POST-APOCALYPSE BARBER
Before we begin today, an addition to yesterday's article on corn. I should have added that whole grain corn is much easier to get used to than whole wheat flour. Just buying a bag of chips or a package of corn tortillas will start you on it. While most folks might turn their nose up at whole wheat, they've already been eating whole corn. So it might be more of a natural grain to stock ( just get enough wheat for sprouts, at least ). Okay, today let's talk about yet another possible post-apocalypse career. Barber. I covered straight razors eons ago, pre-blog days. I ordered a package of stainless steel straight razors and tried to shave with one with little effect. A loyal minion sent me a carbon steel one but I chickened out using it. By that time I had decided I would just stockpile a bunch of disposables and the razor sharpener from Lehman's. I can get a disposable to last at a minimum of two months using one of those sharpeners and shaving three times a week. So with my hoard of cheaply bought disposables I'm good for the rest of my life on shaving ( or close enough, and I still have that good straight razor ).
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If you buy a bunch of stainless steel razors for barter, you can pay as little as two or three bucks each. If you want a professional straight razor, one that does a decent job ( you might have better luck with the stainless than I did so I could be wrong here and stainless will work just fine for you with a bit more attention to getting an edge ), you need to buy a carbon steel version. And they are far more than three bucks. Try more like thirty on up. But, you are buying an investment. This should be your primary concern. A guy can go awhile without a haircut. And do a half ass job chopping it off. But if they want a shave, they are going to have to go see a professional. Disposable razors will wear our quickly after the stores close. Beards will out of necessity make a come back, but enough men might want to do without one that you'll have a business.
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Plenty of Web sites out there will give you all the information you want on straight razors. Next up are going to be hair scissors. Something a little better than a pair from the dollar store. Like the razors, you are going to have to decide on a compromise between the cost and the number of back up pairs you can stockpile. Then, it is a simple matter of buying a ten dollar book on cutting hair. If you don't already know how. But this seems like a pretty easy profession to get ready for. A few pieces of equipment, a little practice. I know I've thrown some pretty bizarre possible professions your way, such as honey wagon driver. This is just a reminder that there are easy, cheap ways to get ready for a post-oil life. It isn't the matter so much of skill. Anyone can hack up an animal carcass and soon learn butchering. Candle making isn't rocket science. It is more the matter of having the fore site to stock up on the proper equipment before hand. How many folks will have a manual sharpening stone wheel and files to sharpen axes or saws? Anyway, something to think about.
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37 comments:
Why YOU havent taken barber classes??
Why arent YOU sharpening axes and tolls.
Why havent you become something??
Its very easy to say " DO AS I TELL YOU, NOT DO AS I DO"
Boy you know everything, dont you??
Why YOU havent taken barber classes??
Why arent YOU sharpening axes and tolls.
Why havent you become something??
Its very easy to say " DO AS I TELL YOU, NOT DO AS I DO"
Boy you know everything, dont you??
Why YOU havent taken barber classes??
Why arent YOU sharpening axes and tolls.
Why havent you become something??
Its very easy to say " DO AS I TELL YOU, NOT DO AS I DO"
Boy you know everything, dont you??
some of the things you blog about are quite good some things are a bit off the wall but there is a lot of good info and just a note to all the people that has a bitch with you. piss off who cares were he lives or what he dose some of this stuff can help us all.
Douschebag troll, go jump off a cliff.... Jim, straight razors are cool, just gotta have a steady hand, and take yer time.... A strop is good for keepin' the edge. Yes, barbers will still be in demand, especially for folks like me who can't stand hair on my neck (thanks Navy.....)
What's your problem with Jim? He is simply outlining some potential post-collapse occupations. He's telling us that there is something out there that each of us to make ends meet should times get really bad. Does that mean that he has to perform each of these jobs? That's absurd.
You sound like a disgruntled barber who is pissed that Jim made the profession of cutting hair sound like anyone could do it. Relax Francis....oh, and take a little more off the top.
Pardon me Jim.....
Hey troll, wanna dance? I'll take yer ass on. I don't give a fuck. If yer smart enough, click my profile, and email me with the time and place. I ain't skeered..... Are you? I think so..... No guns, no knives, just hand to hand bitch. I'll beat you like a red headed stepchild. Bring it on candy ass. I'm waitin'......
What's your problem with Jim? He is simply outlining some potential post-collapse occupations. He's telling us that there is something out there that each of us to make ends meet should times get really bad. Does that mean that he has to perform each of these jobs? That's absurd.
You sound like a disgruntled barber who is pissed that Jim made the profession of cutting hair sound like anyone could do it. Relax Francis....oh, and take a little more off the top.
G3KEN
OK USN vet, tell me the other side of the murderous attack on the USS Liberty.
I am all ears...................
Hey Jim, does your email adress at netzero.com still valid ?
I got this error message while trying to reach you :
"delivery temporarily suspended: host
mx.dca.untd.com[64.136.44.37] refused to talk to me: 550 Access
denied..."
Come post crash, I think I will just shave my head Spring thru Fall and let it grow thru winter.
Won't need any shampoo or conditioner during those months, just a bar of soap and a safety razor.
Dont forget some First Aid training, preferably something a bit above Level 2, like say "Remote Area First Aid" (2 day course, level 2 is a pre-req). People will always need half trained paramedics that know the basics in keeping someone alive.
Keep a good stock of first aid gear, and instead of disposing of it after each use just wash it out, boil it and use it again (dont do this till after the collapse or someone will try and sue you).
Not sure if this will appeal to Jim, being more of a "Solitary Survivalist" but those that are more community based survivalists may be interested.
For the solitary survivalists, remember, if you know how to save a life, you know how take one.
nothing like practicing on yourself and saving money...
i've been cutting my own hair for 25 years. frankly, every once in awhile i have to hide for a week and try again...
anyway, for a real quality hair cut you'll need to spring for 'thining shears'. sort of looks like a hair scissors with comb teeth. so thats a pair: a trimmer and a thinner.
i did score a couple of straight razors a while back. however, if i remember correctly there were poof poof disco blow dry hair parlors back in the late 70's where razor cuts were the norm, these were older skilled guys cashing in. anyway, the point is, razor cuts seem to require quite a bit of skill and i've never figured out if it's possible to give yourself a razor cut...
so from a practical point, you can start out by just giving yourself 'trims'. out of the eyes, or off the ears, etc... to keep things neat and strech out the time between full blown haircuts.
btw, you really really have to put down newspaper or use a towel around your neck because any women within 20 miles will bitch and howl about the inevitable mess.....
anyway, hope this is of help to ya' all. i'm going to check out the shaving supplies that jim mentioned, next. Thanks Jim.
DEMENTED in NH
I think after the crunch I will go into business making BBQ troll burgers.
the trolls will be easy to identify they will be the ones that won't be able to do anything for themselves but whine and cry.
the meat will be tender because they never built up any muscle mass except in their typing fingers.
and as an added bonus they will have very few bones, they don't even have a spine!
Jim, keep on doing what you do.
I don't ALWAYS agree with you but at least when I don't you give me the chance to look at things from a different angle.
jpf
JPF, that was funny......
It was funny, but i know know how many troll burgers he will sell if he sells them as troll burgers, but if he markets them as chicken burgers he could just be the post-apocalyptic bill gates :)
Long pig is the "other white meat".The biggest problem with troll burgers is that they would be real stringy.
My wife has been cutting my hair for 40 years. I thought $3:00 was too much to pay for a haircut.
G.C.
anyway, found this on treehugger.com and thought it was worth consideration.
"I bought a "Save a Razor" lasted 2 weekes before it broke.. Did not work anyway. But I found out a FREE way to sharpen your razor. Just use an old pair of Levi's jeans. All you do is pust the razor BACKWARDS on the jeans about 10 times.. Works like a charm. I'm still using the same razor for 3 months."
DEMENTED in NH
not your best effort jim, but as a TRUELY loyal minion I will let you off. Just dont do it again or i will google map your nigerian camp site and pour salt in your well. hah, take that you slacker. just kiddin man, we love you. if i could afford it i would send you some dough, hell maybe i will
If you're really going to try to live on mostly corn, you need to get onto nixtamalization. See the wiki for why and how.
NMc
Since my own personal economic disaster hit 15 years ago, I've paid for a barber exactly twice.
Good thing I look good in a beard and ponytail. My wife trims the end of the ponytail when it gets too ragged. I hack the beard back once in a while to avoid the Santa Claus look.
Kinda expect this to be a low priority for most men if times get truly tight.
-Sixbears
MAYBERRY BURGERS.
"THE BIGGEST WHINNER OF ALL TIMES"
You dont believe me, just ask mrs. mayberry.
WHINE, WHINE, WHINE.
CRY BABY CRY.
MAYBERRY BURGERS.
"THE BIGGEST WHINNER OF ALL TIMES"
You dont believe me, just ask mrs. mayberry.
WHINE, WHINE, WHINE.
CRY BABY CRY.
Pardon me again Jim....
Lick my asshole troll!!!! Once again, I challenge your reduced mental capacity to click on my profile, and email me the time and place you'd like your anatomy to be re-arranged by yours truly. Hurry up with it, I've got things to do.....
I for one will let my hair go in the event of a SHTF scenario.. I will be shooting for the look somewhere between the evil biker in Raising Arizona and a Viking Berserker with my beard braided that I can ignite and let smolder to scare the crap out of people..
My last barber haircut was in 1972 for the occasion of my granddad's funeral. Haven't been to a barber since that time.
I mostly work with pocket comb and scissors watching that man in the mirror very carefully. Once in a great while I'll let wife give it a try, but that usually ends up as the beginning of a "hide out week".
I appreciate Jim's blog both for his insights on frugal prepping and the quality of SOME of the comments - like the blue jean tip for extending razor life.
san5pedro
You might have something there Farmer! Ha ha!
I think your writing is very informative and it really doesn't hurt anyone to take up a hobby and learn something new. It doesn't matter if you are learning a new trade for the hard times ahead or to just learn a new hobby for pure enjoyment.
I become a jack-of-all-trades so to speak with my hobby crafts and they will also do well in the hard times ahead. I've learned how to knit, crochet, spin, work a loom and am now learning how to make candles. I also make jewelry now and it has worked into a home business of sorts and has given me some extra money now that I had to retire early and my pay was drastically cut.
In my 4-H days, I learned how to take care and raise many farm animals. I have rasied calfs, rabbits, chickens, ducks and geese quite profitably I might add. I also learned how to ride horses, which I still do and who knows, we might all be horse-back soon with what's been going on lately.
So, it helps to learn from hobbies and maybe in the future, they might just pull us through some very hard times ahead.
SurvivalCat
California
Troll long pig like was served in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes"
Anon 1:06:
How to spell, at least... and some grammar. Some.
Cygnus (A.H.)
I'm rusky, I speak 4 languages and ASL (american sign language).
HOW MANY DO YOU SPEAK ?, American FATSO.
the main reason to shave is so you get a good seal with your gas mask. keep a fresh disposable razor with your NBC gear.
The trolls don't really get it. They just stupidly repeat their posts. I don't go to Jim's site because I think he's some great genius. However, things are falling apart, in case you stupidly have not noticed it. I have many friends out of work and losing everything they have. These are good, hard working people. My job is subject to whether my company can continue to collect it's accounts receivables. We are all fiddlers on the roof.
At least Jim is trying to figure it out and sharing what he knows. Also, he allows anyone to comment and some of those comments are very relevant and useful to poor people who are looking for alternatives to blowing our own brains out or other brains.
You trolls don't have anything to give. Nothing, except your stupid whining and nitpicking and your stupid repetition.
Nixtamal is the treated corn that is used to make masa and hominy. First the corn is cooked and soaked in lime, rinsed and then the hulls may or may not be removed. This task may seem daunting and the ingredients may seem unusual, but they are easily found and you will have fresher tasting Posole, Tamales and Tortillas. Once you assemble the ingredients, the rest is easy.
You can use nixtamal in * Tamale Dough * Corn Tortillas * Hominy for Posole
Time Required: 2 hours to 24 hours, depending on use
Here's How:
1. Prepare Measure out 3lbs or 2 quarts of dried corn, 4 quarts of water and 5 tablespoons slaked lime.
2. Mix Mix water and lime in a large nonreactive pot. Turn up heat to "high" and stir constantly until lime is thoroughly dissolved.
3. Cook Add corn to pot and remove any kernels that float to the top. Bring water to a rolling boil, then turn down heat to let it simmer.
* Tortillas- Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Let soak overnight.
* Tamale Dough- Boil for 15 mintues, then let it soak for 1 1/2 hours.
* Hominy- Boil for 15 minutes and let it soak for 15 mintues.
4. Soak After simmering for the appropriate amount of time, cover the pot and turn off the heat. Allow the corn to soak in the heated water. See #8 for soaking times.
5. Rinse and Remove Drain corn in a large colander and rinse under water using your fingers to rub the corn, removing all traces of lime. If you are making hominy, it will be necessary to remove the hulls at this time. The hulls are the little brown tips, and you can just rub them or pick them off.
6. Additional Rinse Put the hulled corn into a large bowl and cover with lukewarm water. Allow to soak for 5-10 minutes while moving the corn around with your fingers. Repeat. This will ensure the lime is washed away.
7. Drain Drain the finished corn through a colander and you now have nixtamal.
8. Cooking and Soaking Times-
* Tortillas- Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Let soak overnight.
* Tamale Dough- Boil for 15 mintues, then let it soak for 1 1/2 hours.
* Hominy- Boil for 15 minutes and let it soak for 15 mintues.
9. Process or Grind To make dough for tamales or tortillas, you will need to grind the nixtamal. The food processor can be used for tamale dough, but it won't grind it fine enough for tortillas. You can use a grinder, or a metate y mano to grind it very fine for tortillas.
Tips:
1. Make sure to remove all of the lime or your masa will be sour and taste badly.
2. For hominy, remember to remove the hulls.
3. Follow the cooking and soaking times because they differ depending on what you are going to be using it for.
4. Be very careful with the lime as it is caustic and can cause bodily harm if ingested in large quantities. It is in the same family as lye.
5. If you have trouble finding lime, try the pickling supplies section of your local grocer. It may be called pickling lime.
What You Need:
* Dried Corn - Field, Dent or Hominy
* Lime- "Cal", Slaked Lime, Calcium Hydroxide (Not Quick Lime or Calcium Oxide)
* Water * Food Processor or Grinder
* Non-Reactive Pot (Stainless Steel or Enamel)
troll burgers anyone ?
i wonder if they would suck as bad as McDreks ? and if you manged to hold a troll burger down, where would you bury the troll-poo ? good god the stench !
anyway, it seems ARGENTINO came back as RUSKIE ? anyway: teeshina gloopi.
DNH
Mayberry, go take a xanex. Your constant threats of violence and caterwauling about things that have nothing to do with survival or prepping are irritating. The man doesn't need your defending him.
Mmmmmm... post collapse there will be lots of skinny, longhaired bearded guys around. Just my type.
I can't wait.
-Dirty Hippie
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