The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

weenancyinAmerica

When I was younger, I made candles in coffee tins using a mixture of sawdust and melted wax. You can find the instructions online also. These lasted as really long time. If you made holes around the top of the can with with a bottle opener, you could also set a pan on top to heat food or make tea.

LadOnTheHill

I've done a similar thing with coffee grounds. I made one in a foil takeaway container, it burned for at least 20 minutes.

GaleSF63

When the wick starts to drown in the liquid wax, if I kept pouring the wax into another container, and used a bit of string would I eventually be able to make another workable candle? Even if it didn't last long it would be something.

euronorris

I think it would probably be possible, but you'd need a heat proof container, a Wick and then a small stick to tie it to so it can balance across the top of the container. I expect you'd get better results though if you collected up the wax until you had enough, then melt and poor into a suitable mould. Otherwise air bubbles etc would probably cause issues

Happy_Sloth

I was wondering if anyone could help,  i've always been a bit of a prepper, i have a basement full of stuff that goes along way beyond just food..  

One thing i've never quite managed to crack is my inventory of food.  In an ideal world want enough food to last 6 months at all time.. i *THINK* i have roughly 4 months atm because we have run some of it down recently because of financial troubles.  

How do other people manage their stock levels?  Ideally i want a "desired amount" of each item which is based on a 6 month supply and an easy way of tracking the actual stock.  

Currently i use the container method.. which basically just means each item on my shelf has a space, when the space is low/empty i buy more.  But it's by no means been calculated v's need... i THINK i have 6 months food ... i could actually only have 2 months or 12 months... who really knows? 

I've tried several times to create spreadsheets there i calculate stock into meals and i always get lost in the detail and give up.  

Does anyone have a good way of calculating how much they need to last a certain duration and then being able to compare that to what they have? Also a better way of tracking inventory/stock levels because my way is a mess. 

Whitefiver

It has alread been mentioned I believe, but the Mormons suggest a full years worth of provisions BUT they give a breakdown of what this means, which is scary, but helpful. (Sorry, you will have to Google it)

A spreadsheet is probably the best tool, but setting the thing up is comparitively easy, it is maintaining it where we always fail. YMMV of course.

Doveling

Ming - could you get a little portable calor gas heater for emergencies?

AnimalTribe

GaleSF63 said:

When the wick starts to drown in the liquid wax, if I kept pouring the wax into another container, and used a bit of string would I eventually be able to make another workable candle? Even if it didn't last long it would be something.

A candle maker told me that most string is fire resistant, but balls of candle wick are available (cheaply) online. If you want to use string I suggest you check whether or not it will burn first.

-taff

Happy_Sloth said:

I was wondering if anyone could help,  i've always been a bit of a prepper, i have a basement full of stuff that goes along way beyond just food.. 

Does anyone have a good way of calculating how much they need to last a certain duration and then being able to compare that to what they have? Also a better way of tracking inventory/stock levels because my way is a mess. 

I think to plan your stock you need to know what you eat in an average week. What is your meal plan for the week, do you have one, or do you ad lib what you're going to cook? [ I do that so no judgement here. I've tried thinking about meal plans but we don't eat at regular times or regularly together so it's all a bit hit and miss]

Go through your breakfast items, and two other meals, include snacks and herbs/spics/stock cubes etc and you should be closer to knowing how much you have and what you can make.

-taff

Same with other stuff. How much of it do you use in a week? How many toilet rolls do you go through? How much washing powder etc....