I have been watching the keysmart system for a few months, having on my list of things to buy, but never actually spending the money. When I was contacted and offered the chance to review this device I jumped on it.
It is amazingly simple, but done with style. It turns bulky keys into a sleek jackknife.
It holds both keys and tools, and I recently noticed that it also can carry a 64 gig flash drive.
Putting it together is also simple, simply add the keys over the posts, use the included spacers if you have an odd number of keys, and then sandwich the top plat and screw it together.
I like this device a lot, and when I saw that they have an adapter to attach thumb drives I had to try that out. I was shocked at the price though and had to find a cheaper DIY solution to set up a thumb drive on my Key-smart Key chain.
I also found a cheaper alternative that uses a leather band. I carry my keys on that now as it is a little simpler to use – if not as modern and sleek looking.
Either way, the key holders that reduce the imprint of my keys are things I like to have around. Both types are worth the money.
In today’s high-tech society, even the most advanced devices and systems are not failsafe. Tools can break or wear out, batteries can go dead, and all sorts of malfunctions can render the modern conveniences we rely on totally useless. If quick replacements of failed items are not readily available, the ability to improvise and adapt in the workshop suddenly becomes very practical.
James Ballou, author of the best-selling Long-Term Survival in the Coming Dark Age, dramatically expands on the popular home workshop material in his first book to present a “makeshifter’s” way of building and repairing things with only a pile of raw or salvaged materials, your hands and your mind. In this fascinating new book, he presents a wide range of unconventional, remarkably creative home workshop skills, including:
• HOMEMADE TOOLS—Make your own hammers, drills, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, saws, files, chisels, vises, clamps . . .
• EXPEDIENT REPAIRS—Perform sturdy repairs with ordinary glue, tape, cord, wire, dowels, nuts and bolts . .
• MAKESHIFT CONSTRUCTION—Construct all sorts of functional items out of coat hangers, old car parts, 2 x 4s, wooden dowels, nails, rebar, coffee cans . . .
• USEFUL PROJECTS—Build a homemade forge out of an old barbeque; handle simple soldering jobs with a road flare; perform quick weld repairs with car batteries, jumper cables, and a pair of pliers . . .
Ballou also gives extensive instruction in makeshift metalworking, practical calculating skills, resourceful salvaging, plus dozens of practical tips for the craftsman or handyman who might need this information in an emergency or who simply enjoys learning about alternative ways to handle home workshop projects. Makeshift Workshop Skills is a great book.
Since this was the first time in a LONG time that I had a job that did not find it essential to be in during disasters my family decided to have fun in the snow.
The easiest way to do that and still secretly teach WT some skills was to build a snow igloo.
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It did not take much to build besides a shovel, a 5 gallon bucket, and a lot of snow. Basically all we did was shovel snow into a bucket and lightly tamp it down just like making a sandcastle.
We then upended the bucket and let the snow block slide out.
We just used the blocks to form a toddle appropriate circle and then made a new row placing the new blocks in the center of 2 bottom blocks – just like doing any masonry work.
The trick was to slightly bow inward as we worked so that the blocks formed a roof. It was not that doing that was hard, but WT wanted to kick at his fort because when the block broke he had ready made snowballs.
We used forms for the doors and windows and placed snow around the forms – removing them when the igloo was finished.
In trouble areas I packed in loose snow and rubber it with my hand to smooth it and slightly melt it so ice held the blocks together.
All in all we had a lot of fun and I think the boy learned something cool.
We have done oil lamps before, but today we are going to make a Mini Tabasco Oil Lamp.
If you have one of those mini Tabasco bottles – (in some MREs or you can purchase below) its easy to turn it into a lamp.
Use the bottle until it’s empty and then clean it out.
Next, fill ¾ full with oil or lamp fuel, and then either trim down a conventional wick, or insert a pulled out and tightly rolled cotton ball or cotton roving.
The natural fiber will pull out the oil and allow you to have a very lightweight candle that is probably smaller than your lighter.
I have been watching the 
It did not take much to build besides a shovel, a 5 gallon bucket, and a lot of snow. Basically all we did was shovel snow into a bucket and lightly tamp it down just like making a sandcastle.
