What's your favourite trick, cheat or adaptation?

[strideredc]

sounds silly but i use my camelbak as a tap of fresh water to clean hands/stuff. just hang your bag on a tree and all you need to do is pinch the tube?

you wouldn't want to drink it with the awful taste that a camelbak imparts on EVERYTHING!!

 

[carnegos]

I like to wrap some paracord around my lighter and then add an adjustable loop to the end of it allowing it to fit on my wrist. I then tuck the lighter up my sleeve, my lighter is always on hand (excuse the pun) around camp or when the ghosties and ghoulies wake me in the middle of the night. Keeps the gas nice and warm and the lighter is much easier to hold with cold hands. Not to mention the infinite number of uses for that bit of paracord without having to go delving into my bergan.

 

[shaneh]

I always have a disposable lighter, a button torch, and a whistle attached to some para cord around my neck and under my shirt, with a small neck knife.

Love drinking coffee (not too keen on tea) milk goes off and don’t like the taste of Carnation Condensed Milk, sweetened or un-sweetened, So I carry a small bottle of Baileys lasts almost indefinitely, and tastes better too.

I stick loads of Black Nasty to the underside of my bergan lid.

 

[MostlySoaking]

first off ever bothered by smoke from a fire getting in your eyes well try swimming googles.

flys buzzing around you on day 2 or 3 well open a can of fish ( i find sardines works well) eat contents and hang the can on a tree some distance from where your camping keeps the little critters busy away from you.

 

[SouthernCross]

Here's just a few that have worked well for me over the years.

Fire related.

IMO, the best way to start a fire with wet wood is to take the time & effort to organise kindling into various grades before you light the tinder...

...and use this firelay...

as seen in the video here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqW0lmj6lzA


If you use rocks as a perimeter for the fire, some branches supported over the top can be used as a frame for a hot smoker that will prolong the shelf life of any meat taken with you ...

This same rock perimeter can be used to stack wet wood across the fire to speed up the drying process....

The cake cooling rack shown on the righthand side of the above pic also makes a lightweight & usefull grill for the campfire.


A couple of simple tripods & a cross piece makes a very usefull structure that can be used as a clothes drier & a support to get logs off the ground & near the fire so they can start drying out...

A simple way to prepare wood for kindling without tools is to prop one end on a limb and stomp on it with a downward & crossways motion. This will not only break the wood in half, but also spinter the wood into thinner bits for use as kindling as shown here....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=928mnpV5M6E

If your going to use bark as kindling, scrapping it with a knife held at right angles will produce finner shavings which are easier to light with a firesteel / mischmetal rod as seen here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv76wzA99N8


The easiest way to break up limbs into smaller sizes for the fire is to use the leverage that can be generated by a forked tree as seen in the video here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQEgOwpDXhI


Branches / logs that don't easily break using the forked tree technique can be simply fed onto the fire as they burn...

Water related
A piece of cloth can be used as a simple & course water filter that will remove the bulk of the bigger floaties

...and a 4 litre recycled wine cask bladder with a removable tap makes a light & easily carried portable water container...

...and when stuck in the fork of a tree, effectively gives you water on tap without the need to bend over (which becomes increasingly important when you get older )

Camp Hygene

Charcoal from the campfire makes a good scourer for cleaning frying pans & billys

...and soap that is put into a recylcled ladies stocking keeps things from sticking to the soap and can easily be hung from a branch to make use easy

Tarp / tent fly tensioning

A post makes an effective tarp / tent fly tensioner. Simply but a strip of bark at the end of the stick to prevent it from puncturing the tarp / fly

That will do from me for now .




Kind regards
Mick

 

[DavidJT]

Good post SouthernCross, thanks!

 

[Wayland]

I was out this weekend at an event with a small fire box but didn't take and axe or a saw with me.

There was plenty of dry firewood around but most was long branches and most people were stumped for what to do.

The simple solution was to whack the branches over a log which reduced the branches to short sections in no time at all.

I was surprised no one else thought of it though.

 

[forestwalker]

There was plenty of dry firewood around but most was long branches and most people were stumped for what to do.

The simple solution was to whack the branches over a log which reduced the branches to short sections in no time at all.

I was surprised no one else thought of it though.

We are so used to having tools that "we" are stymied when we don't have them. Breaking thicker stuff between two trees is another one I use quite a bit when in no-tools situations.

 

[snelgrave101]

gaffer tape wrapped round a pencil is ideal th tape can be used for loads of things and th pencil can be used for shavings to start
your fire and its very light as well taking up very little space in your bag/pocket .

 

[SMARTY]

Carry tampons for firelighting. Water proof untill opened

 

[maddave]

I cut a small block off a bar of soap and put it in a little tin that used to have mints in like this...

It keeps the soap protected and your washbag free of residue.


2. Carry cayenne pepper for stopping bleeding. Haemophilliacs have long known the benefit of cayenne but doctors can't pescribe it because it's not a "medicine"

A. Cayenne pepper does more than add a dash of spice to a plate of eggs. Long hailed as a miracle-working substance, cayenne pepper can stop bleeding in less than one minute under most circumstances. The reason it works is because cayenne pepper reacts with the body to equalize the blood pressure, meaning an extra gushing of pressure will not be concentrated in the wound area as it normally is. Blood will quickly clot when the pressure is equalized.

Topical Application
Cayenne can be sprinkled directly onto the wound with no modification to the cayenne whatsoever. The cayenne can also be dissolved in a bit of water and used to saturate a piece of gauze that is placed over the wound area.

Internal Application
Cayenne pepper can also be taken orally. Dissolve a teaspoon of cayenne in one cup of water and drink it down. For those who may find this distasteful, allergy and nutrition specialist Dr. James Privitera recommends dissolving a teaspoon of cayenne into the juice of half a lemon and a dash of maple syrup.

Other Uses
In addition to stopping the bleeding from exterior wounds, cayenne also works for internal hemorrhages inside the nose, stomach and throat. In these cases, of course, the cayenne must be taken orally. Cayenne also works to improve blood circulation, assist digestion, stimulate perspiration and saliva, and lessen pain from swollen or arthritic joints and limbs.

Diet
You will reap the benefits of cayenne if you include it as a regular part of your diet. You will, however, have to eat quite a bit of it to equal one teaspoon per serving, but this hot pepper adds pizazz to a number of food items. Any Italian dish, especially pizza, will benefit from cayenne, as will eggs, sauces, gravies, stews and anything else you may normally sprinkle with traditional black pepper.

 

[Glydr]

I stick loads of Black Nasty to the underside of my bergan lid.

What is black nasty?

A cheat/trick I often use is a bundle of grass is useful for cleaning pans, bowls, mess tins etc. as long as they;re cleaned straight after use

 

[SMARTY]

Black nasty is military speak for the issue masking tape. very strong thousands of uses. It holds the army together!!!!! LOL

 

[8thsinner]

Heres a few of mine.

I think the most versatile tool set up is a prime cheat, my favourite items for this are the akubra, shemagh and a pigskin pouch I now always carry...

Shemaghs, I haven't heard of the pillow fold before, but I never ever go anywhere without at least one, when in the bush at least two. SO many uses. Heres some I have done so far
Bandage or splint
Regular pillow over a coat
Collecting dew
Partial windbreak
Small game carry pouch
Tied to a hammock as a pouch between two end strings, held open with sticks
Shoulder pad
Belly warmer
Base layer chaps
Base layer top with pocket
Theoretically a loin cloth, but I haven't found a comfortable method yet.
Towel and or for me hair towel wrap as my hair goes nearly to my butt.
Not so good for ghillie wear, but would hide bright clothes if the need arose.
Worn wet in hot weather it's a fantastic cooler system.
Carrying stuff in many ways using furoshiki Mainly my daily shopping.

The Akubra
Protection from the hot sun
Protection from the rain
Hat band as a cordage supply
(Still researching - ?torpedo cords, or something as extra cordage supply and chin strap holder)
mine has hat band clips which are handy for a torch holder, not bigger than a maglite size though.
Fan in hot weather which actually works quite well
In the top inside, I want to stich in a net pocket to hold a Midge net for draping over the hat and head. (might look like a bee keeper but it works)
It's a great place to sort and puff up dried grasses etc into a tinder bundle without losing any content.
If you need a garbage bag poncho, the akubra makes it a little more spacious and breathable
It's another gathering tool if I fill my shemagh pouch
Fly squatter

I carry an oval sheet of pigskin about 14" by 22"
Hot rock boiler pot
Sink for washing up in, can be put in an akubra saving you the need to dig a hole.
Pouch for gathering edibles, (my pigskin has holes in it for pouch making, 12 spaced evenly around the edge.
Skin can be used as a dust mask or temporary waterproof hat, (from before I had another akubra)
Makes a great archery bracer with a few bits of string.
Waterproof wrap for collecting and storing tinder
With sand and leaves it can be rolled into a decent water filter
Makes a half decent knife strop
Set up as a pouch but in a ditch, it can be used as a bait trap.
Can be wrapped around the limbs as a water proof bandage or even protection from a viscous dog or similar.
As a pouch open a little it makes a good rope bag.
On it's own as a pouch it's a low capacity water carrier.
Or it can be used to feed pets on the move
Can be folded up and wrapped over knives or hatchets for shock absorption, Bigger knives with broken off scales sort of use, not so great for smaller knives though.
It could be stitched together permanently as a possibles pouch.
It can provide leather lace if you really need it to, but I would not cut mine up too readily as it's so handy.
It can be loaded up with stones as a weapon of self defence.
Makes a half decent protector for any survival book you might have on you, or a borrowed book. it's a little messy looking just.

Heres a few of my smaller ones...

A buff is pretty darn handy too but not nearly as much as the shemagh. Where as I used to wear one all the time I now carry one in my pack.

Carpenters scraper in seconds with a split wet log gets great shavings for fire starting. Can also be used as a knife steel as long as you have the means to sharpen it up again, or just mark one paticular side for this use...Also there is no better steel for a firesteel.

Collapsible drinks bottles (orange capri sun) are great to throw in to packs for small units of water carry. They are pretty tough can be rolled up to take little space. Also good for kids who don't want a full litre of water to lift every time they need a drink.

Old tent poles make great fire blow poles. So does a proper fan at least 8 inches (I am saving up for a tessen) or your akubra.

A roll up bamboo place mat makes a great chopping board and can be placed over a wet log for a dry seat. Rolls up small and is light.

TicTac jars make pretty good herb and spice storage.

Ammo bottles if you can still find them anywhere make good toiletires bottles. And great for cooking oil.

 

[helixpteron]

I always carry a burns treatment kit, having been in a situation where first response burns treatment was urgently needed. I also carry a dental treatment kit which (thankfully) has been used more than the burns kit (usually for the treatment of others).

I used these as a starting point on which to build small but useful kits which I hope never to need the use of.

 

[snozz]

I use a small ratchet strap to tension my hammock. Tie as usual using climbing tape & karabiner at one end then use the ratchet strap at the other end. It's tape, so won't roll down the tree, and if it's too slack, just crank it a couple of times. Tape won't stretch either. You can get discreet black tape as well, and at £1.99 a pop, cheap at half the price!

Snozz

 

[mitch66]

hi, 8thsinner. what is a carpenters scraper? would you have a photo of one ? thanks for your time. carl

 

[8thsinner]

Heres a standard set of three.

http://www.mikestools.com/images/products/520-5510a.gif

I use a modified rectangular one myself and keep it in the wallet, the steel is usually very high quality carbon, possibly 01, judging by the rate of rust if left overnight in the rain..oops.
Still works great though.

 

[Paul_B]

Very interesting tips here. Not had time to read all of them but I reckon it would be good if those nice people who run this site could one day take all the tips and put it into a printable document. It would be a good thing to be able to print them all out in one go as a reference or to read later when away from the PC (work one in my case so I have to get back to work now, or do I?).

My only tip is those cylinder type lighters that are re-fillable and the flints can be replaced are a good lighter to have. The flints can be removed for when you run out of lighter gas and they consist of a stick with a flint wheel on it. The stick can be held and the wheel spun very easily with the other hand to release a shower of sparks down onto whatever you want to light. IMHO is better than LMF scout or army firesteel in that it allows for a more accurate aiming of the sparks. Good for a gas stove or a lightweight meths stove. I'm a little cack handed to light gas stoves with a firesteel but this worked for me. You can also just carry the replaceable flints on their own for weight savings. Alternatively you can buy the same thing from adventure medical kits for more money if you'd rather waste money.

 

[8thsinner]

Realised something else I do yesterday which is almost automatic now.
Cooking, regardless of what you are cooking at home try and make it with bushcraft gear, you find out a lot of interesting methods of by passing regular gear use.
For a few months I have been doing this now, The only thing I can't really cook well is a curry I make which requires I use a larger pot.
Even pancakes mix together well enough in my Hat and versa pouch, (I call it my ranger sink)