Recently I have started going back and reviewing various threads on the several different kits, ie;BOB, PSK, etc. 1 item that does or doesn`t stand out is the lowly clothespin ( the spring variety). Since I first started putting together a car kit, PSK, etc. I added 1 or 2 to every one I made . They have many uses such as an improvised knife along w a razor blade or utility knife blade and a little cord, handy kindling or feather stick, reclosing a plastic bag once opened, possibly incorporated into a spring trap for small game, and of course the obvious original intended purpose. I am sure there are other uses I have overlooked. Another item I have added is a hotmelt glue stick which I have used on several occasions. (almost any hot heat source will melt them sufficiently for use). Any comments?

I like the glue-stick idea. Real stable in normal conditions and easily useable and decent adhesive qualities. What about a smallish "double injector" 5 minute epoxy tho?

The clothespin seems rather bulky to me for its usefulness. I carry a number of spring loaded things - Binder clips, safety pins, Spring tensioned key-cable and in my larger kit a fishing yo-yo. I think that I would see the use for a clothespin spring and improvise the wooden parts in the field.

I would have to use your argument against the double injector epoxy, to bulky, plus while the glue stick may not be as strong as the epoxy there is virtually no cure time and from experience humidity and temp. can affect the cure of epoxy.

true, true...

I've carried a bit of hotmelt caulk-glue stick in my repair kit for many years and have found it useful - probably are some older posts someplace where I've mentioned this previously. Everyone in my family has a repair kit in their ready packs and a bit of hotmelt is in each kit. An entire stick is too much IMHO - 1/2 or less of a regular diameter stick should last a long time in a repair kit.

As for epoxy - big mess. However, a bit of 2 part epoxy putty carries nicely - low tech is cut a bit off and wrap it in cling wrap before stowing in repair kit. More durable is to vacuum-seal a bit before placing in kit instead. The putty should be checked or replaced about annually, although I've used bits that were older.

Interesting idea with the clothes pins - I don't think I've ever lugged any around except in "the big green box" (chuck box for car camping) so can't comment on the value. Minime's small binder clips can be quite handy as well, and I have used them from time to time, but they also are not something I've deliberately carried afield.

I don't think I'll add the clothespins to my kit, but I wouldn't make fun of you if you did - you obviously can see what things MAY be used for instead of simply what their intended use is. You pointed out a use I hadn't considered, so thanks.

Regards,

Tom

I have been carrying a hot glue stick in my Urban EDC wallet for a couple of months now. It is the one of the best things in there. I have even used it to stick a mosquito net to the ceiling of my hotel room after the A/C stopped working, it was hot and there were lots of mosquitoes. Out with the net I always carry in my luggage and stuck my cord to the ceiling, Voila!!

Tom, is it as simple to use as heating it with a lighter?

Bill,

It can be, although you tend to get some soot mixed in with the glue. Direct heat from a stove or lighter (I've also used a candle) works, as does heating a bit of metal and using the metal to do the "hot-knife-through-butter" trick and smear the glue where you need it.

Hot metal is cleanest, followed by radient heat from a naked lantern (globe off - steady hand to keep from breaking the mantle), followed by stove, followed by any other field expedient heat source.

I have also used an empty tin can on a stove and melted glue in the can to then be dabbed where it was needed using a twig. However, that is more wasteful of the glue and ruins a perfectly good can <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

HTH,

Tom

Can one reheat the glue several times? If so, you could carry a blob premelted into a bottle cap or other small heatable container. That way you could use any flame to melt the glue, and not worry about soot.

If you heat the glue stick using the side of the flame, the blue side rather than the orange flame, you get no soot. By turning the stick slowly you can heat up alot of glue. So do not use the top of the flame, just be careful of hot sticky glue and glue threads. Works great