Put up 50 pounds of rice for President's day

**dscrick** · 02-16-2010, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by Stargazer

Great post. My aniversary is coming up soon.I wonder if my wife would like a can sealer.

Tell her she can use it to "Can" all kinds of cute little gifts and stuff, like "Beanie babies in a can" or "Canned potpourri" etc.

Of course you'll be using it a lot more to put up hard red winter wheat, but if she OKs the buy you're golden!

**dscrick** · 02-16-2010, 04:22 PM

Seriously,

Besides putting up food reserves, I've done a few other things in cans:

- Ammunition for long term storage - a number 2.5 can holds quite a few 9mm rounds, or a whole bunch of .22LR. Nice and safe and dry.

- "Survival kit in a can" - We've all seen them and wondered what kind of junk they held. I make my own. Esbit emergency stove and fuel tabs, fire starters, high energy food bars, space blanket, first aid gear, knife, etc. etc. You can really stuff a lot of gear in a #2.5 can, throw it in the trunk and you'll always be able to heat up a cup o joe, right in the can.

Late addition: Hot glue a P38 to the top of the can so you can open it any time

- Great for storing anything you want safe and dry, the possibilities are endless. First aid supplies, copies of important papers, photographs, etc.

**welderguy** · 02-16-2010, 04:39 PM

I dont know about that price tag of 660.00, for that kind of money I could get a WHOLE LOT of food preps and keep storing them the way I am, but thats just my 2 cents.

**Rick** · 02-16-2010, 05:09 PM

Well, DSRICKS point, I think, is you can find them a lot cheaper. Then it becomes cost competitive to do it.

I really like the idea of canning other items. You've actually given me some great ideas. Now all I have to do is find that inexpensive can sealer........

**dscrick** · 02-16-2010, 05:48 PM

I think for the kind of uses most of us on the forum would have the lower end manual hand crank models are best. I would be perfectly willing to shell out $250 for one if I hadn't stumbled on the bargain, knowing how useful it is now.

I think several of our forum members are part of some low key groups, might be a wise idea to pool resources and purchase a "Group sealer". Might be able to afford one with a motor and increase production. Then buy dried goods in bulk at savings and can them

**Winnie** · 02-17-2010, 01:52 PM

The liklihood of me finding one of these is nil. But I do have a a couple of questions for those who do their own storing. How do you store any unused oxygen absorbers? Do you think canning jars wrapped in brown paper would do a sufficient job instead of sealed metal cans?

**dscrick** · 02-17-2010, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Winnie

The liklihood of me finding one of these is nil. But I do have a a couple of questions for those who do their own storing. How do you store any unused oxygen absorbers? Do you think canning jars wrapped in brown paper would do a sufficient job instead of sealed metal cans?

I store the unused Oxygen absorbers in vacuum sealed bags. Airtight and no oxygen for them to absorb. It is necessary to protect them from light as well

I suppose you could use canning jars for dry storage just as easily as metal cans. After all, we can wet stuff in them right? They were the precursor to metal cans in the first place. There is the potential breakage hazard though.

I would fill them with dry goods (Grain, dried veggies, pasta, what have you), drop in an oxygen absorber, and seal. Definitely protect from light. A good dark root or fruit cellar would be ideal, but you could just put the jars in a cardboard box on the shelf too.

**Trabitha** · 02-17-2010, 04:29 PM

Oh...wow...guess that was some important information for me to know...

*runs into the other room to try and salvage what's left of her oxygen absorbers* Erg...

**dscrick** · 02-17-2010, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Trabitha

Oh...wow...guess that was some important information for me to know...

*runs into the other room to try and salvage what's left of her oxygen absorbers* Erg...

Unless they were in direct sunlight they'll probably be OK

**Rick** · 02-19-2010, 11:58 PM

Well, I just picked up a can sealer off eBay. It's an Ives-Way #200. It will seal #1, 2, 2 1/2 and #3 sized cans. So I guess I'm going to be in the dry canning business pretty soon.

**dscrick** · 02-20-2010, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Rick

Well, I just picked up a can sealer off eBay. It's an Ives-Way #200. It will seal #1, 2, 2 1/2 and #3 sized cans. So I guess I'm going to be in the dry canning business pretty soon.

Allright! I saw that one go on Ebay, you did pretty good. Remember if it didn't come with a manual I can email the .pdf to you