What can I cannabalize now?

[gussomer]

I'd be interested in hearing what household items you have found effective to modify into some type of gear? Oddly, I find myself cutting buckles off of old bookbags, saving small travel bottles, and thinking twice before throwing anything away that seems unique and possibly practicable. I have a bag full of buckles, cords, velcro strips, lanyards, etc. The bag comes in handy quite frequently.

Here are a few things off the tip of my head that I have used:

Flip-top mustard bottle tops for inserting drink straws in water bottles.
Liner of a disposable ice chest (similar to Reflectix) for a freezer bag cozy.

[hoosierdaddy]

Thanks for the tips!

Probably what I use most is two different sized soup cans to make "Yu-Can" survival stoves for snow melting in order to have very warm water while holed up inside my tent during a blizzard. (They use two tea candles for the heat source)

Next is just old bread wrappers. I always carry them in my winter emergency kit and can use them for an emergency VBL for feet or hands.

This is kind of an UL thing, but I use fast food plastic straws to hold a week's worth of toothpaste. With a cut, 4" straw: Fold and duct tape one end, make a slip ring for the other out of a twist tie or rubber band and fill it up with toothpaste. You can also point the straw to make a floss/pick.

[gussomer]

Probably what I use most is two different sized soup cans to make "Yu-Can" survival stoves for snow melting in order to have very warm water while holed up inside my tent during a blizzard. (They use two tea candles for the heat source)

Never heard of this. You insert one can inside the other?

Next is just old bread wrappers. I always carry them in my winter emergency kit and can use them for an emergency VBL for feet or hands.

FYI, I read on a personal website that newspaper plastic bags were found to be the lightest and strongest bags they could find. Lots of good info on that site BTW.

This is kind of an UL thing, but I use fast food plastic straws to hold a week's worth of toothpaste. With a cut, 4" straw: Fold and duct tape one end, make a slip ring for the other out of a twist tie or rubber band and fill it up with toothpaste. You can also point the straw to make a floss/pick.

I read where someone did something similar (forget which site), but she would fold over the end of the straw "capsule" and pinch it together and then insert it into a 1 inch sleeve/cuff made simply from the excess straw. Did the same to the other end as well...thus endcaps.

[gussomer]

I posted this in the food section, but I think this is a good place for the post too.

I recycle food bags that have the built-in ziploc function. For example, some that I found useful include bags from shredded cheese, dog treats, Mountain House meals. Some of these have the pleated or gusseted (correct?) bottom that enable uprighting the bag. Also, these bags are heavy duty (eg, cheeses) and see-through or foil or mylar-lined packaging (eg, Mountain House) which may help heat retention. Also, the cheese packages have the nifty little zipper pull. In general, these bags make for durable disposable bags for candies, gorp, toiletries, ropes, etc. I have not done freezer bag cooking, so my idea may or may not be functional for that. Finally, the upright bags can be cut down to make an UL bowl.

[jasonklass]

[quote=gussomer]Never heard of this. You insert one can inside the other?
QUOTE]

Here's a link to the Yu-Can stove.

[jasonklass]

Originally Posted by gussomer

I posted this in the food section, but I think this is a good place for the post too.

I recycle food bags that have the built-in ziploc function. For example, some that I found useful include bags from shredded cheese, dog treats, Mountain House meals.

I found these bags to be pretty nifty. They are basically zip lock bags with two pockets. You can use the small pocket to put condiments like salt, pepper, etc. and the main pocket for food. Big Lots sells them for $1 for a box of 25.

[hoosierdaddy]

Originally Posted by gussomer

I read where someone did something similar (forget which site), but she would fold over the end of the straw "capsule" and pinch it together and then insert it into a 1 inch sleeve/cuff made simply from the excess straw. Did the same to the other end as well...thus endcaps.

Hey, great idea to save me another gram! It all counts, ya know! Thanks!

I see that Jason found the website re: "Yu-Can" stoves. Yep, that's the one, 'cept mine's purtier! LOL! I love warm beef bullion in my tent when there's a raging snow storm going on and you can't fire up the Whisperlite!

[jasonklass]

Hoosierdaddy-
Could you post a picture of it?

[hoosierdaddy]

Originally Posted by jasonklass

Hoosierdaddy-
Could you post a picture of it?

'Bout ready to head off to work. I'll try to post one tomorrow.

[Dusty Boots]

Good stuff guys! Sounds as if a couple of you are bigger packrats than me!
I cannabalized an old foamy and made a couple of pot cozies. Easy to make and used some Lepages HouseHold cement to glue them up. Works well without a lot of weight or bulk and it helps to protect my cook kit as well.



Dusty

[PBF Support]