2012 TSHTF Preps

[k0xxx]

Anyone thinking about clothing? Coats etc. What about tools to make clothes and sweaters and shoes. Noobie wasn't it you who posted those cool, hand-made, recycled-material shoes?

well I'm handy with my sewing machine, and have lots of fabric, so I'll trade sweatpants for toilet paper!

I'm assuming here that you have an treadle type sewing machine, since in such a scenario the electricity would be down. My wife still uses our treadle machine (1909 Singer) from time to time just to stay in practice. I tried running it for here once, but was kinda spastic. It takes a bit of practice, but the dang thing will sew very nicely.

 

[xpc]

I'm assuming here that you have an treadle type sewing machine, since in such a scenario the electricity would be down. My wife still uses our treadle machine (1909 Singer) from time to time just to stay in practice. I tried running it for here once, but was kinda spastic. It takes a bit of practice, but the dang thing will sew very nicely.

I have six pairs of sneakers and all have treads, each will make an apocalypse seem mild in comparison, they will out live you and out live me. A lot of young children work night and day to bring us these $200 shoes. Oh did you say treadle? never mind.

 

[SKR8PN]

This spring, we plan on buying another 500 gallon propane tank just for the generator. If used carefully, that should keep the freezers going for at least 3-4 months..........I also already have 500 gallons that I use to heat the shop AND run the generator. The shop would be shut down if/when TSHTF......................

I found a used 500 galon tank in suposedly good condition in my area for 1k. Is that a good price? I wonder if there are any restrictions in my are for installing and filling big tanks?

Hummm, got me thinking.

gina

Gina.....I can a buy a refurbished 500 gallon propane tank, delivered, set up and tested for 800.00.

 

[xpc]

DH and I discussed this a bit more today, and figured the one culture that would be the least affected would be the Amish.

Not an argument but somethings are best unseen, I lived with an Amish sect for over a year - I almost married one of them, but in the end I told her I like camping but just not all the time. In 1994 she told me she had just bought a horse for $750 and I replied that I just bought a GrandPrix for $17,500, she about dropped.

The group owned a cheese plant and my company supplied them with the state of the art electronic computer and automation equipment, more advanced than some regular customers (the peoples couldn't have it but apparently the company could). Most of my time was spent between shippshawanna Indiana and brokemyhand Ohio - just saying is that people may not always be as they seem. Nice people though and have nothing bad to say about them - I even saw an ankle once.

 

[Dace]

Wow, you guys are great!

I love all the great ideas, I am glad I started this as there is just soooo much to consider! I think we need a master list some where!

BBH, thanks for playing referee while I was away ......As was stated folks this is an IF TSHTF scenario, not a COULD TSHTF question.

 

[TanksHill]

Thanks Skr8pn, just wondering.

I think someone pointed out once that any sewing machine could be used if you turn the wheel by hand. My is ultra modern so this would not work, all stitches are digital. But I do have an old one that would do this. I think I will keep it around for this purpose.

Dace, good to see you on. I was wondering if you had power.

I really think this thread is just a good brainstorming list. To help us be prepared for anything.

gina

xpc... an ankle, wow.

 

[SKR8PN]

Since someone brought up the Amish, I have to tell you guys about something only THIS group could appreciate.

My wife works in the local hospital as a coding specialist. She has been telling a few of her co-workers about the garden, the canning, the full pantry, the freezers full of food and generally about our attempt at becoming more ss. One of the girls she works with, Ann, we nick-named "Popcorn Ann" because her mom and dad run a small popcorn concession and she helps out as much as she can.
Well, after Popcorn Ann heard about some of our adventures, she decided to nickname The Wife and I.
My wife's new nickname is Lavinia and mine is Levy, two pretty popular Amish names.
To carry the gag to the next level, The Wife and I purchased an Amish bonnet for her and a straw hat for me, and we wore them into the hospital one morning! I thought Popcorn was gonna wet herself when we walked through the door!!!

 

[Wildsky]

Anyone thinking about clothing? Coats etc. What about tools to make clothes and sweaters and shoes. Noobie wasn't it you who posted those cool, hand-made, recycled-material shoes?

well I'm handy with my sewing machine, and have lots of fabric, so I'll trade sweatpants for toilet paper!

I'm assuming here that you have an treadle type sewing machine, since in such a scenario the electricity would be down. My wife still uses our treadle machine (1909 Singer) from time to time just to stay in practice. I tried running it for here once, but was kinda spastic. It takes a bit of practice, but the dang thing will sew very nicely.

 

[xpc]

I have two gallons of seawater on the woodstove, boiling down into, I hope, salt. I read something that indicated that certain conditions could produce epsom salts, not table salt. I'm confused by what I read about it, but you know me....I gotta try it!
----Monique, not really worried at all......

Sodium to magnesium is variable and can be 20 to 1, fairly small that it would be unnoticeable, so don't worry about epsom. If you are getting your water from the pacific ocean and depending on how many glaciers and icebergs are melting at the time you should get about 3% sodium salt or about 3-4 ounces per gallon and fill about a third of a cup depending on how course it is after you do your fractional distillation. (chemistry still comes back to me after all these years). Based on one gallon, so two would be about 7 ounces of sea salt and by my grocery store prices you would be rich.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

You can indeed use a sewing machine without electricity, if it has an exterior wheel. Just turn the wheel & it stitches as normal, albeit, more slowly. My mom hemmed the last clean pair of pants I had during the last ice storm, so I could wear them to work.

Probably wouldn't work on certain fabrics, but in general.

Or you could go ahead & make the sweatpants & hoard them