Off Label Usage

[Spc. Scott]

Actually, tampons are incredibly useful for many different things. There's a case to be made for keeping them in your vehicle, survival pack or hiking gear, first aid kit, etc.

Hmm... other 'off label' uses for things? Well, here's an interesting discussion I had recently with a friend about using soda cans or tuna/catfood cans to make an alcohol stove for camping. Of course, the usefulness of a small, cheap, homemade stove doesn't end with camping.

Ideas like these really excite me as an engineer, finding new and creative ways to retrofit or repurpose common items for completely different uses. This is a bit of a lost art these days. My grandparent's generation and those before them, who had to live frugally, and didn't live in an age where everything was disposable, knew how to reuse things and make common products serve multiple functions.

I picked up one of those pop can stoves on ebay. Works like a dream and comes in a denture case to keep it from being crushed in a pack. http://stores.ebay.com/Thru-Hikers-C...eNameZl4QQtZkm

[EagleJCS]

I made one of those pop-can stoves a couple of years ago, but haven't really put it to use. Regular 'white gas' stoves are just as easy to use, and you can regulate the flame (can't do that with the pop can). It takes 2 soda cans, tin snips and a drill with a small bit (3/32 or smaller if I remember right).

Make sure to use denatured alcohol ONLY. Isopropyl and other alcohols may contain impurities that will either cause the stove to burn too hot and melt the can(s) or leave a residue that will eventually clog the apertures.

[PEEDYC]

Tampons and condoms became part of my kit when with the Royal Marines. Not standard issue I may add. If you ran out of solid fuel blocks and had to start a conventional fire a tampon made a great fire starter instead of kindling and was always dry as anything like that and matches or a lighter was kept in an (unused) condom tied at the end for water tightness. As you may know they are very strong and expand quite a bit to so you can carry quite a lot in them to keep items dry.

I also found other uses

[Deirachel]

Actually, tampons are incredibly useful for many different things. There's a case to be made for keeping them in your vehicle, survival pack or hiking gear, first aid kit, etc.

One word of warning about using a tampon for medical purposes (bandage). Make sure to get the unscented ones. And, if using one for a nosebleed to not shove it too far in, it can be a PITA to get back out if so. By the by, the other feminine hygiene product, maxipads, work well as bandages as well, and can be easier to use if you get the type with the adhesive strips. (Trim the back of the plastic around the pad and use the adhesive to stick to the skin, then wrap with cravat/bandana.)

[CameronCat]

Heh! I've done a lot of backstage tech work including actor wrangling for quick costume changes. When the actor is wearing a wireless mic, the radio pack often needs to be concealed beneath a costume and often against skin. Unlubed condoms are frequently used over the packs to protect the connections and batteries. (Sweat can be VERY damaging to electronics...) It's not at all uncommon to have a pocketful when the show starts and reduce the supply as mic packs are switched around backstage.

You may also imagine the number of raised eyebrows when the show's tech director asks the local drug store to order yet another box of two or three dozen dry condoms within a month of the last order.

[bodhran4me]

Whatcha got to help with our honey-do lists?

I keep several pair of earplugs to prevent getting honey-do lists.

[Deirachel]

bodhran, my wife can write... and I let slip I could read before we got together when I was young and dumb.

[LitTrog]

I don't have any hints to share but from now on I'm going to carry tampons, KY jelly, latex gloves and baby wipes in my sporran.

That reminded me of this scene from The Simpsons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqfxmWbelcQ

[Mikilt]

I haven't anything to add, but does anyone know of a product that can soak color out of a cotton shirt when bleach doesn't work? I double-checked that it wasn't color-safe bleach.

[Chas]

Condoms used to be standard issue to overseas correspondents from the BBC and ITV - for covering microphones during outside broadcasts. Worked equally well for water as well as for dust and sand.

Regards

Chas