What did you do today to prep?

[The Heretic]

For an encore, he took a shot at an acetylene tank (no candle). I believe it exploded, or at least immediately caught on fire, I don't remember all the particulars, but it was very spectacular.

Acetylene is a highly volatile unstable gas which requires a special cylinder filled with acetone that is absorbed into a calcium silicate porous mass inside the cylinder. The maximum safe pressure for acetylene is 15 pounds per square inch (psi). If acetylene reaches 30 psi in a free state, it can explode without a spark or flame. Pressures above 15 psi can cause a violent, explosive decomposition reaction.

 

[The Heretic]

Ordered some "egg replacer" on sale: https://www.preppingdeals.net/deals/amazon-5-pack-bobs-red-mill-egg-replacer-12-oz

This is for baking and is not powdered eggs (which is a lot more expensive), but it works the same for baking, which if SHTF would be more important to me than making egg dishes.

 

[Mono1]

2 more bottles made, apple cider alcohol, just started another gallon of apple cider in the freeze dryer...

Need some more ideas for alcohol base...

View attachment 1987033 View attachment 1987034

Oregon Springs. Easy on the wallet. Hard on the Bathroom Floor.

 

[Mono1]

Do the experts think I need to put treatment in it?

You're Looking for Experts Here?? EXPERTS??

 

[OrPackrat]

2 new flavors done, 2 bottles of the Kissed Caramel, 1 of the Apple Crown of my Apple Cider.

Apparently the Kissed Caramel Apple Cider is so good, I'm not allowed to share it with anyone including family.

So I need to make at least 8-12 more bottles of it for the year....

 

[The Heretic]

View: https://youtu.be/gjWoJYJ7Zyk?si=_W-Gcy9XPdtO4lJw

 

[Brutus57]

This is not meant as a discussion thread. Just what you did today to prep.

If you didn't do anything, please don't post, but feel free to read what others have done to prep.

I stole the thread idea from ARFCOM Survival section.

Post what you did, practiced, or bought.

If you have questions, feel free to start a tread here in the Survival Forum.

Charged the battery on one of my BOV and then test drove it. Congratulated myself on now living in a free state which I do daily having spent 7 years in the NorCal gulag. Packing a GHB for upcoming border crossing into unfree state.

Brutus Out

 

[rexposeidon]

today I went to a local nursery that specializes in PNW native plants and ordered 45 trees, plants and shrubs that all bear some form of fruit or nut or edible seeds. These will all be planted inside my fenced 1/2 acre compound where I am finishing my forever home (bunker).

 

[The Heretic]

Watched several vids by a guy who tried to see what it would take to stay alive in a small airtight enclosure with no fresh air - i.e., how long would the air have enough oxygen vs. CO2, first with just one person, then one person and some plants and then one person and a bunch of algae that consumed CO2 and produced oxygen.

Executive summary:

In that space, with that person, he lasted about 4-5 hours before CO2 got too high and oxygen too low (per OSHA) without plants.

With some "snake" plants not much difference.

With algae he lasted a little longer. One test (out of many) had some noticeable results - he lasted twice as long.

Algae is very complicated to grow/maintain and have it work - even minimally. It also takes quite a bit of it (hundreds of gallons) to have an impact (and that was for just one person).

So, before you attempt some kind of enclosed bunker that doesn't have fresh air replenishment, you might want to consider his results and conclusions.

 

[Mono1]

Watched several vids by a guy who tried to see what it would take to stay alive in a small airtight enclosure with no fresh air - i.e., how long would the air have enough oxygen vs. CO2, first with just one person, then one person and some plants and then one person and a bunch of algae that consumed CO2 and produced oxygen.

Executive summary:

In that space, with that person, he lasted about 4-5 hours before CO2 got too high and oxygen too low (per OSHA) without plants.

With some "snake" plants not much difference.

With algae he lasted a little longer. One test (out of many) had some noticeable results - he lasted twice as long.

Algae is very complicated to grow/maintain and have it work - even minimally. It also takes quite a bit of it (hundreds of gallons) to have an impact (and that was for just one person).

So, before you attempt some kind of enclosed bunker that doesn't have fresh air replenishment, you might want to consider his results and conclusions.

So @The Heretic, Based on this Information, what would be your advice for the average suburban dweller?

 

[The Heretic]

So @The Heretic, Based on this Information, what would be your advice for the average suburban dweller?

With regards to trying to wait out NBC attacks in an enclosed airtight shelter?

1) Unless you are wealthy, have plenty of room and are willing to spend time/effort and expense to hire someone who really knows what they are doing (e.g., a bonafide NASA engineer who has researched this topic and is capable of setting up this kind of environment), don't think you can survive without fresh air replenishment (i.e., filtered exterior air) by putting some plants in your shelter (although they won't hurt).

2) You are probably better off setting up a good filtered air replenishment system purposely meant for and certified for surviving NBC events.

 

[solv3nt]

With regards to trying to wait out NBC attacks in an enclosed airtight shelter?

1) Unless you are wealthy, have plenty of room and are willing to spend time/effort and expense to hire someone who really knows what they are doing (e.g., a bonafide NASA engineer who has researched this topic and is capable of setting up this kind of environment), don't think you can survive without fresh air replenishment (i.e., filtered exterior air) by putting some plants in your shelter (although they won't hurt).

2) You are probably better off setting up a good filtered air replenishment system purposely meant for and certified for surviving NBC events.

Is NBC more likely to attack than CNN? I thought NBC was getting sold.

 

[Mono1]

Is NBC more likely to attach than CNN? I thought NBC was getting sold.

 

[Bacchus]

I started putting together a solar power station from parts, such as solar panels, regulators, batteries, inverters, power and battery monitors. My objectives are to do this as cheaply as possible to 1) power my refrigerator in an outage, which puts a lower limit on power and capacity; and 2) to get up to speed on solar stations with the idea of building a bigger system in the future. Right now close to $300 with a solar panel, and my system will be 750W, 1100Wh.

Certain commercial solar stations are selling for a lot less than they were a year ago when I first looked at this. For example,

this unit on Temu

which has 1000W power and 1075 Wh capacity for $283.68. That does not include solar panels. That's almost cheaper than the one I'm assembling from mostly Harbor Freight components. And some of the better known brands are offering comparably sized system for not too much more than that, probably worth the difference.

I'm learning about the various brands and sizes available; how to do it myself; power calculations to size the system; and a lot more.

Here is an amazingly informative and useful "first stop" if you go to YouTube for information:

link

This includes links to many other videos, links to a book teaching the calculations, links to good places to buy some of the parts (e.g., batteries), and a link to a forum.

 

[solv3nt]

I started putting together a solar power station from parts, such as solar panels, regulators, batteries, inverters, power and battery monitors. My objectives are to do this as cheaply as possible to 1) power my refrigerator in an outage, which puts a lower limit on power and capacity; and 2) to get up to speed on solar stations with the idea of building a bigger system in the future. Right now close to $300 with a solar panel, and my system will be 750W, 1100Wh.

Certain commercial solar stations are selling for a lot less than a year ago when I first looked at this. For example,

this unit on Temu

which has 1000W power and 1075 Wh capacity for $283.68. That does not include solar panels. That's almost cheaper than the one I'm assembling from mostly Harbor Freight components. And some of the better known brands are offering comparably sized system for not too much more than that, probably worth the difference.

I'm learning about the various brands and sizes available; how to do it myself; power calculations to size the system; and a lot more.

Here is an amazingly informative and useful "first stop" if you go to YouTube for information:

link

This includes links to many other videos, links to a book teaching the calculations, links to good places to buy some of the parts (e.g., batteries), and a link to a forum.

NFPA has free access to NFPA 70, also known as the National Electric Code. Chapter 690 is what you seek.

 

[Burt Gummer]

Acetylene is a highly volatile unstable gas which requires a special cylinder filled with acetone that is absorbed into a calcium silicate porous mass inside the cylinder. The maximum safe pressure for acetylene is 15 pounds per square inch (psi). If acetylene reaches 30 psi in a free state, it can explode without a spark or flame. Pressures above 15 psi can cause a violent, explosive decomposition reaction.

The Brain on this guy.

 

[The Heretic]

The Brain on this guy.

Just a copy/paste.

But it is basically what anybody who has taken some oxy/acetylene welding classes is (or should be) taught as part of the safety intro. I was taught that in comm college (two different programs) and in the USCG - the latter showed us films of explosions and also what an oxygen cylinder can do if the gas valve is knocked off.

 

[Tony617]

Just a copy/paste.

But it is basically what anybody who has taken some oxy/acetylene welding classes is (or should be) taught as part of the safety intro. I was taught that in comm college (two different programs) and in the USCG - the latter showed us films of explosions and also what an oxygen cylinder can do if the gas valve is knocked off.

We learned to do basic welding in metal shop in junior high. My shop teacher had first hand experience to see an oxygen tanks valve being broken off. The tank broke though several walls and exited the building.

 

[OrPackrat]

6 more bottles of kissed caramel apple cider vodka and 2 more bottles green apple apple cider vodka.

 

[OrPackrat]

Picked up another 2 gallons of apple cider, already have 1 gallon in the freeze dryer.