Survival Straws

This is an instructables about a very small, discreet, watertight survival tool that can be made for a couple cents. I have used them and they are almost flawless! Hopefully they will help in all of your camping endeavours.  

Step 1: Supplies

1. Plastic disposable straw
2. filler of your choice (cotton wad, triple antibiotics, food seasonings, etc.)
3. Long thin object (screwdrivers, pencil, etc)
4. pliers
5. match or lighter
6. scissors

Step 2: Step One

First, take the straw and cut it in to about 2 in. lengths (this can be varied depending on how much stuff you want to put in).

Step 3: Step Two

Second, crimp the straw on one side with the pliers leaving about an eighth of an inch of hang over. Then take the match or lighter and slightly melt the straw. Remove the heat and hold tight with the pliers for 30 seconds to a minute. 

Step 4: Step Three

In my example I use a cotton wad for a fire starter. Take the wad and pull a small piece off. Then, use your long skinny object to shove it down into the tube. Repeat until full with about a 1/4 inch left over.

Step 5: Step Four

Use the pliers and matches to crimp and seal the other side. Voila! it's done! Get creative with your filler ideas and let me know about them! Happy camping.

Step 6: Five

Here are some of the ones that I have made!

Comments

[krmncrckr]

I used two straws with only one end sealed on each straw. Then I put whatever I want to put inside in and fit one straw over the other so It's reusable.

[overblast]

You could even use 2 whole straws to store really long items like 20" long.

[overblast]

Great idea! Put needles, other hard objects, in them, then you can double-straw them like you said, maybe even tape it w/reusable tape to seal & unseal and reseal as needed. :)

[TheCommander]

no after you put the stuff inside seal the other end like the first :-)

[chrisnotap]

I was just thinking, it would be good for maple syrup, if you got lost, survival food, great instructable.!

[overblast]

Or Honey! Keep some in your car in case someone has a low blood sugar attack. Or you want to attract bees. Or bees with low blood sugar attacks.

[Qaos Qitty]

I love this trick!

[Meow2015]

I will have to try this some time

[chrisnotap]

just put the cotton in the same tube as the match, now its all in one. What a great instructable, great idea.

[kpl2013]

how r u supposed to open it when u need to use the contents?

[TheCommander]

a knife, you shouldn't ever go with out one! :-)

[TheGeek1984]

Or if you seal the straws with the ends perpindicular to each other, you can squeeze one end and pop it open.

[sarhoton]

anyone interested I found the 3/8 dia. straws at Kmart, in the pots and pans section.

[jmwells]

Make some homemade Pixie Styx. Energy boost in a small package.

[fezzerlyn]

I put the red pepper flakes you get free with pizzas in it. Also any free condiment i can get i put in straws. Makes them last longer and so easy to throw in day pack or camping or go bag.

[smart_blonde_chic]

What is it used for?

[TheCommander]

storing small amounts of stuff you might use, antibiotics, spices, wd-40, matches,etc :-)

[TheCommander]

Little tip if your gonna put as gelatinous substance in the tube don't seal either end until you put the substance inside, trust me it will be easier with out getting into the science behind why.Great inscrutable though I use this for keeping various spices and fluids on me such as hot sauce for taco bell.

[Mattakers]

What's it used for?

[Reiff]

Why do I love this idea, it's just so simple, convenient,and affective. In fact, I think I'm going to go do that just now. Bye