Homestead Tool List

What a great list! Certainly valuable to see it all listed out as you have done.

For my 2 cents (some of which has been said in some of the replies you recieved but some may not have I am not sure):

1. Utility knives with lots of blades (all kinds of uses and sharpen pencils better than a "pencil sharpener"). The pencil end is blunter and tends to last longer.
2. Vice-grips-definitely and channel locks as well.
3. Sledge hammer and a BFH- some times things just need some persuading!
4. Air compressor- I know this was mentioned and I heartily agree. I don't know how I would get along without it.
5. Splitting maul- the bigger and heavier the better.
6. First Aid kit- I converted an old tackle box, went to Wal-Mart and bought as much as I could cram into it. you will need most of it at some point. And when you do, its better to have it available and easy to get to.

Good luck! again- thanks for posting this- what a great list to compare too. And to read the responses teaches me some new things as well.

I think you're pretty well covered in firearms. I had a .375 H&H laying around but sold it for cash because I never used it. Most of all the meat has been brought in by the fishing poles and the .22. The remainder can be gotten with the Mossberg 500. If you pick up some of the Brenneke magnum slugs, these have energy at close range equal to a full power rifle. The only thing you might need beyond what you have (assuming your .22 is accurate and in good condition) is a caribou rifle. An old .30'06 or 7mm Mauser would be fine.

Even if you just focus on lake fish and small game and don't do any serious field hunting, you can save a lot of money on food. Three or four ptarmigan or hare a day add up, as do the lake fish. On that note, make sure to either bring a smoker or bring the wood and plans to make one on site. A good smoker can be better than any oven. Combined with a portable food sealer, it can be used to stockpile food for the whole winter. Ptarmigan, hare, and all kinds of fish can be made into jerkey or lightly smoked and eaten at once.

And just one more thing: SAILOR BOY PILOT BREAD! It's not technically a "tool," but it can be used as one. It's the perfect bread product for the bush. I left a bunch out in the middle of a rain storm, and they were no worse for the wear.

Be careful about overloading your ATV trailer. My cousins, who live in Northway (AK), were hauling three moose out of the woods this last Monday and broke the axle on their trailer. Ended up having to make several trips with the meat strapped to the four-wheelers.

Kathleen in K. Falls

My trailer was a cheapy one, but it didn't even last one trip through the pasture with a roll of barbed wire and posts. I wonder if skids would be more durable for what you are doing?

You know...we can all list stuff and more stuff, but you won't know until you are actually there. I don't know how hard it is to make arrangements to get out of there, but you might want to pre-arrange for a pick-up after a couple weeks in. There is bound to be something you didn't think of or things you didn't think would be useful that you will discover are necessary. If you already have a trip out already planned, you won't lose too much time before you can get it.

Not just tools, but other things you might find you need as well.

Jena

It's not that we can't get out easy enough, (boat, plane, or boat, barge) it's just that the cost adds up real quick. If we are missing a few odds and ends the plane can bring them in, for $50-100.00 extra, but if there are numerous odds and ends or heavy, or bulky stuff it must come in by barge, and be ferried across the only 15 miles of road. The barge which comes when it comes, unless we charter it and then we're talking $1500-3000.00. This is why we are working for the most complete list possible. We will do one more barge trip with more tools, the ATV, ATV trailer, and whatever else is on the list before we ship building materials. No you really don't want to know what the shipping bill is going to be. LOL.


-Anataq