Tips to Make Your Own Compass

You can find your location with the help of compass; therefore, it will be good to carry a compass with you. If you have resources, you can make your own compass with the help of given tutorial.

The magnetic compass is important for the survival walking stick because it will help you to walk in four directions, such as east, west, north and south. It contains a magnetized needle that has the ability to align itself along with the magnetic field of the earth. To make a compass, you will need:

• A paperclip
• A razor blade
• A hair pin
• One safety pin

Choose a Magnetizer

You should select a magnet to magnetize your needles, such as rub your needle against magnet or any other magnetized item that is magnetized with the static electricity. You can tap it along the piece of iron or steel. The refrigerator magnet can be a good choice for you, but you can also buy plain magnets from the craft stores. A steel or iron nail, crowbar, horseshoe or any other household item will be a good choice. The silk of fur can be used to magnetize the needle, or you can use your own hair.

Get All Important Material

You can get a bowl or jar, water and a section of cork to design a compass. Now make the compass by inserting the needle in the cork after magnetizing it. Make sure to maintain an equal balance on the both ends of the cork to handle the razor blade. You can use a small item that can float instead of the cork as well, such as a leaf.

Floating Compass

Fill the jar with water and keep the compass on the top. The needle will align itself along the magnetic fields of the earth. If you are in an area with the heavy breeze, then the needle may find it difficult to align along north to south. Make sure to use a deeper jar or a bowl to offer protection to needle against the wind.

Learn to Read Compass

The needle will spin slowly either clockwise or anticlockwise in the direction from north to south. If the needle is unable to move, you can rub the needle again to increase its magnetic power. The needle will be settled against north to south. You have to find out the north direction by reading the stars. You can draw an imaginary line on the ground to mark the north. If the stars are unavailable, then you can use shadow method. Pick up a stick and fix it in the ground in an upright direction.

Mark the shadow and wait for fifteen minutes. It is time to mark the shadow once again. The line between the marks will be east-west. If you are standing with the first rock on your left and the second on your right, then you are facing north direction.







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