Wazoo Minimalist Survival Bracelet

Posted on 24/08/2013 by Ray-H

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Every so often a product comes along that changes the game and that is what Wazoo Survival Gear have done with their range of survival products. The first thing I noticed was the addition of a fire steel into their Firestorm buckle, so I started to look at their other products. I have had a minimalist survival bracelet for around 6 months now and I am very impressed with the components, which include:

  • Paracord
  • Name plate striker
  • Firesteel
  • Whistle
  • Straw
  • Fishing line
  • Needle
  • Fishing hooks

I also have some of the additional products such as FAT Packet (First Aid Tinder), Ceramic Striker Blade and Ranger Bands.

Everyone knows the multiple uses of cordage in the outdoors and in particular paracord with the inner and outer strands having many uses, but did you know you can make fishing flies? I didn’t so that was high on my list of things to try, having never tied a fishing fly before I had to get a guide on my kindle. I could have purchased a fly tying kit to make my first time easier, but I wanted to try this out as a survival skill with nothing but what the average hiker might have on them for a day or overnight hike.

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When using the firesteel I found it a little tricky at first to find the best angle to throw a good amount of sparks, once I found that sweet spot it quickly set the tinder alight. I also found it easier to use when it was disassembled if I added a loop of paracord to fashion a handle of sorts, I also attached the striker plate on another loop of paracord so that it could not be lost.

The FAT tinder burns for around 30 seconds which if you have properly prepared your materials is plenty long enough to get a fire started. The tinder is also coated with a triple antibiotic mix to treat cuts and scrapes, allowing you to keep any wounds you may get from getting infected out in the field.

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If you wish you can purchase the components as part of a Wazoo in a bag kit if you want to make it yourself and there is a wide selection of colours to choose from, my favourite is unicorn poop as it is so different to anything I have seen in the UK. If you are considering a new paracord bracelet check out the range from Wazoo and have a survival kit around your wrist. 10 out of 10

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DD Hammocks – Travel Hammock Review

Posted on 22/08/2013 by Ray-H

I turn into a buffet for various biting insects when I head to the outdoors for a spot of camping and in a hammock without a bug net would leave me covered in itchy bites, I already had a camping hammock from DD Hammocks so I started my search there. I was torn between the frontline and the travel versions as they both had nets, what settled it in the end was the waterproof material used on the base of the travel model as I was also on the lookout for a swag bag/bivvy bag solution to give me multiple camping opportunities.

It arrived promptly along with the whoopie slings and sleeve I ordered at the same time and hung it for its maiden hang between two posts in the outdoor area at my scout hut, having never hung a hammock with a bug net before I found the setup very easy taking only a few additional steps more than hanging my camping hammock.

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After climbing in I found getting it zipped up to be a bit of an issue which was quickly overcome by adding a length of paracord to zipper so I can close the bug net once I was in the hammock, laying back I found that the pockets were very handy for keeping things where you need them such as a torch. When camping I usually find myself sleeping with a Petzl head torch wrapped around my wrist so that in an emergency I have light literally at my finger tips, it’s a habit from being a Scout Leader. But knowing where to find my mini mag light and phone is very handy.

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Being enclosed took a while to get used to, but once I get into a hammock I am normally asleep pretty quickly. With the base not being breathable I will end up getting a Frontline hammock for when I know 100% I can hang a hammock and do not want to get bitten by buzzing beasts. Great quality and customer service from DD Hammocks. Highly recommended.

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Chris Caine Skeleton Survival Knife

Posted on 07/08/2013 by Ray-H

I have been looking at Chris Caine’s range of survival tools and knives for about a year now, in particular one of the folder knives but with all the different colours and materials available I am finding it hard to pick one.

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I opted for the Skeleton knife as it fitted somewhere between a full tang knife and a small pocket knife, it is a very handy knife to have around camp, at £29.99 I thought it was a good price too. Made by Staniforths of Sheffield the Skeleton knife is a single piece of 2.8mm CS80 spring steel, 190mm long with a blade length of 69mm. It was sharp out of the box without the need to run it over a strop.

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It comes with a nylon sheath that does not hold the knife secure enough for my liking and I think a kydex sheath would have made a better option, the handle has rounded edges which makes it comfortable to use and the cut outs allow for a paracord handle to be added. Interestingly when the handle is wrapped in paracord it fits very securely in the sheath, perhaps this is how it was designed?

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If I could give some feedback for a MK2 version I change the position of the cut out holes and have square edges instead of the rounded edges. This would allow the use of the spine to scrape a firesteel instead of the cutting edge. The change in the cut out holes would serve two purposes, firstly it would allow you to wrap the handle in paracord without big gaps and would also give you the option to add some handle scales. Both to make holding and using the knife more comfortable. I would consider getting some G10 and Micarta scales made in the colours of the Scout groups I work with.

The Chris Caine Skeleton knife is just as good at slicing vegetables as it is for making feather sticks, ideal for going in your emergency kit and it is made in the UK too. A worthwhile addition to any outdoors mans equipment.

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Making a Bushcraft Knife – Part 3

Posted on 29/07/2013 by Ray-H

After the visit to Ben Orford’s workshop where I was fortunate enough to be able to use Ben’s tools and guidance to turn my bar stock into a blank ready for heat treating. To do this I setup my old trusty BBQ in the garden and lit some coals in it, I then started to prepare my quench while I waited for the coals to reach temperature.

My quench was vegetable oil in a bread baking tin, I left the tin close to my makeshift BBQ forge so I could reach it quickly to quench the blade when it reached the required state. To help the fire reach the required temperature I ran an extension lead into the garden and used the wife’s hairdryer, the blade was then placed into the hot coals. I did a lot of research about what I was looking for to indicate that the steel had reached the required temperature, the two things I read about in every source were that the steel would lose its magnetic attraction and the steel would glow cherry red.

It didn’t take as long as I expected to reach the tell tale colour and a quick check with a magnet confirmed that it was ready to be quenched, as I placed the glowing red blade into the quench there was a little flare up which lasted a few seconds and then a smell which reminded me of chip shop chips. Then after a quick clean up with a wire brush it was time for tempering.

The electric oven was set to 220c and preheated prior to the knife being placed into it, once the knife blank was in I set a countdown timer for two hours. It was half way through the tempering when I realised I forgot to check the hardness with a file, if I had done it correctly the file would have just skipped over the blade. When the temper was finished I opened the oven door and let the knife cool, the colour of the oxidisation left from the tempering match the colour on the comparison chart I was using indicate that the finished hardness is 57 on the Rockwell scale.

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Before I fix a handle onto the blade I would like to have the knife tested on a calibrated Rockwell testing machine, to confirm that I reached a suitable hardness. If not I can anneal the steel and start the heat treating process again.

In the meantime I have plans to make a few more knives putting into practice what I have learnt from Ben and influenced by Ian Nairn’s article in issue 45 of Bushcraft and Survival Skills magazine.

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Podcast Episode 12

Posted on 23/06/2013 by Ray-H

The Bushcraft Show 2013 Part 2.

Continuing on at the Bushcraft Show 2013. In this episode talk blacksmithing with Andrew Kirkham, how to use a fire piston with Bushcraft Tools, talk flint knapping with Hands on Bushcraft, it’s all about KAOS with Jack Raven Bushcraft, chat about kilts with JP from Woodlife Trails, talk tinder and leather with Mark from Shark Tinderbox and discuss surplus with Military Mart. Kufurahia.

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Links:
Andrew Kirkham Blacksmith
Bushcraft Tools
Hands on Bushcraft
Jack Raven Bushcraft
Woodlife Trails
Shark Tinderbox
Military Mart

Download via iTunes OR Via our Feed

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