10. Essential
Tools
Tools are
civilization. Proper tools allow tasks to be done quickly and
efficiently, so life can be more than a dreary, bone weary scavenge
for food and shelter. Many farms up until WW II had the proper
tools to be virtually self sufficient...and that meant manual,
non electric tools and machines which would work come hell or
high water, year after year, from one generation to the next.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Firewood tools |
Tool storage |
Shovels, axes |
Rakes |
Modern families
and even farms rarely have enough non electric equipment to even
begin to heat homes or as a means to cook their meals. The necessary
equipment is still available, some new, some only available at
flea markets or antique shops. But this equipment can still be
found if only one has the persistence and dedication to search
them out.
Our civilization
is now defined by electricity. Take that away, and "civilization"
as we know it comes to an end for most people.. Life would go
on...as it did a hundred years in the past. The unprepared could
starve, many will die of hypothermia in the cold darkness of their
once "user friendly" homes. "Something wicked this way comes."
Thoughtful, brave men, though, would be able to survive with a
degree of comfort, providing they prepare to live without
electrical energy now, while still possible.
   
The basic
categories of essential tools required for survival in our very
uncertain future can be broadly classified under the following
categories:
I bought a book several years
ago which may go along with your website very well. It is
written by Aldren A. Watson, titled "Hand Tools: Their Ways and
Workings". ISBN # 0-393-32276-9. It is written to explain the
purpose, use, and maintenance of hand tools, many of them
obscure. In his work, the author recommends what to get, what
not to get, how to adjust these tools. Things like hand drills,
froes, spokeshaves, saws, adzes, etc. Anyone planning to
stockpile an assortment of tools to use during the "bitter end"
should know how to properly (safely) use them and how to
adjust/maintain them. Also very good reference for those
planning on a DIY cabin/retreat. Strictly hand tools. Lists for
$15.95, over 400 pages and 450 illustrations. Check it out, an
excellent resource....Mark - 12.9.05
|
Will life "The
Day After" be pleasant? In a word, no. It would be ridiculous
and irresponsible to believe that our so called "lifestyle" would
continue unabated. You must prepare now for the security of your
families. There are no alternatives if you desire to stay out
of harms way in the near future. Today I can go into the shop
and get a cross cut saw, wedges and
single jack, walk out into
the woods and fall a dead tree. Limbing can be done with a
heavy
single bit axe, and if needed sections cut and yarded out into
an open area with a hand winch or a long rope and pulleys. Then the tree can be sawed into firewood lengths.
Then splitting mauls, augmented with splitting wedges and a sledgehammer,
are available to split the wood into sections suitable for burning.
Being from a dead tree, the wood will burn immediately in a wood
stove for heating or cooking. That is possible only because I
have not only the equipment necessary, but also the wood stoves
in place now, when they are available.
My neighbors
are also rural dwellers, but they heat with electricity, cook
with electricity, pump water from deep wells with electricity,
and have no alternative methods to compensate for the ultimate
failure of the electric utility grid. Most of these people have
long since discarded their wood stoves, even trash burners that
could heat a kitchen, remodeled perfectly useable wood burning
fireplaces into "pretty" artificial log systems, destroying the
infrastructure of a once reliable source of heat. I personally
have had conversations with neighbors who actually believe their
artificial fireplaces could still be used if the power was down!
They forgot the electric fans which make the system work! And
they will have no water when the power goes out. That is their
fault, not mine. They have chosen to be totally dependent upon
others and upon fragile technology very new in the history of
mankind for their very existence.
We have the
"free will" to act, or not to act, in such a manner as will ensure
our survival as free, independent souls, and not have to beg for
handouts from "big brother" in order to live from one day to the
next. What is your choice?
It is very possible
you may want to bury and "lose" some essential tools that may be very important
to your future survival.
Engine oil is NOT a rust preventive oil. If you need to preserve any carbon
steel products against rust (as in buried storage), a real rust preventive oil
must be used. The best product I have found for rust prevention is NAPA brand
"Chain and Cable" lubricant. It comes in a spray can and sprays out as a highly
penetrating foam. The foam dissipates into an oil and penetrates into the pores
of the steel. After awhile wipe off any excess, cover the item carefully with
moisture-proof material, then seal the seams against any water infiltration.
Don't forget that "Seal-A-Meal" bags are available in 20 foot lengths and either
7 or 10 inches wide - ideal for sealing long, narrow objects you would want in a
future dire emergency.
The package can then be placed into a sturdy container (metal or thick PVC pipe),
coated with liquid paraffin, wrapped again with black plastic sheeting (to protect
the paraffin) and the seams sealed with vinyl tape, then buried. Bury at
least 3 feet deep, cover the object with a foot of dirt, throw some scrap iron
or old pipe into the hole, then finish covering with dirt, finally replacing the
surface material so the landscape does not appear disturbed. If anyone
with a metal detector gets curious, they will find the scrap iron first and
hopefully get discouraged from digging further.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Site Index
|
|
