Prepping Tools & Skills List

Here are some examples of Tradesman’s Tools that could be stockpiled and either used
and the product/service bartered, or their USE bartered out. One wouldn’t barter away the
tools that bring in the food. (Again, I don’t have all the items or skills.)

This list article is the fifth and final part of a series. You can read Part 1 HERE, Part 2 HERE, Part 3 HERE, Part 4 HERE and Part 5 HERE.

1. Tailor/Seamstress tools

Sewing machine
Serger
Sewing basket (needles, thimbles, thread, measuring tape, seam ripper, scissors, shears, marking chalk, straight edge, pins, neck magnifying glass, etc.), bolts of cloth, patterns, spare needles, pins, chalk, thread, buttons, zippers, snaps, etc.
Treadle type sewing machine (Janome 712T)
weaving looms
>1,000 watt generator

2. Food processing tools

Grain grinders, solar dehydrators, butchering tools, manual meat slicer, manual meat grinder, sausage stuffer, stuffing tubes, jerky shooter, meat smoker, water purifier

3. Barbers tools

Scissors, combs, hair brushes, dusting brush, broom, dust pan, chair, neck apron, razor, shaving cup, shaving soap, towels

4. Ammunition re-loader’s tools

Corbin Bullet swaging equipment
RCBS Bullet casting equipment
Ten-X TX-50 progress press for up to .50 BMG w/conversion sets
Dillion Super 1050 progressive press w/Caliber kits for Super 1050
Spolar Gold Premier hydraulic progressive press w/gauge conversions
Progressive reloading press dies
lead
black powder making tools & screens

5. Laundry tools

water tank
water heater (kettle w/tripod)
12v pump & battery & hoses
drain lines
laundry soap
bleach/sodium hypochlorite
Staber washing machine
>1,000 watt generator
James washer w/wringer
2+ washtubs
RapidWasher plunger type washers
5/6 gallon buckets
clothes lines/poles, stakes &
clothes pins

6. Entertainment tools

band instruments
projection TV
TV projector
Lap-top computer
CD/DVD/VHS/Blu-ray players
Chairs
Karaoke machine w/cd-g’s
Lighting system
Sound system
>1,500 watt generator
Battery bank, solar panels, and inverter
Classic books for storyteller to read

7. Ice making tools

High capacity water purification system
Water tank
Water pump
Small commercial block ice maker
Small commercial ice cube maker
Insulated storage containers
Reusable transfer containers
(deposit)
>1,500 watt generator
Ice house (for large scale storage)
Rubber block ice molds (for winter use)

8. Librarian tools

(never let the media out of your control) reference/do-it-yourself library (books/magazines/CDROMs/DVDs)
Laptop Computer with electronic library
Portable Color
printer/copier/scanner
Printer paper
Printer ink
Manual typewriter
Writing pads
Pencils
Pencil sharpeners
Magnifying glasses
Reading glasses

9. Information broker/interpreter

NOAA Weather Radio receiver
WWV/WWVH time standard receiver
Trunking multi-band scanner
Multi-band receiver
Amateur Radio HF transceiver
Amateur Radio VHF/UHF transceiver
AM/SSB CB radio
Semi-pro weather station
Laptop computer w/translation software
Portable printer/copier/scanner
Printer paper
Printer ink
Bulletin board
Markers & eraser
Chalkboard
Chalk & eraser

10. Small scale propane supplier

Large home propane tank with wet leg
Tank scale
20# propane tank on inverting stand
1-pound propane bottle refill fitting
Small freezer
<1,000 watt generator

The rest presented as a simple list:

11. home canning equipment & supplies
12. firewood cutting tools
13. edged tools & saw sharpening tools
14. chainsaw chain sharpening/repair tools
15. printer’s/newspaper publisher’s tools
16. butcher/meat cutter’s tools
17. meat processors tools (sausage, etc.)
18. tanner’s tools
19. milk processors tools (cheese, etc.)
20. baker’s tools & supplies
21. bath house/shower room tools
22. candle maker’s tools & supplies
23. gardener’s tools
24. mechanic’s tools
25. machinist’s tools – Smithy Granite 1340 Industrial Max metalworking all-in-one machine
26. woodworker’s tools – Smithy Supershop 220 woodworking all-in-one machine
27. blacksmith’s tools – Oxygen accumulator, acetylene generator
28. plumber’s tools
29. lumber making tools – portable sawmill
30. electrician’s tools
31. carpenter’s tools
32. roofer’s tools
33. stonemason’s tools
34. primitive building tools
35. cobbler/shoe maker’s tools
36. soap maker’s tools
37. brewer/wine maker’s tools
38. distillery tools
39. miller’s tools
40. spinner & weaver’s tools (looms)
41. teaching tools and supplies K-12
42. smelter/foundry/metal worker’s tools
43. sheep sheering tools
44. papermaking tools
45. rope, cordage, and net making tools
46. millwright’s tools
47. farm tools (prepare, sow, cultivate, harvest)
48. biodiesel equipment & supplies
49. wood gas generator equipment & supplies
50. charcoal making tools
51. black powder making tools

Skill sets most likely to be needed

1. Accountant
2. Active military
3. Administrator
4. Alternative energy specialist
5. Alternative HVAC specialist
6. Ammunition re-loader
7. Appliance repairman
8. Assayer
9. Baker
10. Banker
11. Barber
12. Barterer/flea market operator
13. Basket maker
14. Bathhouse/shower room operator
15. Beekeeper
16. Bicycle Repairman
17. Biodiesel maker
18. Black powder maker
19. Blacksmith
20. Botanist
21. Brew master
22. Brick maker
23. Bullet caster
24. Butcher/meat processor
25. Candle maker
26. Carpenter
27. Cartridge maker
28. Cartwright
29. Chainsaw chain sharpener
30. Chandler
31. Charcoal burner
32. Cheese maker
33. Chemist
34. Chimney sweep
35. Cobbler/shoe maker
36. Coffin maker
37. Contractor
38. Cook
39. Cooper (barrel maker)
40. Coppersmith
41. Dentist
42. Distiller, drinking alcohol
43. Distiller, fuel alcohol
44. Distiller, essential oils
45. Distiller, water
46. Doctor
47. Dog trainer
48. Edged tool & saw sharpener
49. Electrician
50. Electronics tech
51. EMT/Paramedic
52. Executive
53. Factory worker
54. Farmer
55. Farm hand
56. Farmer
57. Farrier
58. Firefighter
59. Firewood purveyor
60. Fisherman
61. Food canner/processor
62. Furniture maker
63. Gardener
64. Gatherer of wild plants/useful minerals
65. Glass maker
66. Goatherd
67. Goldsmith/silversmith
68. Gravedigger
69. Gun dealer
70. Gunpowder maker
71. Gunsmith/gun maker
72. Handyman
73. Harvester/picker
74. Heavy equipment operator
75. Herbalist/mineralist/apothecary
76. Horse trainer/wrangler
77. Hunter/trapper
78. Ice purveyor/harvester/maker
79. Inventor
80. Janitor
81. Knife maker
82. Knife sharpener
83. Knitter/crocheter
84. Laundress/laundry room operator
85. Leather worker
86. Librarian
87. Locksmith
88. Logger/forester/sawyer
89. Lumber maker
90. Machinist
91. Mechanic
92. Metal worker
93. Metallurgist
94. Midwife
95. Milk maid
96. Milk processor
97. Miller
98. Millwright
99. Miner
100. Mulcher/composter/manure collector
101. Net maker
102. Nurse
103. Nurse’s aid
104. Optician (eyeglass maker)
105. Orchardman/arborist
106. Orderly
107. Paper maker
108. Police/Law enforcement officer – Sheriff/Marshal/Deputies
109. Pedi-cab driver
110. Pest control specialist
111. Pharmacist
112. Plumber
113. Postman
114. Pottery maker
115. Pressure canner food storage specialist
116. Primitive building specialist
117. Printer/newspaperman
118. Psychologist/Psychiatrist
119. Quilter/Quilt maker
120. Radio Operator
121. Radio/tv repairman
122. Rancher
123. Ranch hand
124. Repairman
125. Roofer
126. Rope/cordage maker
127. Sail maker
128. Sailor (Boatswain)
129. Salesman
130. Salt maker
131. Salvage specialist
132. Sanitation worker
133. Secretary
134. Security guard
135. Shake/shingle maker
136. Sheep sheerer
137. Shepherd
138. Shipwright/boat builder
139. Shoemaker
140. Skill At Arms instructor
141. Small engine mechanic
142. Smelter/foundry-man
143. Soap maker
144. Soldier
145. Spice purveyor
146. Spinner/Weaver
147. Stonemason/brick layer
148. Student
149. Sugar maker
150. Surveyor
151. Tailor/seamstress
152. Tanner
153. Teacher
154. Thatcher
155. Tinker
156. Tire repairman
157. Tool & die maker
158. Trade maker
159. Trader/Wagoner
160. Trapper
161. Truck driver
162. Undertaker
163. Veterinarian
164. Watch/clock repairman/maker
165. Weaver
166. Welder
167. Well driller
168. Wheelwright
169. Winemaker
170. Wood gas equipment maker
171. Woodworker

A few skills that will not be in high demand, but would be a good secondary skill

1. Artist
2. Author
3. Beautician
4. Bookbinder
5. Book keeper
6. Candy maker
7. Clerk
8. Comedian
9. Dye maker
10. Entertainer
11. Entrepreneur
12. Government official
13. Historian
14. Industrialist
15. Ink maker
16. Judge/arbitrator
17. Karaoke operator
18. Lawyer
19. Maid
20. Massage therapist
21. Musician
22. Physicist
23. Scribe
24. Secretary
25. Storyteller
26. Teller/cashier
27. Toy & game maker

Some things I probably won’t get for barter for this reason:

If there is a large die off the items will be available to pick up all sorts of places. If there isn’t one, they will still be available through normal channels. But do have a very good stock of your own.

Knives, especially ‘Cheap’ knives (almost every household has several, plus there are large numbers in stores)

Clothing (almost every household has a large selection, plus there are plenty in stores)

Tools (Yes, have a really good set for yourself, and possibly one to barter the use of, but
keep the tools)

Cooking equipment (same as knives)

Fishing gear (there is a lot of it in people’s homes, plus tons of it in the outdoor stores)

Feel free to ask questions.

Just my opinion.

Jerry D Young

About the author:

About the author: Jerry D Young is an Author, Prepper, Consultant, Philosopher who resides in Nevada. He has written over 100 books, many of which are available at this link:

“I have been a prepper for more than 50 years. I believe that the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have had it right for decades…”Be Prepared.” Unfortunately, we, as a country seem to have gotten away from that philosophy. There has been a disconnect from the “Old Ways so profound, some people don’t really understand where their food comes from. 

That’s not a problem until the “System” fails. Be it from a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood or even a closed road or train route. The system is designed to get JUST what is needed to the stores JUST when it’s needed. So if the “System” fails, then the things we need…the things we believe will be there aren’t. That’s when being a prepper makes sense. Being able to be self-sufficient for the the time needed until the “System” recovers…regardless of how long that takes. 

That’s why so many of my books incorporate the theme of “Being prepared.” Hope you enjoy them!”