Swiss Tech 6-in-1 Micro-Tech Multi-Tool

In an urban environment, I carry a sheefield multi tool as part of my EDC. It is very useful at work especially the phillips and flat screwdriver. But sometimes I find it too bulky, so instead I carry a small gadget called Micro-Tech Multi-Tool as shown below.


The Swiss Tech 6-in-1 Micro-Tech Multi-Tool.


Precision pliers, wire cutter, stripper, and sheet shear.


Phillips screwdriver.


Flat screwdriver.


With a bonus 1/8" rule markings.


A small yet very useful tool. It would be handy for making snares too if you're out in the woods.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Firesteel

Fire is one of the basic essentials in a survival situation. You can cook your food with fire, purify water, make weapons, protect you from wild animals, signal for help and most of all provide you with light and warmth. Survival experts suggests that you carry at least three ways of making fire. What fire making tools to carry is an individual's choice - and there are a lot to chose from. For me, it would be a match, a lighter and a firesteel.


Light My Fire Firesteel. Very expensive, I hesitate to use it.


LMF Army, Scout and Mini Firesteel.


Made in China Firesteel, $2.99 each, the one included in my EDC below.


An unused made in China firesteel side by side with the one in my EDC. The one in my EDC has been used maybe a hundred times. It gives a lot of sparks, works well so far. Maybe not as good as the expensive firesteels but it serves its purpose at a lesser cost.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Ridge Runner Neck Knife

Here's another inexpensive knife that I bought from tiger-merchant on eBay for $9.95 + free shipping.


It comes with a black plastic sheath and a paracord lanyard.


This neck knife has a 2-7/8" satin finished stainless steel blade, 3-5/8" rubber-coated handle, and 6-1/2" OAL.


A close-up of the blade. It comes very sharp, all I did was strop it to make it razor sharp.


The spine was somewhat rounded and won't throw sparks on my firesteel so I had to sharpen it with a bastard file. It has some jimping on the spine near the handle too.


A very nice lightweight neck knife.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Brusletto Balder

This small fixed blade knife is a birthday present from my son. It cost $18.14 + shipping charges.


It comes with a brown leather sheath. The leather is not quite thick but I don't think there's a danger that the blade will pierce through it.


This miniscule puukko measures 5" OAL, 2" blade length, made in Norway.


A close-up of the blade. There are grind marks on the blade that needs further buffing. It came with a decent edge but I had to hone it a litte bit more then stropped it to make it razor sharp.

It's a superb whittler or woodcarving tool and is even a very good striker for firesteel.


Awesome little knife. I will carry this as a neck knife.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Walking Stick

I've browsed several blogs about making a walking stick and since I've been hiking a few trails with my wife, I decided to make one. It's not that I need a walking stick to aide me in walking but since I have a knowledge of Arnis, a Filipino art of stick fighting, I thought it would come handy for self-defense not only against bad people but also against slithering cratures you might encounter along the path. So here's my rather futile attempt to make one.




I removed the bark with a machete.


Then, I carve a wood spirit on the handle.


I made several wood spirit around the handle then I left the stick to dry in the sunlight.


After a while I get back to the walking stick and I found several cracks on it.

Then I remember on one of the blog I read, it says not to dry the stick directly under the sun but just leave it under a shade.

Oh well, lesson learned. I guess, I'll continue and finish this project despite the cracks. I'll polish it with a sandpaper and probably put a lanyard hole on the handle and also put a stick pic on the other end of the stick for my camera. And then coat the stick with linseed oil. I'll take pictures and post it to keep you updated.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

$1 knife

When will my being a penny pincher ends? I can't help it, I saw this knife at Walmart and I can't resist buying it for one dollar. Unbelievable - what can you do with a one dollar knife. You tell me, here are some photos of the knife.




3 1/4" partially serrated blade, lockback folder, with pocket clip, made in China.


4 1/2" plastic handle with checkering.


The blade is dull out of the box, won't cut paper. Even the serrated edge needs sharpening but I don't have the tool to sharpen it.


Maybe this knife is good as striker for firesteel because the spine is squared off and sharp. Or maybe I'll reprofile the blade and remove the serrated edge so it will be easier to sharpen. For my next project?

That's all folks! Thanks for reading.

Gulay - Vegetables

Filipinos are fond of vegetables especially Ilocanos. Who among my countrymen would not know the famous vegetable dish pinakbet. My mouth waters at the thought of inabraw and diningdeng of the North or the laswa of the South. And you can bet, if you see a house with plants like talong (eggplant), kamatis (tomato), okra (gumbo), sitaw (string beans) or ampalaya (bitter melon), it belongs to a Filipino.

We planted vegetables this summer, latter part of spring to be exact. Here are some photos of them.


Trellis for sitaw.




Tomatoes.


Eggplant.


String beans.


Bitter melon. We use the leaves for munggo dish.


Okra.

That's all folks! Thanks for reading. /