Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs. What you need to know about handwashing: https://t.co/UyYggQjM9T pic.twitter.com/40UeHzhwg9

— CDC (@CDCgov) March 4, 2020

Want to know more? Check out these related articles:

Preparing for Coronavirus: What To Buy

Preparedness Tips for Those with Elderly Family Members

A SHTF Plan For Your Pets | Bugging Out With Man’s Best Friend

According to the Washington DC Metro Police, in 2018 alone the city averaged 80 car break-ins a day; that is a little shocking! One of the most painful things that can happen to you, as a car owner, is the “smash-and-grab” car break-in. They don’t even steal your whole car, just the valuable items in it – which you then have to painfully replace while dealing with the costly window repair process. My wife’s friend from college used to play in a band. One night after a show in Milwaukee, she left all of her musical equipment in the car, only to wake up in the morning to a broken window and she found everything was stolen. I can report that she took a little vacation from being in a band after that. 

Contributed by By Mark, Former Marine Reconnaissance Team Leader, Marine Infantry Officer, Cross Fit Coach, and Survivalist.

In this day and age of concealed carry and being prepared, many people like to keep handguns and spare money in their car in case of emergency. Losing a handgun would make a typical smash-and-grab even more painful,  since now you would have to report a missing gun to the police and possibly your state firearms registration office (depending where you live).

My New Toy

I recently upgraded from my old truck to the new Jeep Gladiator, which I have been waiting patiently to come to market for a few years. This is my first Jeep, and I can already see the problem with owning a Jeep: There are just too many options for aftermarket modifications. It is like Legos for adults! It very much reminds me of the AR-15 market, where you buy a rifle and then a year later you have 20 things hanging off the end of your rifle for the zombie apocalypse. I can see myself already saying, “The steel bumper on the Gladiator Rubicon is fine, but what if…..”

Also Read: V-Line Brute Gun Safe

But one thing that I needed right away was a place to securely store my valuables inside the new Jeep. Of course, with the Jeep Gladiator being a new model, the options for lockable center console or glove box are limited. I also wanted something that was quickly accessible. I did not want a key lock; I feel like a key lock would be too slow in an emergency. I wanted something that either came with a combination lock or possibly a fingerprint scan system (combination lock was the preferred method – batteries are always a bad option).

Choices

So after searching both Google and Amazon for the “center console safe for Jeep Gladiator”, I found products from two companies, Tuffy and Lock’erDown. I read a lot of reviews and contacted both of their customer service departments to ask detailed questions about the products. Lock’erDown seemed to have people available all day to answer questions and they really took their time with me and made me feel like they knew their stuff. Tuffy on the other hand, left me on hold for sometime. They also answered my questions but I seemed to get transferred around on their phone tree before finally finding a human. Another feature I loved about Lock’erDown that they build all of their safes in the United States. It is always best to support American based workers!

The construction of the Lock’erDown center console safe seemed to be superior based on reviews and description of the product. Lock’erDown uses both 10 gauge & 12 gauge steel in their product, while Tuffy uses inferior 16 gauge steel.  The Lock’erDown also came with a Lifetime Warranty; that is pretty tough to beat. 

Description of Lock’erDown Exxtreme Console for the Jeep Gladiator:

• Heavy 12 Gauge Gauge cold rolled plate steel construction.
• 10 Gauge plate welded to lid.
• Welded tab and notch seams.
• Superior 3 point locking system resists prying.
• Drill resistant locks.
• Easy 10 minute installation.
• Must be assembled inside console.
• Counter balanced door with spring assisted hinge.
• Largest selection of lock options in the industry.
• Only product in industry with lifetime warranty.

Don’t Follow My Lead

Installation: Installation would have been easy but I did not read the directions completely before I (Mr. Know It All) started to install the center console safe. By not reading the instructions, I skipped a major step that bit me in the butt by the time I finished. On my first attempt to install, the center console lid would not close properly when I finished installing the safe. I went back and re-read the directions and realized that I skipped over a critical step that was made pretty clear in the instructions. I am not going to go into the installation steps in this review, just read the directions and don’t be a (Mr. Know It All) like me. 

Also, there is a center console light in the Jeep Gladiator that makes the installation of the top door of the safe a little difficult. I chose not to mess with it and just popped off the plastic cover to the light using a small flat head screwdriver. The top safe door went on easy after that. As you can see in the picture with the installation complete and the main center console door open, I just have a little light bulb with no protective cover. The light actually works better now since it is not restricted to pointing down. Either way, not a big deal to me.

Also Read: 3M Window Security Film Review

Setting the Combination: Again, this is one of the steps where you want to take your time. I can report that after I screwed up the installation, I took my time and read and re-read the combination directions. I made sure not to screw this part up, and neither should you – or else you might be locked out of your new center console safe. So take your time, “measure twice and cut once” as they say. I would recommend setting the combination lock prior to the last step and “for sure”, try locking and unlocking the lock prior to closing the safe door and locking it for real.

I have had the Lock’er Down Extreme Console safe now installed in my 2020 Jeep Gladiator JT for over two months. I haven’t had any attempted break ins with my Jeep to report but I do feel pretty confident leaving it parked anywhere that when I come back, the contents of my safe will still be there.  Lock’erDown makes center console safes for many models of vehicles. Check out their site to see if they make a model for you.

Visit Amazon Affiliate Sponsor Products of Survival Cache

The post Survival Gear Review: Lock’er Down Exxtreme Center Console Safe appeared first on Survival Cache.

Written by Pat Henry on The Prepper Journal.

Recoilweb recently published a good article about the probabilities of unlikely events, The Surprisingly Solid Mathematical Case of the Tin Foil Hate Gun Prepper, and how it applies to the “zombie apocalypse”.

The 2018 article discusses the likelihood of a revolution or other major event happening, and how preppers are generally along the leading edge of surviving these events.

It does contain non-common core math calculations, so those who are triggered by such things would be best served by not reading it.

The post Who Needs an AR-15, Anyway? appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Concealed carry has numerous questions that must be addressed to be effective and meet the important criteria of ease of access to your handgun. Two of the important questions are: Do you wear Inside the Waistband (IWB) or Outside the Waistband (OWB), and secondly, which holster provides the most comfort and ease of access to your handgun.

By Dan C., contributing author to Survival Cache and SHTFblog

Naturally, there are several other issues that you must address when concealed carrying such as cover clothing, belt, and size of the handgun. However, how you wear your handgun and what holster you chose both play a vital roles in many aspects of concealed carry.

Prior to discussing the pros and cons of the above-mentioned topics, it is important that we review the reasons and practicality of why you are wearing a firearm. There are three very important criteria you must consider when wearing a firearm. First, it is a tool that you may need instantaneously and with minimal effort. With that in mind, you must be able to withdraw your handgun effortlessly. And thirdly, if you draw your handgun, then it must be easy to reholster the handgun safely.

All of these factors are influenced by how you are wearing and concealing your firearm. Thus, your holster is a vital part of meeting the expectations of the criteria listed above.

Also read: Ten Tips Everyone Should Know Before Carrying Concealed

Let’s begin with, how do you wish to carry? This is a huge question based on numerous factors such as laws in the location where you are carrying, why are you carrying, weather, and the activity you are planning while wearing. Several factors must be taken into consideration when wearing your handgun.

Local laws play a role in deciding how you are going to conceal your firearm. For example, in some states, open and conceal carry is legal. Thus, being highly concerned about concealment is not so much an issue. On the other hand, some states have strict concealment laws and maintaining concealment at all times is critical. So when making the decision on “How to concealed carry” the local laws must be the determining factor to making that call.

Why are you carrying? The answer is simple, in case you encounter a situation that requires you to draw your firearm. In most of those situations, you wish to use all you can to your advantage. There are five attributes you can use to your advantage in a bad situation: Situational Awareness, Stealth, Distance, Darkness and Speed. Taking these elements into consideration is one of the decisions making factors when deciding How to Carry and What Holster.

Weather is one of the major factors affecting how you are going to carry and concealment. For example, if it is winter and you are in an area where jackets and sweaters are needed then concealment becomes easier. However, as the weather warms and you are wearing shorts and tee shirts, concealment and holster stability become more concerning. So weather plays an instrumental role in determining How you are going to carry and What Holster is going to meet those needs.

The activity you are participating in plays an additional role in deciding How to carry and What Holster. Naturally, if you are only going to the mall or grocery store, then it is less likely you will be concerned with concealment and holster security. On the other hand, if you are going bike riding, running, walk in the park then it is reasonable to be more concerned about concealment and holster security.

With all these considerations in mind let’s talk about: is IWB or OWB the best way to concealed carry?

There are numerous advantages of IWB concealed carry. The best way to present them is by bullet points.

The advantages of IWB carry are:

• The holster and handgun are held close to your body
• The holster is more secure and stable
• The holster and handgun are less bulky, thus more concealable
• Less clothing or cover garments are needed
• Less likely to get caught on things such as seat belts
• It is less likely anyone will see the holster and handgun if inadvertently exposed
• The holster can be more easily adjusted to allow you to access it
• There are more locations such as appendix or even 6:00 (middle of your back) you can wear IWB

The disadvantages of IWB carry are:

• You must have pants that allow you to wear IWB
• The holster can be uncomfortable if not worn correctly
• It is more adaptable for compact and sub compact handguns
• You have less access to increased levels of retention such as thumb brakes

The advantages of OWB carry:

• It can be easier to access your handgun
• Larger selection and styles of holsters
• Can wear a larger assortment of handguns, such as full size
• Can make it easier to wear an extra magazine

The disadvantages of OWB  carry:

• Can be bulky and harder to conceal
• May need to wear more cover clothing
• Can interfere with seat belts and get caught on things
• Can be less secure to your body that IWB

So now we must decide which type of holster is best for concealed carry. This is the key to concealed carry. If you do not have an excellent holster that fits you and your handgun well, then you will be constantly adjusting it and uncomfortable.

Also Read: Survival Gear Review: Craft Leather Pancake Holster

Kydex holsters have really set the standard for IWB carry. There are so many advantages of Kydex holsters when IWB concealed carry. A list of advantages:

• Provides consistent and repeatable draw effort. This is incredibly important when practicing, wearing different attire, and being comfortable with managing your handgun
• Stays secure, will not move if running crawling on the ground, changing positions
• Does not collapse when the handgun is removed, thus making reholstering safe and easy
• Is easily removed if needed and replaced
• Easy to draw from and reduces the need for additional levels of retention
• Easy to feel secured retention when reholstering
• Highly durable
• Easy to adjust cant – and in some cases – the height of the holster attachment to your belt.

OWB holsters allow for more flexibility in the materials they are made from. Kydex holsters are equally and well proven with OWB concealed carry. Leather holsters can be equally comfortable and effective. Listed below are some key points to choosing an OWB holster for concealed carry:

• There is less concern about the holster collapsing when the handgun is removed
• You have a larger assortment of holster attachments to your belt
• You can have added levels of retention that can be more easily managed with OWB holsters
• A wider range of material may be selected for OWB holsters

So there is a lot to think about when choosing your method of carrying a handgun and the holster you select. It is not something you should take lightly, as you have read in the article there are many key factors that are very important when choosing a holster and determining your method of carry. One final note, when choosing a holster make sure you choose a holster maker with a strong commitment to quality, an excellent reputation for customer service and wide range of products. There are lots of holster makers out there and you are buying something that you may need in a life and death situation so you want the best and a holster you can count on.

All Photos by Drew and Doc Montana

The post IWB or OWB: Which is the Best Holster For Concealed Carry? appeared first on Survival Cache.

This is already the most frightening virus outbreak that we have seen in the past several decades, and it appears that it is just getting started.  A week ago, there were about 3,000 confirmed cases outside of China and now there are more than 10,000.  4,812 cases have been confirmed in South Korea, 2,036 cases have been confirmed in Italy, and 1,501 cases have been confirmed in Iran at this point.  Of course by the time you actually read this article those numbers are likely to be significantly higher.  It is like we are watching a really bad Hollywood disaster movie play out right in front of our eyes, and so far every effort to contain this virus has failed.  On Monday, Dr. Anthony Fauci stunned many people when he told NBC News that COVID-19 has likely reached “pandemic proportions”…

News of the additional deaths came after Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told NBC News on Monday that the disease had likely reached ‘pandemic proportions’ as 100 cases were confirmed across the U.S.

‘We’re dealing with an evolving situation. We’re dealing with clearly an emerging infectious disease that has now reached outbreak proportions and likely pandemic proportions,’ Dr Fauci said. ‘If you look at multiple definitions of what a pandemic is… multiple sustained transmissions of of a highly infectious agent in multiple regions of the globe.’

Dr. Fauci is definitely not an alarmist, and for him to use the word “pandemic” is a major red flag.

Last week a lot of people were pointing out that not a single American had died from this virus yet, but now six victims have died in the state of Washington alone…

Four more people have died of the coronavirus in Washington state, raising the death toll in the state and the nation to six, health officials said Monday.

Jeffrey Duchin, a health officer in King County and Seattle, said at a news conference Monday that five of the deaths were people from King County and one was from Snohomish County, north of Seattle.

If you live in the Seattle area, you need to understand that you are in the middle of a crisis zone.  As I discussed yesterday, it is likely that the virus has been circulating in that region for weeks, and each day the number of potential carriers will only get higher.

At this point, local officials are specifically warning everyone to “avoid crowded settings if possible”…

“To increase your chances of staying healthy, avoid crowded settings if possible,” King County Public Health said on Twitter. “Especially if you are over 60, or have other chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or a weakened immune system.”

There’s particular concern about the spread of the virus in nursing homes. One such  facility, Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, said in a statement that one of its residents and one of its associates have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The center is banning visitors for now.

And this doesn’t mean that you will need to change your behavior for a few days or even a few weeks.

At a minimum, if you live in the Seattle area you are going to want to avoid crowded settings for the next several months.

Of course it is just a matter of time before other major cities are facing similar outbreaks.  In recent days the number of states with confirmed cases has grown quite a bit larger…

• Arizona – 1
• California – 20
• Florida – 2
• Illinois – 4
• Massachusetts – 1
• New York – 1
• Oregon – 3
• Rhode Island – 2
• Washington state – 18 (includes 6 fatalities)
• Wisconsin – 1

Unfortunately, this list probably only represents the very small tip of a very large iceberg.  Up until just recently, the CDC was mandating that the only people that should be tested are those that have traveled to China or those that have had close contact with a known victim.  By using such restrictive criteria, the number of Americans being tested was kept extremely low, and a lot of infected people slipped through the cracks.

Now this virus has escaped containment, and authorities are telling us that “community spread” is inevitable all over the United States.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 continues to sweep across much of the rest of the planet like wildfire.

In Iran, the fact that a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei just died from the virus made headlines all over the globe…

AN adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died of coronavirus, state media reported today.

Mohammad Mirmohammadi, 71, died in hospital in Tehran as the pariah nation reels from a worsening outbreak that has left several senior officials in hospital.

But despite the fact that the number of confirmed cases in Iran is escalating at an exponential rate, and despite the fact that dozens of Iranians have already died, many Iranians continue to engage in the practice of “kissing and licking Shi’ite shrines throughout the country”…

Videos spreading on social media are showing Iranians kissing and licking Shi’ite shrines throughout the country as many call to close the shrines amid a severe coronavirus outbreak in the Islamic Republic.

The epicenter of the outbreak in Iran, Qom, is a religious city home to several shrines. The shrines remain open as some reports place the death toll in Iran in the hundreds.

Can you believe that?

We live at a time when it seems like much of the world has gone nuts.  Most people believe whatever they feel like believing, and most people do whatever they feel like doing.  But there are always consequences for our actions, and I have a feeling that this virus is going to spread particularly rapidly in the Middle East.

Here in the United States, it appears that this outbreak is far more extensive than we are being told.  As the U.S. starts to finally ramp up testing, it is inevitable that a lot more existing cases will be found.  In fact, in just a little while I will be posting an article on End Of The American Dream about an ER doctor in New York that is claiming that there is “going to be thousands” of confirmed cases inside this country by next week.

I don’t think that it is going to happen quite that rapidly, but it appears to be inevitable that the number of cases is going to be steadily rising.

This is not a drill.  This is an exceedingly dangerous virus that is killing people all over the planet, and we need to prepare for a scenario in which this crisis could extend for many months or even for several years.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post “Pandemic Proportions”: COVID-19 Is Starting To Spiral Out Of Control All Over The Globe appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

I can’t remember a time when we have seen such widespread “panic buying” all over the nation.  Today I spoke with someone that just visited the closest Wal-Mart in this area, and I was told that there are empty shelves all over the store.  There are very few canned goods left, some of the most essential medications have been cleaned out, and there was nothing left in the long-term storable food section at all.  Of course similar things are being reported at major retail stores all across the United States.  All of a sudden, fear of COVID-19 has motivated thousands upon thousands of Americans to start prepping like crazy.  But most of the population is still not taking this crisis seriously enough.  As the number of confirmed cases all over the world continues to rise at an exponential rate, what are the stores going to look like when most of the country finally realizes that they should be prepping for an extended pandemic?

Over the past several days, this coronavirus outbreak has escalated significantly.

From Saturday to Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Italy jumped by 50 percent…

Italy reported a 50% increase in coronavirus cases Sunday, as the US further restricted travel and the famed La Scala opera house closed.

Italy’s Civil Protection Authority reported the country now has 1,694 confirmed coronavirus cases, up from 1,128 confirmed cases on Saturday. Thirty-four people have died.

And in Germany, the number of confirmed cases actually doubled in just 24 hours.

Here in the United States, confirmed cases are now popping up all over the nation, and we are being warned to brace for a “boom” of confirmed cases…

A “boom” of confirmed cases of the coronavirus that has now killed more than 3,000 people around the world — including two in the U.S. — could already be racing across America despite ramped-up efforts to contain the outbreak, experts say.

The spread of the virus by “community transmissions” is an indication that we could indeed be looking at the tip of the iceberg,” Ogbonnaya Omenka, an assistant professor and public health specialist at Butler University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, told USA TODAY on Sunday.

Overall, the number of confirmed cases outside of China has more than tripled over the past week.  If we continue to see that sort of a growth rate, there will be more than a million confirmed cases outside of China just five weeks from now.

I don’t think that it will happen that quickly, and let us pray that we don’t hit that number at all, but right now this outbreak is starting to spiral out of control.

As fear of this virus rises, grocery stores from coast to coast are stocking up on essential supplies in an effort “to prevent shortages”…

Now grocers are working to prevent shortages and preparing for a spike in demand for disinfectants and long-lasting items such as pasta and canned food. Some are ramping up orders from suppliers.

“This is like a natural disaster, but it’s an illness,” said Doug Baker, vice president of industry relations at FMI, a trade group for food retailers.

In the short-term, hopefully things won’t be too bad.

But without a doubt global supply chains are becoming extremely strained due to the widespread shutdowns inside of China, and that has led one analyst to predict “empty shelves in Target and Walmart as early as April”…

“Literally, empty shelves in Target and Walmart as early as April,” predicts David Iwinski, a local China business consultant who once ran a factory in China.

Most retail stores are likely to have shortages because the coronavirus in China is hampering the manufacture of products shipped to America.

If there are things that you need to go buy, you need to do it now, because thousands upon thousands of Americans are already storming the stores.

In Los Angeles, a local Costco was quickly raided of the most essential supplies when the store opened on Saturday morning…

At a Costco Wholesale market in Los Angeles Saturday morning, a swarm of shoppers loaded up carts with essential items to prepare for a possible period of quarantine.

According to the chain, water, paper towels and Clorox disinfecting wipes were the most in-demand products.

And up in northern California, photos of completely empty shelves over the weekend were rapidly shared on social media…

On social media, residents further north shared shocking photos and videos from Costco centers in San Francisco.

Shelves were depleted of tinned food, while some shoppers climbed up onto shelving in order to reach remaining supplies of rice.

Of course the exact same thing is happening in other states as well.

In Washington, one local resident claimed that “thousands of people” have been descending on the local Costco centers…

I live in the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington State. My advice for those elsewhere – go to Costco now. Thousands of people at local stores yesterday – not where you want to be if there is a virus spreading. Glad I went a week ago.

And one video that has been very widely shared shows hundreds of people lined up at a Costco in Brooklyn before it even opened in the morning.

Up to this point, only two people have died from the virus in the United States.

So what will things look like if thousands of people start dying?

Already, there is a worldwide shortage of protective face masks.  In fact, things have gotten so bad that Surgeon General Jerome Adams posted a tweet demanding that people stop buying them…

The surgeon general has a message for people who want to run out and stockpile masks to combat the coronavirus – don’t.

“Seriously people – STOP BUYING MASKS!” Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted. “They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”

Personally, I don’t understand his logic.  If the masks are not effective, then why do healthcare providers need them?

Yes, the masks have limited effectiveness against a virus that is so easy to catch.  But at least they are better than nothing.

The time of “the perfect storm” is here, and this virus has the potential to greatly accelerate our problems.

We still don’t know if this will be the great global pandemic that so many have warned about, but Bill Gates certainly seems to believe that this may be the “once-in-a-century pathogen we’ve been worried about”…

Billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said the coronavirus that has killed at least 2,859 people and infected more than 83,700 globally may be the “once-in-a-century pathogen we’ve been worried about.”

“I hope it’s not that bad, but we should assume it will be until we know otherwise,” Gates wrote in an article published Friday in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Personally, I am still hoping that this outbreak will start to subside once warmer weather arrives.

But so far nothing is slowing this virus down.  As I mentioned above, the total number of cases outside of China has more than tripled over the last seven days, and that is a huge red flag.

If you need to get to the store, do it now.  Because at the rate that people are raiding the stores, there could soon be shortages of some of the most important supplies.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post All Of A Sudden, People All Over America Are Prepping Like Crazy appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

We have roughly 12 hours of natural light from the sun and the rest of the time we simply flip a switch and out pours a flood of artificial light. But what happens when the switch doesn’t work anymore?

Since the advent of electric lights, candles have become more of a decorative item than a tool. But anyone that has ever been caught in a blackout knows the real value of a candle.

You can purchase many “survival candles” that last 12-120 hours, but did you know that you can create a candle that will last for up to 45 days using something that you probably already have in your kitchen?

All you need is:

a 48oz tub of Crisco or smaller. The large tub will get you the 45 life span and anything smaller will burn significantly less
a spoon an old candlestick or something else that can be used as a wick

There are a few options when it comes to creating a Noah candle.  One of the first things you need to decide is if you want a candle that will burn brighter or one that will last longer.

For a longer lasting candle you will use only one wick and for a brighter candle you will use anywhere from 2-4 wicks depending on the size of the container.

Regardless of how many wicks you decide to use or the size of the Crisco tub that you choose, the directions are the same.

Take your spoon and remove a small portion of the Crisco directly in the center (for a single wick candle) if you are using an old candlestick. Then simply press the candlestick down into the shortening until it touches the bottom.  Use the shortening that was removed previously to fill in any divots.

Smooth the top of the Crisco down until it is completely flat, then trim the excess candle and wick until you only have about 1/4” of wick sticking out above the top of the shortening.

Light and enjoy.

If you are using a standalone wick, you may need to dig down to the bottom of the can in order to get the base of the wick to lie flat against the bottom of the tub.  Then simply melt the shortening and use it to fill in the hole that was left.

As a caution: the container of the Crisco is made of a paper material and as such may catch on fire if you place the wick too close to the outer edge of the tub.

Want to know more? Check out these related articles from our site:

Make an Emergency Candle Out of Butter

DIY Bacon Grease Emergency Candle

VIDEO: How to Make a Candle Out of a Crayon

Originally posted on: November 12, 2012 @ 3:45 AM