[djf]

Thing that gets me is that alot of people think we would go back to say an 1870’s way of life, which would be survivable, even if it’s miserable.

Horse and buggy days.

But how many people even know how to DRIVE a buggy, MUCH LESS MAKE ONE?

How many people could make candles? Even if they had the wax? Come to think of it, where does wax even come from?

How many could make and operate a loom?

We wouldn’t go back to the 1870’s, we’d go back to the zero-zero seventies!!

[BobL]

“How many people could make candles?”
Meee - did it as a hobby in grade school, and from time to time since. Still have all of the hardware (and gasoline and propane-powered stoves to melt the wax, or a solar oven might make more sense).

“Even if they had the wax?”
Still have about 30 lbs. It would last a while, but it would run out, of course.

“Come to think of it, where does wax even come from?”
The store - YOU IDIOT, just like where my food comes from. LOL.

[JRandomFreeper]

Candles can be made of tallow if wax isn't available (bee's wax or petrolum wax). Field expedient lamps with almost any kind of oil are easier.

I can drive a buggy. I've built a spinning wheel. I can make a buggy. I can make a loom. Operating one is woman's work, along with spinning, but I can teach them how to do it.

But why bother. Even if there was an emp, there's enough junk laying around I'd be generating 'lectricity in a day or two, and lightbulbs will still work.

Having built a cabin in the mountains and lived off grid for 2 years, I can testify that it sucks. Bigtime.

/johnny

[piroque]

For the candle you may want to try this

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Everlasting-Candle

How to Make an Everlasting Candle: 5 steps - wikiHow www.wikihow.com/​Make-an-Everlasting-Candle The Crisco candle isn't really everlasting but it has been known to burn continuously for 45 days. The flame is likely to be smaller than a regular wax candle because ...