<![CDATA[I Wish I Knew This - Homestead and Survival]]>

<![CDATA[I Wish I Knew This - Homestead and Survival]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:20:00 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Saving an old Norlund Axe scabbard]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=18 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:30:29 -0600 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=18
Below are a couple pictures and a video of the process.

]]>
Below are a couple pictures and a video of the process.

]]> <![CDATA[Attempting to save an old Norlund Axe]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=17 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:23:12 -0600 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=17
Below are some pictures and a video of the process.

]]>
Below are some pictures and a video of the process.

]]> <![CDATA[Trying $140 Neotec 12" Limbing Chainsaw]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=16 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:00:20 -0600 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=16
I ran it for a few hours one day to clear up some limbs from a downed pine tree on property and was surprised by it. I am not sure how it will do long term so we will have to wait and see with that but considering I could likely buy 3 of those saws for what I am pretty sure the cost of fixing my stihl will be, I think I may test this out further.

Here are a picture of the saw and a video I did about it.

]]>
I ran it for a few hours one day to clear up some limbs from a downed pine tree on property and was surprised by it. I am not sure how it will do long term so we will have to wait and see with that but considering I could likely buy 3 of those saws for what I am pretty sure the cost of fixing my stihl will be, I think I may test this out further.

Here are a picture of the saw and a video I did about it.

]]> <![CDATA[Testing the claim that tealight candles can be used to boil water in emergency]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=13 Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:09:47 -0600 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=13

]]>

]]> <![CDATA[2 year review of Vogelzang VG1820 Woodstove Insert]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=11 Thu, 29 Feb 2024 18:54:18 -0700 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=11
The first thing I noticed when getting ready to burn off for the first time was that there was a ton of smoke and crap burning off the stove on first use. I put the stove out and pulled out the manual to read first burn information. They stated to do 3 burns to cure the paint and burn off remnants on stove. First one for 250 degrees for 20 minutes and let cool, second one the same, and third one was 500 degrees and let cool. This stove burnt off so much smoke during that burn off it was awful. I have never had a stove that did that much. However, it has been fine ever since and the finish has held up well.

The other issue I ran into was the surround itself not working how it came from factory. This was not manufactures fault but a space issue with where it was being installed. So where the stove had to sit the surround came too far towards the front of the stove and covered the damper lever on the right side. So I cut the material on the surround and added hinges and a knob to have an access door. It works and looks like it was made for the surround.

Overall it has been a good stove for this location and has kept the place warm in cold weather so I can't complain. It does its job. The only annoying thing is that it also pings a great deal with heating up or cooling down. Our other insert stove at home barely makes a sound once it is warm. Considering the cost of this one was the same as the one we have at home I don't think I would buy it again and would work to find one more like the other one.

]]>
The first thing I noticed when getting ready to burn off for the first time was that there was a ton of smoke and crap burning off the stove on first use. I put the stove out and pulled out the manual to read first burn information. They stated to do 3 burns to cure the paint and burn off remnants on stove. First one for 250 degrees for 20 minutes and let cool, second one the same, and third one was 500 degrees and let cool. This stove burnt off so much smoke during that burn off it was awful. I have never had a stove that did that much. However, it has been fine ever since and the finish has held up well.

The other issue I ran into was the surround itself not working how it came from factory. This was not manufactures fault but a space issue with where it was being installed. So where the stove had to sit the surround came too far towards the front of the stove and covered the damper lever on the right side. So I cut the material on the surround and added hinges and a knob to have an access door. It works and looks like it was made for the surround.

Overall it has been a good stove for this location and has kept the place warm in cold weather so I can't complain. It does its job. The only annoying thing is that it also pings a great deal with heating up or cooling down. Our other insert stove at home barely makes a sound once it is warm. Considering the cost of this one was the same as the one we have at home I don't think I would buy it again and would work to find one more like the other one.

]]> <![CDATA[Making a cheap old Craftsman hatchet a much better hatchet]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=10 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 19:19:31 -0700 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=10
I didn't care for the finish on the handle and the poly/lacquer type shiny finish because it made it slippery and can give blisters over time. That was pretty easily fixed by removing that and putting lindseed oil on it. I also filed the hatchet head on the cutting edge to take off metal and make the cutting shape better. Then used sharpening stones to give it a sharp edge like a knife. Then I needed to make a sheath out of extra leather pieces I had. Overall it came out well and now I will use it instead of my Fiskars hatchet. Didn't take long to do, used basically inexpensive tools and things I had lying around was not an expensive hatchet to begin with. I detail a little more in the video what was done to it.

First picture shows what the hatchet looked like before I started doing any work to it.

]]>
I didn't care for the finish on the handle and the poly/lacquer type shiny finish because it made it slippery and can give blisters over time. That was pretty easily fixed by removing that and putting lindseed oil on it. I also filed the hatchet head on the cutting edge to take off metal and make the cutting shape better. Then used sharpening stones to give it a sharp edge like a knife. Then I needed to make a sheath out of extra leather pieces I had. Overall it came out well and now I will use it instead of my Fiskars hatchet. Didn't take long to do, used basically inexpensive tools and things I had lying around was not an expensive hatchet to begin with. I detail a little more in the video what was done to it.

First picture shows what the hatchet looked like before I started doing any work to it.

]]> <![CDATA[Winter water supply at the lake when the main water setup is shut down due to cold.]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=6 Thu, 22 Feb 2024 16:42:13 -0700 cstockwell]]> https://wishiknewthis.com/showthread.php?tid=6
I use a 12v RV water pump and used water grade plastic hose wrapped in foam insulation and then buried that goes down into the water. I am not sure how it will fair during dead of winter when lake gets frozen over but I will know very soon. That RV pump then feeds a split valve that sends cold water directly to the faucet and then feeds the hot water tank under the sink. That is a small electric one I purchased at Home Depot many years ago and ended up replacing it after the first test because it leaked a little around the pressure release valve. The one in the video is the new one. Normally you need a foot valve on you water supply from the lake to keep the water from going back into the lake and breaking the prime seal in the jet pump but with this setup the RV pump is self priming and holds pressure. So the end of that hose has a filter on it instead of a foot valve making it easier to winterize that water line when leaving. The setup works very well. I have a couple of Lifep04 batteries there but also large lead acid ones for the boat trolling motors so I can use those under the sink for power.

It is really a huge difference having that water supply instead of fancy camping in the winter.

]]>
I use a 12v RV water pump and used water grade plastic hose wrapped in foam insulation and then buried that goes down into the water. I am not sure how it will fair during dead of winter when lake gets frozen over but I will know very soon. That RV pump then feeds a split valve that sends cold water directly to the faucet and then feeds the hot water tank under the sink. That is a small electric one I purchased at Home Depot many years ago and ended up replacing it after the first test because it leaked a little around the pressure release valve. The one in the video is the new one. Normally you need a foot valve on you water supply from the lake to keep the water from going back into the lake and breaking the prime seal in the jet pump but with this setup the RV pump is self priming and holds pressure. So the end of that hose has a filter on it instead of a foot valve making it easier to winterize that water line when leaving. The setup works very well. I have a couple of Lifep04 batteries there but also large lead acid ones for the boat trolling motors so I can use those under the sink for power.

It is really a huge difference having that water supply instead of fancy camping in the winter.

]]>