Homemade, not storebought

[cathleeninnh]

Nothing against merchants, but if it isn't available, what can be done at home?

I found this for houshold cleaners. I learned that lemon oil is not from lemons, it is a petroleum distillate.

http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/cleaner.htm

Cathleen

[Kat Kanning]

Thanks Cathleen!

I recently tried changing from detergents to soaps.  With the handsoap and shampoo, it doesn't seem to dry my skin out as much with the soap.  I didn't notice any real big difference with soap in the laundry.  It does leave soap scum all over though.

[fourthgeek]

This is going to sound gross, but I have a bit of a secret on natural shampoo:

Don't use any!

As long as you rinse your hair to clean it of debris, there's no need to use shampoo. Your hair will be greasy for a couple of weeks (since its used to being stripped dry) but then it will "calm down" and balance out.

I've not washed it in 4 weeks and it's finally normalizing. And it seems that nobody notices either (nor did they ever). Just make sure to keep it rinsed well until it does calm down.

[cathleeninnh]

For several years, I washed our clothes with a homemade cleaner using soap, borax, soda and water. It was cooked and did not leave any residues. I save the recipe and will search for it. I only quit when we moved because I don't have storage and the cooked batces lasted about 2 months.

Cathleen

[AlanM]

I use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap. It is cheaper than shampoo and healthier too.

Where is it available?

[Kat Kanning]

I was using this:

http://www.calbenpuresoap.com/

[Otosan]

I've not washed it in 4 weeks and it's finally normalizing. And it seems that nobody notices either (nor did they ever). Just make sure to keep it rinsed well until it does calm down.

I hve not used shampoo on my (what is left of it) hair in nearly 8 yrs.  Like fourthgeek said...it took about a month for the oils in my hair to settle down. and the rate of "going bald" was slowed down.....

if you are a young man I would advise not to shampoo your hair.   I think the over shampooing of ones hair speeds up the baldness.

back to topic.....

Past couple of yrs I have been trying my hand at canning and I find the jams and jellies I make are better than store bought....at least I know what is in them.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

I ordered a gallon of Dr. Bronner's hemp/peppermint multipurpose liquid soap a few days ago from The Herbal Patch in Dover.  I was looking for the best price, and The Herbal Patch's price was within a dollar of the best price I could find on the internet.  My mom uses it for washing dishes, as shampoo, and as hand & body soap.  She let me use it, and it made my butt feel minty fresh.

[KBCraig]

Dr. Bronner's hemp/peppermint multipurpose liquid soap ... made my butt feel minty fresh.

Whew! Refreshing!

Reminds me of the discount store stocking job I had in high school. I had to help the girl who handled femine products, and I asked her if Massengill "strawberry" was scented, or flavored.

She turned strawberry red, but I never got a definitive answer.  ???



Kevin

[Marcy]

A couple of basic chemicals (vinegar, baking soda, borax) either substitute or serve as a better/cheaper product than other store-bought alternatives.  Google them... there are bezillions of uses.

Best alternative to toxic insecticides for ants:  mix borax and confectioner's sugar and put it where ants go.  They eat the sugar and the borax messes up their breathing.  I think they take it back to their nests, too.  It  won't hurt pets or kids, not that I ever had any pets or kids mess with it.

[Kat Kanning]

We used diatomaceous earth on the fire ants in TX.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

If you want to make your own guns at home, http://www.homegunsmith.com is a great resource, and the paid membership gives you access to even more stuff, and is well worth the money.

[Lex]

If you want to make your own guns at home, http://www.homegunsmith.com is a great resource, and the paid membership gives you access to even more stuff, and is well worth the money.

What kind of guns can be made at home? What is the main advantage to making guns at home other than no one knowing you have them?

It seems like the setup for such a thing would be prohibitively expensive... at least more so than just buying a gun.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

Well, that depends on what you want to make.  Some people make guns with simple hand tools.  Some of the more complicated guns almost require a lathe and/or mill.  I have the tooling required for making an AK47 receiver from sheet metal, and for riveting a parts set on.  I also have a small lathe and mill and a hydraulic press, drill press, bead blasting cabinet, and various other tools.  Some people build guns from kits, while others build them from scratch.  When you build your own, you can build it pretty much the way you want, although you would want to gain a working knowledge of the laws governing building firearms.  A 1911 is pretty easy to build from a kit.  An AR15 is more challenging, but possible.  Some people even build belt fed rifles at home.  Some sources for parts and materials include http://www.ktordnance.com, http://www.tanneryshop.com, http://internetgunshow.com, http://www.diyguns.com/, http://www.gunpartscorp.com/, http://www.gunbroker.com, http://www.centuryarms.com, and http://ar15.com/.  There are a bunch more, but they are not coming to mind right now.

[Lex]

Thanks for the info!

Although I'm not sure you answered my question. So here it is worded differently: It appears from your other posts that you have brand name guns, many in fact. So, my question is, why do you have those guns if you can make your own? Basically what is an advantage of buying a gun over making one yourself and vice a versa.