Category Archives: Camping

Expedient Sled

If you’re ever stranded in the wilderness in winter with an injured companion, then this idea could be a lifesaver. The February 1944 issue of Popular Science showed how to construct this expedient sled from a Chippewa design.

The magazine explained that ash was the best wood to use, since the green wood would bend without breaking.

The sled was lashed together, and the magazine explained that if you had no cord, you could use strips of ironwood bark. Or, if you were using the sled to haul your injured companion, you could use the laces from his boots.

Toasters for Camping and Emergency Preparedness

Another Atlantic hurricane serves as a reminder of the need for emergency preparedness. Any number of emergencies can cause the power to go out, and if that happens, you’ll want your life to be as comfortable as possible.

Each year during hurricane season, our web page on making coffee without electricity gets lots of traffic. And there’s another electric appliance that people take for granted: The toaster.

The lack of electric power doesn’t mean that you have to give up making toast, since there’s an extremely inexpensive camping toaster available. I assumed that everybody knew about these, but the existence of this product often comes as a surprise. So whether it’s for camping trips or emergency preparedness, you might consider investing just a few dollars for one of these devices.

This toaster is nothing more than a metal plate that sits on any source of heat. You can use it on the stove at home or a camp stove. You can also use it on a charcoal grill or campfire. As long as you have a source of heat, you can make toast. Four wires fold into a frame, and you lean up to four slices of bread against the wire.

This kind of toaster only does one side of the bread at a time, so you will have to flip the bread halfway through the toasting process. But other than that minor inconvenience, the result is toast identical to what comes out of your normal electric toaster.

In addition to making toast, this toaster will cook anything that goes in your electric toaster. So it’s also good for things like Pop-Tarts, bagels, and English muffins. Other foods such as Toaster Strudels and Toaster Scrambles don’t need to remain frozen, and can be stored in a cooler for a few days. Therefore, with a camp toaster, these can be used for a very convenient hot breakfast.

Here are some of the available camp toasters on Amazon:

Wood Burning USB Charger

We recently featured a 1958 Soviet kerosene powered radio and lamented the fact that similar products are not available today. It turns out, however, that we were wrong.

First, a Facebook comment to our original post alerted us to the Lufo lamp, shown here. This is a kerosene lantern, apparently developed as part of a UN project to provide radio receivers for Africa. The heat from the lamp operates a Peltier effect device which powers the built-in AM FM radio.

These don’t appear to be manufactured currently, but they are reportedly available in Europe if you look hard enough.

There is, however, one device on the market currently, and it doesn’t even require kerosene! At Amazon, you can purchase a wood-powered USB charger that uses the same principle. You can then charge your phone using sticks gathered from your yard.

The USB charger appears to be a bit of an afterthought, but also appears to be fully functional. It appears that the Peltier device power supply is intended mostly to power an internal fan that increases the efficiency of the stove. But it also provides usable power, which is available from the USB socket.

The stove also includes an internal 2600 mAh lithium-ion battery to store the charge. According to the Amazon reviews, the stove itself works extremely well. According to one review, the stove will boil a pint of water in about four minutes, which is quite good for a stove burning nothing but small twigs. The stove is useful for charging a phone or other device. The fan speed appears to be a trade-off. With the fan on high speed, the stove runs most efficiently, but it also uses most of the current that is produced. It appears that the best compromise for generating electricity is to run the fan on low speed.

For the do it yourselfer, it seems that producing a similar device should be relatively easy and inexpensive. The Peltier elements are readily available on Amazon. You can also order direct from China with free shipping at this link. They’re normally intended for use in applications such as 12-volt coolers, where an electric current is run through the device, where it produces a difference in temperature between the hot side of the device and the cold side. But this is a case where the physics works the same with a minus sign in front of the equation: If you generate a difference in temperature, this will cause electric current to flow.

You’ll probably need more than one, and you’ll probably have to experiment with wiring them in series (to increase voltage) and parallel (to increase current) to get sufficient power. You’ll also need some kind of heat sink mounted on the cold side. The device will have maximum output when the temperature difference between the two sides is greatest. So you need to get one side as hot as possible while keeping the other side of the thin device as cool as possible.

Once you have sufficient voltage and current, you can hook the output to a 12 volt USB charger. Even if you don’t have a full 12 volts, most such chargers are little more than a voltage regulator, so as long as your output is more than 5 volts, you should have a fully functional USB power connection.

To use your new power supply to listen to the radio, you could add the small portable shown here. When batteries are available, you can use standard AAA batteries. During the day, you can run it with the built-in solar cell. And at night, you can plug it in to your wood burning charger with its USB port.

Of course, most of our readers will want to listen to shortwave, and will probably opt for this inexpensive USB-powered receiver which tunes AM, FM, and 4.75-21.85 MHz shortwave.

In addition to being useful for camping or emergencies, such a project would be excellent for a science fair project.

1978 Solar Oven

Forty years ago this month, the August 1978 issue of Boys’ Life carried these plans for a solar oven. According to the magazine, the oven would reach 200 degrees, “hot enough to cook a meat loaf or bake breads in several hours.” The inner and outer boxes were insulated with fiberglass insulation and sealed air tight. The inside of the inner box was painted black with a “non-lead” paint. Four shiny aluminum panels could be used to direct heat into the oven.

A suggested improvement to increase efficiency was to use a double layer of glass with an air gap between the two panes.

If you would prefer to have someone else do the construction work, the solar oven shown at left is you can find this solar oven Amazon which appears to have good reviews.

Simple Camp Tripod

This self-explanatory helpful hint appeared in Popular Mechanics 75 years ago this month, June 1943.

If you need to make a tripod to cook over the fire, you can, of course, lash the three poles together. But if you have an empty can, you may as well make use of it. The can has the added advantage of providing a spot to hook the kettle: By leaving the lid partially attached to the can when opening, you can cut a hole in it and hang the pot from that.

AM Radio Direction Finding

Sixty years ago this month, the June 1958 issue of Radio Electronics carried the plans for this transistorized radio compass.

The circuit was nothing more than a superheterodyne receiver covering the standard broadcast band and, if desired, the longwave band. It was specifically designed for use as a radio compass. Any portable AM radio with a loopstick antenna can be used for the same purpose, although the magnetic compass mounted directly on the case made use of this one quite convenient.

The article specified that it was a worthwhile investiment for “people interested in outdoor activities such as motorboating, sailing, hunting, trapping, berry picking, camping, hiking or other activity where there is a possibility of getting lost.”

Even with this modest receiver, or even the most inexpensive AM transistor radio, the method of locating yourself is actually extremely accurate. All you need is an AM radio and a good map marked with the locations of local broadcast stations. The ferrite core antenna coil is mounted parallel to one of the sides of the case of the radio. Fortunately, the vast majority of inexpensive radios were also built this way. The antenna is very directional, and produces a sharp null when the length of the antenna is pointed directly at the station.

To use as a direction finder, the radio is placed on the map, and with the compass, the map is oriented to the map. The radio is turned until the signal fades out. At that point, the side of the radio is used as a straightedge, and a line is drawn through the radio station.

This process is repeated with a second station. The point on the map where the two lines intersect is your location.

I’ve tried this method using an inexpensive transistor radio, and the accuracy is astonishingly good. In an urban area, I can generally find my location within a few hundred yards. At night, using distant signal clear channel stations, I can determine my location within about twenty miles.

The exact location of a radio station’s transmitter (which might be different from its city of license or studio location) can be looked up at the FCC website. Once stations are found, their latitudes and longitudes can be plotted on a map, or even on graph paper. With a bit of practice, you will be able to very accurately determine your location with very minimal equipment.

Of course, a GPS receiver will give more accurate results much more easily. But the GPS receiver depends on GPS satellites being operational, which might not be a given in some emergency situations. Also, if the sky is obscured by heavy foliage, a signal might be unavailable, but AM radio signals would come in loud and clear via ground wave. As long as at least two AM radio stations are on the air, an AM radio can tell you your location quite accurately.

I’ve found that a few of the local broadcast stations seem to give an inaccurate bearing. It’s possible that some of them moved their transmitter site without telling the FCC, or possibly that station’s signal is being reflected by some nearby object. To get a precise location, I plot several bearings on the map, and ignore the one that seems not to intersect the others. The other lines are generally very close together, and I estimate my position based upon where those other lines converge.

More information about this method of direction finding can be found at this post.

No-Nonsense Car Top Carriers

Many problems have a simple solution that has been lost to the ages. And the problem of moving large objects with a small car seems to be in that category. If you have a bulky (but not particularly heavy) object that needs to go from Point A to Point B, it’s often easiest to put the object on top of the car.

In some cases, you can simply put some padding on the object and securely tie it to the roof. But sometimes, you need a solid surface on which you can tie it down, and that’s where this kind of inexpensive roof rack comes in handy. Back in the day, these were very common, and they could be found at any auto parts store or hardware store. But at some point, they lost favor over more modernistic looking solutions, and when I set out to buy a pair locally, nobody knew what I was talking about.

If you do a Google search for what seem like relevant terms, you will get a dizzying array of options. It turns out that many brands of roof racks and car top carriers have cultlike followers, and many people spend hundreds of dollars on what should be a relatively simple concept.

I have a set of cross-bar roof racks similar to the ones shown here, and they do a perfectly adequate job of transporting small loads when the occasional need arises. As you can see from the picture, the concept is simplicity itself. Each of the two steel bars is supported by two bases that rest on the roof of the car. The whole assembly is held down snugly by two straps that hook on the side of the roof. The model shown here will fit virtually any car. To use, you simply mount the racks on the car, place the item to be moved on top of it (perhaps covered up with a blue tarp), and tie it down using suitable rope.

I’ve made a couple of additions to mine. In the set that I bought (which is a different brand, but more or less identical), the two pipes forming each cross bar didn’t want to stay snugly in place. (They are adjustable so that you can make them fit any width of car.) Since there were holes drilled in the two pipes, I simply added a bolt to keep them in place. I used an eye bolt, which gives the added advantage of giving another spot to tie down the load.

When installing these racks, you do need to pay some attention. You need to fasten down the straps extremely tight, and you need to check them periodically to make sure they aren’t coming loose. I make a point of checking them right before leaving, checking them again after a mile or so, and then checking them occasionally whenever I stop. Also, for larger loads, I secure them with additional ropes to the front and back of the car, or to other convenient tie down points.

A rack like this allows you to move many objects. For example, you can easily bring home lumber or other building materials. A rack like this is an excellent way to move a canoe, kayak, or small boat. You can also move small pieces of furniture. Readers of this blog, of course, might have occasion to move a console radio. One time, I showed up at a seller’s house to pick up a console, and he insisted that it wouldn’t fit in my car. Undaunted, I hoisted it onto the roof, tied it down, and was on my way in minutes.

Invariably, when people see these, they are amazed at the simplicity. This small investment will add greatly to the utility of virtually any vehicle. You can find them at Amazon at this link:

Note: The links on this page are affiliate links, meaning that this site will earn a small commission if you buy a product after clicking the link.

$12 Tent

If you recall from my Eclipse Camping for Newbies page, I’m sometimes a fan of cheap camping equipment. If you want to buy something that will last a lifetime, then you want to get the very best. But occasionally, you want to get something that you’ll use once or twice. That’s why I was intrigued by this $12 tent at WalMart. You can order online and pick it up at the store with no shipping charge. If you just need something for a couple of nights in reasonably good weather, this one will meet your needs.

As I mentioned in that other post, you want to practice setting it up at home. According to the reviews, this one doesn’t come with instructions, but by looking at the picture, the process is pretty intuitive, as long as you practice once in your living room.

(The links on this post are affiliate links, meaning that we are paid a small advertising fee if you purchase after clicking on the link.)

Solar Fire Starter

When I worked for Radio Shack in an earlier lifetime, one of the more interesting products we sold was the solar cigarette lighter. It was something of a novelty item, but it was also fully functional. It was nothing more than a parabolic mirror, with a little holder at the focal point. It’s shown above in the 1980 Radio Shack catalog. The idea was to place a cigarette in the holder, point it at the sun, and after several seconds, the cigarette would start smoldering. No, it didn’t work at night or on cloudy days, but on a sunny day, it worked flawlessly.

The same simple device is now available at Amazon. Taking inflation into consideration, it’s not much more expensive than it was back in the day, and would serve as one method of starting a fire in an emergency. Yes, you’re better off if you have matches or a traditional lighter with you, but redundancy can be a good thing, and it’s kind of fun to amaze your friends by lighting a fire using solar power.

If you don’t smoke (this is one rare case where a cigarette could save your life), then you could use other similar tinder, such as tissue paper, dry grass, or leaves. This device won’t cause anything to burst into flame, so you’ll need more tinder at the ready. As soon as whatever you lit starts to smolder, you’ll need to transfer it to a larger pile of tinder, and then blow on it until it bursts into flame. You then keep adding larger fuel until you have a fire of the desired size. You don’t want the fire to go out after it gets dark, because obviously you won’t be able to light another one until morning.

(The links on this page are affiliate links, meaning that we get a small advertising fee if you purchase from Amazon after clicking on the links.)

Peace Light 2017

This cartoon marking the 1st anniversary of Pearl Harbor appeared 75 years ago today in the Pittsburgh _____, Dec. 7, 1942.

This cartoon marking the 1st anniversary of Pearl Harbor appeared 75 years ago today in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 7, 1942.

Pearl Harbor Anniversary

Today marks the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, marking the entry of the United States into World War II.

The Peace Light

As a symbol of peace, we show the flame above, which has been burning for hundreds of years. This flame was burning throughout the Second World War, the First World War, the U.S. Civil War, and every other war in modern history. It’s shown here in my living room, but it originates from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where it has been continuously tended for hundreds of years. The exact date that some monk struck a flint to ignite it is not known, but it is believed to be about a thousand years ago.

Each year during the Advent season, it is transported from Bethlehem to Europe and North America, courtesy of Austrian Airlines. This year, it was brought to Kennedy Airport on November 25. From there, volunteers fan out across the country to distribute the flame. Most of these are connected with Scouting in some way, and Scouts and Guides in Europe participate in similar activities.

As I did last year, I played a small part in the distribution. Prior to my getting it, the flame traveled to Indianapolis, and then to Chicago. From there, it went to Des Moines, and I met an Iowa Scouter in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to transfer it to St. Paul. From me, it was picked up by others who took it to Wisconsin and North Dakota. From there, it will travel to Winnipeg, and probably to other points. Meanwhile, others are taking it to other parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

You can read more about the Peace Light at the U.S. Peace Light website or the Peace Light North America Facebook group. If you’re close to St. Paul, Minnesota, and would like to receive the Peacelight, feel free to contact me and we can make arrangements. In other areas, you can find a local source on the Facebook page.

Lanterns

One common question is how the Peace Light travels on two international flights from Israel to Austria, and then to North America. The flame is transported safely in an antique blastproof miner’s lamp. On the ground, it is walked through customs by airline employees to the airport chapel.

On the ground, the most common way to transport the light is with a lantern such as the one at the top of the page. These are rarely used these days, since mantle type lanterns provide considerably more light. But in the 19th century, the cold-draft kerosene lantern was something of a revolution in lighting, since it provides a fairly bright flame and is also relatively safe, since it will self-extinguish if tipped over.

A good history of the lantern can be found at this site. Prior to such lanterns, the best available option for camp lighting was the candle lantern. As the name implies, it was just a ventilated enclosure in which a candle was inserted.

The ad at the left, from the June 1916 issue of Boys’ Life, shows both types of lamps. The candle lantern here is known as a “Stonebridge” lantern, since it was manufactured by a company of that name, and replicas have been made over the years. Interestingly, in addition to providing more light, the kerosene lantern is actually less expensive. Candle lanterns start at $1.50, but the cold-blast lantern is only 75 cents.

Both types of lanterns are readily available today. The cold-blast kerosene lantern can be found at Amazon at any of the following links:

You can also obtain the lantern at WalMart with this link or this link. The fuel is available at this link. You can order the lanterns and fuel online with these links, and then pick them up the same day at the store.

And for those who want to be even more retro in their camp lighting, these candle lanterns are also available at Amazon:

The replica Stonebridge lantern shown below is very similar, or possibly identical, to the 1916 candle lantern shown in the ad:

How to Transport the Peace Light

If you need to transport the flame only a short distance, one good option is to use a votive candle at the bottom of a coffee can. For longer distances, I place the lanterns at the top of the page inside a 5 gallon bucket similar to the one shown at the left, wtih sand or cat litter at the bottom.

Carrying it in this manner is very stable, and I have never experienced it tipping. If it does tip, the entire lantern is safely contained, and the lantern will self-extinguish.

It should be noted that because there is an open flame, you should not refuel the vehicle with the Peace Light in the car. Fill up your gas tank before picking up the light. If you need to buy gas before you reach your destination, it will be necessary to leave the lantern at a safe location before driving to the pumps. And while the combustion of these lanterns is very complete, it is a good idea to keep a window of the car open slightly.

Plans for a more a elaborate carrier are also available at the Peacelight.org site.

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