John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman – PLAN – Protection & Location – At The Bushcraft Show No.2

Posted on 13/03/2012 by Ray-H

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Reindeer Leather Pouch

Posted on 04/03/2012 by Ray-H

I enjoy making things, I enjoy using the things I make and I enjoy learning new skills when trying new things. For Christmas my wife gave me a make your own reindeer leather pouch kit, I had made a few things with leather in the past. Not having the correct tools in the past has limited the finished product, but over time I have added a few basic tools when I have found them on places like eBay or Amazon at a reasonable price. I also decided to learn how to saddle stitch as I plan to make a new knife sheath in the coming months and it is the little details like the stitching I want to be done better than I have done in the past.

The kit itself contains the template, well written instructions with illustrations and enough reindeer leather to make the pouch.

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It took around 30 minutes to mark out and carefully cut out the pieces, then I marked out stitch holes on all the pieces. To stitch the pieces together it took between 3 and 4 hours, I am slow at stitching any way but working with two needles and an awl took a while to get the hang of.

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I think the finished product is of equal quality to pouches I have purchased in the past and I will be making more to keep my kit organised when I can find some where local that sells leather at a reasonable price.

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Hobo Stove

Posted on 29/02/2012 by Ray-H

A hobo stove is an improvised heat-producing cooking device and can be constructed out of a variety of materials, it was commonly used during America’s Great Depression.

I first used a hobo stove at Gilwell 24 in the Bushcraft zone last year and I decided I could make my own for a few quid, you can by them off the shelf however they cost more than what you could make one for. The main body is a cutlery drainer I got from a 99p store, I added small bolts to make the pot holder and larger bolts to increase the air flow. I used a dremel to cut out a hole through which I can add wood for fuel, you could use a meth burner or make a buddy burner  if required. In total I spent less than £5 and I am very pleased with the results.

As you can see from the picture mine has seen plenty of use, I used tent pegs in the past before replacing them with the bolts shown in the picture. I like nothing better than sitting in my garden keeping warm by it while drinking tea made up on it.

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Ration Packs

Posted on 09/01/2012 by Ray-H

In recent years I have been more proactive in being prepared for an emergency or survival situation and for food I looked towards ration packs for a number of reasons.

1. They have a long shelf life.
2. The high calorie content provides sufficient energy.
3. Most are ready to eat and can be eaten cold.
4. The pouches take up less space than canned food.

I prefer the British Army 24 hour ration pack, as it has everything you need for a day in the one box. While with the American MRE’s I like the accessories that come with them but I have found that some menus do not sit so well with me, so I avoid them as the last thing you would need in an emergency or survival situation would be to feel sick because of something you have eaten.

You can get them from some army surplus stores or online at sites like http://www.armyrations.co.uk/, Evaq8 and The Bushcraft Store. You can also find civilian branded meals such like Wayfayer, Look what we found and Mountain House in good outdoor retailers or online.

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Be prepared for severe weather in winter

Posted on 07/12/2011 by Ray-H

I was watching the BBC  Breakfast news this morning and they did a segment on a survival kit the British Red Cross suggest you should keep in your car in case you get caught out in bad weather, however the list provided on the segment and on the BBC website is a jumble of the two suggested lists from the British Red Cross.

Everyone should have one of these kits and if you shop around you can put one together for very little cost, you may even have the items already at home that you could put into use either as part of a kit for your home or for your travels.

What should go in your bag at home?

  • Torch
  • Battery radio
  • Toiletries / first aid kit
  • Long-life food and bottles of water
  • Important documents (eg. insurance policy)
  • List of emergency contact numbers
  • Spare keys to your home / car
  • Pencil, paper, penknife and whistle.

What should go in your travel bag?

  • Torch
  • Battery radio
  • Mobile phone
  • Cash and credit cards
  • List of emergency contact numbers
  • Winter boots, warm clothing and waterproofs
  • Ready-to-eat food, bottled water and warm drink in flask.

Items that I would recommend include:

  • Victorinox Swiss Army Knife
  • Leatherman multi tool
  • LED Mini MagLite
  • Petzl e+LITE headtorch
  • Adventure Medical Kit Bivvy
  • Rite in the Rain notepad
  • Wayfayrer ready meals
  • Water Purification Tablet

More information and advice about travelling in winter conditions from the British Red Cross can be found here

Remember stay safe and if you do venture out be prepared for the worst while hoping for the best.

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