There have been occasional posts on modifications and manufacturing of various survival gear. Most recently, over the campfire, the manufacture of alcohol stoves was roasted. (tasty stuff!) I was wondering if there were any out there with experience with manufacturing / field improvising items required for survival? <br><br>Anyone made <br><br>A pack?<br><br>A knife?<br><br>A compass?<br><br>A poncho / tarp?<br>I got these cheap "fox-hole cover" tarps for around $3.00 from Major's surplus and with a little sewing I put sleeves around the edges and grommets in the corners and now I have a nice tarp that would have cost around $20 to buy They are medium wieght nylon with a waterproofing coating. <br><br>A shelter?<br><br>A trap / snare?<br><br>A stove?<br>I made a small version of a hobo stove from a large can of peaches. Doesn't burn too well yet but I continue to work on the air-flow problems. Still starting a fire with spark-lite and spark-lite tinder and fueling it with twigs and punk from the backyard on the day after a rainstorm I was able to boil 16 oz cold water in about 20 min from the time I sparked the tinder. Not great but free. For comparison, trioxane in one of those folding stoves boiled the same water in about 1/3 the time.<br><br>Fire-starters?<br><br>Iodine Containers?<br>I carry my iodine tablets in a half-length polypropylene tube from a Bic Stick pen. Seems to work so far. <br><br>Making stuff is the old-fashioned way of getting stuff cheap. Worked for my Grandfather, father and me so-far.