How to Make an RV Compass with Basic Materials
Dave SolbergYou’re lost in the woods, and you forgot to pack your compass. Time to climb the tallest tree and set off the rescue flares, right? You could, but instead of jumping for the dramatic, we recommend taking a deep breath and then searching your pack for two simple items. In this lesson, RV expert Dave Solberg teaches you how to build a nifty RV compass using a couple basic tools. With Dave’s help, you can quickly find due north and navigate your way back to camp!
If you find yourself lost in the backwoods without a compass, you can make one homemade just by using a typical needle like this. Just get a bowl of water. You could even dig a small little hole, put some water in it, and then find a device that will float like this. Now, if you have a magnet you can take and just magnetize the tip of the needle with that. You could use a little steel wool as well.
And just rub that on, put your leaf in the water. Set that on it. And you'll see it goes straight due north. Move that and watch it go back. There we go.
An easy way to find due north, help you get back to your campsite.
So, I'm going to carry a needle and steel wool while hiking? Not me, I'll bring a compass. instead.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, hence east west north south