Questions tagged [diy]
Questions about DIY (Do It Yourself) projects
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Can I use a glass mason jar or an empty tin can as a DIY cooking pot?
I'm talking about a small gas or alcohol stove, for example like this:
Images from: https://www.rei.com/blog/camp/diy-how-to-make-an-alcohol-stove-from-soda-cans
Since the stove is DIY, I was ...
13
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Just how dangerous is it to refill fuel canisters? [closed]
In the past, it was possible to refill MSR canisters if you brought them into their repair shop in Seattle. However the repair shop has been closed under the excuse of COVID and still hasn't reopened ...
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4
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How can I measure pack volume?
I've recently started making my own bike luggage (and am designing some accessory pouches to extend my lightest backpack). To compare to what I can buy and have owned in the past, I'd like to measure ...
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1
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How to seal a swimming pool/water hole while camping
There are lots of "survival videos" on Youtube, showing "primitive" people making swimming pools in the middle of the forest. They always smear some sort of greyish material over ...
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2
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What is the local accuracy of the Garmin Oregon 750 barometric altimeter?
I want to manually create a topographical heightmap of a hillside property with the highest possible accuracy for the altitude. This will later serve as the basis for planning terraces and building ...
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How can I fix joint between shoulder strap and chest strap?
In an attempt to fasten the chest strap, the plastic clip that keeps it joined to the shoulder strap came out.
Any ideas, on how I can fix this mess?
I think I should force the clip opening to open a ...
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4
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1
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How to make a segmented double hammock?
I have been toying with the idea of a split hammock. My idea is a wider than usual gathered end hammock, about 11' by 8', with an adjustable line running under to separate our individual sag points. ...
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1
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Is there a more accurate way to gauge the fuel level on my ski boat?
I own a 1988 Malibu Skier, and one of the things I've been thinking about upgrading on it is the fuel gauge. Specifically, I want to be able to have some kind of digital reading of how much fuel I ...
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3
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How do I make and test a radar-reflecting hat?
At significant risk of tin foil hat jokes, I’ve read compelling evidence that a homemade hat incorporating angled and crumpled aluminum foil may slightly increase a kayaker’s visibility on radar — not ...
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What can I do to be more visible to other ships’ radar when traveling in a sea kayak?
I’ve seen small radar reflectors for sale. Should I carry one when kayaking? What else can I do such that boats can use their radar to be aware of my location when they can’t see me due to poor ...
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Looking for Century Model 6210 Portable Toilet Waste Tank Drain Thread Size
What is the thread size on the waste tank drain? I can’t find a female connector to dump at a RV dump (step on 3” cap). Looking to build my own. The research I have done indicates a Buttress thread ...
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Why is oilcloth made with linseed oil?
I've been looking into making an oilcloth tarp. All the sources I have read so far seem to consider linseed oil the only oil to use, and I'm wondering why that is.
So, what, if anything, is it about ...
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Are wattle and daub primitive shelters suitable for the Adirondacks?
Sometimes natural building techniques just aren't suited for a certain environment. For example, an exposed cob oven in vermont vs. a stone oven would turn out very differently, the cob falling apart ...
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Is there clay soil in the Adirondacks suitable for earthen primitive building?
An example of the earthen material I have in mind, this video shows some daub prepared for a wattle-and-daub house at timestamp 7:45: https://youtu.be/wPWLlVVVDN0
Cob, cobb or clom (in Wales) is a ...
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1
answer
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What in the forest is suitable as a foundation to primitive structures such as log cabins, in northeast USA?
Cedar is a great example of a log that makes a good log cabin foundation. Solid and naturally rot resistant. Are there other species' logs suitable as foundations in northeast USA? Rocks can also be ...
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1
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What are uses of red spruce (picea rubens) by humans in a wilderness, primitive, or frontier setting?
What are uses for red spruce (picea rubens) by humans in wilderness settings (e.g. in primitive technologies, bushcraft, wilderness survival, low-tech rural livelihoods, frontier homesteading)? While ...
- 3,949
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1
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What woods have been used to build primitive shelters in northern climates, especially around the Adirondacks Mountains?
I'm exploring primitive shelter building in northern cool temperate climates. I mean primitive as a compliment: the prime, first, original, indigenous, low-tech/base-tech. Things like the ...
- 3,949
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4
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How do you refill your alcohol stove while it's burning?
I'm collecting ideas on this topic.
I'm using a DIY alcohol stove made of a soda can. I have seen a guy refilling the same stove using this, but he doesn't explain where he found it, or how he built ...
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1
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How can I make a pack basket for a backpack?
I was looking at youtube videos and I want a pack basket for backpacking. I don't want to weave one myself, and ones that are made by a professional can be $200. I saw some videos where people made ...
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3
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How to follow an existing angle when sharpening?
This question was prompted by the advice to "follow the existing angles" in this answer on sharpening ice screws. I have heard the same advice when it comes to resharpening knives. Of course, there ...
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2
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If you are starting to tie your own fly fishing flies, what types would be the easiest to start with?
The are two main types of fly fishing flies, wet (sink underneath) and dry (float on top).
If one were trying to learn how to how tie the flies yourself instead of buying them, would one type be ...
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1
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How can I find Corner Caps for my 1963 12ft StarCraft boat?
I have a 1963 12ft StarCraft boat, and one of my corner caps needs a replacement.
I'd like to find one, either new or used.
Does it affect the stability of the boat, or is it only for looks?
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1
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Do Bee Hotels/Houses actually work?
Bee hotels or houses are supposed to allow solitary bees the chance to lay eggs - however there seems to be some controversy, that they only attract pests?
Considering the decline of bees globally, ...
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When building a penny stove how do you keep the cans from splitting?
Penny stoves are usually built from two soda cans and they look like this,
Image source
with some variations between the builder and so on. The basic idea is you have the bottoms of two soda cans ...
- 69.1k
7
votes
1
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Timing on building a small log cabin
I'm interested in building a small Lincoln-log style cabin (more like a shed, <200 square feet) in hardiness zone 4/5 of northeast USA. Available timbers are mostly red spruce, some eastern hemlock,...
- 3,949
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Can you attach a non-load bearing hip/waist belt to an existing bag?
Is there a way to upgrade a bag to have hip belts?
If so what should I look for in identifying a good product to fill this niche?
Something like this but a hip belt
I would prefer not to have to ...
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6
votes
2
answers
879
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How to repair a jacket whose pocket zip has detached from shell?
I have a light gore-tex jacket. The pocket zip has detached from shell. The jacket is not ripped. Does anyone know how to "repair" it? Are there agencies in US who can do it for me?
8
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What type of glue is best to repair/resole cross country ski boots with plastic soles?
Does anybody know a good type of suitable glue to repair a delaminated sole on (modern) cross country ski boots with plastic soles (Rottefella NNN in particular). The delaminated part is in the front ...
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1
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How can I make an obsidian knife?
I have some obsidian and I know that it can be made into knives and other sharp objects such as arrowheads. Historically this was done for a long time in the United States before there were steel ...
- 69.1k
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2
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How can I disassemble a multi-tool with no screws on it?
I have a multi-tool and I want to disassemble it – not for any repairing just to take it apart and take the blade for other uses – but it has no screws.
How can I disassemble it? (See ...
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Is it possible to partially change color of down jacket?
I own several down jackets but my favorite and warmest doesn't have the best colors. It's black which is great but shoulder area is orange. It's an LL Bean jacket.
Is it possible I can dye and ...
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What type of rope should I use to make a 1.5" Gym Climbing rope?
Use Climbing rope double up as braided as 1.5" Gym Climbing rope. What type, diameter rope, No of Strands?
Found these sample videos but curious to know what would be the best way to do this?
https:...
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1
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Can I attach a small spinning reel to a baitcasting rod?
I have an idea to attach a small spinning reel abu silver max 5, to an ugly stik 7'6" medium light casting reel (which I already own), to fish sub 10 gram lures and live bait. Anyone see a major ...
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Would Gorilla Glue Work on Goretex?
Is this waterproof glue effective on Goretex? It mentions 'etceteras' in its label but does it stick Goretex to fabric?
The stitching on my boot is ripped. I'm not considering sewing it because the ...
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How to process iron in the wilderness? [closed]
How do you smelt and forge iron sources from & in the wilderness? People must have started somewhere with this sort of thing!
I once saw a video from a primitive technology practitioner on ...
- 3,949
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How to find natural sulfur sources?
According to a google search sulfur is widely available in nature. Volcanic regions and hot springs are common sources of it in elemental state. Less obvious sources are iron pyrites (iron sulfide), ...
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What materials can be used to make cordage in forests of the Adirondacks?
Context:
Rope, aka cordage, is useful in many bushcraft projects. Cordage can be useful to hang things up, and it is particularly valuable in constructing tools (e.g. bow drills for fire making, ...
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1
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Could you use Silnet to seal a drinking water bladder?
I'm considering a MYOG gravity filter project but I'm not sure where to find out if Sil Net™ can hold up under long term submersion and won't leak toxins into the water.
Is it safe? Do you have a ...
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How to DIY a tent footprint for the 'Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2' tent? [duplicate]
Numerous customers who bought the manufacturer-made tent footprint for the 'Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2' tent reported on Amazon that the tent footprint is poorly made and NOT AT ALL a good purchase.
...
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How can I build a board to mount climbing holds in my house?
I want to screw a board in my house to mount indoor climbing holds, like an indoor wall. so a piece of board with evenly spaced screw holes in it that accept the standard screw mounts for climbing ...
user2766
4
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1
answer
414
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Applying enough heat (120 ° C) to shrinking tube without damaging the fletching
I want to test a shrinking tube as my arrow winding. Commonly I've used the normal yarn and glue combination.
However, I wonder how to apply enough heat (at least 120 ° C) to the tube without ...
- 23.4k
8
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1
answer
617
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What size needle should I use with 210d Dyneema X Gridstop when sewing my own pack?
I'm new to sewing and new to pack-making. Trying to build a lightweight pannier, since most panniers are made out of heavy cordura. I've ordered 2 yards of a 210d Dyneema X Gridstop; (specs here: ...
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What kind of foot pump would I need to build a DIY camping sink?
I want to build a simple DIY foot pump based camping sink. I can't seem to understand what kind of foot pump should I be buying. I don't know what is the exact term for this kind of foot pump:
http://...
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What are the pro and cons of vacuum sealed vs mylar bags for DIY dehydrated foods?
For packaging dehydrated foods for backpacking, the two options that I can think of are mylar bags and vacuum-sealed bags. What are the pros and cons of each method?
- 69.1k
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3
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Making a compass from magnet and needle -- which end is north?
I was watching one of those Discovery Channel wilderness survival shows last night and one of the "survivors" made a compass from a piece of wire tie and an earbud's magnet.
He stripped the plastic ...
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How would I make a bear-proof pannier?
I'm impressed with the idea of the Ursack, but would like to use the same material to construct a pannier. Does anyone have any good considerations about the weaknesses I might encounter in a design ...
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Alternatives for sealing Mylar food packs?
We are making our own dehydrated meals with mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. This is very cost effective, but less so if you need to spend lots of money for one of the specialty tools for sealing ...
- 32.1k
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1
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What to look for in a quality archery target?
I've fun creating archery targets. I experiment with different materials and building styles. However, I wonder what would be the characteristics to measure the quality of the tries. So, what to look ...
- 23.4k
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How to determine the length of poles for a tent
This tent appears to need just 2 diagonal poles.
How do I figure out what length diagonal poles I need for an 8 foot x 10 foot (footprint) tent, taking into account the radius of curvature?
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Fill material for shooting sack
A lot of people swear on their shooting sacks as their training target. They take a potato bag or something else and put foil rests etc. in it.
I really want to try things out but I'm unable to get ...
- 23.4k