Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Topic Options
#163811 - 01/19/09 06:04 AM How many different uses for dental floss?
scafool Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 12/18/08
Posts: 1534
Loc: Muskoka
I used it as an emergency sewing kit.
The flip top package can hold several strong needles in it and will stitch up almost anything.
(a sailor's palm really helps when pushing the needle through stuff like webbing, leather or canvas.)

So besides cleaning the gunk off your teeth and as sewing thread, what else have you found it good for?
_________________________
May set off to explore without any sense of direction or how to return.

Top
#163851 - 01/19/09 03:36 PM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: scafool]
quick_joey_small Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/13/09
Posts: 574
Loc: UK
garotte, trip wire, thread, cheese cutter, floss, pendulum, compass (with a magnetised needle), fishing line, string, suture, fire starter if waxed, etc etc.
Welcome to the Equipped To Survive forums; multi-use is our forte and this is a question with almost unlimited answers.

QJS

Top
#163869 - 01/19/09 06:36 PM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: quick_joey_small]
scafool Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 12/18/08
Posts: 1534
Loc: Muskoka
QJS, you deserve bonus points for that one.

I also found it makes an excellent material for binding up a fiberglass tent pole that got stepped on and split.
Put on as a tight whipping it was still thin enough to go through the tubes on the tent and let me let me use the tent for the rest of the weekend.
_________________________
May set off to explore without any sense of direction or how to return.

Top
#163885 - 01/19/09 08:24 PM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: scafool]
Blast Offline
INTERCEPTOR
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 07/15/02
Posts: 3760
Loc: TX
It can be used to stitch up a torn backpack and leave it stronger than the original. A bit tied in a loop can keep the kids entertained playing "Cat's Cradle". Braided togetter I suspect you could use it as a bowstring. The waxed one can be used as a small torch when you wrap a bunch of it in a ball around a stick (wedge it in a crack to keep it from falling off the stick onto your hand blush).

-Blast
_________________________
Foraging Texas
Medicine Man Plant Co.
DrMerriwether on YouTube
Radio Call Sign: KI5BOG
*As an Amazon Influencer, I may earn a sales commission on Amazon links in my posts.

Top
#163907 - 01/19/09 11:47 PM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: scafool]
ironraven Offline
Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
What would you use very strong thread for?

Whipped and lashed things, and with the waxed kind I then let it sit in the sun and rub it down so the wax merges. I've used it for sewing, and for fishing. There have been a fuller list. It isn't as good as, say 20-30 test braided spectra fishline, but when I can put a hundred yards of cord in the watch pocket of a pair of jeans for under two bucks... Yeah, that's something worth experimenting with.
_________________________
-IronRaven

When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.

Top
#163953 - 01/20/09 10:19 AM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: ]
quick_joey_small Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/13/09
Posts: 574
Loc: UK
ironraven wrote:
"with the waxed kind I then let it sit in the sun and rub it down so the wax merges"

good thinking! and once you have wax, that is another open ended utitilies list. lubricant, sun screen, lip salve, rust protector etc
(you can also use ear wax for the same)

QJS

Top
#163958 - 01/20/09 11:35 AM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: quick_joey_small]
MedB Offline
Member

Registered: 10/08/05
Posts: 108
Fray the ends and whip it around a hook... instant fishing lure/fly.
_________________________
MedB

Top
#164064 - 01/21/09 02:19 AM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: MedB]
ratbert42 Offline
Member

Registered: 05/31/06
Posts: 178
Loc: Florida
I've heard of coating waxed floss in sand, toothpaste, or another abrasive and using it as a very slow saw. Probably from some show about prison inventions.

Top
#164071 - 01/21/09 02:37 AM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: ratbert42]
ironraven Offline
Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
Sure can. I've watched my brother cut PVC with jute.

I've watched him almost light jute on fire in the process, but it worked. :P
_________________________
-IronRaven

When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.

Top
#164074 - 01/21/09 02:47 AM Re: How many different uses for dental floss? [Re: quick_joey_small]
ironraven Offline
Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
Joey, I'm not sure it has enough wax to be used quite like you are thinking. But it is enough that will hold the various threads of floss together a little tighter. Think of it as the jerry rigged version of whipping and binding something then putting a coat of glue over the threads so they don't go anywhere. Add a little strength, not much, but helps. You can also use it to replace waterproofing o-rings if you must- not as good as the real thing, but better than nothing. I hope. :P
_________________________
-IronRaven

When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.

Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, chaosmagnet, cliff 
November
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Who's Online
0 registered (), 820 Guests and 32 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Aaron_Guinn, israfaceVity, Explorer9, GallenR, Jeebo
5370 Registered Users
Newest Posts
Leather Work Gloves
by dougwalkabout
11/16/24 05:28 PM
Satellite texting via iPhone, 911 via Pixel
by Ren
11/05/24 03:30 PM
Emergency Toilets for Obese People
by adam2
11/04/24 06:59 PM
For your Halloween enjoyment
by brandtb
10/31/24 01:29 PM
Chronic Wasting Disease, How are people dealing?
by clearwater
10/30/24 05:41 PM
Things I Have Learned About Generators
by roberttheiii
10/29/24 07:32 PM
Gift ideas for a fire station?
by brandtb
10/27/24 12:35 AM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.