Recently in tools Category

Automated Sentry Defense System

06. 5.2010

Self-reliance is an admirable practice, but at times we all need a back-up. Using some commonly available electronics, open-source software, and spare parts from your garage you can build your own robotic sentry gun. An automated sentry uses a live camera feed in conjunction with a number of servos to acquire, aim, and fire on potentially hostile targets.

The sentry I developed for RECESS uses an improvised shot gun as the "dispenser." The single shot may be considered a limitation, but so as to act as an intelligent booby-trap. You can add other "dispensers" to your own sentry for varied defense strategies.

The software in my sentry is based on this open-source project, and many hours put in with my good friend James (who is WAY faster than I am on a road bike).

here is a short video demo:

Notes for optimal use:

Save Energy - Once the sentry is calibrated and set to guard your bunker door, use a timer to boot the sentry into operational status automatically - at the times you need it most.

Take Control - I recommend using a VPN, so you can remote in to the controller computer from your network or the Internet. This allows you to see through the Sentry's "eyes" in real-time, and/or strike the FIRE button manually.

Bucket Toilet Seat and Lid

05.15.2010

I've got a DIY for a simple bucket toilet listed elsewhere on this site, but don't underestimate the power of comfort in a time of crisis or need.

The Luggable Loo bucket toilet lid is perhaps one of the best $12 bills you may spend while prepping.

Anyone who has been on an extended camping or backpacking trip can appreciate the simple joy of returning from the woods to a comfy commode.

Sadly, when the shit goes down, so will your shitter. Picking up a pre-fab seat for your bucket toilet will make the daily act of bagging into the bucket a bit more bearable. Additionally, it's easier to clean and sanitize a plastic seat than one that's been improvised from 2 x 4's.

Human feces can carry and foster all manners of pathogens, including e. coli, cryptosporidium, and salmonella. Lacking the ease of care and availability of antibiotics, these and other diseases will be reinvigorated and begin claiming lives.

Keeping a lid on sanitation in your personal RECESS is the first step to protecting yourself and your loved ones from the threat.

emergency space blankets

05.12.2010

Lightweight emergency heat blankets are a great asset to any kit or pack. Often called space blankets, these inexpensive Mylar sheets can be used as insulation, a wind break, a groundsheet, fire reflector, or an emergency rain poncho.

Unlike, traditional insulation, the space blanket has no loft to serve as an air trap. Instead, this thin polyester film very efficiently reflects heat back toward your body.

Unpack it and wrap it around yourself in an emergency. It will immediately begin to reflect your body heat. The Mylar won't breathe, so any sweat or condensation created between your body and the blanket will be trapped. This can be dangerous in the winter, so be very careful not to overheat.

If used in conjunction with an open fire, the space blanket will reflect heat from fire back toward you. Mylar melts easily, so take care to keep the space blanket at a safe distance.

Pack a few, they're cheap and infinitely versatile.

chemical hand warmers

02. 6.2010

Exposure is one of your greatest enemies in the wild. Long term exposure to cold can cause discomfort, frostbite, necrotic tissue, delirium, and worse. You will burn precious calories and fat stores, threatening your long-term survival.

The greatest risk of exposure is hypothermia, a condition where the body's core temperature drops below normal levels. Extreme hypothermia causes muscle mis-coordination, difficulty speaking, difficulty thinking, amnesia, organ failure and eventually death.

The most dangerous aspect of hypothermia is that is can easily sneak up on you. Once your core temperature drops too far, it can be impossible to reverse. This is especially true in a world with limited or no utilities.

They may seem small, but a few carefully placed chemical hand and foot warmers may save your life if you are at risk to exposure. For the relatively low cost, they make a nice insurance policy. Keep a good sized stash on hand in your RECESS, and throw a handful in your raiding pack.

carrying the fire - a good flint will save your life

01.27.2010

A firesteel is one of the most tried and true tools of human civilization. Flint or flintstone is a naturally occurring type of sedimentary quartz that when struck with a sharp edge (especially steel) will produce a burning ember.

The hard flint edge shaves off a particle of the steel that, heated by the friction, reacts with with the oxygen in the atmosphere and will ignite your fire.

Striking sparks with flint and steel is not a particularly easy or convenient method to start a fire. But I wear a flint around my neck every day - comforted by its potential. Firesteel is one of the most reliable and trustworthy tools in my survival arsenal. In a long term crisis, fire becomes essential for cooking, sterilization, defense, and communication. A flint will start hundreds of fires, long after the supply of butane in your emergency kit is exhausted.

As with most skills, practice improves results.

speed hacksaw

01.17.2010

Easy to carry, easy to pack, ergonomic and deceptively agile; this is the perfect saw for your raiding satchel.

You may want to get two of these, and keep a quiver of extra blades stashed away for the future. Before you store: a mist of light duty oil will stave off rust for decades.

Don't pay any attention to brand - look for a solid build with a lot of metal.

Aqua-tainer 7 gallon water jug

01.13.2010

Shelter, secrecy, security, and sanctity are essential functions of your RECESS. Above all else, the most important use of your space is long-term water storage. A safe and and adequate supply of potable water is your families' greatest insurance policy in the event of a resource catastrophe.

How you store that water is a question of function and comfort. Some survivalists recommend using any food safe storage container you have available (glass jars, recycled juice containers, milk jugs, etc). My preference and recommendation is to use a number of large storage containers supplemented by a group of jugs small enough to be handled and to move in an emergency.

For that reason, I shelve a handful of Aqua-tainer 7 gallon jugs in my RECESS. 7 gallons weighs about 60 lbs. The square format of the aqua-tainer makes it stackable, it has an integrated spigot, and they are now BPA free. Add about 3/4 tsp of bleach to each container and keep them in relative darkness and your water cache will keep safe for years.

Improvised shotgun

01.12.2010

In the last few weeks, I have been making and testing improvised shotguns.
*Update: watch a step-by-step DIY video showing you how to build your own shotgun here.

lots of decent knives

01. 2.2010

In my "normal" day to day, I rarely use knives. In the wilderness, or in a RECESS situation, a trusty sharp edge is your single most versatile tool.
Knives help you strike fire, forage, make tools, repair gear, hunt, and defend. There is no end to their utility.
Stash them everywhere: in the car, around your home, strapped to every bag, in your kit, and on your person. Non-reflective blades are discrete; and I prefer a combo edge. You don't need to spend a lot, just look for a solid build.

Paracord Survival Bracelet

12.20.2009

There is a good chance you don't rely on rope for much in your day to day routine. In a RECESS situation, rope is an essential tool, and critical resource. Binding, pulling, towing, hanging, choking, snaring, and rappelling may become daily necessities. This bracelet is made from 550 Paracord. This Nylon cord is ~1/4" thin, won't rot or mildew, and can bear enough load to hoist the average American up or down an impassable ledge.

The bracelet is a great idea. It looks sharp and guarantees that no matter where you are, you've got enough paracord get you safely out of a two story window.

Return to Main | More