How to Make a Bottle Cap Fishing Lure

How to Make a Bottle Cap Fishing Lure

 

Camping: Bottle Cap Fishing Lure
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I saw this brilliant idea on YouTube and had to share it. A very smart guy figured out how to make a Bottle Cap Fishing Lure out of a discarded beer bottle caps.

He even made a business of recycling buckets of beer caps harvested from local bars until he was sued by beer manufacturers for use of their copy-written logos.

I would link to the website, but it is no longer used as the bottle cap lure guy – it looks like someone else bought it, which is a shame, as the Bottle Cap Fishing Lure is a really cool idea.

All you need is:

  • Beer/Soda bottle top
  • Split rings
  • BB’s or small split shot
  • Treble hook.
  • Tools are simple also:
  • Hammer and small nail/Drill and small bit
  • Pliers

Instructions:

  • Using your fingers, press the sides of the cap until it buckles
  • Before pushing the two ends together, place a couple BB’s or shot into the cavity, so that they can rattle.
  • Carefully drill or punch a hole at either end of the folded cap. It may help to slightly flatten the ends with your pliers.
  • Thread a split ring into each hole
  • Thread a Treble hook into one of the split rings
  • Go fishing…

I would love to post pictures of any catch you have gotten using this piece of DIY fishing tackle.

OODA Loop

OODA Loop
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The OODA loop is a training concept used to explain the decision making process and to help develop the ability to process information and make GOOD decisions under stress.

It was developed by a young air force fighter pilot in Korea named John Boyd, and is credited with playing a large part of the success in air combat during that conflict.

The OODA loop is an acronym describing the steps needed to make decisions it stands for:

  • Observe
  • Orientate
  • Decide
  • Act

First you need to observe an event – say you are walking up to an automatic teller machine in a “bad” part of town and you observe two male youths loitering near the terminal.

You would then orientate yourself based upon your observation – are they waiting for a friend, or do they seem to be waiting to mug a bank customer? How important that you get the money at THIS location.

Once you have gathered and processed the information you need to decide what to do – pick a new atm, talk to the guys, grab your gun; these are all decisions you could make and some are better in certain situations than others.
What is important is, that after you have made your decision you act with decisiveness and confidence. Half steps or hesitant action in interpersonal conflict gets people hurt. Avoidance is almost always the best answer, but sometimes the only real option is to fight.

When it is time to fight it is time to stop talking and to dominate the exchange.

Now, why the OODA loop is important is because once you understand it, and realize that all decisions run through these steps – you can use this to “get inside your opponent’s OODA” – meaning if accosted you can take action to make them react to you.
As an example, an older post of the former TN handgun permit scenario video shows when a bank robber runs out and points a gun at you – it is not the time to try to draw on a cocked and sighted pistol.

The robber has already decided to take action if confronted and all he has to do is send a command from his brain to his trigger finger, while the armed citizen must see the robber, process that they are a robber, and they are pointing their gun, decide the tactical and legal repercussions, decide to draw, draw, and fire.
Long story short – Action is always quicker than reaction

But what happens if you do something that makes the attacker have to reobserve, reorientate, make a new decision tree, and then react?

This is one reason I recommend concealed carry rather than open carry – going from – Hey I am going to rob this guy to heck this guy has a gun is a large leap for a criminal to make and would most likely ensure I would have a split second to take action.

Remember, there is a big difference between theory and practice, but the more you understand theory, and practice the greater chance you will survive when crisis calls.

How to Make a Bottle Cap Candle

 

DIY: Bottle Cap Candle
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As a byproduct of keeping bees, I have a lot of wax, which lead me into candle making. Simple beeswax candles are very easy to make, last a long time, don’t smoke or leave soot, and make a very clear light. However, they can be large and take up too much space to put in small survival or bug out kits.

Today we will use scrap to make a very small Bottle Cap Candle that fits very well in minimalist kits as well as weighing next to nothing.

All you need to make this small candle is a bit of cotton or other natural fiber string, a metal bottle cap, and some wax.

Put your cap upside down on your working surface, and then place a drip of hot wax in the center of the cap.

Place one end of your string into the wax to set it in place, and then fill the cap up with wax.

Let cool, and put in your emergency kit with a lighter or other simple fire starter.

I don’t know how practical this project is, other than putting in a minimalist survival kit.  I do know that this project is fun to do with a kid.

Beeswax for Dirty Hands

Beeswax for Dirty Hands
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When I garden or work with my hands I tend to end up with dry hands – I have all sorts of beeswax based salves, but preventing is better than treating, at least in my opinion.  So I wanted to show you how to use beeswax for dirty hands to keep them clean.

I have found that if I have some warm beeswax (body temperature) and rub it on my hands I get just enough wax rubbed in to protect my hands, but not so much that I get it caked on (as when I am working with melted wax.)

Because I am using wax and not a salve or cream, the coating is dry and relatively durable, and still comes off with soap and water when I am done working.

I hope this tip on using Beeswax for Dirty Hands helps – if it doesn’t (or your hands are cracked and dry from other things) try my beeswax balm recipe.

This tip does take some work to rub it on, as you have to knead the wax and rub it into between your hands to heat it up.  You can’t just swipe the wax across you palm.  However, from personal experience, this is worth it when you are going to be working in the dirt for a while.

PRN Episode #20 Alexander

PRN Episode #19 Interview Lamar Alexander

52 Unique Techniques for Stocking Food for Prepper
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For today’s show David interviews Lamar Alexander (of prepper fame, not the former Tennessee Governor.) of Simple Solar Homesteading and author of many books on tiny house living as it relates to being more self-sufficent.

When life threw Lamar some lemons, he made more than lemonade, he refined the recipe and then decided to share it with others.

What Lamar did, was design and build a small off grid cabin for under $2000.00.  He lives there full time, and has learned to thrive off of a simple (but not spartan) lifestyle.  Mr. Alexander is quick to point out that he lives a full life, and does not want for anything, has as much free time as he desires, and by developing multiple streams of self-reliant income coupled with a simple lifestyle has managed to save enough to live on for an indefinite period.

I really admire Lamar and his work, and have bought some of his books on sustainable living.  You can learn more about him and his designs at his website www.simplesolarhomesteading.com/

The show is scheduled for Monday at 10pm central time at this link.

If you cannot listen on Monday, you can always download the podcast for listening at your own leisure.