Monthly Archives: May 2013

This Crisco Candle is a very simple trick to get a long lasting emergency light for very low cost.

Simply take a tub of shortening, insert a natural fiber wick (I use cotton string) and light.

As the shortening melts it is wicked up and burned. I have heard a tub of shortening can last as a candle up to 48 hours. Personally I have not timed it, but it I do think it can last a while.

From doing this in my kitchen, I can attest that this crisco candle can put out a lot of light – and it is somewhat adjustable to the light it produces.

If you need more light (or heat) you can add additional wicks – but obviously this will decrease the longevity of the candle.
As with any candle you must use common sense and never leave it burning unattended or in a closed environment.

This Crisco candle is making the rounds on the preparedness sites, and  I wanted to try it out for myself.  I will day that it put out a lot of light, but frankly in most prepper situations, I think the edible fats are more valuable as food than as light – but I understand that others may feel differently.

If you are backpacking, traveling with suitcases and airports, or packing a get home or get out of dodge bag there are some common similarities that make life easier. Pack only what you need, put the more common items near the top, and be careful when packing things like liquids or they will leak all over your gear.

Today’s tip for Traveling with Liquids is an easy way to prevent spillage in your luggage. Simply unscrew the top of your shampoo, conditioner, or any other liquids with flip top openings, place a small square of plastic wrap over the bottle opening and then replace the lid.

This will mimic the safety seal that comes on certain liquids and will prevent any liquid from being released – even if the top is opened in your bag.

I hope this helps, and more importantly, I hope it helps people keep their eyes open for novel and efficient means of solving problems.

I used to travel a lot for work, and have had shampoo or toothpaste bottles explode in my luggage.  When traveling with liquids, having the top open up and the contents leak out is NOT a way to enjoy a hotel stay.

This tip is very easy to do, and it has stopped all leakage in my bags.

One of the constant issues preppers have to deal with is storing enough fats and oils and keeping up with their short shelf lives.

Today’s article on a DIY Olive oil lamp.  This gives you a new use for rancid olive oil that is no longer fit for kitchen use, but still too expensive just to throw away.

One of the historic uses of olive oil has been in lamps.  Lamp quality olive oil is still a major use of worldwide olive crop.

One of the Biblical parables that speaks directly to preppers.  That would be the parable of the ten virgins, Matthew Chapter 25.  It deals with wise ladies bring olive oil for their lamps, and foolish girls not thinking ahead.

Anyway…. Olive oil is great for lighting, it doesn’t smoke is relatively bright.  However, if you use used olive oil, or rancid oil from older storage, is very cost effective.

Olive Oil Can’t Be used in Kerosene Lamps

You can get as complicated as you want as you gain experience.  However, you do need to be aware that since oil is thicker than kerosene it won’t wick up as far.  This means it cannot be used in lamps designed for lamp oil or kerosene.

To make a simple olive oil lamp I use a bit of wire or paperclip, a glass jar, a length of cotton string, and some oil. (In the Selco course I reviewed earlier – he talks about always carrying the makings of such a lamp so that he could construct one as needed during nightly foraging as batteries quickly became extremely hard to find).

Simply bend one end of the wire so that it can hold the string. I like to wind a couple loops using a pair of pliers so that I end up with something resembling a very small key ring and wedge the strung between the loops, but it really does not matter as long as the string is securely held.

I then bend the wire so that the sting is held roughly center in the jar, and around ½ inch above the level of the oil.
With the far end of the wire, I bend it to rest securely on the end of the jar.

Fill the jug with oil. It is not necessary, nor advisable to fill the jar fully, as the wick will only pull the oil up a little ways, and the more full the jug, the greater the likelihood of an accident. I normally fill the jar a couple inches, and use the rest of the jar as a globe.
Dip the wick in the oil, raise it out, light it, and then replace.
As you can see in the video, it makes a very usable light.