The Amazing History of Early Weapons

Book Review: The Amazing History of Early Weapons
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The Amazing History of Early Weapons is 120 pages of illustrated articles reprinted from American Machinist Magazine, 1918. 1. Cannon making in past centuries. 2. Musket manufacture in past centuries. 3. Early attempts at submarine building. 4. Some types of modern (1918) hand grenades. 5. Early history of the marine torpedo. 6. Ancient helmet making. 7. The development of gun manufacture. 8. The forerunner of the tank. 9. Fighting with fire in ancient times. 10. Early attempts at rapid-firing guns. 11. Making boring bars for big guns. 12. Intrenchments and the wire barrier.

This book is reprint from an old magazine, it gives good information, but it is not a step by step assembly guide.  I have used this book to build things, but you have to be able to extrapolate from what they are saying.

This book came from the now defunct Lindsey books, which was a priceless tool for preppers, DIYers, and the self reliant.  I was very sad when Lindsey decided that the world was now overrun with the stupid and he didn’t want to deal with the public anymore.

I can’t say that the History of Early Weapons is the best of his books, but I did find it pretty interesting as well as a book full of ideas.  I believe that the handy and smart modern man, with desire and the willingness to work hard can replicate any of the technology of the 1800’s and earlier.

This means that if you want it, and are willing to do the work any of the subjects in this book can be replicated.

Which is why, if you dig down to the root, is the reason I took up metal casting.  One day I hope to build my own cannon.

Ammo Up Review

 

Ammo Up
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I got the chance to review the new Ammo Up machine, and since I hate picking up brass I jumped on the chance.

This device is similar in desired use as the brass wizard I have had for years, but the operation is completely different.

In this machine, you simply press the ammo-up over the spent ammunition casing, lodging it in the plastic bristles and then pick the case up.

What sets this machine apart is how much easier it is to release the brass than it is with the brass wizard.  The ammo up has a pull lever that drops the spent casings out.  I love that.

I find that like brass wizard this thing works well, but how well depends on the type of terrain the rounds fall in.

This worked best on the cement slab of a covered range, and worst in the gravel.

To me the ammo up worked better than the brass wizard on grass, but others have said the opposite.

Nether device works well on gravel.

What works best for me is having students police up the brass at the range, but when I am shooting solo I find that I like this device infinately more than bending down to pick up my own spent shell casings.

PVC Projects for the Outdoorsman

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In PVC Projects for the Outdoorsman you will learn how to make inexpensive and practical gear such as snowshoes, an equipment raft, shelters–including a teepee and a portable ground blind–a boot dryer and even a blowgun in your home workshop out of durable PVC pipe.

Photos and easy-to-follow instructions show you how to construct more than 30 projects.

I haven’t done all the projects in the book, but it has given me a lot to think about as well as fertilize my mind to keep it actively looking for other ways to use common materials.

This book was so popular that it spawned a sequel More PVC Projects, I have that one also.

The idea of using PVC to make things is pretty cool, at least in my own opinion.  It is workable with few tools, is cheap, and you can buy it in any town in the nation.

PVC Projects for the Outdoorsman is a good book to have around the house as it shows how to start MacGyvering solutions out of common materials.

I use it as a source of ideas, and through the ideas given I have used it to make garden hoop houses, tarp coverings for my rabbits, and a rabbit tractor, none of which are in the book proper, but the ideas stemmed from the book.

Kitchen DIY:Best Way to Reheat Pizza

Kitchen DIY:Best Way to Reheat Pizza
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First of all, I must admit, I rarely have a need to reheat pizza.

I normally just eat it straight out of the refrigerator. If you have a little time and want to reheat your pizza without turning it all soggy and rubbery in a microwave here is a tip.

Get out your sandwich maker/foreman grill/waffle iron and heat it up. Once heated double up your pizza like a sandwich and reheat it.

The cheese melts and the crusts heats without turning soggy. Consequently, It turns ordinary cold pizza into a pannini like sandwich.

It is good without being gourmet. I find this a great way to reheat pizza.

Being an honest guy, I will admit that I only do this occasionally. Almost every time I do dig out the foreman grill and double up my pizza to reheat it I slather it with mayonnaise and extra cheese. Because of this, I have to wait until my wife is not around. Because she will give me that wife look that says volumes about my eating habits. Its amazing how this works without he saying a word.

I guess if I just stuck to heating the pizza up as it comes out of the box it would be okay with her. Seems like a smart guy would know that.

In conclusion, this tip works well, but don’t go overboard.

Kitchen DIY: How to Store Leftover Pizza

Kitchen DIY: How to Store Leftover Pizza
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Like reheating pizza, I don’t often have leftover pizza I need to store.  My son now scarfs up any pizza I did not eat.

However sometimes I do need to keep the leftovers around for breakfast and I really hate wasting food.

What I do when we have leftover takeout pizza is to take the box and separate the top and bottom of the cardboard box and make a new box out of the bottom.

Just come halfway downs and rip out two rectangles on the two sides of the box opposite to each other and in the middle of your box.

If you fold up the cardboard you will have a half sized pizza box to keep your pizza together in the fridge.

Or alternatively you can store your leftover pizza in the individual cases shown in the picture.