Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (44 page)

A wide variety of oils (both vegetable and animal) can be turned into biodiesel. Olive oil, corn oil, lard, peanut oil, and even recycled oil from restaurants can be used—the list is quite extensive. For the easiest way to produce this high-energy fuel source at home, start with unused vegetable oil that is a liquid at room temperature.

The many remarkable processes involved in biodiesel production, as well as the dangerous materials, are not for amateurs. Always wear thick rubber gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask when handling the lye, methanol (methyl alcohol), and the solution they make. All of these substances are very harmful if they touch your skin or eyes, or are inhaled or swallowed. Methanol is readily absorbed through the skin and quite toxic. Drinking just a few ounces would be fatal. Lye is extremely caustic, giving severe chemical burns to exposed skin (like that scene in
Fight Club
). Finally, methoxide (the substance produced from lye and methanol) is an extremely toxic nerve agent.

The materials for making 1 gallon (3.8 l) of biodiesel can be found by taking a trip to the grocery store and the hardware store. You’ll need 1 gallon (3.8 l) of new vegetable oil (canola oil, corn oil, and soybean oil are the best). You’ll also need 1/2 ounce (14 g) of lye in the form of sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is used in certain drain cleaners—check the label to make sure it’s in there, as some have other main ingredients. The final material is 27 ounces (800 ml) of methanol (methyl alcohol). This is commonly available as a fuel treatment. Make sure the label says methanol, as isopropyl alcohol won’t work.

Solid oils and used oils require some additional steps and extra equipment, so they are more challenging for the beginner. If clean, new liquid oil is used, your process can be very simple.

STEP 1
While wearing gloves and goggles, carefully pour the methanol and sodium hydroxide into a large glass jar. Stir the jar about 2 minutes, until the sodium hydroxide has completely dissolved. Do this outside, as the vapors are toxic, and use within an hour, as the solution has a short window of activity.

STEP 2
Warm your oil in a cooking pot on a stove or heater, until it is roughly 100°F (38°C). Then pour your vegetable oil into a bucket (or other plastic or glass container) with a tight-fitting lid. Add the methanol and lye mixture—very carefully—and seal.

STEP 3
Shake or roll the container gently 20–30 minutes, then allow it to sit for two days in a warm spot. During this time, the fluids will separate into two layers. The bottom layer will be glycerin, and the top layer will be your biodiesel. Carefully pour the biodiesel off into a fuel jug, leaving behind a tiny bit of biodiesel with the glycerin.

STEP 4
Blend the biodiesel with regular diesel (up to 50/50) for use in newer, high-efficiency engines. During warm weather, you could also burn the biodiesel straight in older engines (those built before 2000, which have hardier systems than the newer, computer-controlled diesel engines).

There are right and wrong ways to use biodiesel—if you’re cooking it, you shold know them all. First and foremost, use it soon. The quality can diminish after just 10 days, and the fuel may not be usable after a month or two. Remember to use it in warm weather, or blend it in cold. Pure biodiesel will thicken at 55°F (13°C), which could clog your fuel lines and kill your engine. When making biodiesel, work outdoors or in a well-ventilated space with breathing protection. Buying all new oil, plus the expense of the lye and methanol, will cause a gallon of your biodiesel to cost much more than a gallon of store-bought diesel. But once you get the hang of producing this fuel, you can add the extra steps to process free waste cooking oil, dropping your fuel costs to pennies per gallon. Last, if you try used oil, filter it thoroughly to remove as many food particles as possible. Also heat it to 200°F (93°C) for 10 minutes to drive off water that was introduced in the oil’s use. And get the supplies to titrate so you can determine the pH of the oil (used oil is often more acidic than new oil).

I was camping in a remote area of Texas, alone in the fields, when I had the sudden feeling of something watching me.

I noticed a pair of eyes glowing in the dark some distance away.

I was already violating the first rule of cougar country_I was alone. I wasn’t about to violate the second rule by running just so she could chase me down.

Especially when she bared her teeth and gave me the most bone-chilling growl I’ve ever heard!

She was springloaded to attack!

I decided to leave well enough alone and head back to the truck. But it was an hour’s hike away, and every time I looked around the eyes were there.

I knew enough to know when I was being stalked for dinner_and my truck was too far away to chance it.

They always say to stay calm, but it ain’t easy.

So I stood my ground, raised my arms, and gave her a good firm shout or two. I clapped loudly and tried to look imposing.

I prepared to hit her with everything I had_and just like that, she turned and stalked off.

I made it back to my truck and floored it, just in case she was looking for dessert.

If you’re learning how to fight from a book, you’re probably in trouble, but it’s a start. The best defense is distance, so learn to spot potential trouble before you need to fight your way out of it. Honing your situational awareness is crucial, especially when emergency services and police presence might be limited or unavailable.

It’s no fun going through life with paranoid tendencies, but a little bit of awareness, even in familiar surroundings, can make a big difference. Stay alert to avoid becoming a target.

If you have to punch someone, know what you’re doing. The difference between a power punch and a weak swat can mean ending a fight quickly or getting beaten up. If you want to pack a wallop, follow these steps.

STEP 1
Choose a target (see below). You can hit any part of the body, but you won’t always have time to select the ideal spot. The good news is that the face comes prepackaged with a perfectly centered target: the nose. A well-landed blow will make his eyes water and ring his bell.

STEP 2
Remember your feet; throwing a punch depends on a solid stance. If you’re right-handed, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, your left foot forward and your body turned at an angle to the attacker. For lefties, reverse it. Your back leg should support your weight.

STEP 3
Put your weight behind the punch rather than just using your arm strength. Push off from your back foot, and as your arm uncoils, swivel your torso to drive your arm. As your punch extends, shift your weight forward to your front foot, which should come naturally.

Where to aim those punches? Target the most fragile areas of your attacker’s body with a fist or elbow strike, and you might stun him long enough to get away. Here are some sweet spots:

• Temple

• Below ear

• Side of neck

• Base of throat

• Solar plexus

• Armpit

• Lower abs

• Groin

The easiest way to defend yourself from a flying fist is to avoid standing still in front of it. If you do have to fight, here are some tips to prepare you.

Stay steady and light on your feet. Most fistfights aren’t boxing matches; they’re wild frenzies. But if someone wants to stand in front of you and duke it out, it’s important to move quickly in and out of range, as well as to step side to side to minimize damage.

Remember to “peek-a-boo” your defenses: Hold your fists close together in front of your face. This defense is almost universal in boxing, and it keeps vulnerable areas covered by less-vulnerable ones. It’s also easier to throw quick punches from this position.

Watch your opponent’s shoulders to see what kind of punch is being thrown. Little movement means it’s coming straight at you. Larger, circular motions mean a looping punch. A cocked arm usually means an uppercut. For jabs and uppercuts, lean back to maximize the distance between your head (the target) and your opponent’s fists. For looping haymakers, sidestep in the direction of the punch. You may still get tagged, but your movement will lessen the impact.