How to Season and Dry Your Own Wood

Book Review: How to Season and Dry Your Own Wood
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Wood may grow on trees, but it’s still expensive, especially for fine woodworkers in the market for high-quality lumber.

Knowing how to season and dry your own wood is the answer.  This is an expert’s handbook on finding, processing, seasoning, and drying your own wood.

Designed with the independent crafts-person in mind, it focuses on working with small loads.  This is an approach neglected in most other books on this subject. There are tips on sources, as well as on how to select and prepare the wood to bring out the most desired grain patterns. A truly unique resource.

I have lots of trees to cut, and a mill to turn them into lumber, but drying them and preparing them for work takes time.  Dry wood is necessary for lumber as it is for burning.  A future project of mine is a solar kiln to dry wood.  I had planned to turn a shipping container into a kiln, but I found I needed them for tool storage more.

Being able to season and dry your own wood to make lumber is vital to affordable homestead building.  This book helps that process immeasurably.

In my experience, and your experience may be different, cutting the wood is much simpler than drying is and preparing it for use.

52 Prepper's Projects for Parents and Kids

52 Prepper’s Projects for Parents and Kids

Book Review: 52 Prepper's Projects for Parents and Kids
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Prepare your child for the unpredictable through 52 prepper projects. Teach them basic outdoors survival skills, first aid, how to create their own “bug-out bag,” and more.

This was a fun book to write, I love trying out DIY Projects, and this time I got to try them out thinking about which ones would be fun and still teach something to my boy.

Some of these projects are age  appropriate to little kids, but many are best suited for middle school or older children.

Each project in 52 Prepper’s Projects for Parents and Kids has the reasoning for each project along with a discussion starter at the end of each project.

Its not just about doing something with your children, or even having them do something.  The main idea of this book is to teach your kids how to be self reliant and think for themselves.

Unfortunately critical thinking skills and personal responsibility are things that are lacking in out society.  This book is meant to help reduce that issue while still being fun and useful.

If you have projects you have done with your kids, even if they aren’t in the book, I would love to hear about them.

Installing an AR 15 Free Float Rail

Installing an AR 15 Free Float Rail
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I wanted to modify my AR-15 so I shot this video as I installed a AR 15 Free Float Rail.  I used a Keymod rail, which is a way to attach accessories.

The mounting holes are shaped as a keyhole, so the parts slide in and are tightened.

This allows parts to be installed and removed easily.

Installing a AR 15 Free Float Rail is not complicated.  It is relatively straightforward and not a lot of special tools are needed.

It was pretty easy, even easier than building a stripped lower.

You will need a barrel wrench, an action block to hold the receiver, a vise, and a torque wrench.

Summates Solar Light 2-Pack Review

 

Gear Review: Summates Solar Light 2-Pack
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I am a big fan of solar lights, and after reviewing a similar product a few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to review this 2-pack of similar LED solar lights.

Compared to the original lights, this product had some changes. This model had a easy to operate on and off switch at the bottom of the light, and it had a adhesive strip to make mounting easier. The Hobbymate version seemed brighter, but to be fair, I haven’t had a lot of sunlight since I installed the lights on the land.

These things work great on off grid locations, I have one at the door to my shipping container, and outside on my utility pole.  I also have one with my goats.  Places I may need to visit in the dark.

The 50,000 hour led lights are not going to burn out anytime soon, and with a solar panel on top, I don’t have to worry about batteries.

This is a great invention, and I plan on getting several more similar solar light devices as funds become available.

I think these lights would work great on fence posts to set out my land boundaries and illuminate no trespassing signs.

Gear Review: Twod Pistol & Rifle Compact 200 Lumen Flashlight

Twod Pistol & Rifle Compact 200 Lumen Flashlight Review

Gear Review: Twod Pistol & Rifle Flashlight/QR/Compact 200 Lumen Flashlight
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This $15.00 Pistol & Rifle Flashlight is pretty functional for the price.  It installed easily and worked well.  While it is not as sturdy feeling as a more expensive light, it shot well and was bright.

My main concern with the light is the switch.  I killed the battery it came with the first night, as I accidentally switched the pistol light on.

I have reviewed Twod items before, and it is clear they are more for the airsoft market, I found this light worked on my 9mm pistol.  I did not get a chance to use this on a rifle and I suspect that it would break, but to be fair that is only my assumption.

For $15 the Twod Pistol & Rifle Flashlight/QR/Compact 200 Lumen Flashlight is worth the money, but only for a gun that was not in heavy use.

I wrote about flashlight use in my original Understanding the Use of Handguns Book, I normally use a handheld flashlight in addition to my pistol as I am concerned about muzzling an innocent person while investigation nightly noises.  I will redilly admit that a weapon mounted light is much easier to use.

I was offered this item in exchange for a review, but the above are my honest opinions.