GROUND POUNDER #9 SURPLUS GEAR AND STORAGE 

hope these ideas help you store your gear in a safe way...thanks for watching safe journeys

Great tips. One other thing: Keep in mind that most modern detergents have "whiteners," which will make the fabric stand out for night vision optics. If you want to keep the tactical dullness, you'll need a non-whitening detergent such as Ivory Hypoallergenic Detergent, the label of which states: "FREE OF phosphates, brighteners, dyes & chlorine."

Just scrolling though lifetime top 100 vids!!!! (I have watched a million) 😂😂😂

Hi Blackie! In one of my past lives, I ran a tobacco shop in a college town. My inventory included some very expensive cigars, which were very popular at that time, and I had to protect them. As you may know, cedar is the go to for all sizes of humidors and it worked great for my massive walk in unit. As you pointed out, cedar "hope chests" were very popular years ago for precisely the same reason. I really appreciate your common sense "you don't have to pay an arm and a leg" approach to the subject.

Putting a trash can in a bag to dry is a GREAT idea I've never thought of. Thanks for that

Blackie...your info is priceless, but YOU my friend, are a true treasure. I could listen to you teach for hours at a time, and many a day I do. Appreciatchya!

That “Surplus Store” smell is caused by a chemical “anti mildew “ sprayed on the clothing and gear. My ex got some clothes from a Korean Store in LA once and it had the same smell. Great washing tips.

I love the smell of mil-surp with cosmoline coming a close second.

i really like the trash can idea never wouldve thought of that brillant

Often it is these practical bits of wisdom that soooooo many others leave out of thier programs. Thank you!!

I like that musty smell when you first receive your surplus, reminds me of camping.👍

Awesome. Great old world ways always need to come back.

Great knowledge Blaky, will do this to store all my G.I.surplus camping gear.I have loads of it. Thank you. Regards. Calum Macneil. Argyll.Scotland.

Woolite and the bathtub works good for down and feathers.I made the mistake of putting my first M-1949 in the dryer and all the feathers clumped in the foot and it seemed nothing I could do would shake them loose or completely dry them out..Wash it gently and lay out flat and let it dry Completely, turning it over every so often. In January of 1977 myself and some friends were hiking the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and in a week's time the temperature fluctuated from 80 degrees during the day to -5 degrees with a 35 to 40 mph wind gusts at night.I sure was glad I had my M-1949 as only my feet got really cold(I was inexperienced with proper gear) Now I have 2- 1949's with Arctic shells(used in great shape) and a new ECWS extreme cold weather bag. Not good for hiking but great for car camping (Excellent preper bugout bags)rugged as hell. I'll take them over any backpacking bags on the market. Buying surplus American or European makes sense because it's usually much cheaper and made to much higher standards and specifications.

You gave good advice. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.

Great information ask usual 😀 thanks 😊 Blackie

Hi Blackie, great advice, muchly appreciated, thank you.

All good tip thanks. Have fun stay safe.

Great video! You killed me with “surgitate” !!

Again learned a lot! Thx from Germany! Love ur style!

lived in virginia for 35 some years. while there, i did the 1 inch dia cedar balls in my dresser draws. like the shaving stuffed nylon for the hvac. box elder & japan M beetles are my foe. first winter where i did not have a mouse in the house. knock on wood.

I use camphor to repel insects. I find the smell less offensive than naphthalene. The smell also goes away soon after it's removed from the box. In Australia it's sold by the 1/2 kilogram at Indian spice and grocery stores for ceremonial purposes. Put a pinhole in one of the cellophane wrapped 20-40 gram packets and drop in the storage box. Lasts a few years that way.

This is so awesome! I knew about vinegar and chili powder, but never knew about red cedar. Definitely gonna add it to my spray in the garage to keep the bugs and critters out this summer!

I like to use a sleeping bag liner that's soft and easily washed. When I get up in the morning I usually open my bag and throw it on the tent or camper while I have breakfast or coffee to let any possible moisture evaporate. I also like to shake & fluff my down bag up before using it.

It’s a dusty musty oder but it can be left outside to air out, and a couple days it will smell better. I found me a field jacket…tho it’s a bit big, it’s very warm. Take care and God bless Blackie.

That was a very enjoyable 30 minutes brother, thank you. Would you consider making another video about poncho liners maybe? How to tell a good one from a less good one? PS - wifey and I have adopted the word "surgitate" in your honor. Great word! 😁

Thanks for the tips big bro!

Thanks Blackie for the good tips 👍.

In our local state forest, we have several cedar plantings that are around an acre in size, It is almost unbelievable how bug free these things are. this is how I learned half a century ago that cedar was bug repellant.

Blackie , WOW Great Video and Outstanding Information. Thanks for sharing. If you put the dryer sheets that have a smell to them they keep mice out of drawers, totes . Thanks Again for sharing your knowledge and time. You Are The Master Woodsman and Buschcrafter. Tim L.

I believe the cedar products are called Aromatic Cedar

Thank you Blackie for another good video.

Great advice, thanks Blackie.

Another great video. Going to go looking for some red cedar!

Always enjoy your videos. Your advice is always good. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Great tips!!! Man, I love your videos!

Really really enjoying the Ground Pounder series! Now on to the video!!

A five gallon bucket with soap and a plunger let soak hang out to dry. I've been doing this for at least 25 years . Never had a problem. The sleeping bag spot clean. Or clean it like you would in the field . I wash mine in the tub. Little soap plunger. Ring out. Hang to dry . Hit it with a plunger from time to time. Or put in dryer on low heat with shoe or tennis balls. Hope this helps you or someone out there. Great video. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.

Great video

Blackie, you forgot to add that the rope on the trash can was to keep the lid on in case it got tumpt over. I'm originally from B'ham and enjoy the southern side of bushcrafting.

When making those saches of red cedar from panty hose, leave enough of the legs to tie them off into a tight knot up near the crotch area. Now you have a pre-filter for your Shop-Vac's barrel filter.

Blackie, 90 degree day , 50 degree night on a July day up North is great sleeping weather. Loved your video on the gear. Using sleeping bag liners help you keep your regular sleeping bag cleaner. The liner is a lot easier to wash plus it’s and insulator and in the summer it keeps you cooler. When it’s hot you can climb into your liner and unzip the bag and fully open it and lay on top of it. When it’s cold just folding the bag over you. No need to zipper it.

A metal trashcan has saved my keister more than once. Good show! Thanks.

The petroleum jelly on the lid is a good idea that I haven't thought of, thanks.

Like you said Blackie...It smells like "Adventure" and it is free with the purchase of military surplus clothing and gear.

I LOVE THAT SMELL!!! a combination of waxed paper/cardboard dust oil canvas and rubber!!! just like an old time hardware store smell along with the bell on the door and the creaking floor there it just says oh yeah i'm home!!!

It's a shame how we have forgotten the old ways! If we could just entice some of our grandmothers and great grandmothers to do some videos on the art of country cooking!!!

Use women's beige or "nude" knee-high hose (20 for $5) to make up the Cedar Sachets, but also grab 4 or 5 of them to slip over the outer shell of your Grayl Water Filter. When you fill the Grayl, put a knee-high inside the shell with the top lapping over to the outside to keep it in place and to act as a pre-filter for bits of leaves, bark, etc. before using the Grayl to treat wild water. They dry easily, and can be re-used if you're careful to keep the same side to the inside. Great series, thank you.

Thanks Blackie for some really great information. One of the biggest problems I have is storing gear.

Great tips thanks

That’s exactly what I do to store my hunting cloths . Great advice sir on the trash can and the Vaseline

Outstanding tutorial, I always get good information from your videos.

Truely enjoying thid series. Especially this one. You confirmened what I've long thought about airing things out in the sun. I've heard the sun is also a killer of bacteria, mold and mildew. ood to air out uou sleepin ear during the day in camp as a way of better drying and odor reduction. reat thing, that old Sol. Thanks for sharing.

Blackie , good informational video and tips , thanks for sharing ,God bless !

Great reminders and useful information Thank you

I have seen plenty of 70 or 80 degree summer nights in central Georgia.

Ahha Vaseline the missing insect blocker. Blackie this will help at my hunting/fishing cabin. Just wont keep the copperheads from wintering under the refrigerator (only think kept on over the winter and it generates more heat than what the snakes find outside in the snow).

Kilgore: Smell that? You smell that? Lance: What? Kilgore: Quonset huts and old surplus, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of quonset huts and old surplus in the morning. It smells like victory.

Very smart and wise idea with the red cedar thanks blackie im getti g ready to start packing my winter gear up another tool for the tool box thank you sir.

Hi Blackie you have a gift 🎁 for explaining shit thanks 😊

Excellent video, as always, Sir. I'm going to try the cedar trick for sure!

In case your not from the south. (1.37, 1.43 & 24.48) Surge-a-tate - to surge, move, rub, or agitate. The act of agitating items in a bathtub while cleaning (Blackie Thomas).

Thank you Blackie for such useful information. I really enjoy and look forward to you videos.

In the 80's... Must be nice. Its still winter in Michigan. We just had a snow storm last weekend.

Knew about cedar but never thought about pet "shavings" . Great idea !

I guess I'll be buying some red cedar shavings then.

Thanks again Blackie, great information. I have a surplus CFP-90 that has a funky smell to it, but was worried about how to wash it. I will definitely have to get some cedar shavings and blocks. I didn't know that cedar works on more insects than moths. I have been storing camping gear in the basement in plastic tubs but with no cardboard or cedar. Much appreciated! Atb.

Lots of good ideas here! Thank you!

Great information! and timely!

Blackie what about that hat your wearing.It needs a serious cleaning ,I understand you don’t want to wash your best hat . Thanks for your time!! Learned a lot on the M65 jacket .

Per/meth/rin. Love you, brother.

Well now I have an idea for my camping junk room as the misses calls it ,, I know someone locally that sells the food safe blue barrels ,, with the clamp on lids ,, .. my biggest thing is darn ants and spiders ,, dollar store pantyhose ,, filled with red cedar . No loose cedar to spill everywhere .. lol Awesome . And my big duck Canvas bags will fit easy .. thank you ,, thank you , thank you ,,

My inner and outer GOOSE DOWN MILIT SLEEPING BAGS I WASH In extra large Mashing machine at laundry mat and dry BOTH with a few sneakers or work boots to beat them to hell works for me

What I need is a good repellent for my coon hound pup. Just chewed the label off a beautiful plaid virgin wool blanket leaving a baseball size hole... fortunately the label was in the corner of blanket so ,though disfigured,still usable. ..

Soapy warm water hand wash soft brush to scrub it lightly squeeze as much water out as you can and hang dry

Blackie I put red sheeter in the sleeping bag in the laundry bag and I fill it and then I get all the small stuff out of my other bags I put red cedar in that and I feel it that way it's full of red sheet or there ain't nothing going to get into it and I put it away put it here

Great tips

Great advice, thanks

That be Wisconsin weather !

Thanks Blackie could I wrap one of the bags in my wool blankets

I love this video and realy love the idea about the red cedar will be trying that a lot. Am wondering because I use bees wax and boiled linseed oil for water proofing and am wondering how will the bug spray you talked about will effect it or would the red cedar chips be better hunting season here in Rhode Island and n.y. runs around September to the end of January so a lot of cold weather. Can you give me an idea of what would work better? Please keep up the good work. Thank you

Make sure you get extra large pantyhose just in case you want to wear them lol.. Thanks for making the video.

Hey, a new sub here, I'm from Alabama too St Clair,

I found a pure cedarwood oil closet enhancer by Amazon Premium Products that I use to protect my wool kilts and coats, it's called "Enviro-Magic Cedarwood Closet Enhancer"

A subject you might want to cover is storing the surplus tents that have a pvc coating on the inside of them. The last one I got the coating was all sticky and stuck together. Also, can you rescue the tent if you get one like that or if it happens to one that you have? If you store them right it won't happen.

I like this idea a lot and am wondering this will also work with bed bugs to plus I hunt a lot of pines and oaks will the smell be ok for them also? Please let me know on both questions.

My sister has an old swamp cooler and a wood stove with a flat top with a pot of water sitting on it. I replaced her fiber filters with those blue foam(?) filters cut to size. If I hang a cedar satchel on the inside of the louvers will it work? Also I haven't found a screen door for the rear door to the yard. Constantly letting the dog in and out, forgetting to close the door, etc. Flies were bad last year. Could I hang some satchels around the door frame in some way? Surprisingly the wasps were not as bad last year either. Reallybigmonkey1 hangs his sleeping bags and other gear in his man cave to keep them from bunching up. Don't recall if he mentioned using cedar. I'll have to look for that red cedar. We do have some wild juniper around here in northern California. A couple years ago there was a rat problem. The mice disappeared but the feral cats had a big problem with the rats. I heard one let out a scream under the house. How many of those cedar blocks should I tell her to put in the closets? They're about standard size with 2 sliding doors. What about throwing some under the house?

the smell is from the mildew treatment impregnated into the canvas

Got a wino living in that back closet , I told mother she needed to sober-up and get a job . 🤨

I would never use permethrin on any tarp that I may one day use as a drinking water rain catch.

Love your stuff bro. But I'm not convinced "surgitate" is really a word. LOL

How do I trade all the residents of NYC for 1 Blackie Thomas?

Can you talk about your hat. Where did you get it what kind of hat is it can it be waterproof or should it be waterproof

Can I ask you a question did you use paint that it's waterproof to put on your cooking gear

If it keeps bugs out of stuff in the deep south, it'll keep bugs out of anything anywhere.

This video is 3 days old now. Have petco/petsmart run out of cedar chips yet?

Thank you, Thank you. That was a lot of great information. I have a related question though it is not about storing gear. When I was camping out west I ran into the problem of having rodents go up into my engine and chew up the wiring. Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid that? Would something like a cedar shavings sachet help?

How do you feel about putting your gear into vacuum seal bags? It’s compresses your blankets and clothes well. Maybe add some cedar into the bag?

They smell like crayons to me from 40 years ago.

Man I bet you were madder than a nest of bayou red wasps when you unrolled that sleeping bag those mice chewed up!😁 Great vid Blackie