work. That means a less than perfect tightness.

In time, perhaps someone over-tightens a bolt and buggers up the threads or the bolt is loose and under vibration and wallers out in the process. That means redrilling the hole for a larger size bolt and using a different tap for that size.
[link to store.curiousinventor.com]
[link to www.wikihow.com]

I've also attached directions for the complete process and another link showing the proper drill bit size to initially drill the hole prior to tapping. Making it too small will make the tap too tight and probably make the sharp but brittle metal to snap. Making the hole too big will create shallow threads and create a less than perfect thread for the bolt to screw in.

This is a very simple thing to do, and chances are at some point you'll be doing small repairs like this on your equipment.

Sometimes it's far better to actually drill on through and attach a nut, washer and lock washer to the other end rather than simply screwing the bolt into the metal. Of course that means doing routine maintenance to see that the bolts stay tightened otherwise they're prone to vibrating off.
Don'tBeAfraid

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12/30/2012 12:05 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Removing a broken bolt


There are two ways to do this. Either use an easy out bit, or working on the rounded off bolt use a special socket head (Bolt-outs) that essentially grabs on to the metal.

I guarantee you that you're going to have some rounded off bolts as you work around the house, so purchasing some tools now anticipating that will save you lots of time later.
Anonymous Coward
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12/30/2012 12:11 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
I've got 4 water filters that vary in size from 2oz on up to a table top unit. I wasn't planning on buying the 4th one but found a Katadyne Exstream bottle/filter on sale for $20. Couldn't pass it up....
Don'tBeAfraid

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12/30/2012 10:23 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Understanding why cars overheat while stalled in traffic jams

In today's economy, a lot of people are not doing routine maintenance on their vehicles. Since the car is operating decently while on the highway for commuter traffic, or in short runs to the grocery store, and not usually tested on a long journey, the car owner has no idea of the limitations of their vehicle.

However in a collapse, all of that changes. Suddenly as everyone is attempting to leave one area of instability and trying to relocate to an area of stability, the sudden exodus results in numerous mechanical phenomena.

The normal behavior for car or truck owners is to spend a lot of time packing up a car, taking longer than they anticipate, and waiting for the passengers to assemble with lots of delays while the driver is goading them to hurry. It's analogous to herding cats. Horrors really. When everyone finally is seated, someone no doubt didn't use the restroom, neglected to bring water or food, forgot their pack or a need medication, whatever. Can I get an amen? You know it's true.

If it's Summertime, the driver may operate the car to air condition it, and notice that the engine is operating at a higher than normal temperature.

Now that everyone is in the vehicle, the driver most likely heads to the local gas station for a fill-up, possibly checks their tires and oil and maybe fluids, then head to their destination. Of course if suddenly there's ten times the number of drivers on the road then normal, you've got long lines at the gas station, possible issues with people running out of gas while waiting in line, or simply forestalling the issue by getting on the road and planning on taking an exit while further down the line and putting some distance between the urban center and the danger.

Now there's lots of issues that might cause problems while on the highway. Ordinarily there's high flowrates on highways because of the distance between vehicles and the smooth steady flow between the destination points. However since many of the vehicles may need fuel, higher than normal exits will be occurring and possibly last minute purchases in lesser known areas of town, and maybe picking up passengers at another location. This translates into more people exiting and reduces the normal distances between vehicles and makes driving perilous.

Some of these people may have issues with refueling. It's highly likely that less fuel stations will be open and many will not be accepting plastic cards for payment, and since less than one in a hundred transactions are cash, you can bet that there will be a lot of people who will run out of gas on the highway, on exits, or immediately afterward in perhaps bad or unknown parts of town.

The most common issue will be backed up traffic directly on the highway. This will lead to some collisions in the front, but mostly in the rear as people are not expecting the delays. Some lane will be stalled, and others seeing trouble ahead will take chances and merge into another lane and cause secondary collisions. This could become nightmarish.

Here's a video which explains the normal flow of engine coolant within your radiator system. It's less of an issue in Winter at first, but the engine is so hot that it must have water/coolant flow as well as wind in order to maintain its ability to operate.


The primary reason that these poorly maintained vehicles are still running is that they move at high speed and maintain airflow through the radiator and are able to wick away heat. Or the driving distance is so abbreviated that not much heat builds up, then the engine cools while the person is shopping inside, then they return home a short distance away, and hence there is little demand on the coolant system.



When sitting in traffic, the vehicle has way less airflow. If the car is low on coolant fluid, if the fan clutch is faulty, if the thermostat is broken, if the water pump is faulty, if there's a leak in the radiator, then there's a high probability that the engine will overheat while in the traffic jam. Multiply that times numerous vehicles and you have a very volatile situation.

Unless you're one of the 1% of folks who are mechanically minded and can repair those simple problems, then you're sidelined and your flight to safety is over. Meanwhile everyone around you is delayed and possibly stuck, for chances are extremely low that someone can assist you. It's why bugging out is a remote possibility because most people are unprepared even if you think you are.

Even if you know how to fix it, unless you have tools, and are close to an open auto parts store, then you're SOL.

A good prepper learns how to maintain their vehicle by checking fluids, watching for coolant leaks and inspecting hoses, learns how to do basic mechanical work, understands the operation of car subsystems, and can troubleshoot and repair them.

If you own an unusual vehicle, then there's an even worse proposition that you won't be able to source the correct parts after a collapse. While fuel is the main concern, since you can't find the part, your best bet is finding a junkyard that has a vehicle like yours, and salvaging the part, or else finding a downed vehicle and salvaging from it. Of course, those are not new parts and whatever parts you find maybe quite worn from operating.

If the radiator overheated, the oil could be ruined in the engine, and there's a high probability that the head gasket could be blown. Not only blown, but it might need to be remachined. Here's how to test if combustion gases are leaking into your radiator system and hence determining a blown head gasket.


As you can imagine, in a collapse situation, armed vehicle owners may become desperate and may hijack other vehicles to get away. There are high consequences for living in densely populated urban areas.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/30/2012 12:55 PM
Don'tBeAfraid

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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Blown tires on the highway

The next most common issue during a bugout situation will be a blown tire. Many people today don't rotate their tires. You can do it yourself; it's not rocket science.


Obviously you don't need all of this equipment, but can do it with far less by using your head, but it will be more difficult and take more time. Big deal.

Since the average person drives about 10,000 miles in a year or less, then figure on rotating at least 2 and probably three times a year. That's not that big a deal, and get some help just to give your tribe members some mechanical experience. The more they practice, the stronger their confidence level. Saying things like "righty tighty, lefty loosey" as a mneumonic helps them to remember how to twist the wheel nuts or even crank on other nuts or bolts later. It's far better to learn now the limits of one tribe member's strength, and purchasing them a better tire wrench so they can use both hands to twist off the nuts, then for them to be stranded.

If you don't rotate them, there will be premature wear on your tires. Many of these folks will have issues while on the highway, and have to pull over and replace their tire. Most likely they'll have a “doughnut” tire, strictly a very short term replacement, because most people don't have a true spare tire anymore. It would be wisdom to purchase another wheel and a tire and have that as a true spare, besides the common donut tire that comes with your vehicle. That's right, the wheels are different, so there's some expense involved.



While the ideal way to balance a tire is done at the mechanical shop with their high spin device, you can wing it by watching this video. If you're doing this in the field, there's a high chance it won't be perfect and you'll have uneven wear on the tire because it's not perfectly round and balanced. This means clipping a less than perfect weight on the wheel.

Hopefully everyone in your family can change a tire. You taught them...right? The first time I changed a tire I was very young and helping my dad on the road. Preparedness only works if everyone in your tribe can do multiple things otherwise if something happens to you then the whole tribe is doomed.

It's possible that you might have to use some tire sealant in order to continue on, as maybe the tire is blown, and the donut tire gone, but you have to keep moving. Remember that there are limitations on using a donut tire (less than fifty miles and at less than 50 miles per hour and never using a donut on the front wheels). In a collapse, you might have to exceed that range easily, and so hobbling along until you can find a replacement particularly if in a remote area.


Note: If you collide with a curb suddenly, it's possible to deform the wheel such that no replacement tire will conform to the roundness of the wheel. This means finding a wheel to fit your vehicle, plus a tire to continue your journey.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/30/2012 11:24 AM
Don'tBeAfraid

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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Are you getting the idea about prepping? It's not so much about bugout bags, the latest novelty knife, or gun, or an alcohol stove. It much more about simple common homesteading ideas like gardening, making simple repairs, storing food, and common sense.

While some of the former things are interesting, and believe me as a guy I'd like to have an infinite amount of money to spend on such things, the things discussed by some wannabee preppers or survivalists is of such limited use that it's really a disservice to concentrate too heavily on them.

While it's very cool to discuss the latest greatest crossbow, the reality is that most of them are very expensive not only to purchase but to maintain and continue to use the bolts that are fired from them. It's far more practical to think about hunting small game with a homemade sling bow (see a previous posting with a video by Dave Canterbury). The goal is not to fight zombies, but to put meat on the table by learning frugality, practical use of ranged weapons, and simple mechanical skill.

Wise up. In a world with limited funds and issues with full employment, it makes far more sense to discuss things like the next topic (hanging heavy objects on walls), then it does on endless discussions on ammunition.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/30/2012 11:47 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Hanging heavy objects on walls

Believe it or not, being able to put up an extra set of cabinets or shelving is just as important as hunting. Since food can be raised or grown, it's of little use unless you can also store it in a cool dry place. Since most homes have a lack of storage space, particularly in kitchens, you need to spend some time planning to create new spaces within your home. Shelving is the natural way, but cabinets look much better.

If you are putting up something small and on drywall, then most likely you should use threaded drywall
anchors. These are ridiculously simple to do with a drill, a stud finder, a level, a tape measure, and the smallest amount of skill.
[link to www.naturalhandyman.com]



A stud finder will locate the most likely wooden studs that the drywall is attached to. Some modern construction uses metal framing. A stud finder will approximately determine where the 1.5” thick stud are to be found. If you're mounting something heavy, then it's just good old common sense to screw into a strong wooden stud versus using a fastener like an anchor or toggle bolt. A threaded drywall anchor really shouldn't hold more than 25 lbs of downward force. A heavy toggle bolt distributes the force which a spreading mechanical part, and can hold up to 50 lbs.

Cabinets must be mounted on the studs themselves, as most likely you're using this method since you've got the weight of the cabinet plus its contents of heavy food or other storage items. It's possible though that with shelving that the length may end up beyond the closest stud, and so using both methods is likely to happen.

Even if the cabinet is free-standing, then it makes good sense to fix the cabinet to the wall due to earthquakes. The last thing you want is your valuable supplies to tumble over.

Wire shelving is a common and inexpensive way to put up something fast, and also a means of organizing a closet such that it contains many cubbyholes to place items. Believe me, your family will appreciate having you do this. It's also a teaching opportunity to demonstrate and have them do part of the work, but guiding them so that it's largely successful.

Most young people grow up not knowing any basic skills, and that means being basically helpless. You really don't want that, do you? Don't worry, repairing drywall is simple, and if they make a mistake, then you can easily patch the wall. In fact, that should be part of the lesson. See the next posting.
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Repairing Drywall

Drywall is the most common wall that you'll need to repair. It's put up fairly inexpensively and mounted on typically wooden studs. If you're working on the wall in order to mount a shelf or some cabinets, it's possible that at times you end up making a mistake and create a hole that needs patching. Other times maybe moving around heavy furniture, you scuff a wall and need to repair it prior to repainting it.


A small hole can be patched using spackle. Clean the area, apply just enough to fill it, let it dry, most likely apply a second coat of spackle, then use fine grit sandpaper to buff away the area, then repaint. Not a big deal. Helping your child to hang some things on their walls using the previously outlined details, then also teach them to fix the small imperfections they made to the wall, and then once that's dry, repaint the area.

A larger hold needs to be repaired. While you could put in progressively larger amounts of wallboard spackle, it's not a good idea. It won't dry correctly and you'll be unhappy with the job. You can either put in a section of wallboard to replace the imperfection, or the simplest thing to do is put a plate over the hole.

Joint compound is usually used instead of spackle.

Note: one could create a hidden hole inside of a wall using this method to store items, then it's invisibly placed inside and the wall removed later to remove the contents. While you can go to the trouble of creating a fake outlet, one could simply create a box within a wall, then patch over it.
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Dehydrating frozen vegetables or fruit

Dehydrating is one of the best ways of preserving food. Since space is always a limitation, and since refrigeration requires energy to constantly be operational, and since even the largest refrigerator/freezer has limits on space, dehydrating can avoid most of those issues. It produces delicious food with delightfully concentrated flavors too.

When gardening and food is coming in, you can be overwhelmed by the process of canning. Consider dehydrating some, as a remarkable amount of food like tomatoes can be dehydrated into a few canning jars and sealed, and make delicious tomato stock later.

Off-season, or when you notice a sale on frozen goods, then you can purchase those supplies and dehydrate them. This is a very common prepper project, and it ends up saving you money from less trips to the store, less items in the freezer, and avoiding purchasing fresh produce which is always the most expensive way to eat.



You don't have to spend a fortune on a dehydrator either. Note the small size of the one used in the video and the brief one day period used to dehydrate. If you read previous postings, in the hot summers you can dehydrate some outside, but having an electric one only makes sense for year round usage.

Because the food is lacking moisture, it makes mold difficult to affect your food.

According to the literature I've read, the vitamins and minerals are preserved for the most part by the process.

One of the main websites that discusses dehydrating food can be found here. She has numerous tips on the best recipes and ways to dehydrate.:
[link to www.dehydrate2store.com]

She also has a youtube channel:
[link to www.youtube.com]

Here's the first part of one of her video series. There are ten parts to the series.:

Some general tips can be found here:
[link to thesurvivalmom.com]

Why not give dehydrating food a try in 2013? It will end up saving you money, but will require making some small modifications in how you prepare meals. I think you'll benefit from it nutritionally as well as economically while also learning a valuable skill that will improve your food security in case of bad weather. All of these aspects are important as we enter most likely another year of drought in the USA.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/30/2012 04:35 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Scorpions

While most people assume that scorpions are only found in desert climates in the Southwest, the reality is that scorpions probably exist in your state, but perhaps in smaller numbers. As a small child playing with toy soldiers in the dirt, I came across the desiccated exoskeleton of a small scorpion and was quite amazed. Dumbfounded really. Rather than tell my parents or even my best friends who played in that dirt pile with me, I clammed up. I dug a hole some distance away, for I knew enough that the stinger contained venom that could seriously hurt someone, and then never spoke about it to them.

Here's a website that lists scorpion species by state.
[link to www.angelfire.com]

Since that time in many decades of my life, I've only seen one other specimen while in Southern Illinois. They are skittish creatures that prefer to inhabit the areas that crickets and centipedes like, for that's among the food that they hunt. As such, unless you disturb areas looking for them, chances are you might never see one in your lifetime.

People always say, “Gosh, you're pulling my leg. You're not serious, ______.” But then I show them a picture or a video, and their eyes bug out.

Kentucky Southern Devil Scorpion

[link to www.ca.uky.edu]

Most people are so disconnected from the Earth because they've spent so little time in the meadows and forests, and they truly have no idea about countless species that share our world. I have literally watched river snakes slither by swimming in the water, completely unseen by nearby swimmers. Thank goodness, for it would have set them to screaming in terror.

Unfortunately, if bugging out in warmer weather, if you were to leave your boots outside the tent, as I have seen greenhorns do to avoid the smell, there's a chance that one might crawl into your boot. It's wisdom to bring your boots inside the tent, but still to carefully and with some degree of force rap the boot upside down to ensure that not only is there no critter inside your boot, but what's more likely, no spider in there. A brown recluse is far more likely and tiny, but a hard intentional upside smack is liable to dislodge any visitor to your shoes.

If stung by a scorpion, most likely it was done out of self-protection. The most likely cause was it nestled within your sleeping bag if sleeping directly outside, but possibly in the lower floor of a rustic cabin especially if there's an issue with crickets. Otherwise they crawl into boots.

If stung you want to clean the area with soap and water, elevate the limb to heart level, use cold compresses, and visit the ER. If you're the kind of person that's very allergic, there's a potential for anaphylactic shock. Keep the person as calm as possible as you don't want them to elevate their breathing or heart rate. I know, pretty darn tough.

When in the woods or really anywhere unknown, keep an eye out for species wiggling around on the ground. The reason you don't see them is your eyes are too glued to the TV. They're there coexisting. Because of that, if you leave them alone and go your way, you're likely safe from harm.

Addendum: Here's a good website showing some varieties from Georgia. They are quite large. They also show how the young cling to their mother until they molt.
[link to gregsnaturalhistory.com]

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/30/2012 11:14 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
By the way, it's relatively easy to catch a snake. Most are not aggressive, not really. Mostly they want to get away. Here's a seven year old catching one. It would have made a fine meal especially if stewed so the meat came off the bones.

All you really need is a forked stick that's not flimsy.



Catching one gently to teach your children and giving them an opportunity to catch one helps them cope with the fear of wild creatures and also to appreciate their beauty.

Rat snakes can be quite large. Compare the the two videos as well as the response of the second person. You have to admire her though for helping out.


Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/30/2012 11:39 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
I've got 4 water filters that vary in size from 2oz on up to a table top unit. I wasn't planning on buying the 4th one but found a Katadyne Exstream bottle/filter on sale for $20. Couldn't pass it up....
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 28870983


Thank you for participating in this topic. It's good to have some redundancy in order to anticipate equipment failure. Things will definitely fail in the field for a variety of reasons. With water filters, read the lable carefully to see the shelf life of the unit based upon the chemical components expiring due to oxidation. Each filter has a maximal amount of filtering based upon an ideal amount of gallons passed through the device. That's entirely contingent upon pre-filtering the filter to remove things like silt. A pre-filter greatly lengthens the actual life of a filter. Whatever amount is stated as the lifetime filtering use in gallons is probably suspect and wishful thinking. In addition, if some tribe member isn't trained, then may actually contaminate the filter by using soap which might clog the filter and prevent chemical filtering from working.

Besides that issue, with an essential piece of equipment like a water filter, it's possible that a member of a hunting party might need a portable unit, or a member of the tribe visits a local town for supplies and won't be back for up to a week. During frontier days, as the local tribes and families competed for hunting and trapping resources, animals retreated into wilder areas away from civiliation. That meant that it was necessary to send hunters out to get game and then to safely return with the meat. Travel too far and the meat would spoil. It also was security risk since it was less people around to protect the tribe. And in addition the possibility of providing food was weighed againt the loss of labor from the departing hunters. Likewise in certain areas merchants had set up that received supplies via the river mostly and sometimes by incoming covered wagon. This meant going to town a couple of times a year to resupply. All of that meant having portable equipment to take with you as you traveled by horse. This is why having some extra and small water filters is essential.

All of that has to be balanced based upon your limited money.
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Understanding the effective radius of your vehicle based upon fuel usage

Today, I want you to sit down and calculate the average mileage of your vehicle. The way you do that is look at your vehicle owner's manual to see the capacity of your gas or diesel tank. Let's say it's 18.5 gallons for example. Now fill it up. Press the button to reset the mileage trip indicator, then in a week or so as fuel gauge drops to ¼ tank, read the mileage indicator again. Write that down. Now fill up your tank again.

Example. 18.5 maximum gallons. Trip indicator reset to zero then reread at 471.75 miles. At ¼ tank indicator refilled 13.875 gallons. 471.75miles / 13.875 = 34 miles to the gallon on average.

Remember that the amount per gallon is entirely based upon the weight of the vehicle. If you were loaded up to the max, with four passengers, and driving less than ideal speed, your miles to the gallon will drop, won't it? The less fuel you have in a minimally loaded vehicle might get more miles to the gallon since the weight of the vehicle plus the weight of the fuel plus the weight of the passengers is less.

What does your owner's manual say is the estimated miles in city driving? It's very likely that in a collapse you'll be starting and stopping a lot as you exit a city as well as stuck in a traffic jam. Much of the trip may be spend idling in traffic which means zero miles to the gallon.

You'd have to be prescient to always have a full tank of fuel. You can't expect that by some miracle that you have that, so instead if a disciplined person, try to maintain at least ¾ of a tank of gas. In Winter as it is now in my hemisphere, it is wisdom not to let the fuel tank get lower than ¼ tank because fuel lines can freeze due to water vapor that's in all gas.

Example: ¾ of a tank would be 13.875 on this theoretical vehicle, so let's say that my city mileage is 23 miles per gallon. 13.875 gallons x 23= 319.125 miles.

This is a more realistic effective range for my vehicle. Now subtract 50 of those miles for being re-routed and attempting to find a clear path to continue a journey. 319.125- 50 miles=269.125 miles.

Chances are you won't be able to refuel, not in a collapse. Gas station owners will also be bugging out, so some will be closed. Fuel prices won't be limited and it may cost $500 to fill up and only if you have cash since the credit/debit cards won't operate. Whatever fuel is still around may be commandeered by the military or critical infrastructure.

This means that in our case, even if perfectly prepared but reasonably supplied we'd have an effective range of about 269 miles from home. That's really the only realistic baseline number you have for extricating your family. That isn't very far, is it?

[For you metric folks, 269 miles is ~433 kilometers. 433/2= 217 kilometers realistically. As many parts of Europe are more densely populated, you have a worse situation in some ways.]

Personally I think that 269 miles is a wildly optimistic number. I'd halve that for most people. Most people are not prepared whatsoever. Not in all honesty. They fill up when they can based upon pay day and based upon floating credit. If the SHTF, and they didn't have income, they'd spend most of their money on food and water, and fuel would be a much lower priority since they aren't traveling to work. I think that they wouldn't think it through, not have a place to go to be safer and more secure, or wouldn't get to the gas station in time to purchase whatever meager fuel is still available. At best, it would be like the fuel situation during the New England Hurricane of 2012 all over again.

Example 269 miles / 2 = 134.5 miles.

A lot of folks are going to run out of gas on the highways as they attempt to leave. Yes, they may indeed get out of their city, but if on the Atlantic Seaboard or in densely populated New England, then they end up within the next urban area and in a worse situation because now they're stranded in a lesser known area with less dwindling supplies and effective currency.

Because some vehicles will overheat (see previous postings), or tires will be shredded, some people will be forced to abandon their vehicle and carry what they can. Other folks will likely harvest materials from these vehicles that are on foot. Some will take the food supplies, load them into their vehicle, and then move on. Others will stop, probably punch a hole in the fuel tank with a wooden dowel, collect the fuel in a plastic bin, and then put that fuel in their vehicle. Many fires will occur this way as some people do it incorrectly and cause a spark. (They could siphon gas, but that takes more time and people are vulnerable unless heavily armed and with lots of guards.) Other vehicles are also likely to catch fire from this happening. In such congestion and bedlam, mayhem may occur as desperate people do desperate things to continue their journey.

Look on a map and see just how far 134.5 miles will get you versus 269 miles. Somewhere in-between those two distances is likely the effective range for most people.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/31/2012 11:30 AM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
16 million gun background checks

Personally as long as people are well trained and have their heads screwed on right, I feel safer when they are armed. Unfortunately most are not either of those two things.

I would bet that a large portion of these people are nervous because they're riled up. Not good.

Some smart people may be anticipating a gun ban, and hoping to profit by putting on a significant resale price on whatever guns they purchase.

Anytime that demand is high and supplies are low, the price of an item goes up. Expect this to happen and continue to occur.
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Replacing a fuse in your vehicle


You don't need a continuity tester by the way; it just makes things easier and faster. If some device in your vehicle is not working, well look at the owner's manual and see what associated fuse is connected to that device.

Now, we want the fuse to blow, for something is faulty with the device or shorted in the wiring. A fuse is cheap to replace, the device is not. You can't just replace the fuse and hope that a mile down the road the same event doesn't reoccur. Of course it will.

It's wise to have replacement fuses in your vehicle, and you can visibly see whent the element in the middle is blown, but you're going to have to spend some time locating the reason it blew, otherwise not have that system work.

Instead of a continuity tester, I recommend you purchase a multimeter. It will allow you to measure continuity as well as voltage and amperage (low scale). Obviously a multimeter as well as basic tools should be in your vehicle at all times but probably less than 1 in a 100 vehicles have them.

Having both electrical as well as basic automotive and mechanical skills are just as essential prepping skills as gardening or hunting. Since we've become nations of technicians rather than generalists, we rely upon some expert to inspect our broken devices and repair them. If you're frugal, and have a high school education, chances are you can repair some basic things on your vehicle.

While some jobs are beyond the basic skill level of many folks, and safety is an issue as well as having the correct tools, note that the half of the cost of a repair is often labor. The main reason that auto parts stores stay in business is that as people get older they try to save money by doing some work themselves.
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Measuring current in an electrical device

The easiest way to measure current is a clamp on amp meter. By encircling the wire (conductor) that is in question, say a heater or a motor, then you can measure how much flow (current) is being used.

Remember that the initial flow of current is higher and then will settle down for routine operation. Sometimes the initial amount of mechanical resistance is higher since there is no movement and hence a lot of inertia, but then under rotation, the mechanical parts are flowing smoothly.

A jam will make the current spike because the motor is working against a much higher amount of mechanical resistance and will make the fuse blow or the circuit breaker to pop. It's not always an electrical problem, but what's more likely is something is forcing the motor to work harder.


Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/31/2012 12:00 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Measuring continuity in a conductor

If I suspect that there is a loss of flow through a wire or device, then I measure the continuity of it. This is a tesing method while it is powered down (or off).


A wire might be broken or iffy because perhaps it's been flexed routinely and it might be as simple as replacing a cord.

Note: using the audible version in some multimeters is a major advantage for a craftsman working alone. It means you can rapidly test by listening versus constantly referring to the meter for continuity. It's only minimally more for this feature.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/31/2012 12:05 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Understanding common electrical issues

If you've ever tried running a very long length of electrical cord, and then had the circuit breaker kick out when you tried to power up a device from that cord, then you've experienced voltage drop.

The longer the run of the wire, results in higher amounts of resistance. It's not much, but that increasing amount of resistance results in higher current and lower voltage in order to power the device. This makes the circuit breaker kick out and makes the electrical cord HOT and it can possibly start a fire.

I've encountered people attempting to use an electrical cord on a window air conditioner because they didn't have the proper outlet in an older home, and so they naturally kept kicking out the breaker.

A lot of people notice that they don't have enough outlets in their home and try to run too many devices from the same outlet. The same thing will happen and kick out the breaker. There's too much current flow in that area and a drop in voltage. This also can start a fire. Never use too many devices at the same time from one outlet.

A common device that pulls a lot of current is a hair dryer. One that you may not have guessed is a vacuum cleaner. Naturally your electic oven and stove pulls a lot as well as a clothes dryer and your electrical heater or water heater. These are seperated out on different breakers. If you have issues, it's likely that there's a short in the device, but on rare occasions I have found a bad breaker.

On modern vehicles, some cars actually continue to power up devices within your vehicle and this can slowly drain the battery. In addition, some small device like a interior light might stay on from someone leaving the door cracked open. And also over time if a car is sitting, the battery will naturally drain, and if the alternator is not turning then of course there's nothing constantly recharging the battery. This is why on a car lot, a common task is to recharge batteries especially off-season in Winter as fewer car are being test driven.

Rather than replace a broken electrical cord, a lot of foolish people will patch it with electrical tape. Listen, when the insulation is breaking down on an older electrical cord, throw it away. You don't want a fire. If it's new and you accidentally cut the cord, while you could repair it carefully, I would toss it out. If the cut is on the end, and much of the wire can be salvaged, why not put a new end on the cord? You can buy those in hardware stores and the task is very simple.

In a lot of homes, because no one ever took the time, the circuit breakers are unlabled. If you have a child help you by going into the room, and you shut off breakers one by one, they can yell when the lights go off, or outlets stop working, or devices go off, and you can label everything. Believe me, at some point this is going to save you lots of time by properly shutting off the precise breaker for that room or device. Then you can quickly work on fixing the electrical issue by turning off the breaker to the device. There's seldom a reason to work on it "hot". For someone with little electrical skill, it's dangerous.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/31/2012 03:36 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
Most people can repair common electrical issues

Most of the time, if people have common sense, then they can fix common electrical issues. In many homes, a bad or careless person wired up a wall switch or outlet, and at some point the wires will come loose, the switch will need to be repaired, or an outlet replaced. It's not hard.

What's equally likely is that your spouse or significant other sees a new fixture that they prefer, or wants ceiling fans to save money by directing rising heat down or cooling a room in the summers. This means you have to have the knowledge, wisdom, and frugality that will allow yourself to do the work yourself. Otherwise, you can spend the extra money getting someone else to do it.

Often a buddy may know how to do it, and after one short lesson, you can do the rest of the job yourself. It seldom costs more than a couple of beers. Networking means learning new skills, and usually enhances a friendship, and this makes your tribe stronger.

If you labeled all of your circuit breakers as previously discussed, then you can quickly isolate the power, and safely do the job.

One of the easiest ways to see in the dark is to use a head lantern. Really this is essential equipment because then you can use both hands free, something that you'll need while working in the dark. It simply straps to your head, so find one that a buddy likes for comfort and proper illumination. There's lots of reviews.

Carry some wire nuts with you. It's possible that all wires may still be hot and you should treat them as hot until you test them with your multimeter. A safe way to handle this is to screw on a wire nut on a sole wire so that it's out of the way while working on the issue.

Conductors are deliberately cut short so they can be folded up and placed within their boxes. This means avoiding cutting them any shorter or else you'll struggle to attach them again.

If the wire is too short once repaired, all you have to do is pull the wire back to an electrical box, cut it, then wire in a longer piece. Often you can tape the new piece to the old piece, pull it back to the box, then splice it in.

A fish tape is a long wire that an electrical wire is connected to. You "fish" the the long wire through a conduit, then pull the wire back through, and this makes rewiring easier.

Often the issue is as simple as a loose screw or wire nut. Tighten up everything well. A loose electrical connection leads to sparking which is always bad.

Inspect electical cords on occasion to make sure the insulation hasn't broken down. While some can be repaired, it's better to simply replace them. They can be commonly purchased.

Switches come in colors. Match them up. If you can take them with you as well as the plate so you match the color.

A common task is to put on a dimmer switch. Putting in some romantic lighting in the master bedroom is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and not difficult.


Some of you may be thinking, "Hey this doesn't sound like SHTF electical work!". You're right. When learning skills start with low level tasks to build up your knowledge pool, then your confidence will soar, and then you'll attempt the harder jobs of troubleshooting a broken motor, replacing a brush, fixing a big job, even installing something new. Once you know the basics, you'll be able to do other wiring since they all use the same principles.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/31/2012 12:53 PM
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Re: Last minute tips for parents when the SHTF
A Solenoid

Maybe you've heard this word before from a mechanic or an electrician and wondered what it meant. A solenoid is a coil of wire that has electrical current passed through when power is applied. When that happens, it becomes an electomagnet, something you no doubt witnessed in 6th grade science class and a metal object can be pulled towards it.


Even though the video is on a pinball solenoid, all solenoids work on the same principle.

This principle allows a solenoid to be an electrical actuator. It can switch a valve or it may actuate a locking mechanism. The take away point is the solenoid is not usually powered, but powered upon specific need.

A lot of electrical issues are solenoid related. A valve might be mechanically faulty because something has gotten wedged inside, or the coil of the solenoid has opened up and therefore the electromagnet is no more, or it may be shorted and hence it kicks out a breaker. If the mechanical resistance is too much, then it may require too much current to actuate it, and hence kick out the breaker.

Or guess what? Some aspect that triggers the solenoid to actuate may not be fulfilled. While throwing a switch might turn on a solenoid and allow a plunger to move, it's also likely that a whole series of safety devices must be fulfilled or else the solenoid is not allowed to have power.

Imagine a door lock in a movie. A soldier opens the panel and using a jumper wire applies power to the solenoid and bypasses the normal lack of voltage, and hence the door is opened. It all depends upon how it's wired. You may need to remove voltage to get the lock open, or you may need to apply power. Either way you've bypasses all of the safeties and manual application so you can get in regardless.

If the solenoid is actuating a valve, the it's merely on or off.

To have a graduated amount of opening or closing, you usually have an analog signal that applies a varying amount of force to open the valve in steps. This may be a varying electrical signal, or more likely a varying amount of air pressure.

Last Edited by Don'tBeAfraid on 12/31/2012 01:16 PM





GLP