PREPS PART 27: HARDWARE ITEMS

What kind of hardware store prep items do you have, think you might need or are planning to stock up on? Do you have window glass? Window screening? How about post hole diggers and barbed wire for fencing?

Let's get a good list of things that would be vital to keeping the homestead running.

Everything that a farmer would need to keep critters in and critters out--including the 2 legged kind.

Window screens are something I've taken for granted. But, no more. Gotta stock up. Can you imagine the window screens being ripped, rotted, or whatever and various creepy crawlies filtering in and infesting your home, food, and body. Could even use it for a temporary door or used over a baby crib to keep mosquitoes from munching the little ones. And lots of duct tape.

Back-up

A good back up plan is needed. How about army surplus mosquito netting?

Basic tools, to begin with

It's amazing how many people don't own a hammer! You need screwdriver sets, Phillips and flatheads, a hammer, pliars, wire cutters, wrenches....

Suggest:
a supply of nails
a staple gun and staples
duct and masking tape
WD-40
plastic sheeting
mosquito netting (cheaper than screen and with multiple uses)
Thumbtacks
Lengths of rope and chain
shovel
gardening equipment
buckets
a wheelbarrow
Chicken wire

Lei said:

A good back up plan is needed. How about army surplus mosquito netting?

Click to expand...

I agree and if I had babies, I'd sure have some. Was thinking of hardware items, though.

Nylon net

Nylon net is cheaper than mosquito netting and has a million uses.

plenty of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel.

Wire cutters, glass cutters, glass, bags of cement, lime, hacksaw and extra blades.
picture wire, sandpaper, plunger for plunging ( have 2 additional plungers in my
preps for washing clothes), snake, rolls of plastic and cloth/plastic tarps.
Edited to add bungy cords, epoxy, caulking, white glue, super glue , door knobs,
fire extinguishers, lock cutters, fertilizers, and pails.

Now this is fun! Who can keep this prep list going?

If you have a trowel, you can use it in the garden or when you go camping and have to bury a snickers bar.

Some of this is in storage but some I have with me as I have bought new or if they were small and flat they may have made the trip with me.

plastic sheeting - clear and black
nails
screws
duct tape
got mosquito neting at the sewing store though
tarps
rolls of screening - had since y2k
Hammer
hatchet
ax
two saws (I'm not going to call them normal saws or regular saws as on another thread they made fun of me calling them that so you will have to guess what I mean.)
lawnmower people powered
shears for bush cutting
shovel _ spade type
hoe
rake - metal hard prong type
screw driver that has phillips and flat of two sizes.
various wrenches
channel locks
small pipe wrench
coping saw - extra blades
metal tape measure
metal ruler with square and level in the square
wood carving tools - just got those so don't even know how to use them for what kind of cuts yet, but I'm learning and getting things together to start my wood working and carving. (I figure wood carved signs may be a money maker once things have settled back down but the puter generated stuff is still out of commission or can't have neon lights as not enough power)
wood chisels - various sizes
paint brushes
broom - a good sturdy one
wd40
forgot two things I have that I really consider essential as if you don't have these many of your tools become useless when dull.

Files
grinding sharpening stone


Have a bunch more but that is most of what comes to mind of the top of my head.

These are what I plan to get-

calipers - I believe they are called. It is the tool that you measure the outside and inside of a part then measure the distance on a ruler.
sanding paper
hand planner
cement - about 12 bags
chicken wire - the cement and chicken wire will be for making ferro cement for roof repair should I need to repair roof and shingles are not available. The shingles do not last long in packages before they become so sticky they can not be pulled apart. I learned that the hard way.
more nails and screws, wing nuts and bolts
wire
hardware cloth small enough so that keeps out rats - plan to build a corn crib so will need that

One of my mentors was a old guy who lived thru the depression. He would always be taking hinges, pipe fittings, etc. off of stuff at the local dump. He had em all stored very neat in several sheds and his basement. I do the same. I never throw any useable hardware items away. I do NOT keep junk, but strip every brass, copper, iron, etc. fitting off of anything that is useable. Everything from hinges, to control valves for gas hot water heaters, etc. It is amazing how much useable stuff is pitched into landfills every day.

I have a ton of stuff I have collected over the years and each winter I make up some more wooden carry boxes with compartments. These work great when I have a job to do. Example, copper pipe job, grab the copper fitting carry box and head to the job. In there is a nicely sorted group of fittings, valves, etc. All I scored for free over the years. I rarely have to go buy stuff at the hardware store.

Anyhow......I probably have as much basic hardware as most small town hardware stores and most if not all of it was free.

Remember, the only way to do this is to properly sort out good stuff from junk and then be sure to organize it so you can find it when you need it. I have some friends who have tons of junk, but still have to go to the hardware store when they need something even tho they probably have 12 of whatever, but can never find them.

Charlie said" Remember, the only way to do this is to properly sort out good stuff from junk and then be sure to organize it so you can find it when you need it. I have some friends who have tons of junk, but still have to go to the hardware store when they need something even tho they probably have 12 of whatever, but can never find them."

I couldn't agree more with Charlie's quote.The idea of organizaion of preps is so important. This is my goal for the summer. I have my food preps, gardening preps and camping preps very well organized but the rest of my preps - well that is another story. Tools seem to be my problem.

I will by the end of the summer have all my preps organized.

Stovepipe, stove cement and extra gaskets. Lamp wicks and chimneys. Shingles and tar or whatever you use to fix a hole in a roof.

canvas tarp and plastic tarp
wheelbarrow or wagon
latches and bolts for doors
ladders and stools
log splitter and ax
heavy duty shears
shovels, rakes, saws, pole diggers
nuts, bolts, nails and screws, hammers and screwdrivers or course
electrical tape and duct tape
door hinges
levels and squares
crow bar
wrenches, wire cutters and wire strippers

Add to the list

tie wire

spare ax and hammer handles with wedges

nylon cabel ties

hacksaw blades

sawzall blades

circular saw blades

1/4"and 3/8" all thread rod

baler twine

bulk pack of telephone wire ( use to rig signaling and alarm circuits )

spare auto battery clamp terminals

crimp on terminal lug ends for 4-6 gauge battery cabel.

utility knife blades

spare wheels for bench grinder

wire wheel for bench grinder

wire hand brush

various tool bits for dremel grinder

teflon thread sealing tape

Big bob,

Looks like your shop will have power. Solar, hydro or what?

Did anyone mention a bench vice?

One very important thing that I have not seen here. A small pair of pliars that are bent at right angles. Don't know the name, but if you ever have to pull a tooth you will be awfully glad you spent that $3 for them.

Taz