multi-use survival tools

Steel wool: multi-use prepping item
Mosquito netting
Four in one multi-tool
Aspirin
Stone tools
Silica gel packs
Mult-iuse survival tools
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Above, stone tools made by Athonio Akkermans shows some of
the many ways stones were used.

Native Americans used stones:
  1. to craft arrowheads and spear points (flint, also quartz)
  2. for firestarting (flint)
  3. to grind acorns and wild grains (granite)
  4. for ceremonial purposes (red jasper, alabaster)
  5. to tan hides (flint)
  6. for cave paintings (hematite)
  7. to make jewelry (turquoise, obsidian)
  8. for medicinal purposes (Rose quartz and azurite for healing)
  9. to mix pottery with clay (pumice)
  10. for silver casting (granite) to craft weapons
  11. to carve peace pipes (Catlinite also called pipestone)

More prepping articles...
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* These prepper medicines are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For
any health or dietary matter, always consult your physician. This information is intended for your
general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for
specific medical conditions. Never disregard or delay in seeking medical advice when available.

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Above, National Geographic's Doomsday Preppers demonstrates a do-it-
yourself steel-wool fire.

Multi-use supply #29: Superglue.
Krazy glue, Gorilla glue or superglue: these glue formulas have
amazing powers. Here is the list of super uses of superglue.

Multi-use survival tool #30: Safety pins.
Safety pins are included in survival kits for many reasons. With a
safety pin you can:
    #1. create an instant fish hook (you'll need cordage of
    course).
    #2. craft an arm sling from T-shirt for first aid.
    #3. improvise tweezers for splinter or tick removal.
    #4. secure a bandana to make a bandage to compress
    bleeding.
    #5. make a finger splint.
    #6. hang stuff to dry.
    #7. affix gear to your bugout bag.
    #8. mend a broken shoe lace.
    #9. close your pant legs to keep out snow.
    #10. improvise a toothpick
    #11 connect blankets, bags or clothes to create shelter
    #12 close wounds (in extreme cases where no doctor is
    available)
    #13 open cans
    #14 defend yourself!
    #15 start a fire with a battery and safety pin (attach a safety
    pin to the terminals of the battery). You can do the same
    with aluminum foil
       (and, yes, you can repair your clothes)

Multi-use supply #31: Vaseline (petroleum jelly).
Petroleum jelly is a lubricant with many uses for preppers:
  1. firestarter
  2. lip balm
  3. treatment of rashes
  4. temporary seam sealant.
  5. Get more uses from a jar of petroleum jelly.

Multi-use supply #32: Vinegar.
Pioneers are among the earliest of preppers. They packed vinegar
for vinegar pies, special tonics and more. Read the 15+ Uses of
Vinegar for prepping.

Multi-use supply #33: WD-40.
WD-40  is well appreciated by preppers.


Multi-use supply #34: Zip-ties.
Also called cable ties / zip ties have a multitude of purposes for
preppers.


Multi use supply #35: Zote soap.
A bar of soap can be a survival tool. Among the most favorite
brands are zote soap and fels naptha.


Happy endings...
To be a prepper is to effectively use the resources all around you
to survive. Even ancient man knew that a stone was valuable to
hammer, to grind food and cook, to defend a territory and kill prey
Multi-use supply #11: Cigarettes.
History reveals cigarettes have been an important bartering tool,
but did you consider cigarettes can be tinder? Think of cigarettes
as tinder sticks! The tobacco of a cigarette may have medicinal
purposes as well. Tobacco relaxes muscles, may help deal with
worms and intestinal parasites as well.


Multi-use supply #12: Coffee and Coffee Can.
A large coffee can (or a #10 can that holds freeze dried foods)
provides material for tools in an off-grid world. Save the cans to
create a:
  1. storage container
  2. Hobo camp stove or part of a cardboard box oven
  3. cooking pot or baking tin
  4. forage container
  • Coffee grounds can help add nitrogens and can acidify your
    soil. Find out the benefits of Coffee for Survival.

Multi-use supply #13: Cooking Oil.
Cooking oil is essential, but it will eventually go rancid. If you
have rancid oil then you'll have fuel for an oil lamp or a candle. Be
sure to have wicks handy in your supplies. You can also use
Crisco or coconut oil for making a candle too. A stick of butter is
another unusual oil to make a candle.

Multi-use supply #14: Cordage.
Cordage, such as paracord has many survival uses. Stock some in
your bugout bag. You'll find paracord imminently useful in an
emergency situation for such things as making snares and
tripwire; improvising as a fishing line; lashing to create shelter;
thread to sew or to make an extra shoe lace.

Paracord is cordage that's imminently useful in an emergency
situation. With paracord for survival, you can:
  • make snares and tripwire;
  • improvise as a fishing line;
  • lash foliage to create shelter;
  • make a clothesline;
  • improvise a first aid tourniquet
  • use as a fire bow cord;
  • sling a rifle;
  • tie down gear to the bugout bag;
  • use as a bear bag rope;
  • thread to sew (paracord has layers of cordage, just break
    apart)
  • make an extra shoe lace or a belt.
  • improvising snow shoes (binding)
  • stitching a wound!
    The list of uses for cordage is endless!

Multi-use supply #15: Corn Starch.
Sure you can thicken gravies with corn starch, but who knew corn
starch would be so helpful with these "out of the box" prepper
uses:
  1. beats heat rash (sprinkle on the skin to avoid rashes from
    sweating)
  2. soothes rashes and prevents diaper rash (in powder form)
  3. is a sunburn reliever (when you make a paste)
  4. keeps roaches away (the little boogers don't like it)
  5. works as a dry shampoo for pets
  6. prevents chafing while hiking so you won't get blisters on
    your feet
  7. frees rubber gloves from sticking to your hands for easy
    removal
  8. stiffens clothes as a starch for ironing!
  9. polishes silver
  10. acts like a deodorant under the arms to absorb moisture as it
    freshens
  11. absorbs odors in your shoes as a talcum powder

More crazy things about cornstarch: Believe it or not, cornstarch is
also a good source of Calcium! Look closely and you'll see an
ingredient in powdered sugar is corn starch. Also, cornstarch can
be a substitute for baking powder in some recipes.

In addition to thickening gravies, stews and soups, cornstarch is
ideal for making puddings, and pies, and fluffy omelets.  

Multi-use supply #16: Dental Floss.
Pack dental floss in your bugout bag in the name of survival. Your
dentist will smile over the 25 Unusual Uses for Dental Floss.

Multi-use supply #17: Epsom Salt.
Epsom salt is worth it's weight in, well, salt! We've got Eight
Good Reasons to Stock Epsom Salt in your Preps.

Multi-use supply #18: Honey.
Honey is all the buzz in the survival forums as a natural addition
to your food storage, but did you know that honey is also an
antibiotic? There are so many reasons to stock this powerhouse.


Multi-use supply #19: Hydrogen Peroxide.
Did you know hydrogen peroxide expires? Stock ample supply of
hydrogen peroxide and look to restocking fresh supply of this
unstable liquid, which has strong oxidizing properties. Valuable
for disinfecting, hydrogen peroxide is a prepper's favorite.


Multi-use survival tool #20. Iodine.
A small bottle will help you purify water and simultaneously treat
wounds, as well as improve your health (including improved
thyroid function). Pictured right is Lugol's iodine solution. Apply it
to the skin or take it orally:
  • Applied to the skin, iodine destroys virus and fungus on
    contact.
  • Taken internally*, iodine destroys vicious stomach bacteria,
    (especially salmonella), against gas, bloating, indigestion,
    heartburn. Doomed are harmful bacteria and parasite eggs!  
    Lugols also provides amazing relief and a calming, soothing,
    peaceful state to anxiety and a manic stage. Helps improve
    thyroid function as well. Add two drops to your coffee and
    see!
  • Iodine purifies water.

Multi-use supply #21: Kerosene.
Kerosene is a popular fuel from our American ancestory that came
about in 1848 when an American medical doctor and geologist
distilled coal to produce a clear fluid that burned with a bright
yellow flame. He noticed that kerosene burned brigher and
steadier than candles. This clean burning fuel, also can prevent
rust, plus you can use it as a lubricant or as a solvent to remove
oil, grease, tar!

Multi-use supply #22: Lemons.
Pucker up your emergency preparedness plans with lemons. There
is more than one use for a lemon, giving you more reason than
ever to grow lemons and make lemons part of your survival plan.
Reasons to Include Lemons in your Survival Plan.

Multi-use supply #23: Mouthwash.
Certainly mouthwash makes the list of improvised tools and
supplies because there are 12 prepper uses for mouthwash.

Multi-use supply #24: Mosquito Netting or Pantyhose.
Survival expert Mykel Hawke brings mosquito netting because it  
has many purposes. A pair of panty hose belongs in your bugout
bag as you'll soon discover it has several survival uses for
preppers as well. Wearing pantyhose provides an insulation layer,
particularly in wearing pantyhose under socks has the added
benefit of preventing chafing and blisters. This is an old military
trick! Learn all the survival uses of pantyhose.

Here are more reasons why the drill sergeant wants you to wear a
pair of pantyhose:
  1. mesh bag to hold supplies
  2. a strainer for water
  3. a fish net
  4. a covering for sun drying meat or storing root vegetables
  5. gauze, compression bandage, or sling
  6. cordage/ lashing,
  7. water strainer/pre-filter

Mosquito netting weighs hardly much at all and makes your
outdoor experience much better. Use mosquito netting at home to
repair screens, make a baby carriage net, too.

Multi-use supply #25: Mylar Survival Blankets.
Mylar is an extremely versatile material, which is why mylar
blankets are often included in survival kits. Don't expect mylar to
warm you up: the job of mylar is actually to retain the heat you
have.


Multi-use supply #26: Salt.
Salt is a multi-use item beyond flavoring your foods.


Multi-use supply #27: Silica gel Packets.
Silica gel packets are "dessicants," which are materials designed
to eliminate moisture.  Uses of silica gel packs may include:
  1. Keeping your dried meats dry!
  2. Preserving your vitamins in a fresh, moisture free state.
  3. Preventing rust on metal.
  4. Averting mold with leather products.
  5. Reducing condensation in electronics.
  6. Acting as a dehumidifer for gun safes, and even
  7. Saving a wet cell-phone with silica gel.

Multi-use supply #28: Steel Wool.
Steel wool is an excellent supply item to help you scrub pots, but
did you know that steel wool is an excellent fire starter? All you
need is a 9-volt battery and steel wool to start a fire.

Here's the tutorial on how to make a fire from steel wool (along
with a few other tips you'll find useful):
Above, Sensible Prepper shows the survival uses and everyday life hacks of a
bobby pin.

Multi-use supply #7: Borax.
It might surprise you that Borax is a natural product and that it
has many survival uses. Survival Uses of Borax.

Multi-use supply #8: Buckets
Food grade buckets are ideal for do-it-yourself prepper projects
because they have a multitude of uses! From storing your food to
making a toilet (like the Luggable Loo, pictured left). Here is the
complete list of 27 projects for a five-gallon bucket.

Multi-use supply #9: Cat litter.
Mind you, the suggestion of kitty litter is not for your cat. Instead,
kitty litter has many alternative uses for preppers. Use kitty litter
to:
  1. Deal with human waste in an off-grid situation. Just pour
    the cat litter into your portable toilet to keep down the
    smells.
  2. Aid tire traction on icy roads to get you out of a sticky
    situation in Winter.
  3. Keep potted plants moist. Use equal parts kitty litter and
    soil to retain moisture. This will provides the added benefit of
    helping root them.
  4. Clean up an spill after an automotive oil change.
  5. Reduce mold and moisture around your essential prepping
    supplies. If you're storing gear in basement or damp storage
    area, lay it on a bed kitty litter to keep the equipment dry.
  6. Plug a mole hole. If you have a cat, use it for litter, then
    pour the soiled litter down mole holes to get rid of the pesky
    little critters your cat didn't catch.

Multi-use supply #10: Chewing gum.
A surprising addition to your bugout bag and preps, chewing gum
is a worthwhile supply to stock in the name of emergency
preparedness. Gum can help you fish, fix things and even light a
fire, but you have to know how to do it. "Chews" to read the
article: How Chewing Gum can Save Your life.
Multi-use Survival Tools
Survival tools with more than one purpose

Preppers and survivalists love multi-use survival tools, like a
leatherman, but they also appreciate the unexpected surprise of
stockpiling one tool and getting many uses from it. We've
compiled one such happy list to ensure you use your tools (and
resources) wisely. Survive with knowledge!

Multi-use Survival Tools
Below are some of the many prepper survival tools that have
many uses...

Multi-use supply #1: Alcohol.
Preppers store two kinds of alcohol: rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl
Alcohol) and the variety which has an intoxicating constituent
(such as Vodka).

Alcohol is valuable for medicinal purposes, bartering and morale
building, as well as cooking! Not only can you add alcohol to make
gravies, stews and pastas, alcohol is a fuel for an alcohol stove or
heater. This colorless, flammable liquid, is also used as an
industrial solvent or even to make a Molotov cocktail for defense.
While Vodka is perhaps the most likely to be bartered kind of
alcohol, don't overlook Whiskey, wine and beer.

Multi-use supply #2: Aspirin.
Extremely worthwhile to pack for emergency preparedness, aspirin
goes well beyond it's purposes in first aid to relieve pain. Read:
11 Weird and not so Weird uses of Aspirin

Multi-use supply #3: Baking Soda.
Baking soda has a long history of household applications that
extend beyond baking! Read: 10+ Uses for Baking Soda for
Survival.

Multi-use supply #4: Bandanna.
Cowboys had them, campers and backpackers bring them.


Multi-use supply #5: Bleach.
Blondes have more fun with bleach (and so do preppers).Read: 10
Compelling Things to Know about Bleach and Prepping.

Multi-use supply #6: Bobby pins.
Prepper ladies or families who have girls will likely find bobby pins
in the vanity drawers. Clever preppers can make use of them. Here
is Sensible Prepper in his usual McGyver style, showing us his
bobby pin hacks:
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