I am assembling my first Altoids PSK (should we just abbreviate it as an APSK??? <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />) and have found a couple things which may be of interest...sorry if they've been discussed before, I love reading all the old posts here, just don't feel it'd be appropriate to post to one too old.

Keep in mind that I have larger kits that I maintain and this is the first time I've actually saved an Altoids tin! (One medium sized first aid kit, one belt pouch/shoulder strap PSK, and 2 car kits for 1 car <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

Options or Suggestions:

1. Break a hacksaw blade to fit the length of the lid without interfering with the lid closing, fasten to lid with two small pieces of electrical tape. The blade could be attached to another object to make a small saw or could be used with one's hand.

2. If including safety pins or paper clips, wrap 4 - 10 feet of dental floss around one of them. The pin/clip makes wrapping easy to tie off and the floss is good for flossing and sewing.

3. Try to fit as much as possible into the lid. I have hacksaw blade, razor blade, and 2 sewing needles attached with electrical tape.

4. Butterfly bandages take up a minute amount of room, include at least 2 in your kit. They can fit along the side of the tin.

5. Include at least 1 of each of 3 different size buttons. I feel sewing kits (however large or small) are extremely important in any situation. I've picked one BDU pant button, one reg shirt button and one small shirt collar button.

One thing to keep in mind is that I view a small PSK as a supplementary unit. One really only has what is strapped and physically attached to one's body. Anything can fall out of a pocket. Please feel free to give any congrats or criticism to these ideas.

It has been very interesting trying to work out the logistics to packing a kit this small, but I continue to find more room to add more things. I just started this evening, so it is not close to being complete or full yet, but these are some things I noticed that I hadn't seen mentioned before.

I also had one question, how would a body go about polishing one of these fine tins?

Thanks everyone, it's nice to be able to participate in a forum/board that is mature , intellegent, and helpful! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

BlackOps