I may be able to special order it for you, let me know.

Try zenstoves.net- they may have the widest assortment of plans for making ministoves that run of methyenol and ethynol, and some other interesting ones.

As for the size of the PSK, if it is hand sized, then you basically have a lot of cotton wool, a light, a compass, ferro rod and striker, a tiny bundle of fishline, two snelled hooks, one needle, a lot of very thin wire, and a that's it....

Is it the last resort part of your survival kit, or is it a true PSK which is carried in case you are seperated from the rest of the kit? If the former, ok. If the later, I'd say less cotton wool and a bit more gear.

If it works for you then stick with it...

I would say it's a last resort AND it could use more gear.

In fact, what looks like cotton wool is a plastic painters tarp.

I do intend to add to it and a lot of what Jim has suggested I can lay my hands on fairly easily. Perhaps adding Doug's RSK to it will be a shorthand to completing it.

Oh, oh wow. A tarp, serious overkill. Shelter and a sharp are the places where PSKs generally don't work so well. I don't know if the tarp is really worth the bulk.

Remember, in the scheme of things, IMHO, the PSK is the next to last resort, along with your EDC and clothing. If you loose that, its a naked you in the naked wild.

The first thing I would put in rather than the tarp is some tinder, like tinderquick tabs, or a couple of cotton balls with vaseline in a tiny zipper bag. Then some way of purifying and carrying water. Then a small lighter. Spool of dental floss, maybe, or maybe a small swiss army knife (pry off the handles to save space) or a micra or squirt. Aluminum foil, the good stuff. About a half meter of repacked duct tape.

Doug's home built PSK is here. Search through the archive of the forum, I'd say about a third of the regulars have posted lists, and usually pics, of thier pocket kits.

maybe instead of prying of the SAK handles, get an alox one.

Are they thinner? And it is an optional thing.

alox handled SAK's are pretty thin and very strong. They will probably be more comfortable and safer to use than removing the handle scales.


alox farmer...I measured mine and it is right at 1/2 inch thick. Pretty good tool for about 20 bucks. It is hair popping sharp and can stand up to batoning plus is has a saw and awl. Oh, and a beverage opener!



alox secretary...I don't have one but I would guess it would be about 1/8 inch thick. Certainly no more 1/4 inch.