this time how to make an improvised compass needle snakes one-minute survival tip a compass give you guidance if you get lost but what could you do if you forgot to pack this useful tool in your survival kit to create your own compass you will need the following materials a needle or some other wire light piece of steel and your pocketknife to turn the wire into a magnet stroke the blade tip along the wire 50 to 100 times water creates an almost frictionless surface which allows the leaf to rotate until the north pole of the needle points towards the magnetic north pole keep in mind to determine if the direction is correct you should always perform a cross-check with other direction indicators one is for sure to become familiar with this technique you must practice