DIY Projects and Skills for Your Survival Homestead and Apocalypse Retreat

Almost anyone who is into preparedness will tell you that DIY projects have become a big part of their preps and plans. Man or woman, urban or rural, most have found that being able to use a saw and hammer comes in pretty handy. Even if you can afford to hire someone to do the projects, you still have to be able to convey instructions and discuss detail, so that you can make sure the final result is what you had in mind.

Do-It-Yourself Skills

However, with a few basic skills you can do most projects yourself, and if you need to learn some skills, check out your local Home Depot or other building center. Often they will offer free or low-cost classes on a wide variety of DIY projects that will give you the confidence to tackle those bigger projects on your homestead or survival retreat.

Useful skills might include installation or building or:

Handy Hardware

When you start doing projects, even if they are small off-the-cuff, simple projects, you are going to need some basic tools and hardware. Just about when you think you are well-stocked with nails, screws, bolts and washers, you’ll discover you’ve either run out or don’t have the right size.

This is one reason I’ve made a point of shopping at garage and estate sales, and buying up anything that might possibly be used around the homestead. This means I’ve accumulated jars, boxes and bins of all types of fasteners, from very small nails, to large bolts probably only good for big vehicles.

Why stock up on so much? Because I’m a prepper and the DIY projects are unending. No, the truth is having what I need on hand has saved me miles of wear and tear on the truck, and tons of fuel. Not only that, but if and when the time comes that running to the local hardware store is not an option, hopefully I’ll have most of what I need on hand.

Of course, that can lead to a certain amount of clutter, but with enough bins, tubs, totes, drawers and cabinets, I can usually find what I need at any time. In addition, to the fasteners mentioned above, I make a point of picking up these things anytime I find them cheap:

• Plumber’s tape (the metal strapping used to secure hot water heaters to the wall). Wouldn’t believe how many uses I’ve found for this. It’s as valuable as duct tape!
  
• PVC pipe and connections: L’s, T’s, X’s, both threaded and smooth
  
• Electrical bits and pieces: wing nuts, electrician’s tape, plugs, switches and wall boxes
  
• Clamps
  
• Hinges, latches, locks, handles and knobs
  
• Screen and hardware cloth
  
• Hooks of all types
  
• Chain and rope
  
• Wheels and casters
  
• Weather stripping, caulk and glues
  
• Builders’ hardware
  

Tools for DIY Projects

Of course, any homesteader will have…or should have a few basic tools, like a hammer, a screwdriver, a wrench and a pair of pliers, as well as a few saws. However, it won’t be very long before you realize that what you have in that little toolbox you had in college won’t get you very far. Pretty soon, you’ll find yourself looking for a specialty tool to complete your next DIY projects. Such as:

• Sockets, ratchets, adapters and extenders
  
• Cutting tools: snips, sidecutters, utility knives, jigs and hand saws
  
• Wrenches: pipe wrenches, adjustable and box end wrenches, plus hex keys
  
• Screwdrivers: phillips, slotted, and powered
  
• Pliers: Long nose, cutting, crimper, fencing and slip joint
  
• Measuring: Tape measures, levels and squares
  
• Hammers, mallets, sledgehammers, axes, mauls
  
• Chisels, multi-tools, wrecking & pry bars
  

In addition to the hand tools, you’ll find yourself in need of:

• Ladders
  
• Shovels
  
• Fencepost/T-post driver
  
• Meters
  
• Wheelbarrows and yard carts
  
• Pipe and tube cutters
  

Even if you have all the tools above, which you should have just in case the power goes out, before then most DIY projects will get a lot easier with power tools like drills, saws, sanders, and routers.

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