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Reflective Foil Wrapper For Signaling

Ken — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:52:19 +0000

We often rely on electronic devices in the field for communication and signaling, especially in emergency situations. They are most often superior tools, but batteries can be drained and devices can fail. It is good to be aware of other ways to signal for help. Some of these methods might include loud sounds or perhaps large contrasting icons on the ground, but a highly reflective surface can be effective on a sunny day and seen for great distances.

I discuss various reflective signaling methods in a previous article “Back-To-Back CD Signal Mirror Method” that can be applied to this new reflective method. Although the glass surface of a cell phone is reflective, it can play a different role in signaling by means of providing a flat surface for a silverized Mylar snack wrapper.

My father used to turn snack bar wrappers inside-out and hung them on a fruit tree to ward off pillaging birds. That memory inspired me to try the same method using my cell phone as a base to hold a silverized snack wrapper as a cover. When held over one eye while using an extended hand as an aiming sight, the sun’s light can be directed to your target to gain attention to persons in the distance in an emergency.

This is a fun project to practice with friends or aimed at a distant reflective surface like a car’s license plate, signal lights, or road signs.

Back-To-Back CD Signal Mirror Method

Ken — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 11:31:52 +0000

In my video “CD Signal Mirror In Emergency” I illustrate the method of aiming the suns’ reflection off of a CD much like using the “bead and trough” or “peep sight” of a gun. By extending one arm with two fingers held up in a “V” position while a mirror is held next to your eye to reflect the sun at the bottom of that “V”, you can aim at your target between your fingers. I further describe in an article “Signal Mirror Target Practice” the importance of practicing this method. Much to my delight I had a comment to that article from a viewer who described his method as follows: “…If one is using a CD mirror, there is a way to mimic a WWII signal mirror sight with two CD’s.
1) Place two CD’s back to back.
2) Aim the CDs near the general direction of the sun.
3) Look at the reflection of your face in the back CD. You should see a spot of light corresponding to the CD hole.
4) Move the CD so that the reflection of the spot of light appears to be directly over the actual CD hole.
5) Look through the CD hole, and while keeping the spot of light in the hole, look directly at your target.
If both things are lined up, the sunlight will reflect toward your target.”

I decided to try this method out for myself. Sure enough it works. I noticed some things that you might find helpful. While holding the CD in my hand I noticed that the light coming through the hole created a bright spot on my hand which in turn reflected as a refractive line on the backside mirror. I could shift my hand left or right to center the line over the hole. I could then shift the CD up or down to center the reflected dot into the hole. I used a reflective license plate as a target so that I could see when the light passed over it. The short video above captures my test results.

I have included a photo of a retro-reflector mirror for reference to this signaling method.

Make Fire With Headlights

Ken — Sat, 04 May 2013 14:14:33 +0000

Reflective Solar Fire Method

One of the fun things that I enjoy is finding useful trash that can be used to improvise solutions in an emergency situation. It’s amazing what you can find along a roadside. It’s not unusual to find broken car parts resulting from automobile accidents. One of the elements of this trash that I have used to make fire has been broken headlights by using their optical properties of concave reflection or convex refraction.

The mirrored surface of a headlight reflector is described as “concave” in shape, similar to the interior surface of a rounded cup. It reflects light from a light-bulb that is mounted inside it and shines outward. Some of the newer headlights use a “convex” lens that transmits light through it. It is fashioned from a solid material such as glass or plastic that focuses the light from a light-bulb outward as well.

Refractive Solar Fire Method

In each case we reverse the process of light reflection and refraction to gather light from the sun into a single focal point in order to create an ember from tinder that we strategically place where the light-bulb was originally mounted. Simply point the reflector or lens toward the sun and minimizing the “hot spot” onto the tinder.
In both cases it’s good to know that automobile headlights can be used to start a fire in an emergency situation when you have sunlight by using either the reflective or refractive nature of it’s parts. Next time you pass a roadside, keep a look-out for these usable part and try it out for yourself!

Signal Mirror Target Practice

Ken — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:00:18 +0000

Recently I was visiting family and friends out-of-town and wanted to show them my signal mirror that I carry in my “bug-out bag” (an emergency travel bag supplied for 3+ days sustainably). They live in town so I didn’t have a field to demonstrate the mirror’s effect from afar. However, the city street did offer unique features that illustrated the effectiveness of my mirror. At the end of the street was a reflective stop sign, a school crossing sign, and various cars with reflective license plates and tail lights. Each reflective surface would “light up”, confirming that I had accurately targeted the light reflected from my mirror. Each person enjoyed lighting up items close and far away. A word of caution… when trying this, be careful not to blind drivers that may be approaching or crossing the street. Even if your mirror shines from behind the car, the light reflected in their mirrors is mighty bright. You may also want to try using a CD disc to familiarize yourself with it’s capabilities. You can use the hole in the middle as a sighting hole while holding your finger out in front upon which you place the reflected light, thus creating in effect a peep-sight. Then swing your arms toward your target. Check out my “CD Signal Mirror In Emergency” video which illustrates this method.

Summer is the best for optical fire methods

Ken — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:25:35 +0000

Fire by ice optical method

Now that Summer has arrived, the sun is at it’s best for optical fire methods. You can use concave reflectors that you point at the sun and find the focus point where you hold the tinder. Some items that I’ve used include flashlights, soda cans, broken headlights, jewelry, doorknobs, compact mirrors, etc. Also, you can use convex lenses. Some items that I’ve used include marbles, paper weights, magnifying lens, fresnel lens, clear light bulbs, vases, plastic bags, etc. Visit my Contact page and drop me a line with other items that you have used!

Ken’s five fire categories

Ken — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:20:57 +0000

09 Jan 2008

I was thinking about how many ways that I have made fire… but really, there are five ways (see Ken’s five fire categories) but each way has many means to accomplish it. Take for instance, the OPTICAL way uses light, but the means to accomplish making a fire include a flashlight reflector, car headlight reflector, silver mixing bowl, modified CD, soda can, makeup mirror, glass paper weight, lens shaped ice, pocket Fresnel lens magnifier, glass magnifying lens, etc.. Also, water filled items include soda bottles, plastic bags, condoms, flower vase bowls, clear light bulbs, and more. The point is to concentrate heat in a spot long enough to cause combustion. It’s really a lot of fun to figure out different methods, and of course, in a survival situation, it could save your life!