How to Make a Compass With Needle and Silk
While hiking or camping or doing any other outdoor recreation, you may find yourself in need of a compass. A compass is helpful if you get lost or need to determine which way is north while reading a map. If you didn't bring one, you can make one yourself out of needle and silk.
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Instructions
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Magnetize a needle by rubbing silk fabric from the eye of the needle to the point about 100 times.
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Rub the needle through your hair to provide a coating of oil which will help it float. If you don't have any hair, you can use body oil from other places to do this. For instance, from the creases on the side of your nose.
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Fill a container with water. You can cut out the bottom of a soda bottle, or use any type of bowl or cup. Once the water is completely calm, carefully set your needle on top.
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Determine which direction is magnetic north by noticing which way the needle points. If you are in the northern hemisphere, the needle will point towards the south. In the southern hemisphere, the needle points north.
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Find east and west by visualizing an imaginary line perpendicular to your needle. When you face north, east is to your right and west is to the left.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are in a survival situation and you don't have silk, you can also use a magnet in the same way.
You can use a piece of cork in this homemade compass if you have one available. Instead of putting the needle directly into the water, first poke it through a piece of cork. Then put the cork in the water so that the needle will be parallel to the water.
