I about twentyfive years ago, I built several really nice reloading benches. Really nice, solid, beasts made of 2×4’s and plywood sheeting. Problem is, I really only use one of them and the others take up space. So…..I chucked a screwdriver bit into the Dewalt and took the thing apart. What to replace it with? Why, more wire shelving of course.
As I was assembling the shelving, I took a few pics to demonstrate those wonderful S-hooks that I highly recommend for folks who use this type of shelving.
Notice that while one rack uses four uprights, the other rack will use only two. The S-cliips hung from the other rack will support the shelf instead of another set of upright.
S-hooks in place with shelf seated in them.
Finished unit. Still have another set of uprights (since each set comes with four and i only used six) so I could make a three-wide set of shelves using only two complete shelving sets.
Once the shelves were up, it was time to rearrange some things and one of those things was all the first aid and medical gear that had been in storage for…well…a while. Naturally, as I was doing this, I couldn’t leave well enough alone and had to make some changes. Biggest change is that a bunch of stuff got vacuum sealed to help keep the packaging clean, dry, and intact. Those paper pouches that hold the gauze and pads tend to delaminate after a while. I’m hoping that vacuum sealing them will prevent that.
And, while I was doing that, I figured I might as well vacuum seal the contents of the grab-n-go first aid kits. These are a couple milsurp medical bags I picked up off Sportsmans Guide or Major Surplus many years ago. Ideally, it’s not for immediate use, but rather a stash of items to take with you as you run out the door so that when you get to the Beta Site you can unpack them and have a full first aid kit on hand. All the contents of those went into the vacuum sealer too.
Seriously, gang…if you don’t have one already, go get one. It’s one of the most useful survival-oriented gadgets you can buy.
So, once all that was done, it was time to play musical chairs with all the crates, cans, boxes, and drums. Ideally, I’d like everything to be organized neatly and out of the way. The difference between hoarding and prepping is, I suspect, organization.
Suggestion, especially for anything medical: Put a way to open the bag on/with every bag. Those little bag cutter things (or even emergency shears on the emergency kit) stuck to the outside of the bag can make opening one of those much in a stressful time.
Yep, I am in an urban environment unfortunately. With that, 50% of my strategy may involve departing my domocile. I have things stacked/shelved/stationed somewhat orderly, however a lot is in a pre-packed state. Using durable storage tubs, or chi-com nylon traveling luggage/bags. (Hang tagged, or label tapes printed and affixed) I can then be able to deploy somewhat quickly with most of my kit and not panic-pack or leave too much assets behind if I have to flee a crawling lava flow creeping along 4 blocks up the road. Commander zero can build a dutch door or service window to the exterior and open a barter store to engage in commerce when everything else is “out of order”.
That should be a bumper sticker or t-shirt for the prepper/survivalist. “Difference between hoarding and prepping is organization.”
Great idea about the medical bag. I need to look at the one I made up several years ago to see what’s still vacuum sealed/good. I had designed it to be a mass casualty bag for our former local CERT team. It’s been on the shelf for the last 5 years.
“The difference between hoarding and prepping is, I suspect, organization.” And walking on the garbage a foot deep on the floor.
Using the above logic most of my supplies are Prepped yet I could fairly be said to be Hoarding medical supplies. I’m planning to start organize it in largish mil-surp water-air proof hard clamshell cases I’m finding at the local GS. Roughly two cubic feet of sealable Hardigg/Pelican case like protection at around $100 each that can take a beatin… I love the things.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9HQAAOSwyDxXhVfO/s-l300.jpg
What brand of wire shelving and S hooks are those? Where were they purchased?
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