Preparedness for when

tina_malteser

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Can you gut too?

No My son Did that for me, But if needs were a must i would learn x

[Deleted User]

PINEAPPLE Lake*and Plastics make a manual mincer that is also a pasta maker, it is bright red plastic and comes with a suction attachment to stick it down on the work surface. I've had mine for a few years now and find it works very well and is easy to clean and reassemble. I'm not sure what the current price is but mine was £25 ish. DEHYDRATORS - I had a cheapy one for a few years that never did the job properly and eventually the plastic trays melted and we threw it away. My christmas present from all the family combined this year is an EXCALIBUR 9 tray model, it was £300 but worth every penny. It dries everything you can imagine to perfection although thanks to Kitties very useful advice I do find that you have sometimes to use a higher temperature and dry for longer than the instruction book says. It is a superb addition to my preserving methods and one I will maximise on using this coming growing season. Added bonus is not having to use electricity to store my surpluses once they are dry. Hope that helps, Cheers Lyn xxx.

[Deleted User]

fuddle wrote: »

The 'tickling trout' idea is frowned upon and actually really difficult I'm led to believe

I'd say that's too labour intensive as well.

Why spend time trying to catch fish, when they will catch themselves, while you get on with something else :huh:

Rosemary_Jane

GreyQueen wrote: »

...Melting and pouring is pretty fast and easy and if I have to back-fill a slumpy bit, well, it's no biggie.

I was just wondering if the 'slumpy bit' is because the wick is absorbing some wax? Would it be worth experimenting by just doing one dipping when melting the wax anyway?

It would mean the wick won't absorb any of the main wax pour and might mean there's no slump, and it might also help the wick to stay straight in the middle of the candle, meaning it'll burn more cleanly.

Maybe I'm talking rubbish. Great that you're sharing your experiments with us, GQ

fuddle

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I'd say that's too labour intensive as well.

Why spend time trying to catch fish, when they will catch themselves, while you get on with something else :huh:

Survival is about knowledge. It doesn't matter how you get your food, as long as you know how to source it. Labour intensive or not.

If I have no equipment whatsoever, no line and no barbed hooks then how do I set a night line?

boultdj

The other old method of fishing is a woven basket,the fish swim into it but cant swim out, they stay alive but caught till you need/want them.

Butterfly_Brain

GreyQueen wrote: »

I got some of mine from freecycle the other year. They'd been those big multi-wicked ones and the wicks had sort of disappeared into the puddle of wax the size of a dinner plate.

I shall be after some more, I've really enjoyed myself. And who are you calling a loon, missus?!:p I could have been in the precinct spending money I don't have on things I don't need with all the other sheeple, y'know.:p

Looning and proud of it.

I was watching one of Kirsties programmes and she actually was told to add more wax after the candle was just beginning to set to avoid slumping.

nuatha

The liquid wax shrinks as it cools, as it cools from the outside to the core the greatest shrinkage is visible in the centre. Pouring the wax at a cooler temperature will help to reduce but not eliminate the problem completely. Either topping up the pour with reserved wax (staying below the original perimeter, to avoid obvious lines, unless making a deliberate contrast colour) or trimming the candle to produce a square base - I've done this with a cheese wire. Warning, if you trim large block pours the core takes quite some time to cool, molten wax on your fingers (and toes in my case) was an unpleasant surprise.
HTH

Chipps

Rosemary_Jane wrote: »

I was just wondering if the 'slumpy bit' is because the wick is absorbing some wax? Would it be worth experimenting by just doing one dipping when melting the wax anyway?

It would mean the wick won't absorb any of the main wax pour and might mean there's no slump, and it might also help the wick to stay straight in the middle of the candle, meaning it'll burn more cleanly.

Maybe I'm talking rubbish. Great that you're sharing your experiments with us, GQ

Hi. Just coming out of lurking mode to pop in and say that candles always do that. Its just a case of keeping some wax over to top up periodically.

I used to love making candles, have tried loads of different types. My favourites have to be beeswax (or at least part beeswax) as the scent when they are burning is lovely! It is expensive but if you can get some you can add it to paraffin wax candles - even recycled ones!

DawnW

pineapple wrote: »

On to prepping - I'm looking for a manual meat mincer. Manual because it doesn't rely on electricity and it's not as if I would be mincing large amounts . Any recommendations?

I got mine online, from a company called Weschenfelder. We use it a lot, so went for the heavy duty type. They supply both professional butchers and home/ preppers types, and their customer service is great. Not cheap though :eek:

The one I bought is an Italian make, in stainless steel, really heavy, and attaches to a surface by a clamp. They come in different sizes (I got a smaller one for my DD for Xmas - it was what she wanted ) and include sausage maker attachments

More expensive than the Lakeland ones, but OH does a lot of meat / game preparation so needed something robust.

Having said that, I have seen some of the old type ones in good condition in junk shops, charity shops and car boot sales, for not much at all.