Make a compass - that actually works

If you lose your map and compass you can use and small piece of metal which has some iron content. By striking the metal repeatedly you will alter it’s magnetic properties. If this is suspended, for example of a boot lace or other piece of string, the metal will align itself with the earth’s magnetic field - it will point North and South.
This can then be used as a make-shift compass giving you the direction it the cardinal points.
Links mentioned in the video:
Navigate by the sun, moon and stars
• Navigate without a map...
Why do compasses point north
• WHY do compasses point...
Oh I have a few comments asking how do I know which part of the compass is pointing North.
I did explain this on the video but then I edited it out, as then I would be going into “natural navigation”, but I teach land nav, which is why I don't do NN videos. You can look at the very start of the video and you see my shadow. I filmed this video at around 10am, this will tell you where south is.
Also (not as good as the shadow) look at the tall flowers (foxglove) growing all around the location. Which direction are all the flowers on every stem. If you grow them in a shaded position the stems will have flower on all sides. I have pointed this out to groups of kids when I take them out into the hills. Moss on trees, lichen on rocks, flowers on stems, branches on tree, etc, etc. Kids love it.

[@01cthompson]

I have a military E&E compass which is a needle suspended from a thread. It is concealed within the slide rod of a belt buckle.

[@JeffMeadowsOutdoors]

Got to admit it, as I started watching I was flashing back to the April 1st video….

[@derbyshirewalker]

This is still the most interesting, factual and entertaining channel on KZbin. Thank you

[@sorinoutdoors5418]

I think you should explain min 13:50, how do you know which end of that nail is pointing N and which is pointing S.

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

I would do, but then I would be into “natural navigation”, but I teach land nav, which is why I don't do NN videos. So all I’ll say is look at the tall flowers (foxglove) growing all around the location. Which direction are all the flowers on every stem. If you grow them in a shaded position the stems will have flower on all sides. I have pointed this out to groups of kids when I take them out into the hills. Moss on trees, lichen on rocks, flowers on stems, branches on tree, etc, etc. Kids love it.

[@sorinoutdoors5418]

@@TheMapReadingCompany totally understand and agree, but I would add this explanation at that min. in the video so people don't automatically assume that tip of nail always point S and head points N, just sayin' :) Good video, sorry I forgot to mention that!

[@clivedunning4317]

I learnt two things about magnetising sewing needles for survival and E&E purposes many,many years ago. No 1: Always magnetise your needles so that you always have the same "end" as the North pointer. (Personally, I prefer to use the eye end). No 2 : Always check your newly magnatised needles against a compass prior to venturing out ! Happy Trails folk

[@anastasiia9511]

These spontaneous videos are so much better than anything recorded in a 'proper' studio. Because if everything is prepared in advance, you never know how it will work in a real world environment (if at all). I didn't know it was possible to turn a piece of metal into a magnet just by hitting it. Thank you!

[@toddshook1765]

Thanks. People showed putting sticks in ground and watch shadow but like you said if cloudy or rain can be difficult. Carry a nail or two for this demonstration or tent stake.

[@mariem5990]

Love it ! Thank you for the video

[@deathb4digital]

Hanging the nail with fishing line (mono-filament) or even dental floss will be more accurate if it isn't too windy. Excellent demonstration as always.

[@BubbaHead1]

Fantastic, thank you

[@seangalwaysg]

Very interesting, thanks

[@ingowalkerling5141]

Many carry a swiss army knife with them. And in most of their 92mm models there is a small hole in the scales under the corkscrew. There you can store a small (magnetized) pin. Lay it on a small floating piece of wood or cork in water and you have a compass. Felix Immler made a video about it.

[@user-wd8kr7tm8t]

Tried it! I "magnetized" my thumb 🤬

[@danmas8897]

@@user-wd8kr7tm8t i've heard a magnetized thumb shouldn't very accurate. That's maybe the origin of the "aproximatively" Hand sign

[@elfpimp1]

"Unless you're crazy like me." Guilty! ✋️ 😁👍

[@williamscott2461]

Your videos are good

[@moorejl57]

At first I thought this was a spoof since you had your hand holding the string out of view. It does seem to be a chicken and egg type of thing since you need to know which way is north to orient the piece of metal while you strike it. I think a piece of dental floss would make a good string. You never fail to entertain with your interesting waffles.

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

See the video description box.

[@mazza8723]

Chances are that I probably won’t ever use this method but always good to know.

[@causewaykayak]

Brilliant. Thank you for suffering for the cause of science ... Another Map Reading Co. triumph

[@hikingandbackpackingadventures]

what determins the head of the nail pointing north? Could the point end point north somehow? Thanks

[@ihearsimon]

That's brilliant. I have seen where someone magnetizes a needle by stroking it with a metal blade, but never knew you could bash it about for a while, and thereby make it magnetic. Wonderful stuff. Thank you! Watching from Toronto, Canada, was born just outside of York, Yorkshire many moons ago. Cheers, Simon Maybe a silly question, but do you have to use a ferrous metal like iron or steel? I'm assuming yes...

[@causewaykayak]

Yes. Note that some stainless is not keen to be magnetised. This is how this Smiths of yore made magnets.

[@pegasuso1743]

Great video! One question tho, is the magnetic force applied on the nail enough to overcome the rope's torque? Or do you have to kind of "follow" where the nail is going?

[@griffon2-6]

yeah, im thinking the same, that rope is too stiff for weak magnet like that, better to take just one string from the core instead

[@andrewskowronski6283]

The Romans carried those nails for quick executions by crucifixion. I would not call that a lucky bag of nails. I suppose you could instruct the Roman Centurion to please position the cross due North. Cheers!

[@pisotones2348]

I learnt this trick when I was a kid. It works better if you place the nail in a N-S direction but, of course, to do that you do need to know where the north is actually 😊

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

See the video description box.

[@StuartThow]

What are your thoughts on carrying a button compass as a spare, something like the Suunto clipper? Are they any good?

[@user-hg1yk5fr3n]

Great education, can you do the rope trick in slow motion??

[@AnthonyHigham6414001080]

Have you done a video on navigating with an analogue watch and the sun? I once made A4 copies of OS maps for the area I was walking in overprinted with faint blue lines for the time from 8 AM to 8 PM (12 noon a south to north line) All you had to know was the time (in GMT) and align the sun's shadow with the appropriate line. If I suspected bad weather I'd laminate them. Much easier than unfolding an OS map and checking a compass and quite accurate plus you could draw your proposed route on with a highlighter pen without ruining the original map.

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

Have a look at this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2Swn6NreN6coqM

[@Bill-d7w]

How would you know which end of the nail is north or south?

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

See the video description box.

[@Bill-d7w]

A reasonable explanation that has explained that the nail is aligned between north and south and that ‘other’ factors should be taken into consideration for pole identification. Thanks for the entertaining and educational videos you post! 👍🏼​@@TheMapReadingCompany

[@arlenestanton9955]

Tent peg, maybe?

[@jonm7272]

So how do you know (on some random bit of metal you found in your rucksack say) which end will end up North and which will be South?

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

When you hit it, it should be oriented (approx.) N/S. You can always tell which way N/S is - see video description box

[@jonm7272]

@@TheMapReadingCompany OK, I see, so whichever end is pointing North when it is hit will be the North end. Does rather beg the question though, if we already know which way is North before we create the instrument to tell us which way is North, why are we making the instrument 😁. Apologies for the pedantry, super interesting video anyway and the waffle is always welcome.

[@rashie]

👍👍

[@gordonjackson2655]

I was always under the impression that only iron and steel could be magnetised, This is to say, the metal needs to be able to stick to a real magnet. I am wrong?

[@elfpimp1]

For the thred I'd use one of the core threads from my 550 cord deployment bracelet I made when I was in Afghanistan.

[@arlenestanton9955]

How do you know which is the north end?

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

See the video description

[@MorbinNecrim86]

As cool as the improvised compass is, I'm still mindblown witht he rope trick

[@danmas8897]

One day or another, i swear it, i am gonna head to 123 have a look to this mysterious bearing. I' ll let you know....

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

There's a pot of gold at the end of 123, but only silver at 321

[@danmas8897]

@@TheMapReadingCompany that is not a surprise any more, but thank you for the Information. Now i won't let noone know about it 😂

[@owestyo]

Can you attach a little magnet to it?

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

If you had a small magnetic you could just that use on it’s own to find the direction, you wouldn’t need the nail.

[@owestyo]

@@TheMapReadingCompany ​​⁠on my Swiss Army K I have a 2mm magnet. I’m not sure how I could use it. Maybe with a pin?

[@malcolmjackson4984]

Hi have you done orienteering at night at all? 🤔

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJmsanunpshki8U

[@thepoloman6515]

Could you float the nail on a leaf instead of using a string :-)

[@TheMapReadingCompany]

It would have to be a big leaf to hold a nail that size

[@darrensteele7880]

Thats not the head of the nail .. surely you can meaure that nail as you measure the country 😉