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MOLLE: What It IS, How It Works, Why You Need It

Backpack With MOLLE systemCurious about MOLLE? You’ve come to the right place.

After reading today’s article, you’ll know everything there is to know about MOLLE, specifically:

**Note: If you want to see our favorite MOLLE packs, feel free to SKIP AHEAD HERE.


Exclusive Bonus Content –
Skilled Survival’s 104 Item Bug Out Bag Checklist – the only bug out checklist worth using. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

What Does MOLLE Stand For?

If you’re new to survival or tactical gear, let’s get you up to speed fast. MOLLE is an acronym that stands for:

  • MO-dular
  • L-ight-weight
  • L-oad-carrying
  • E-quipment

Ok, great, but what does that mean?

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Gear Clipped To Backpack With MOLLE

What Is A MOLLE System & How It Works

Think about ALL the gear you need in a bug-out crisis. OR how about ALL the equipment you use in outdoor adventures such as:

  • Hunting
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Camping

Well, all that gear adds up fast, and often, you’ll run out of room in your pack. And that’s where a MOLLE system can help you expand what you can take.

MOLLE allows you to add critical supplies and gear to the OUTSIDE of your backpack, rucksack, vest, or belt. Whether it’s an EDC bag, bug out bag, get home bag, go bag, survival pack, etc.

MOLLE makes all the difference between:

  1. Taking ALL the critical gear you need or
  2. Leaving something important behind

It gives you the ability to attach survival and combat accessories to your bag, vest, jacket, or belt. It allows you to pack more and keep your hands free to operate weaponry properly.

During the Civil War, soldiers used straps to carry their load while in combat situations. But it wasn’t very effective. Why? Because it wasn’t sturdy.

Equipment would swing around and get damaged as well as make noise that would give up their position.

In the 1970s, along came ALICE, The All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment. This system was set up to help stow gear more effectively. It also helped to better distribute weight across the shoulders and body.

It was used until the ’90s, after which MOLLE took over.

How MOLLE Works

MOLLE gear includes nylon webbing known as PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder System). PALS is sturdy, woven straps that give you attachment points for any gear to use with the MOLLE webbing.

These loops are 1 1/2″ and laid out 1″ apart so you can customize your carry setup. And balance out whatever gear you attach.

When setting up your MOLLE backpack, make sure to plan it out. You want even distribution of weight and easy access to important items.

You don’t want your knife on your back (out of reach) if you need it quick. Layout your tactical gear and find a suitable place for everything.

How To Attach MOLLE Accessories

While a MOLLE system is easy to use, it’s not like decorating your Christmas tree.

You can’t just hang gear off it and head out into the bush. Instead, you need to attach your items securely so they stay where you put them.

You also don’t want things too loose, so they dangle or swing around. Anything that moves around can make contact with something else and make noise. Because that can blow your cover when hunting (or being hunted).

Anyone can put an attachment strap through the webbing and carry stuff.

But to effectively stow your survival and combat gear, you need to use a more robust technique. Doing an interlocking weave is best for a secure load.

Feed the straps through the row of webbing where you want that piece of gear attached. Then weave the straps back through the webbing on the accessory.

Pull it through tight, close the snaps, and you have a secure bond utilizing all the webbing. Always test it to make sure it’s secure and retighten as needed.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our #78 Item Complete Prepper Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Medical Pouch Attached Via MOLLE

4 Reasons Why You Should Invest In MOLLE

1. Ability To Expand Your Bug Out Bag (Or Survival Pack)

I believe EVERY responsible adult should take time to prepare for a future crisis. And that includes a possible bug out situation.

Even if you don’t think you’d ever need to bug out, check out this article. It provides 7 reasons why you may be forced to bug out (even if it’s only for a short duration).

The bottom line is, if you need to stay off the beaten path for a while, you gotta hump as much gear as you can. And MOLLE is the best way to meet that need.

2. Hands-Free Combat

Essential items include an IFAK pouch, hand weapons, tools, and other tactical equipment. How will you carry all this and still have your hands free to operate a firearm or combat tactical knife?

Well, you have a plate carrier vest or a battle belt system with MOLLE, it’s easy. It allows you to keep your hands free during all life-threatening combat situations.

3. FAST Access to Critical Gear (i.e., Medical Gear)

One of my favorite supplies to add via MOLLE is a Medical Pouch. Why? Because with medical emergencies, every second counts.

So having a medical pouch on the outside of a pack means you don’t need to rifle through a bag to find it.

Instead, you can rip that medical pouch off and open it up FAST.

4. Easy Access to High Use Items

There are certain items you rarely use, and then there are those you use ALL THE TIME.

Gear such as a:

Obviously, it’s cumbersome to remove your pack and unzip it to get at such high-frequency gear.

Instead, by using MOLLE, you can attach these high-use items for quick, easy access.


Exclusive Bonus Content –
Skilled Survival’s 104 Item Bug Out Bag Checklist – the only bug out checklist worth using. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

List Of Gear That Works With MOLLE

When buying backpacks, plate carriers, belts, vests, and pouches, be sure they use MOLLE.

Keeping everything within the same system allows everything to work together better. And saves you the frustration of attaching different types of tactical gear together.

Here is a list of the essential gear you can secure using MOLLE:

  • EDC – This is your Everyday Carry and includes a basic first aid kit, knife, and flashlight.
  • IFAK Bag – Having an extensive medical and trauma kit may be the most critical gear in your pack.
  • Magazine Pouch – One thing is for sure. If you need extra rounds of ammunition, they better be handy to access.
  • Canteen Carrier – Water is essential for any outdoor adventure. You must stay hydrated, so include a water carrier on your MOLLE. That way, you can get to quickly.
  • General Purpose Pouches – You’ll always need extra space to carry “must-have” items. You can get gear pouches of different sizes to stow any small items you want to take with you.
  • Holster Pouch – This allows you to carry more complementary weapons to your regular holster. You can have a knife or gun holster or grenade pouch.
  • D-Rings – D Rings allow quick attachment points for various items.
  • Flashlight – There is always a need for a flashlight, and you don’t want to have to root around your bag for it when you need it.
  • Radio Pouch – Communication is vital in a survival situation. And having a radio or smartphone in a handy, easily accessible location on your MOLLE system is crucial.

Once you’ve attached all this gear, try on your vest or backpack. Double-check the weight distribution is correct. If not, adjust it to your comfort level.

It’s always better to set it up RIGHT before you head out.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Situations & Activities Where MOLLE Shines

Here are a few scenarios where a MOLLE system is highly advantageous:

  • Hunting – When tracking your prey, you need a hands-free way of bringing along your gear. You also can’t have items rattling around.
  • Fishing – There are so many things to take while fishing. Having the ability to store all you need on your person is handy.
  • Camping – Camping is all about outdoor adventure. And anytime you’re outdoors, you should keep life-saving gear nearby. Items such as a survival first aid kit and a flashlight, knife, and even water and snacks if you get lost.
  • Survival Training – A MOLLE vest or backpack is an essential piece of your survival equipment.
  • Bushcraft – Bushcraft is all about acquiring and practicing your outdoor skills. And to do that, you need to take all your bushcraft gear with you.
  • Crisis Situations – A fast getaway and quick access to critical gear and supplies will help to survive any real crisis.
  • Airsoft/Paintball – Playing war games requires the right gear and plenty of it. Using a MOLLE system gives you room to bring along what you need for success.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our #78 Item Complete Prepper Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Best MOLLE Packs On The Market Today

Now you know what MOLLE is and why you need it, it’s time to gear up and equip yourself.

Here at Skilled Survival, we’ve done all the research, so you don’t have to. Check out these best MOLLE systems on the market.

EVATAC – Combat Bag

The first MOLLE backpack on this list is the one I personally use as both my EDC bag (everyday carry) AND my Bug Out Bag.

It’s got MOLLE all over this thing – from the sides to the back to the cover flap. This is good because you never want to run out of MOLLE when your build your bug out bag.

So, it’s a pack that’s rooted in MOLLE.

In addition to MOLLE, this is an all-around high-quality pack. It’s got:

  • High-quality non-snag zippers
  • Double stitching at all high-stress points
  • Abrasive resistant fabric
  • 10 individual compartments for smart organization
  • And it’s not TOO BIG or TOO SMALL

And that’s important. If your bug out bag is too big, you’ll add way too much gear to it, and it’ll become a back crippling 70 lb. pack.

Yet, it’s also not too small, so you can carry all your most necessary items. And with the MOLLE system, you can expand the amount of gear you choose to take over time.

If you’re looking for a quality all-around pack, you won’t regret picking up the EVATAC combat bag.

row of images combat bag

I believe it’s the best MOLLE-based pack on the market, especially at this reasonable price point.

G4Free – 40L Military Tactical Backpack

G4Free makes a tremendous outdoor tactical bug out bag. It’s ideal for fishing, hiking, and camping. And gives you lots of space for various pouches as well as its multi-compartment setup.

This backpack is comfortable to wear with its cushioned shoulder straps. And is made of high-density fabric with a polyester lining.

Inside, you find many compartments. The compartments include a padded laptop area along with 4 other compartments.

On the outside is where your MOLLE webbing system lives. It is on all sides of the backpack with additional D-rings and straps for all the gear you need.

You can strap on your tent and sleeping bag as well as a fishing pole.

2-way zipper closures make sure all your gear is locked and loaded securely. And the whole pack is water-resistant and very durable.

This is a decent backpack for all your outdoor adventures.

EMDMAK – Military Tactical Backpack

If you are looking for a 3-day assault pack, EMDMAK has what you are looking for. Their MOLLE rucksack comes with plenty of compartments, both large and small. And it can hold most laptops of reasonable size.

Inside the compartments are mesh pockets and straps. These keep everything secure, so they won’t shift when traversing your environment. The top of the pack also has a Y-strap to hold your bedding, keeping it high and dry.

This versatile backpack functions as a 3-day carry as well as a bug out bag. It is also suitable for hunting, camping, or as a travel bag.

All the shoulder and chest straps are adjustable and padded for comfort. And they’re made of high density, double-stitched Oxford and nylon fabric. That way, you know it’s both durable and water-resistant.

The MOLLE system is integrated very well into this rucksack. It has 3 rows on the back so you can attach all your tactical gear as well as additional MOLLE pouches and bags.

This purchase even comes with add-on gifts. You get a MOLLE water bottle pouch, 2 US flag patches, 4 D-rings, and a paracord lanyard keychain.

That’s a terrific addition that makes the EMDMAK military backpack a great choice.

LA Police Gear – Atlas 72H MOLLE Tactical Backpack

This pack from LA Police Gear is perfect for your next wilderness adventure or bug-out bag.

The Atlas 72H is a mega tough bag made from 900D polyester and has a PVC coating. It measures out at 24″ H x 19″ W x 10″ D, so you know there is lots of room for all your gear here.

On all available areas of the backpack, there is laser-cut MOLLE webbing. This gives you a more subtle look while being very functional and modular.

It also has quick access pockets and lots of storage in the bottom compartment. This helps to store oversized items such as jackets and helmets.

It comes with shoulder ports for hydration setup. And it even has a flees-lined compartment for safely stowing glasses or delicate gear.

It’s designed for add-ons with other LA Police Gear, including straps to attach their chest pack and additional accessory pouches inside and out.

This bag will allow you to go for long hikes, camping, and work on your bushcraft skills.

Check out their full line and attachable MOLLE gear.

MT Military – MOLLE 2 Large Rucksack with Frame

If you understand the difference between a backpack and a rucksack, you’ll appreciate this pack.

Their tactical army rucksack is an entire system within itself. It has individual components that include your main military bag made of canvas, 2 sustainable smaller bags, and a tactical waist bag.

The whole kit gives you over 4000 cubic inches of storable space.

This kit comes with a robust polymer gen-iv frame, a molded hip belt, and reinforced shoulder straps.

This makes this rucksack easy to get on and off and gives you a comfortable carry for long durations.

This is a superior MOLLE army tactical backpack. And it allows you to get the modular PALS system with lots of webbing for attaching your MOLLE equipment.

YKK zippers and UTX buckles rounds out this rugged tactical pack. So you’ll have everything you need in a crisis or an off-grid camping trip.

Hannibal Tactical – MOLLE Assault Pack

Here’s another large-capacity rucksack.

Hannibal Tactical’s MOLLE assault pack gives you a 36L of pack volume. It’s also made from water-resistant 600×600 density fabric, so it’s durable.

First off, you get 2 main compartments for more extensive storage and 2 smaller ones in the front for hand weapons and gear.

Within each compartment, there are pockets for separating your items. This helps give you easy, direct access to all the supplies you need. All the pockets have dual zipper pulls with one compartment able to fully open like a suitcase.

This bag is both rugged and tough. It uses heavy-duty Oxford fabric. This material lasts, and with the padded shoulder straps and padded back area, it gives you comfort.

You get a Y-strap on the top and straps on the bottom for jackets, sleeping bags, and your tent as well.

There is ample MOLLE webbing for adding extra pouches and tactical bags. That way, you can remain hands-free at all times.

It’s a great 3-day pack and beyond. And includes 2 D-rings, a US flag patch, and MOLLE webbing dominators.

Hannibal Tactical gives you 2 years of warranty for this kit. And they’re recognized as a world leader in their gear, both in development and design.

5.11 Tactical – RUSH24 Military Backpack

5.11 Tactical has an excellent line of tactical backpacks, but this is their most popular. If you want high performance, look no further.

This rugged backpack is ideal for active duty as well as hunting, camping, and recreation. When you need a go-to bug-out bag, this must be high on your list!

You get a wrap-around MOLLE system with their SlickStick compatible web platform. That way, anything and everything you want to attach has a place on this backpack.

Inside it has 37L of capacity with lots of ample storage. And has 2 zippered side pockets and stuff-it pockets with drawcords and pull tabs.

You also get a hydration pocket, fleece-lined glasses pouch, and self-repairing YKK zippers.

It also has a water-repellent coating. So the elements aren’t gonna affect your carry. And with the padded, adjustable shoulder and sternum straps, you have comfort for the long haul.

Use this military backpack for your hunting, hiking, survival, and bug out bag. It’s the everyday carry that you won’t want to put down.

Final Thoughts

When you are in the bush or on active duty, having to transport all your tactical gear is a must. You need comfort and design, and these MOLLE backpacks are ideal for the task ahead.

It’s vital to have a MOLLE system to equip yourself and remain agile and quick in an emergency.

Take it from us at Skilled Survival…

The proper knowledge and the right gear will make the difference in your quest for survival.

“Just In Case” Jack

 

The post MOLLE: What It IS, How It Works, Why You Need It appeared first on Skilled Survival.

It Turns Out That Fauci Has Been Doing This Sort Of Thing For A Very Long Time…

Why aren’t more people crying out for justice?  Are we really that far gone as a nation?  This week, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s puppy torture scandal has blown wide open.  We now know for a fact that Fauci approved and funded “experiments” that cost millions upon millions of dollars in which countless beagle puppies and other animals were ruthlessly tortured in some of the most inhumane ways imaginable.  Anyone that has any morality at all should be deeply sickened by this.  But most of the country seems to think that it really isn’t that big of a deal.  In this article, I am going to share even more shocking things that have come out in recent days, and most Americans probably won’t care about them either.  In fact, Fauci could be sacrificing children to Satan on the White House lawn and many Americans would still probably fully support him.

I am particularly disappointed in those on the left that claim to still have some integrity.

Aren’t liberals supposed to be against animal cruelty?

A few of them are speaking up, but most of them seem deathly afraid to say anything negative about Fauci and his minions.

Of course there is a lot of silence on the right as well, but at least a few brave leaders are standing up for what is right.  For example, Madison Cawthorn just made the following statement about Fauci on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives

“Americans deserve the truth, and this demon-doctor must never be allowed to escape justice.”

Very well said.

So why aren’t more members of Congress speaking out like this?

I just wish that more of our politicians in Washington actually stood for something.

Another member of Congress that is taking a stand is Representative Nancy Mace.  She has drafted a very firm letter to the NIH requesting that they address this scandal…

Leading the effort is Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), writing a letter to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) saying the cordectomies are “cruel” and a “reprehensible misuse of taxpayer funds.”

“Our investigators show that Fauci’s NIH division shipped part of a $375,800 grant to a lab in Tunisia to drug beagles and lock their heads in mesh cages filled with hungry sand flies so that the insects could eat them alive,” White Coat Waste told Changing America. “They also locked beagles alone in cages in the desert overnight for nine consecutive nights to use them as bait to attract infectious sand flies.”

Thankfully, a handful of other members of Congress were brave enough to sign Mace’s letter…

Mace’s letter was signed by Reps. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Scott Franklin (R-Fla.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Fred Keller (R-Pa.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Maria E. Salazar (R-Fla.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.)

It is good to see bipartisan outrage on this issue.

But where is everyone else?

There are a lot of names that are missing on that list that I would expect to see.

Sadly, Fauci has much more to answer for than just torturing puppies.  He has been the key figure in our national response to the AIDS crisis from the very beginning, and every major decision regarding the AIDS crisis at the NIH has gone directly through him.

So people need to start asking why he thought that it would be a good idea to test AIDS drugs on hundreds upon hundreds of innocent orphans in New York City.  According to investigative journalist Liam Scheff, more than 200 children ended up dying as a result of those “tests”…

In 2004, I broke open the NIH Clinical Trial Scandal, the internationally-covered story of hundreds of New York City orphans used by government agencies and pharmaceutical companies in deadly AIDS drug trials.

In reporting this issue, I entered the orphanage where children were being used as guinea pigs, and over a period of several years, took interviews with mothers, children and childcare workers at the Incarnation Children’s Center. I also interviewed the medical director, and investigated the FDA documentation and published medical literature on the tests and drugs used, drugs which were often force-fed through nasal and gastric tubes to the children.

I reported several deaths in children, and although the mainstream denied that any deaths were due to drug toxicity, they admit that over 200 children died.

But that was for “the greater good”, right?

All in the name of “science”, right?

Just last year, Fauci approved and funded another set of “experiments” that will definitely make you want to vomit.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the author of a highly anticipated book about Fauci, and according to an excerpt of that book that he just released, Fauci spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a project that involved grafting “the scalps of aborted fetuses onto living mice and rats”

That same year, Dr. Fauci’s agency gave $400,000 to University of Pittsburgh scientists to graft the scalps of aborted fetuses onto living mice and rats. NIAID sought to develop rat and mouse “models” using “full-thickness fetal skin” to “provide a platform for studying human skin infections.”

Dr. Fauci’s sidekick and putative boss, Francis Collins — who casts himself as a pious Catholic — kicked in a $1.1 million sweetener from NIH for this malignant project.

Of all the desperate public health needs in America, of all the pain that a well spent $2 million might alleviate, Tony Fauci and his government confederates deemed these demented and inhumane experiments the most worthwhile expenditures of America’s taxpayer dollars.

I don’t use the word “demonic” too often, but in this case it is perfectly appropriate.

I am trying to come up with the words to describe how evil this is, but I am really having difficulty with that.

Of course there are many other crimes against humanity that the NIH is deeply involved in right now.

The wickedness of Fauci, Collins and their minions is on a level that is hard to fathom.

Now that our society is fully aware of what they are doing, what will it say about our society if it does not bring them to justice?

And what will it say about our government if it continues to fund these sorts of “experiments”?

This sort of thing has been going on decade after decade, and it really hasn’t mattered who has been in the White House or who has been in control of Congress.

At this point, the fact that we are an evil nation is beyond dispute, and we fully deserve everything that is coming our way.

If we want to turn things around, we need to stop the evil that is taking place and we need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

But that isn’t going to happen, is it?

***It is finally here! Michael’s new book entitled “7 Year Apocalypse” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “7 Year Apocalypse” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written five others that are available on Amazon.com including  “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”“The Beginning Of The End”“Get Prepared Now”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  By purchasing the books you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse BlogEnd 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

Mindless Banter 76 – DARPA [PODCAST]

For this episode of Casual Preppers, they talk about DARPA.

RELATED: Conquering The Cornerstones: Self-Defense & The 4th Pillar Of Survival

Mindless Banter 76 – DARPA

darpa-defense-advanced-research-projects-agency darpa

Mindless Banter 76 – DARPA

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Upcycling: What Is It?

When I got into the upcycling industry, I quickly learned how few people actually knew what upcycling was. While recycling is a term now familiar to everyone, mentioning “upcycling” to the average person will often be met with a blank stare.

Generally speaking, upcycling is taking things that would otherwise be thrown away and making them into something useful or attractive.

Part of my company’s mission is to educate as many consumers as possible about this way to help the environment.

Though the word may be new, thrift is not a new concept. In fact, up until the 1950s or so, upcycling was actually commonplace. Everything was used over and over again until it was in no way beneficial.

Today, this concept is coming back, as modern-day upcycles put just about anything they can find back to good use.

Broken pieces of jewelry are combined to make a new, beautiful necklace, old t-shirts are made into balls of yarn, and juice packs are made into handbags.

Anyone can get in on the movement by examining their consumer habits and finding new uses for items they already have.

RELATED: How to Make Rope from Recycled Plastic

Upcycling: What Is It?

Zero waste look after the earth by recycling and upcycling old used goods-upcycling

Upcycling not only protects the environment from unnecessary waste but also allows us to add to the beauty of our immediate home environment with attractive, affordable alternatives.

Perhaps one of the most impressive benefits of upcycling is that it can fit in everywhere: the home, office, and everywhere in between.

Two Types of Upcycling

Upcycle papercut banner with plant leaf-Upcycling

In practical terms, upcycling has two subsets. The first is taking materials that today cannot be practically recycled and making them into something useful.

The second is taking materials that can be recycled, but rather than breaking down the item into its base elements and building up to something new, they are used in some version of their current state.

A good example of this second type of upcycling is a glass bottle. When you recycle that bottle, it is broken into small pieces, melted down, and recast into a new item.

Upcycling that same bottle could involve cutting the top off, smoothing down the cut edge, and then using it just as it is, like a drinking glass.

In both cases, waste has been diverted from the landfill, and in the 2nd case, you have the added benefit of having applied less energy to the base materials in order to return it to something useful.

Upcycled vs. Reused

Coffee mugs being reused with reuse text-Upcycling

If you are rescuing an old bookcase from the scrap heap, putting a new coat of paint on it, and using it again as a bookcase, you are not technically “upcycling” that bookcase because it was not made into anything new.

It’s awesome that that bookcase has not gone off to the landfill, but, technically, this is a reused item and not an upcycled item. The difference between the two terms is that upcycling involves making something new.

The Upcycled Marketplace

A view of a store in a shipping container where you can buy upcycled goods-Upcycling

As the upcycling industry grows, there are increased opportunities to purchase products that are useful, attractive, durable, and reasonably priced without buying something new.

In fact, many consumers actually prefer upcycled items because of their unique character or interesting back story.

Today, the most common upcycled product categories are furniture, housewares, art, garden, clothing, fashion accessories, bags, and toys.

There are a lot of descriptive words out there that are used in the marketing of upcycled goods, as producers and retailers seek effective ways to define their products and their benefits.

In addition to “upcycled,” these products will also often be described as “recycled,” “reclaimed,” “reused,” “vintage,” and even by cool portmanteaus like “trashion” (yes, fashion from trash!)

Andrew Sell is Chief Hipcycler at Hipcycle LLC. In addition to spreading the word about the value of upcycling, Andrew is building a special company, of which you can read more about it at http://hipcycle.com.

When not Hipcycling, he likes to travel, go to concerts, make stuff, and crack bad jokes.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Andrew_Sell/1131225

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Joining Wood with Dowels | 10 Easy Steps to Join Wood with Dowels

Joining wood with dowels is a century-old hack that woodworkers still use. To say that it’s a complicated technique is utter nonsense.

With this simple guide, even amateurs could do a perfect doweling job minus the hassle.

RELATED: How To Build A DIY Saw Horse

Dowel Like a Pro in 10 Hassle-Free Steps

wooden dowel joint | Joining Wood with Dowels

What You Need

Materials

  • Two 2×2 Wooden Boards
  • Dowels
  • Glue
  • 80 – 120 grit Sandpaper

Tools

  • Dowel Jigs
  • Power Drill
  • Drill bits
  • Brush
  • C-Clamp
  • Pencil

Step 1: Prepare the Wood

Assembling furniture, Wood dowel | Joining Wood with Dowels

Clean the surface before joining wood with dowels. Use 80 to 120 grit sandpaper to level the surfaces.

This will help remove rough spots that would create gaps in the joint. Brush the sanded surfaces to remove excess wood.

Step 2: Prepare the Dowel

Wooden dowel pins | Joining Wood with Dowels

Making the dowel wider than that measurement would reduce the board’s strength. But using narrower dowels results in a weak wood bond.

Make sure that the diameter of the dowel is half the width of the wood. To make joining wood with dowels, bevel the tips of the dowels.

Note: Etch a tiny groove below the axis of the dowel. This will function as a channel for air and adhesive.

Step 3: Guide the Drill Bit using Dowel Jigs

carpenter use drill bit and centering dowel jig tool | Joining Wood with Dowels

Accuracy and precision are important when joining wood with dowels. To drill precise holes, mark the edge of the board first using a dowel jig.

Step 4: Align the Dowels

Carpenter hammering wood dowel in a piece of wood | Joining Wood with Dowels

After marking the board where you will drill the holes, align the dowel logs. Once you align the logs properly, tighten the bolts.

Pro Tip: Doweling jigs come with bushings of various sizes. These will accommodate various drill bit diameter sizes.

Step 5: Mark the Boards

joiner putting dowel pin into a piece of wood | Joining Wood with Dowels

Use a pencil to mark the exact location where you will drill and insert the dowels. Detach the boards and using the marks as a guide, align the jig.

RELATED: Wilderness DIY: How to Make Your Own Bushcraft Camp Chair

Step 6: Prepare the Drill

Confirmation screw used in connecting chipboard | Joining Wood with Dowels

Once you are sure with the marks, fit the bit into the power drill. Place the tip of the bit right into the marked area of the board.

Step 7: Begin Drilling Holes

Connections used in furniture making. Light background | Joining Wood with Dowels

Grip the handle of the grip firmly. With a steady hand, press the trigger switch as you push the bit gently into the mark.

Once done, reposition the drill bit into the next mark. Repeat the same procedure before joining wood with dowels.

Caution: Be extra careful when using a power drill. Observe safety and make sure to prepare a first aid kit in case of an emergency.

Step 8: Align All Holes

Furniture fittings, wooden dowels-Joining Wood with Dowels

Insert the doweling centers into the holes that you have just drilled. Align both boards with the holes and marks as a guide.

Press them together and make sure both boards are precisely aligned. This will create an exact indentation on the other board.

Use this indentation as your guide in drilling the next set of holes.

Note: When drilling a hole, make sure to set an allowance for air the glue to set in.

Step 9: Insert the Dowels on the First Board

Shallow depth of field and wooden dowel in the wood | Joining Wood with Dowels

When done drilling all the holes, remove the doweling jig and centers from the board. Fill a reasonable amount of glue into every hole.

Insert the dowels into the holes. Remove excess glue that would squeeze out using a damp rag.

Step 10: Tighten the Joint

Gluing dowel joint | Joining Wood with Dowels

When you finish securing the joint, use a clamp to further tighten the bond. Again, be careful not to damage the joint by twisting.

Put the board in the clamp for at least 24 hours. This will ensure the success of joining wood with dowels.

Need more info about joining wood with dowels? Check this awesome vid from Make Something:

There are other methods in joining wood with dowels. Some do not even need the use of doweling jigs. This particular method though is the easiest and most reliable way.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

What’s the last woodworking project that you have accomplished? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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It Has Begun – Get Ready To Pay Much Higher Prices For Meat From Now On

The era of cheap meat is over.  For those that are carnivores, that is really bad news.  For decades, Americans have been able to count on the fact that there would always be mountains of very inexpensive meat at the local grocery store, but now those days are gone and they aren’t coming back.  As I was writing this introductory paragraph, it struck me that what is happening to meat prices actually parallels what I wrote about yesterday.  Just as the left doesn’t want us to use traditional forms of energy because they believe that doing so is “bad” for the climate, so they also detest that a lot of us like to eat a lot of meat because the production of meat causes levels of certain greenhouse gases to rise.  Sometimes we joke about the methane that comes from “cow farts”, but radicals on the left take this stuff deadly seriously.  And at the same time that gasoline prices are soaring into the stratosphere, the exact same thing is happening to meat prices.  In fact, we just learned that the price of beef in the U.S. has risen more than 20 percent since last October…

Behind unleaded gasoline, beef prices have risen the most on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) since October 2020, rising 20.1% in the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

An increase of over 20 percent in one year is deeply alarming.

Unfortunately, it isn’t just the price of beef that is soaring.  Tyson Foods just released some new numbers which show that beef, pork and chicken prices are all rising dramatically

The biggest meat company by sales in the United States has announced significant price rises for the fourth quarter, as the impact of the highest inflation for 30 years continues to be felt.

Tyson Foods, based in Springdale, Arkansas, announced on Monday that chicken prices rose 19 percent during its fiscal fourth quarter, while beef and pork prices jumped 33 percent and 38 percent, respectively.

During the early portion of this crisis, Tyson Foods was reluctant to pass increasing costs along to consumers, but now we are being informed that they don’t intend to make the same mistake again

Stewart Glendinning, the chief financial officer of Tyson Foods, said that they have been slow to increase their prices, in line with inflation, but are now making up for the delay.

‘We expect to take continued pricing actions to ensure that any inflationary cost increases that our business incurs are passed along,’ he said, on the company’s quarterly earnings call.

Sadly, this is just the beginning.  The price of meat is only going to go higher from here, and eventually it will get to a point where meat prices become exceedingly painful.

Of course there are many that would argue that we are already there.

As food prices continue to climb, those that help the needy are going to have a much more difficult time trying to do so.

For example, the Salvation Army is projecting that it will need 50 percent more funding than last year as it feeds more Americans than ever before…

The Salvation Army is planning to serve more meals than in 2020’s record year, and will need around 50% more funding to meet the buoyed demand, Hodder said. He expects rental and utilities assistance to lead the pack of requested aid.

“We’re fearful of what we’re calling ‘pandemic poverty,’” Hodder said.

The price of gasoline continues to shoot up as well.

On Tuesday, the average price of gasoline in California set a new record high for the third day in a row

Gas prices in California have broken a new record with an average price tag of $4.687 for a regular gallon as of Tuesday morning, according to the American Automobile Association.

It was the third day in a row the state has recorded record breaking prices as Monday’s average gas price was $4.682 and Sunday’s was $4.676 which broke the previous state record of $4.671 in October 2012.

Needless to say, the price of gasoline is quite a bit higher than that in certain urban areas.

In downtown Los Angeles, one unfortunate motorist ended up paying more than six dollars a gallon on Monday…

Brian Sproule squinted against the sun on Monday as he examined the price board at a Chevron station in downtown Los Angeles, where a regular gallon of gas was $6.05.

Sproule, 37, is a mobile notary who spends much of his time in his car. He said he’s used to spending about $40 to fill his tank, but by the time he capped off his Hyundai Elantra, the meter displayed a whopping $71.59.

Can you imagine paying that much for gasoline?

Don’t think that it can’t happen where you live.  Eventually, everyone in the entire country will be seeing such prices.

As “Bidenflation” makes headlines day after day, U.S. consumers are becoming increasingly pessimistic.  Just check out the latest consumer confidence number released by the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to 66.8 in November – down sharply from the October reading of 71.7 and well below economists’ forecast for a reading of 72.4.

“Consumer sentiment fell in early November to its lowest level in a decade due to an escalating inflation rate and the growing belief among consumers that no effective policies have yet been developed to reduce the damage from surging inflation,” Richard Curtin, the survey’s chief economist, said in a statement.

Americans haven’t been this negative about the economy in a really long time.

And it is becoming increasingly clear that things are going to get even worse in the months ahead.  Our leaders continue to promise that they will make progress on the problems that we are facing, but those problems just keep on escalating.  In fact, the number of giant container ships waiting off the coast of southern California just hit another new record high

On Friday and Monday, yet another record was set for the number of container ships stuck at anchor or in holding patterns off the ports: 83. The average wait time at anchor for ships arriving in Los Angeles hit yet another fresh peak on Tuesday: 16.9 days.

That really surprises me.

Despite all of the national attention, and despite the fact that the Biden administration has gotten directly involved, the nightmare at the ports in southern California just continues to intensify.

If we can’t even figure out how to get stuff unloaded and moved across the country in a timely manner, what hope do we have of properly addressing our more complex economic problems?

As our economy is shaken by crisis after crisis, millions upon millions of families all over the nation are deeply suffering.

But of course not everyone is doing badly these days.  It turns out that the vaccine manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank

The People’s Vaccine Alliance (PVA), an international non-profit working to close the global vaccine disparity, analyzed the earnings reports of Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna and found that the companies will make a combined $34 billion in profit this year.

When broken down, that is $93.5 million a day, $65,000 a minute and more than $1,000 every second of profit.

When I look at those numbers, they literally make me want to vomit.

The greed that we are witnessing has reached a level that is absolutely breathtaking.

But this is what happens when the moral foundation of a society completely collapses.

In about a month and a half, 2021 will be over and 2022 will be here.

2021 has been bad, but I believe that 2022 will be even worse.

So I would encourage you to make preparations for a very rough year, because the days ahead are not going to be pretty.

***It is finally here! Michael’s new book entitled “7 Year Apocalypse” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “7 Year Apocalypse” is now available on Amazon.com.  During this season, I would like to encourage you to send digital copies of my new book to your family and friends as gifts.  That will help to support the work that I am doing, and it will help to multiply the impact of the book.  In addition to my new book I have written five other books that are available on Amazon.com including  “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”“The Beginning Of The End”“Get Prepared Now”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  By purchasing the books you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse BlogEnd 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

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