Random Thoughts

From the Desk of John Rourke – August 10th, 2017

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SITE UPDATE: Small addition to the website. Go all the way to the bottom of the site and there is a short summary about me, a mini-version of my Instagram feed, and the cover of whatever book I am reading right now.

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Flight time for a missile to go from North Korea to Guam = 14 minutes.

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Completed my latest AR pistol build. Had an issue with getting the bolt catch pin inserted. It just wouldn’t go. Had to “repeal and replace” it with a new pin. I purchased some special tools off eBay to help with that installation and it went much smoother.

Here is a pic of the completed gun…..

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Lightweight AR Build Update: I have almost all the components to put together this latest project. This is certainly a budget build so really curious what the weight will end up being. 5 pounds is the goal but not sure how close I’ll get. Standard M4 weight at around 6.5 pounds shaving 1.5 pounds is doable but we’ll see.

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I’ve seen many stories of people who use wood to cook and heat with – via open flame – developing respiratory issues. Stories out of Venezuela are confirming this issue as well. The constant breathing of smoke creates a raspy voice and eventually breathing issues.

Something to consider for post-SHTF times.

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13 Comments

  1. yooper says:

    I heat and cook with wood and no problems, but of course i have a chimney that directs the creasole ( smoke ) out of the house. If you are camping and have and open fire, it is only common sense to keep your head out of the smoke. that is one of the reason the cowboys wore bandanas around their neck.

    Reply
    1. SingleMom says:

      It would also depend on what they’re burning. Given the conditions down there now, it’s likely they’re using treated lumber, manufactured paper products, and pretty much anything else that burns without stopping to think about the chemicals contained in them.

      Reply
  2. goingray58 says:

    I’m not OVER NK.. but all I can do about it is prepare.
    Rocket stoves are a good option .. those can be made out of lots of leftover or refuse materials. Brick, block, cans, pipe..
    GG58

    Reply
  3. JBernDrApt says:

    Like the information at the bottom of the page. Helpful and informative. Thanks for all the information you share.
    – Keep Looking UP

    Reply
  4. Capt.Michaels says:

    Bottom of web page? I believe that’s been there for a little while? I remember scrolling all the way down to the bottom a week or so ago and I was like…hey, how long has that been there?

    GoingGray58, is there an easy look up on YouTube or what not with step, by step building one right..for the rocket stove? I remember that last one we talked about on August 1rst. I was so/am still, stoked about building one. I think according to what you’ve posted it’s easy to build one in a pinch with just about anything. But I really would like to build one like in the picture Rourke posted.

    Also, I noticed when I voted for this as a top prepper site…some of the sites on the vote website are just web domains with place holders. Or in other words, someone bought the website name, but never posted put up a web page. There are not a lot, but there are some and they are usually the ones without a picture to the web link…. Meh. Anyone else notice that?

    Reply
    1. goingray58 says:

      Capt.Michaels
      I have one good plan I pulled down and put on word doc ..
      as a mass heater. Everything is a variation on a theme, of course and mine will be a little different, but it does a fair job of describing how and why and if you want THAT one exactly it gives a list of materials and dimensions.
      You are welcome to the docx file if you want it …

      Or I can go poke around and find some links I like

      This is one of my favorites
      https://www.niftyhomestead.com/blog/rocket-mass-heaters/

      Reply
  5. JohnP says:

    yooper and Single Mom, I agree having heated with wood when I lived in NH. goingray58. thanks for that web address. JR, like the info on the bottom of the page.

    Reply
  6. joyce says:

    Good point single mom…something to keep in mind, especially since it is probable in a grid down situation one will not be eating/living in an optimal capacity already. No point in adding insult to injury by inhaling un-necessary fumes.

    Capt.Michaels, that rocket stove looks to be a good one…i like the double “burner” for facilitating multiple pot/family cooking. The possibility of it being “salvaged” by someone in need of materials for their own stove/use if unprotected (as well as portability) is a consideration that makes me focus more on the paint can/gallon tin can designs. In a secure location though, it would be almost a luxury 🙂

    Thanks for the link goingray58…i spend more time online researching info than i prefer. In fact i have been going through bookmarked posts from last June and the (entertaining/informative) conversation on boxers/briefs/cooling undergarments had recommendations i was able to pass on to DH as he was wondering what brand or kind of brief to think of purchasing. Seeing comments by PR made me miss his insightful and humorous participation….bless him and his as i hope his busy productive life has also just become more private….

    JR, as you continue to tweek this site i have enjoyed your efforts to present everything with ease of use and polish…keep going, (but take time for you and your family’s enjoyment of the moment! Especially the kayaking…more pics please 🙂 ) i do miss being able to see if the number of comments has changed on the home page…have to click on each post to tell if more readers have left new comments. Would it muddy up the works to add that feature as you used to have it? Your offerings of free books has been a great perk for us readers !…but i fear i have become a book-whore as my reading always declines in the summer months. The information is good to have but i NEED TO READ it to benefit from it.

    Trying to vote daily….1776Patriots has been going for just over a year and a half so it’s rank is impressive! Every now and then i check out another site, however, this community is second to none and was the first one that seemed balanced as well as welcoming to me as an inexperienced reader-thanks. This is “home.”

    Onward…stop to rest but don’t quit….

    Reply
  7. goingray58 says:

    here are a few portable ideas
    http://theselfsufficientliving.com/12-rocket-stove-plans-to-cook-food-or-heat-small-spaces/

    I will caution .. if you use salvage brick or rock beware. Some materials are more porous than others.. so water can soak the material. You can add fire and it can heat quicker than it can release the steam .. and you get exploding rocks. We used to explode river rocks just for that reason.
    It’s fun but sitting around cooking someone could get hurt .. so be careful.
    Usually not an issue, but you only have to be wrong once… and a sharp piece of rock traveling a 1100 fps might not go well if you are in the way.

    At prepperfest I did also see a guy making portable rocket stoves that take down and fold into the ammo box it was built in. very cool .. and you have a compact stove and carry handle. Could not find a link .. at least not yet.
    GG58

    Reply
  8. Large Marge says:

    re: respiratory

    I remember a National Geographic story about an archeological dig of an ancient village along the frozen Alaskan coast.

    According to the story, the villagers used blubber to cook and light their lamps.

    Then a tsunami entombed them and their artifacts.

    Centuries later, autopsies of the frozen remains showed severe pulmonary problems from breathing soot. Their health was so compromised, the researchers doubted anybody in that situation could live beyond their 30s.

    Reply
  9. joyce says:

    Great link goingray58, thanks!

    JR…You are a magician in multiple ways thank you!

    Hope this weekend is both productive AND enjoyable for all….ONWARD….

    Reply

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