Stainless Steel Chainmail Scrubber Review

 

Gear Review: Stainless Steel Chainmail Scrubber
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As you know I cook with cast iron quite a bit – daily actually.  However, as much as I love my dutch oven and cast iron skillets, I HATE cleaning them.  So when I saw a program to review a chainmail scrubber designed to clean cast iron skillets without removing the seasoning I had to apply.

Don’t think that because this is a sponsored post that I won’t give an honest review.  A free $20.00 scrubber, no matter how cool, is not worth my integrity.

Luckily, this thing actually works pretty good, and I find that it actually is something I can use.  Being stainless steel I can use it scrub my pans and then toss it in the dishwasher (I did have to think for a minute how to lay it in my washer so that it would bother spread out to wash and not fall into the bottom of the machine).

I don’t use the scrapers

I have not really used the scrapers, but they are a plastic that is very similar to those plastic “CIA letter openers” – AKA plastic knives.  They seem sturdy, and to be honest, I probably will throw the flatter one in the glove box of my truck to use as an icescraper.

What I think is really cool, is the silicon mitt for the handles of my skillet.  I can’t tell you how many times I have burned myself when the towel I was using bunched up and let me touch the hot handle.  The silicon looks much nicer, is removable, but still classes up my kitchen.

I feel that this product is worth the $20.00 it retails for, and if something ever happened to the one I have now, I will either buy another or use it as an excuse to learn to make chain-mail (something I have wanted to do for a while, but always felt it to be too time consuming to be practical).

*Its January of 2018 and I am still using this almost everyday on my iron skillet, this thing rides in the dischwasher fine and still works great.  So far its the most used thing I have reviewed and it is still awesome.

*Update:

It is now October of 2018 and I use this scrubber nearly every day.  My wife keeps it in the dishwasher because we use it so much.  It has no signs of wear, and works as great today as when we first bought it.

Metal Casting: A Sand Casting Manual for the Small Foundry, Volume 2

Book Review: Metal Casting: A Sand Casting Manual for the Small Foundry, Volume 2
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The Sand Casting Manual, Volume 2, continues with solidification of metals and why it matters. Specifics of aluminum, copper alloys, brass and bronze are discussed along with solution heat treatment and precipitation hardening. Ductile and gray cast iron are covered.

Gating systems, filters, chills and risers are described along with the design of proper gating systems. Several “hands on” projects include pattern making, match-plates and rubber molds, casting a cylinder head and pistons all in your own back yard!

The plans for a sturdy flask latch are worth the price of the book alone. Historical topics include the details of casting the Ford Flathead V-8 and piston rings. This is a must have reference for the foundry enthusiast, auto restorer, or experienced metal caster!

I made my own foundry a few years ago, and like blacksmithing, my hope is that someday I will have a full time set up shop where I can spend whatever time I desire experimenting in and learning about metal work.

I have a little experience in sand casting, but I really wish I had more.  This is a very valuable prepper skill.  If you can cast metal then you can recreate society.

Metal Casting: A Sand Casting Manual for the Small Foundry, Vol. 1

A Sand Casting Manual for the Small Foundry, Vol. 1
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In A Sand Casting Manual for the Small Foundry, Vol. 1 you will learn how to cast metal in sand molds using simple techniques and readily available materials.

Steve Chastain, a Mechanical and Materials Engineer, shows the beginner how to make a sand mold and then how to hone your skill to produce high quality castings.

Written in non-technical terms, the sand casting manuals begin by melting cans over a charcoal fire and end by casting a cylinder head. All for little cost in your own back yard!

The Sand Casting Manuals are good for both the beginner and experienced metal caster.

I have long stated that Chastain and Gingery are the two authors a diy guy should know.  Both of them are experts in teaching people how to cast metal into useful items.

The ability to cast metal is essential for industrial society.  We need to be able to shape items to our uses.  I believe that it is valuable prepper skill because of that, but it is also fun.

I have a lot of other material on this site about beginning sand casting.  I think it is an invaluable skill for the DIY enthusiast.  I made my own foundry based upon the gingery book and I have learned a lot from this one.

The Tactical Shotgun

Tactical Shotgun
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The Tactical Shotgun Suarez gives you his second book on tactical weapons.

Gabe Suarez sets the record straight on the true role of the shotgun in combat.

He shows you what you need to know to defend your home, family or business, including multiple hostiles, low-light situations, moving targets and more.

For those that don’t know Gabe Suarez is a veteran of Southern California law enforcement, where he has served for many years.

His extensive field experience includes single officer patrol, gang enforcement, special operations and tactical training.

He was one of the founding members of his department’s Special Weapons and Tactical Precision Rifle teams.

Gabe Suarez knows his shotguns, and the Tactical Shotgun is one of the best books on the subject.  If you want to know how to use a shotgun for interpersonal conflict resolution, you need to read this book.

This book is a key work on my shelf of shotgun manuals.  I don’t hunt or skeet shoot with my shotgun, it is only used for self-defense purposes, which makes this book even more valuable to me.  I recommend this book highly.  Between this book, a sling, and a lot of practice, you won’t need much else.

Book Review: It's in the Bag a New Approach to Food Storage

It’s in the Bag a New Approach to Food Storage

Book Review: It's in the Bag a New Approach to Food Storage
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Bag meals Delicious entrées in 20 minutes or less Will save you time and money Will save you storage space Will provide you with the best way to baby step your way to building food storage How can bag meals do all that? Because with bag meals, you are storing what you eat and eating what you store!

It s Sunday and you need ricotta for the lasagna. What are you going to do? Turn to page 186 and make some! You come home from your children s soccer game and everybody is starving. You make a chef salad and there s no salad dressing in the fridge. What are you going to do? Turn to page 233 and make some! A hard freeze in California has wiped out the nations lettuce crop. Lettuce is over $5.00 a head! What are you going to do? Learn how to sprout by turning to page 237.

Food Storage It’s in the Bag is a new approach to food storage, and contains other cool stuff your Mamma never taught you will provide you with simple easy to follow recipes and self reliance instruction skills that will assist you in obtaining greater peace of mind today and in the future!

There is a lot to learn in It’s in the Bag a New Approach to Food Storage, and I recommend it.  Its not best as a primary resource book.  But it does have a lot of really cool ideas.  I recommend it.