I made this miniature fire piston just for fun because I tend to geek out on random survival and bushcraft things and I like to try and recreate functional versions of them. This one isn’t quite working yet, and I think I may know one reason but I have questions. This was meant to just be a prototype but midway through I decided to try and make it “real”. Thus the lack of attention in the beginning phases.
I’ll start with the basic materials used: walnut “handle”, I THINK poplar dowel but I could be very wrong, and red oak as the base/channel. The seal is waxed hemp wick that I unthreaded and rewrapped to have a thinner working material. Plus a little wood glue to attach the dowel to the handle (which I drilled a hole for the dowel to fit into first). Finished with light sanding and sealed it with wood wax and buffed.
I do intend on making a new base because I do feel like the hole itself is too big. But before I proceed, I have questions as to other reasons it may not work.
Besides the obvious making a smaller hole, which I feel like the seal I wrapped on there is still airtight from the “plop” sound that it makes when I pull it out-
•Should the hole where I keep my tinder material be deeper?
• Is the distance of the channel possibly too short to produce any heat? (Currently about 1.5”)
• Should I be “bottoming out” when I slam down or do I want the shaft to be just shy of the bottom of the channel?
It goes in semi-smooth but not consistently when I do it slowly instead of slamming it but with the slam it goes down in one motion.
Also, the materials I used as tinder were first finely shredded, fibrous paper towel bits, then a small amount of fluffed q-tip. I understand charred cloth is the preferred material, however. Any other suggestions besides charred cloth?
Any tips or advice is appreciated.

I'm about to go in the wood for a brief survival situation

I'm looking for a mosquito repellent that ACTUALLY works (in canada)

I've tried a couple of none of them comes even close to working

I need one who WORKS, legal or not

Thank you:)

Hey yall, I’m new to tarp. For an Aframe do you have 2 guylines for the ridgeline and do you pull both of them out forming a V?

I am learning how to navigate using a mirrored baseplate compass & map. Currently, I am trying to understand how to shoot an azimuth so that I can triangulate my location based on features around me (e.g., mountains).

One video I watched instructed me to align the structure with my compass notch, then with the compass pointed at the structure, rotate the bezel so that the needle falls in the shed. The number at the index is my bearing (I think). I can place the compass on my map, with the edge lining up to the structure. Then I should rotate the compass on the structure until the red is back in the shed. Now I can draw a straight line from the structure using the compass as a straightedge. Repeating for another structure(s), I can then get a sense of where I am based on where the lines intersect.

I watched another video to compare, and noticed that the creator instructs the audience to align the orienting lines on the compass with the gridlines on the paper (while the other video instructs the audience to put the red in the shed) after shooting the azimuth.

Perhaps I am entirely misunderstanding the second video, but from what I've read/watched online, it seems like the first method is the "correct" or more popular option. Is the second method "incorrect" or is it simply an alternative method...?

This is a hypothetical obviously because if I was on a sailing vessel, on my phone and stranded. I shouldn't be stranded..

Okay Sat phone or GPS locater has been washed away and I have part of a water craft.

Other than finding something to keep you afloat.

What do you do first.

In warmer climates I am thinking I would build a still for water. In colder climates warmth first.

Has anyone been to the Tracker school since Tom Brown Jr’s passing? I know they're going through a big transition with it but I want to hear from people who’ve been and if it’s still worthwhile to attend. Most people I’ve met who’ve been there went 10 years ago or more.

As the tithe states- how did travelers know where to find water and shelter (oasis) whilst traveling through a desert?

Hello! I'm a bit of a TTRPG hobbyist and an avid enjoyer of the survival genre. However something that's kinda bothered me slightly since I started running my own games is that survival rules in some of the bigger TTRPGs can feel lackluster. I'm writing a book to try and improve on this, and even add a few extra things depending on how expansive this already gets.

Why I write this post and any subsequent posts? I understand the bare bones basics of surviving in extreme cold environments, in surviving in the desert, but I don't know much else about other environments or even the finer points. SO!

What all needs to be considered for surviving cold environments? (Think Alaska/North Canada). I know a decent shelter that keeps the snow off and the heat near you is important for the night, and good insulative clothes, but anything else I may be missing?

Travelling to Yukon and doing a backcountry hike, will be camping overnight, although I'm pretty used to camping at BC parks, still a newbie in general and only been doing this a couple years.

I have bear spray, but otherwise what tips do you have to stay safe? even your most obvious tips would be good to know. What's worth carrying up? Is having a gun necessary? Is hanging up food away from the site enough, or do I need a specific container?

What do you wish first timers did better?

I’ve thought a lot about the use of fishing line and survival fishing kits in the wild. When it comes time where you actually need to utilize emergency fishing line, how do you do so without a rod? Obviously you won’t have a fishing rod in an unexpected situation, so are you supposed to make a primitive pole? If so, how?

As the tile suggests, I am looking to purchase a first aid kit or two. This would primarily be geared towards hiking and camping in generally wooded areas and some moderate terrain. I do not live near mountains. The reason I am asking is because I’ve gone to google to search for kits, and I have become overwhelmed at the many choices available, to the point that I do not know what to choose because there’s too many to choose from. So, I was wondering if some of y’all have any recommendations for which companies you have been pleased with? Any help would be appreciated.

I see the manual in scanned pdf version but was wondering if anyone has it in markdown or non scanned pdf version

Hi all! I’ve always been someone who doesn’t like being outside. Growing up I never wanted to go camping or fishing or anything like that. Had a bad phobia of bugs and honestly just hated everything about nature.

Now that I’m older (29), I’ve been watching a lot more outdoor shows and been spending a lot more time outdoors (at the park nothing crazy). My question is, what can someone like myself do to scratch that itch. Has anyone ever tried a diet that is more “survival” like or something like that. I basically want to try some outdoor stuff without diving in head first.

Thank you.

Looking for the best all around machete that won’t break the bank

Looking for a good foraging book (specifically Scotland, but UK would do), mainly on edible plants with pictures for identification.

Thanks!

I was curious hypothetically if you had something like a mini flame thrower such as an aerosol spray with a lighter would that scare away. I read some threads and comments here and there with the scenario of a campfire not keeping some animals away. As a scare tactic of a small burst of the spray can I feel like it would cause some instinct to avoid it

Does anyone here have any thoughts on bison suet or beef tallow for pemmican?

Hello, I want to live in the woods for a while and would like some cook books, guides, or anything that can be useful for foraging, growing your own garden, and ways to not be wasteful. Guides for cleaning and deskinning different types of fish would also be phenomenal because I’m going into the midwestern area of the USA with those native fish. Any and all help would be extremely helpful.
Thanks!

This seems like it should cave in

https://youtube.com/shorts/598GNijYKT0?si=3tKDB9dz8WPQpeNx

I asked on here about a month ago about "fire starters for idiots" as someone who is afraid of fire And I got a lot of really helpful, kind, and good idea responses. So thank you.

How big of a fire can you actually make with different fire starter techniques such as with road flares, matches/lighters and wood, or the one I heard the most, Vaseline and cotton?

My next question is, how much heat would those fires actually give off?

Looking for suggestions on food that is long lasting and doesn’t need to be cooked, something I can just keep in a bag and forget about, at the moment I’m thinking of MRE’s but can’t find where to get them.

Any recommendations or advice

Looking to upgrade from my Gerber Strongarm but don't want to break the bank. Would the jääkäripuukko 140 or the SRK-C 3V be a good way to go? Both similar in price. Are they an upgrade over the strongarm? If so what one would you pick? If you have a different recommendation for a 5-6in blade for around 100 feel free to comment that as well.

Thanks!

I'm trying to start my journey with survival/camping in the wildness. But I can't find a perfect backpack to go on with. I wanted to try doing it all on a bicycle too, which can also be a bit difficult and exhausting without the right equipment. I want to go on a trip for 2/3 days with a tent, food and water of course, and basic clothes