DIY

Candles | Composting Toilet

CANDLES

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A stash of beeswax candles, perfect for an emergency.

This is a guide to making your own homemade candles. Candles are an essential piece to any preppers stash (once the lights go out, how else are you going to find your way around?). So let’s learn to make our own, and reduce our dependence on those corrupt and greedy international corporate conglomerate candle makers.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

1) Some form of wax. You’ll want to avoid anything petroleum based, as these materials can release carcinogens when burned. Instead, use beeswax, or the cheaper alternative, soy wax. They are both easily found at most home or craft type stores, or you can make your own soy wax.

2) Containers. You’ll need some form of container to house your candles. Glass containers are a good idea, as they will keep their form (many plastics melt easily, and the last thing you want is to be breathing in burned plastic fumes). You want your containers to be made of a substance that won’t crack, won’t leak, and won’t catch fire. Make sure your containers have been washed and dried before starting.

3) Wicks. You’ll want wicks that are a couple of inches longer than the height of your containers. They’re easily found at home or craft stores, or you can make your own candle wicks.

4) Dye. If you want to make your candles a certain color, you will need to dye them.

5) Fragrance. If you want your candles to have a certain smell, you will need to add fragrance.

Some ideas:

“Peace”- combine rose, peppermint and honeysuckle oils.

“Abundance”- combine lemon balm, clove and citronella oils.

“Relaxation”- use lavender oil.

“Strength”- combine fir, patchouli and juniper oils.

6) A double boiler or wax melter. You can buy one of these, or you can pretty easily make your own double boiler.

7) A thermometer. To monitor the temperature of the melting wax.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

1) Cover your work space with newspaper. Wax can be very difficult to clean up.

2) Melt your wax in your double boiler/wax melter. Gently stir the wax as it melts, and use a thermometer to monitor the temperature. When it reaches the temperature that the wax fully melts (for both beeswax and soy wax, this is around 150F), turn off the heat. Always keep an eye on the wax, as it is combustible. Wax will set fire at 300F, and I advise to never let the temperature ever reach even 185F, as discoloration will start to occur.

3) Add the dye to the wax, and stir to distribute it evenly (the more you add, the darker the color will be).

4) Add the fragrance to the wax, and stir to distribute evenly (use 1.5 ounces of fragrance per pound of wax).

5) Pour the wax into the containers, and add the wicks. The wicks should be centered in the container, and extend to near the bottom of the container with an inch or two of them sticking out above the wax.

6) Let the wax fully cool, and you now have your very own scented, colored candles ready to use!

REFILLABLE LIQUID PARAFFIN CANDLES

As an alternative to wax candles, you could try paraffin oil candles. These are refillable, cheap, and can last you for hours on end._Top

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Compost Toilet

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DIY: HOW TO BUILD A COMPOSTING TOILET

This article is a guide to building a composting toilet. A composting toilet is a good idea for rural or remote areas where indoor plumbing isn’t available. Outhouses are common, but can be cold, smelly, uncomfortable, and can contaminate ground water.

A compost toilet doesn’t have these problems, can be stored indoors, and are cheaper and easier to make, to boot.

This toilet will sit about 1 foot off of the floor, plus the height of whatever legs you choose to add to it.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Equipment:

1) 2 wooden boards, 11”x 18” and between .5-1” thick

2) 2 wooden boards, 11”x 21” and between .5-1” thick

3) 2 wooden boards, 18” x 21” and between .5-1” thick

4) 4 legs (optional)

5) A few identical buckets, between 11” and 12” deep, with handles.

6) 2 hinges

7) A regular toilet seat

Tools:

1) A drill

2) An electric saw (regular saws can be used if you’re comfortable cutting a circle with it. Most people don’t have enough experience to do this cleanly).

3) A screw driver

4) 14 screws + however many screws you need for the hinges and toilet seat (this number will vary).

5) A pencil

6) A ruler

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

1) Take the boards from #1 and #2. Drill holes in their sides and screw them together to form a box that is 18” wide and 21” long, 11” high and is open on its top and bottom.

2) Take one of your 18” x 21” boards (#3). Using the drill and screws, connect this board to the bottom of the box at each of the 4 corners.

3) Take one of your buckets (#5), and place it bottom up on the second 18” x 21” board (#3). Trace the outline of the opening of the bucket in the center of the board.

4) Using the saw, cut out the circle you traced on the board.

5) On the same board, locate one of the sides that is 18” in width. Measure one inch in, and trace a line that is parallel to the 18” side, one inch deep.

6) Cut along the line you just traced. You will now have two pieces- the 20” x 18” piece with the hole cut in the center, and an 18” x 1” piece.

7) Using drills and screws reconnect the two pieces you just separated with your hinges, so that they can open and close.

8) Place the part you just made (The two wooden pieces connected with hinges) on top of the box, hinges up. This will be the top of the toilet. Connect the short end of the top part (the 18” x 1” part) to the box, using the drill and screws. The large part (the 20” by 18” part with the hole cut in it) should be able to be opened upwards.

9) If you choose to have legs on your toilet, screw them to the bottom of the box, at each of the four corners.

10) Place a bucket in the box, top up. It should fit into the hole you cut in the top part, which will keep the bucket in place so it won’t move around.

11) Connect the toilet seat to the top of the toilet, so that it covers the hole. It should fit snugly, so that there is no extra space between the toilet seat and the top of the bucket.

You now have a functioning compost toilet!

USING IT:

1) Fill a bucket about halfway with sawdust. The sawdust will help seal the waste in and absorb odors.

2) Put the bucket in the box. Close the top so that the bucket is held in place in the hole.

3) Use the toilet as needed 

4) When the bucket is near full, take the bucket out and put the contents into your compost heap.

5) Fill another bucket with sawdust and repeat the process._Top