Altoids tin survival kit

[Kadnine]

Disclaimer: Yes, I know these aren't serious survival kits and no, I would not trust my safety to one.

That said, they aren't completely WITHOUT value, either

1) They stimulate thinking about weight/space management in your BOB
2) Great project to teach the kids about basic preparedness.
3) They're just plain fun! I don't treat survival as a humorless chore. If planning weren't fun I'd just play XBox all day instead.

There are many variations out there but here's what's in mine. Many of these ideas came from instructables.com.

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Tin, binder clip keeps it closed, and provides a spot for a clip-on pocket knife.

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Left to right: Large band-aid, mini Bic, key chain flashlight, sliver of wine cork and a round paper clip (for use as a bobber) pencil stub, soda straw fused at both ends (cotton tinder inside, floats, waterproof), small band-aids, antibiotic ointment, water purification tablets, super glue, razor blade.

[... continued]

- Keith

[shelbygoat]

good use of available space

[Kadnine]

[... continued]

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Suture thread, iodized salt, large safety pin, matches, homemade blister pack (clear packing tape cut to size and backed with a Kroger receipt) on card: eye hooks, nails, fish hooks, safety pins, lead coin (for a thimble or large fishing weight.

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Here's a plastic tube (I used a mechanical pencil lead refill tube) wrapped with string, snare wire, and fishing line (not shown, need to buy some more), in between are strips of red duct tape (ends of cordage can be secured under the ends of the duct tape so it won't unravel), inside are two sewing/suture needles, fishing weights, and small fish hooks, the cap is a bit of vinyl eraser carved into a cone-shaped plug.

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Lastly, on the back I've glued a patch of coarse sandpaper. Propably won't sharpen a knife, but the kids can sharpen pencils on it!

- Keith

[Livewire]

Pretty slick.

[Kadnine]

Related:

"22 Manly Ways to Reuse an Altoids Tin."

http://artofmanliness.com/2011/01/30/22 ... toids-tin/

As an artist, I especially like the pocket watercolor idea. Maybe saw off three quarters of the handle from a brush, grab a notebook, a bottle of water and go! Would free me up from my home studio.

- Keith

[BIGC]

I have a couple of them made up, i keep one with my gear and one on the door of the truck.. I have a ton of the tins here i haven't done anything with yet

[justang1997]

I like the binder clip idea. The fused drinking straw idea is neat idea too.

[Kadnine]

Fused straws are STUPID easy. Just pinch off one end with needle nose or multi-tool pliers, exposing 1/8th" of plastic, and heat the edge with a lighter. Fill tube with whatever, repeat with the other end to seal. They're waterproof, they float, weatherproof, and don't take up a whole lotta room. Useful for salts, peppers, spices, meds, tinctures, dyes, rolled maps, dried herbs, honey, etc. And this trick is scalable. For drinking straws OR jumbo-sized movie theater Kool-Aid-Sticks, the technique is the same. The ONE thing I'd recommend is to rotate your supply of anything perishable, especially meds.

- Keith

[ChopperDoc]

Yeah, I like the fuzed straw idea. had not seen that before.

[Marcus]

Kadnine, you should sell these.

[BIGC]

Kadnine, you should sell these.

A buddy of mine made a bunch and tried to sell them at the flea market, he moved a couple... Online might be better though..

[Kadnine]

Nah. No profit. Somebody w/ the good heart of a teacher taught me these tricks. I'm jes payin' it forward.

- Keith