May 18, 2013

Emergency Fire — Anywhere, Anytime, Under Any Conditions
by
Related Topics: Camping Gear General Hunting Preparedness Survival Uncategorized    

How to Make a Portable Heat Source

Let’s say you are tent camping in the pouring rain, and you are soaked to the skin. Your commonsense tells you to make a fire quickly, but every available stick and kindling you find is equally soaked. What would you do? Not a fun situation to find yourself in, especially if the temperature begins to fall. If you are not careful hypothermia can set in quickly, so it goes without saying, making a fire as fast as possible is vital to your well-being.

DIY Furnace

Ingredients: Coffee can, matches, toilet paper and isopropyl alcohol.

Hopefully, you will never find yourself in this circumstance or countless other scenarios where you need to make a fire fast. However, if you do, here is one speedy way to craft a small portable long burning heat source. An added bonus is it also provides plenty of light, it’s cheap, and super easy to make. You could even cook over it if needed. However the best part about this little device is you do not need any wood or kindling to get this fire burning, and keep it burning, making it ideal in many situations. All you need is four household items. All are readily available, inexpensive and relatively lightweight, making them ideal to carry on a camping trip, or to store in your vehicles emergency kit.

Items Needed

Store Your Ignition Source

You’ll need a handy ignition source. Strike anywhere matches are quick and easily stored.

You will need a medium-sized metal coffee can with plastic lid, one regular-sized roll of toilet paper; the quality multi-ply seems to work better than the generic single ply paper-thin variety. One or more bottles of isopropyl alcohol also referred to as rubbing alcohol. Finally, you will need matches or a lighter to light your homemade heater. I keep a stash of strike-anywhere matches in a plastic baggy tucked into the center tube of the roll of paper.

Easy Assembly

Start by placing the roll of toilet paper into the metal coffee can—ideally the roll will fit perfectly into the canister. Second, pour the entire bottle of alcohol over the toilet paper let it soak in completely. The final step is to light the alcohol-drenched toilet paper and let it burn.

Completed DIY emergency furnace

One bottle of alcohol can burn for hours providing you with emergency heat, light or as an emergency signal.

A 16 oz. bottle of alcohol can burn for several hours. If you need more burn time, wait until the flame goes out completely or suffocate the low flame with the lid. Turn the toilet paper over, slip it back into the can and saturate the same roll with another bottle of alcohol. This process can be repeated numerous times, as long as you keep the paper wet with alcohol—a good reason to carry a few bottles of alcohol with you.

As with any flammable liquid, do NOT pour any alcohol on an open flame, wait until the fire goes out completely before you add more alcohol. Be extremely cautious when handling as the can maybe hot to the touch. Flames may go above the top of the can, especially if it is windy, so be sure to place your homemade furnace away from flammable items such as clothing and place furnace on a safe surface while burning.

When you need a fire in a hurry, this quick and cheap furnace provides a heat source ideal in emergency situations and works well for an extended period of time in smaller spaces.

How would you use your homemade furnace? Tell us in the comment section.

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

May 17, 2013

NRA Women: Maggie Reese
by
Related Topics: Competitive Shooting General News    
3-Gun Pro Lady Maggie Reese

Professional Shooter Maggie Reese

Professional shooter Maggie Reese is a USPSA champion and 3-gun competitor who appeared in season two on History Channel’s marksmen competition “Top Shot.” Maggie is passionate about recruiting more women to her sport and educating the public about the types of firearms with which she competes.

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!
DIY All Natural Solution to Beat the Bird Flu – Mosquito Trap
by
Related Topics: First Aid General Gizmos & Gadgets How To Preparedness    

The weather is turning and this time for the better. Winter is over, and spring has arrived. Spring is known for all kinds of fun things such as rain, thunderstorms and tornadoes. With the wonderful—and in many areas badly needed water—some of it will be left behind as standing water, and standing water is prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

mosquito biting person

Mosquitos are attracted to humans by the carbon dioxide we breathe out with every breath. This homemade mosquito trap will produce carbon dioxide for about two weeks.

Whether it’s the danger of the West Nile virus, bird flu, swine flu or just a tiny bloodsucking pest that is keeping you from enjoying an afternoon on the back deck eating barbecue, mosquitoes can make life miserable. In extreme cases, they can even cause your death or the death of a loved one. So what are you supposed to do? You can’t live in a bubble. Mosquitoes are in every state and known as the state bird in most.

Some people may be reluctant to spray a bunch of potentially harsh chemicals such as DEET all over their bodies, never mind the potential dangers chemicals pose to children. I do, however, recognize the scientific benefits and value of DEET in preventing mosquito bites and disease transmission. What’s the solution? Long sleeved shirts and long pants will help, but again, I do not want to live in a cloth bubble every day of the summer either.

DIY Mosquito Trap

Water, brown sugar and yeast will produce carbon dioxide and attract the mosquitoes to the trap.

The solution is of course to reduce as many mosquitoes in your area without bathing in chemicals. Just the thought brings back recollections of the smell of citronella as a kid, but that never had much effect and was dependent on a fickle wind at best. Foggers—more chemicals—last only a short time and can get pricey. I started researching the subject and came upon a common sense mosquito trap that’s cheap and easy enough to make for just pennies from common household ingredients.

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, which we produce every time we exhale. If this is the attractant to humans, then that is the best bait as well, so what you need is a carbon dioxide generator that fools the mosquito into believing the dinner bell is ringing somewhere other than where you are at.

Here’s how to build your own, cheap, long-lasting mosquito trap that will keep you and your loved ones from becoming unwilling blood donors.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Homemade Mosquito Trap

Here's all you need to build the trap: a two-liter bottle, knife, roll of tape and black plastic or paper

Here’s all you need to build the trap: a 2-liter bottle, knife, tape and black plastic or paper

Supplies:

  • 1 2-liter plastic bottle
  • Tape
  • Black paper or plastic bag, or newspaper
  • Scissors or a sharp knife

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 teaspoon yeast
Completed Mosquito Trap

The bait is good for about two weeks. After that, you’ll need to add fresh ingredients.

Directions:

  1. Cut the plastic 2-liter bottle in half, discarding the bottle cap.
  2. Wrap the bottom half of the bottle with something black, like construction paper or a plastic bag (mosquitoes are also drawn to the color black).
  3. Mix the brown sugar in hot water and let cool. When cold, pour the mixture into the bottom half of the bottle.
  4. Add the yeast. There is no need to mix. The combination will create carbon dioxide to attract the mosquitoes.
  5. Place the top half (funnel part), upside down, into the bottom half of the bottle and tape the two halves together.
  6. Place your homemade trap outside in an area away from your normal gathering area.

Change the solution every two weeks for continuous control.

Do you have a cheap solution for mosquito or bug control? Tell us in the comment section.

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

May 16, 2013

Video Game Maker Drops Licenses with Gun Makers, but not the Guns
by
Related Topics: General Guest Posts Industry News Legal Issues    

Last week it was reported that Electronic Arts (EA) is ending its licensing agreements with firearms companies, but stated it will continue to use the images and names of real guns in its first-person shooter video games. Using realistic weaponry and brands of actual firearms adds “enhanced authenticity,” says the maker of games like Medal of Honor: Warfighter and Battlefield. But critics say both that it promotes gun brands and links that brand with violence and aggressive behavior.

Electronic Arts

Some speculate that game makers want to distance themselves from the gun industry during the national debate on violence, gun control, and the right to keep and bear arms. EA said politics and NRA comments critical of game makers had nothing to do with its decision. I don’t doubt that at all. But as usual, it’s not about guns; it’s about control. This time it’s about control of intellectual property rights. Legally speaking, it is critical that a trademark owner control the use of its marks, even if it isn’t getting paid for them, or it may risk losing the ability to enforce its rights in other areas.

EA says it has never paid a licensing fee to a gun manufacturer nor has it ever been paid to use specific gun models or trademarks in its games, even though it had license agreements with multiple gun makers. Now, EA says that depicting actual products and identifying their brands is “fair use” and compares the role-play games to a book telling a story. From a legal perspective, this point of view is typically valid for books and movies, but would not likely fly for a traditional board game or toys, for example. So is a first-person shooter video game more like a movie or a toy? Different U.S. courts have reached different conclusions, so it’s still an open question.

Although many airsoft producers have been sued in the last few years, I have not found a single case where a firearms manufacturer has sued a video game company for using identifiable or branded guns and accessories without a license. There may be some mutual benefit to both companies, while avoiding an official relationship where one could be tainted by bad press against the other. Plausible deniability—in both directions. However, Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc., and EA are embroiled in litigation over unlicensed use of its military helicopter names and images. EA contends that the use is expressive and entitled to First Amendment protection, thus no license is necessary. Bell asserts the use—in the game, packaging, and marketing materials—infringes its intellectual property rights.

First Amendment and “Fair Use”

Battlefield 3 by Electronic ArtsBattlefield 3 by Electronic Arts

These issues really aren’t about a pure First Amendment right of free expression. EA isn’t making a social statement about the weapons or aircraft it depicts or the brands. The weapons and aircraft are not trivial background scenery, incidental to the “story.” This is a commercial entertainment product using the intellectual property of another to make the experience more “authentic” and, therefore, more desirable. More valuable.

EA and Bell tried but were unable to negotiate a license agreement, so EA went forward with Battlefield 3 as planned. Unlike gun makers, whose products (or airsoft facsimiles thereof) may achieve added popularity—and sales—from depiction in the games, Bell has no civilian market for its multimillion-dollar military helicopters. One can presume Bell was seeking to be paid, not just acknowledgement in the game’s credits.

Last year, EA asked the court to dismiss Bell’s claims on First Amendment and fair use grounds. The court denied both and the case is on track for a jury trial next month. Continuing licensing relationships with gun makers, licenses EA contends are unnecessary even if no payment is made, would be an inconsistency likely to be brought to the jury’s attention. Unless the case settles, we may soon have a verdict—and an indication of which way the practice of licensing agreements between gun makers and game makers is trending.

About the Author

Glenn Bellamy is a Partner with more than two and a half decades of intellectual property litigation, patent and trademark prosecution, and U.S. Customs enforcement experience, first in Seattle and now in Cincinnati. He counsels clients on strategic plans for international Intellectual Property protection of everything from firearms and hydraulic machinery to toys and games. Glenn has litigated Intellectual Property cases throughout the country in federal courts and before the International Trade Commission. You can learn more at Glenn’s website, www.Armorer-at-Law.com. 

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

May 15, 2013

How to Shop for a Gun
by
Related Topics: Basics 101 Buyers Guide Firearms How To    

There is one thing we women know how to do with certainty—and that is shopping! However, if you are anything like me, shopping for an item you don’t know much about, like cars or electronics (in my case), can be daunting and exhausting. I’m skeptical of salespeople and mechanics pulling the wool over my eyes, selling me something overpriced or that I don’t need. If you are new to the gun world, you might not know exactly where to start when shopping for a gun. To make things a little easier, let us look at shopping for guns like shopping or clothes or shoes—by occasion, size, price, and looks.

Occasion

I love to shop just for fun or when I want something new. However, there are plenty of times I hit the mall for a special occasion. What you buy for a bachelorette party will not be the same outfit you pick out for your niece’s graduation. Guns are the same way. While many guns serve more than one purpose, designers usually have one specific task in mind.

Semi-Auto Pistols and Revolvers

To narrow your choices, first figure out the primary reason you want to purchase a gun. If it is for self-defense in the home, you will want to start narrowing your choices by calibers suited for protection. This means you need a gun that shoots a bullet powerful enough to stop a threat. Experts and self-proclaimed experts—including salespeople at the gun store—do not 100 percent agree on which caliber is best for self-defense. Most agree, though, the .380 ACP is the absolutely smallest round adequate for self-defense. Other calibers to try are .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.

If you plan to carry the gun, whether open or concealed, the size of the gun will matter. Fortunately, there are plenty of thin, smaller handguns on the market that are easy and comfortable to carry and conceal.

Many swear by shotguns for home defense.

Many swear by shotguns for home defense.

Shotguns

Many swear by shotguns for home defense. A 12-gauge or 20-gauge pump-action shotgun is easy to use and has the knock down power to stop a threat. If you are interested in expanding your shooting to include hunting, shotguns serve a dual purpose.

Rifles

The AR-15, chambered in .223 Remington, is becoming increasingly popular for home defense. Further, the AR-15 is good for competition, target shooting and hunting. Typically, other rifles, such as a bolt-action or lever-action in traditional rifle calibers such as .308 Winchester or .243 Winchester are not used, nor recommended for home defense.

Size

The way the gun fits and feels in your hand, along with the placement of the controls on the gun, will affect how well you shoot. Just like that blister-inducing pair of patent leather purple stilettos you bought for your cousin’s wedding, if your gun doesn’t feel good, you aren’t going to want to use it. Training with your gun is one of the most important aspects of gun ownership—especially if you are buying a gun for self-defense. The gun you buy needs to be pleasant to shoot.

When you grip the gun in your hand, it should feel secure. Further, the safety and magazine or cylinder release should be reachable without having to maneuver the gun much. It shouldn’t take two hands to have to manipulate any of the controls. Much like shoes, you will have to try quite a few different guns to find the perfect fit.

Looks

My mom shops for cars with one thing in mind—is it red? As long as the car is reliable, safe and within budget, I find nothing wrong with narrowing down the choices by looks. Personally, I think its okay to turn down a gun because you think it is ugly. Gun designers not only think about functionality but aesthetics as well when designing new firearms. Do you like angular lines like the SIG P239 or the Beretta PX4 Storm with its unique robust bubbly roundness? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We all have our own individual tastes. Just because the guy at the gun counter thinks you should like the look of a pink gun, doesn’t mean you do. If you like how the Glock looks, then pick the Glock.

You can switch out stocks and furniture on long guns. After-market accessories come in a wide variety of different colors, like pink, camo, neon green, and skull patterns. So if you find a gun that you like, but don’t like the black, you can change out the stock for something different. Grips on many pistols and revolvers are also interchangeable.

Budget

Decide how much you can spend on the gun of your choice. Having a budget will narrow your choices further. Guns range in price from several hundred dollars to thousands.

Another thing to consider is the price of keeping the particular firearm you choose in good functioning order. Will it have to go to the gunsmith for repairs or upgrades? Does it require cleaning after every range trip to function properly? Have you ever purchased a cute shirt at full price just to get it home and find out it is dry clean only? Annoying isn’t it?

This picture shows a wall of guns at a gun shop.

To make things a little easier, let us look at shopping for guns like we would shop for clothes or shoes.

You will need to feed your gun ammo. If you are buying the gun to plink or join a shooting league, then .22 Long Rifle is cheap and easy to find. However, depending on market fluctuations, for example currently and in the past, certain calibers can be expensive or difficult to find.

When I have to purchase something, like a new bag or a new dress, that is considerably more than I normally spend on clothes or shoes, I like to justify my purchase by breaking down the cost per wear. If I spend $350 on a new Coach purse that I will carry for over a year, it is less than a dollar a day. For a top-quality accessory, the price is worth it. Think about your gun the same way. You aren’t going to skimp on your wedding dress or engagement ring. Your gun is the same. Invest in a high-quality gun, because what you put in to it will be worth it in the end.

What kind of roadblocks have you hit in shopping for a new gun and how did you overcome them? Do you have any shopping advice for newcomers? Tell me about it in the comment section.

For more information about purchasing your first gun read the following blogs:

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!
Older Posts »
iFrame Test