» Survivaltek » Tag » Video

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.

WXII 12 Survival Basics With Stephanie Berzinski

Ken — Sat, 11 May 2013 10:00:22 +0000

I was delightfully surprised to receive a call from Stephanie Berzinski, a general assignment reporter at WXII 12 News in Winston-Salem, N.C.. She was producing a news segment called “Survival Basics, Are You Ready?”. At the time of the phone call she had already done an interview with an underground bunker manufacturer located in the Triad area and wanted to show alternate ways to be prepared in the event of a catastrophic event.

I explained that my instruction is different than the more recently publicized Prepper trend in that I focus on more immediate short-tem emergencies such as when a person because of circumstances becomes stranded. I teach how to stay alive, how to find help or become found. In tandem with that, I show ways to exploit the resources on hand. This approach provided the other end of the spectrum from the bunker approach that Stephanie wanted to present to her audience.

The extent of my provisions for our discussion fit into a 20 gallon bin. The items were geared toward a power outage scenario in an urban setting which accommodated for loss of heat, light and water, but I also show Stephanie some local edible plants that she sampled. I demonstrated how some trash items could be useful when you don’t have proper tools. while searching for edibles I came across a beer bottle and demonstrated how to remove the bottom by hand so that the piece of glass could be used as a knife. I also mentioned how car headlights could be used to start a fire and how a plastic Gatorade bottle could be used to make soup by rotating it over an open fire.

Having the correct tools for the job is always preferred but it also pays to know how to improvise when you don’t. Thanks to Stephanie, her viewers now know that there are ways that they can prepare for catastrophic events on a shoe-string budget whether “bugging out” or “bugging in”.

“WonderHowTo” Offers Survivaltek Video Rewards

Ken — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 02:17:23 +0000

I’ve enjoyed making short videos generally related to survival skills or emergency preparedness. These videos have given me both satisfaction and some amusement from the comments. I have posted many of my videos on the video website “WonderHowTo” who is now offering me 100% of the Google AdSense money earned by the text ads on those video pages. I have listed these links (as directed) on my website in order to verify that I am the video creator.

If you haven’t viewed my videos yet, please view them as linked below:

Watch my how-to video, How to make a survival fishing float bobber from a plastic soda straw on WonderHowTo.

Watch my how-to video, How to make a bottle cap burner for cooking on WonderHowTo.

Watch my how-to video, How to start a campfire with jumper cables and a car battery on WonderHowTo.

Watch my how-to video, How to light a match without a matchbook cover on WonderHowTo.

Watch my how-to video, How to make an emergency magnifier on WonderHowTo.

Watch my how-to video, How to use an empty lighter to create fire in an emergency on WonderHowTo.

Watch my how-to video, How to use a soda bottle to make fire on WonderHowTo.

Watch my how-to video, How to use dandelion tinder to make a fire on WonderHowTo.

Watch my how-to video, How to make a stove for survival training out of a soda can on WonderHowTo.

If you have a “How To” video burning inside you to be produced, consider WonderHowTo as a quality place to post it. I did.

Emergency Magnifier

Ken — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:41:25 +0000

Emergency Magnifier

I’ve been having a lot of fun experimenting with various materials to illustrate my new video, “Emergency Magnifier”. As usual, we often have a diversity of resources surrounding us that we can use in an emergency. As discussed in the details section of this latest video, I made a pocket magnifier that I have used on several occasions when I was out and about. Seldom do we need magnification in the wilderness, but very often in the urban setting. After viewing the video and reading the text, try making one for yourself and let me know how it works for you.

My first video

Ken — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:26:46 +0000

17 Jan 2008

Well, I finally produced my first video illustrating how to make fire with an empty flintwheel lighter. I have added a video page to the site to host future video productions. I have chosen Metacafe to post my videos, and they say “The higher your video’s VideoRank, the more exposure it will get on Metacafe. So forward the link to friends, make sure they watch the video to completion, tell them to forward it to friends, have them rate it 5 stars… spread the word!”… so, please watch it through at Metacafe and rate it FIVE STARS to increase it’s viewership. – Thanks!