The 5 Dollar Preps series is to show people that even if you don’t have a lot of extra cash you can still do a lot to get prepared. Last week we got some first aid supplies and a basic fishing kit. This week Zack got some things for gun cleaning, and I put together a small sewing kit for my Bug Out Bag.
Lucas
I started with a little travel sewing kit for $1.37. It came with a tiny pair of scissors which is always useful, and a thimble. It also came with several small spools of thread, which is much better for light packing than a full sized spool you will probably never need.
I beefed up this little kit with two packs of needles. One variety pack of standard needles for a whopping $0.67 cents, and a pack of heavy duty needles for bigger jobs like canvas for $1.67.
Finally, I found some really cool stuff called Bondex Outdoor Restore, that is basically peel and stick nylon. For $1.77 I can cut a square of this stuff and patch a tent, backpack, or jacket that would not be at all possible to sew. Not that it really matters much, but they sell it in several colors.
Zack
Zack got the essentials for gun cleaning that will get used up the fastest; cotton patches and cleaning solvent. Gun cleaning supplies will get used up just like anything else but aren’t something you hear people mention often in their survival gear.
The cotton patches are just a bulk pack of Winchester cotton patches that you have to cut up yourself, but for $2.97, not a bad deal.
The cleaning solvent is of course, Hoppe’s No. 9. Zack got a 4 oz bottle at the store for $2.97, but I come home to find out they actually sell it by the quart online. Or if you you don’t want to keep a giant quart bottle of this rather potent stuff all in once place, Amazon has a 10 pack of 4 oz bottles for $9.79.
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Hey Lucas – good sewing kit idea. Another item to add that adds zero weight – a couple of yards of monofilament fishing line. Great for tarp, poncho, or backpack emergency repairs. With the new flexible lines that are out, you can easily use 20lb test and have an excellent repair "thread".
Steve,
Good tip. I actually have some 15lb pound line in my basic fishing kit that I talked about in 5 dollar preps last week but I hadn't thought about using it for sewing. I can see how it would work well for things that are move heavy duty.
Thanks for the good idea
another thing to think of with that line is stiches it works but it is not the best thing to use a line of the dental floss works better non mint.
Mono filament is good, but braided Dacron fishing line is better. 50 lb rated Dacron line is the diameter equivalent of 8 lb mono line. It cost a little more, but it lasts FOREVER, and is easier to sew with if needed. Some brands of the Dacron I like and use are spider-wire and gorilla-braid, both available at sporting goods stores.
diesel,
The Dacron sounds good, 5 times the strength in the same size line. I might have to pick some up next time I am at sportsman's warehouse.
How much more expensive are we talking?
the thread in those cheap sewing kits is crap, as are the scissors. Like premade first-aid kits, don't bother, build your own. Sewing is a survival skill often forgotten or underestimated. Get good gear from the ladies at the FABRIC STORE. Monofilament is scratchy and stiff, dental floss is a better emergency thread. Or buy some real thread, in black, gray, brown, (cotton wrapped poly, buttonhole twist, upholstery thread) and wind it off onto a clear plastic sewing machine bobbin for more compact storage.. Your sewing kit should also contain many safety pins, and some curved needles make sure the eyes are big enough for your thread. a tiny pair of GOOD scissors (mundial, fiskars, gingher) is a good survival tool, not just for sewing.
I stopped using Hoppes and use only Break-Free now on my guns..not one rust spot and the bores are as clean as new…maybe better. It cuts down on keeping oil, cleaner and such when you take it all in one bottle. I even found it works well with 22 lead-head bullets…cleans the lead out just like brass.
Look for a product called Dr. Bronners Magic Soap. Many uses from washing to brushing teeth. Pepermint is my favorite is very refreshing when you just towel wash in camp when hunting or camping when a full shower is not an option.
I switched over to a bore snake for cleaning. In a extended survival situation you might find your self running out of patches but the bore snake is washable and a hell of a lot faster. Bore snakes run $20 to $30 but the investment is never buying patches again. For small parts throw in a toothbrush and an old pair of socks(a rag will do). If your concerned about weight or shape take a hack saw to the handle about half way down the handle and hold a lighter to the sawed edge to round your corners or melt away any burs. As for solvent I have found that the bottles Hoppe’s No. 9. Come in tend to leak if they find them self upside down or on there side so Zip Lock Bag the kit just to be safe.
Break-free is a cleaner, lubricant and preservative in a bottle or spray…then i use a bore snake(kept in a sock to protect the brass splines and protect everything else from the boresnake. Quality thread can also be used for stiches, so, I keep some in my med kit next to some really good med sissors and a thimble. [By the way thread prices have really gone up]
I picked up four sewing kits from cheaper than dirt for 15 bucks the have heavy duty thread and everything else one would need to repair clothes and packs sold the two extras for four bucks apiece came out pretty good.
Another cheap add for your bag is a stanley mini multi screwdriver with two phillips tips and two flats wieght is less than an ounce resembles an ink pen $1.27 at walmart. Tucks nicely into leatherman sheath also coleman nine hour candles three pack $3.98
speaking of sewing "gear"==the "speedy stitcher" is a very handy item to have around , comes with some very good waxed thread ,2 very heavy needles , and is a self contained unit..speedy actually makes 2 kits , the larger of the 2 also includes smaller needle and finer thread , which is nicer for thinner type material repairs..and its money well spent because i have found things around the house to "mend" which helps justify the cost { about 20 buks
]..i got mine from -the ""kittery trading post""-. the store is on the east coast…they have online sales ,i,ve dealt with them and they seem to be good people. also , if your order is over 50 bucks ===they ship free….and they have lots of good stuff for the great outdoors—————————good luck friends–and "IF ITS HAPPENIN INDOORS>>>YOU CAN COUNT ME OUT >> !!!
super glue(for cuts and anything), vasiline applied to one end of cotton patch a kindling for starting fire, asperin/ibprofin, lots of tp…also good fire material(not preused), breakfree is great but special greese is best for rails of Glocks or sigs, LED headlight at walma for $10, wire saw at Harborfreight.com for $2.99 or $7, [Swat pants at LAGear with knee reinforce],so much stuff, so little time.
Harberfreight also sells a wrist rocket slingshot for five bucks, Worth having also.
What size container are folks putting either their sewing or cleaning kits in? Lucas launched a good topic and the thread that follows point to adding more stuff. I simply can not fit everything in the sewing container/box that I got from Wal-Mart. Any thoughts and pics would be greatly appreciated
i have an old cotton shirt that i've cut up into small shreds to clean my guns. reusable and just wash with water and hang dry. Cotton (especially from a gun manufacturer) becomes pricey for cleaning a gun. More efficient in my opinion.
Thank you for all this useful information ,
you really helped me !
Don’t bother with a cheap sewing kit scissors are cheap and dull, thread is weak. get one spool of very strong thread or forever be repairing. Get pack of needles.cut thread with knife.
Hoppe's BoreSnake, best gun cleaning tool to come out in years.
A BOB must for firearm carriers.
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