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Starting Fire

Survive With Your Cellphone

Learn to dissect a cellphone to make a spear, snare, signaling device, compass, and more in this how-to guide. Photos by Creek Stewart, willowhavenoutdoor.com

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Stewart destroyed and dissected a wide variety of cell phones to harvest survival parts.

Stewart destroyed and dissected a wide variety of cell phones to harvest survival parts.

Regardless of the make or model, they all have similar internal components.

Regardless of the make or model, they all have similar internal components.

Short circuit the battery and create a red hot wire that will ignite good, dry tinder.

Short circuit the battery and create a red hot wire that will ignite good, dry tinder.

Tampon cotton quickly starts smoldering when touched with the hot wire.

Tampon cotton quickly starts smoldering when touched with the hot wire.

Or use the already sharp edge of a circuit board to create tinder shavings for your fire.

Or use the already sharp edge of a circuit board to create tinder shavings for your fire.

Speakers include tiny magnets inside. Magnetize a small piece of wire by rubbing it in one direction across the magnet

Speakers include tiny magnets inside. Magnetize a small piece of wire by rubbing it in one direction across the magnet

Then float the magnetized wire on a leaf or wood shaving in a still puddle of water and the magnetized end will point north.

Then float the magnetized wire on a leaf or wood shaving in a still puddle of water and the magnetized end will point north.

Behind every screen is some sort of shiny surface, which makes for a great signaling device.

Behind every screen is some sort of shiny surface, which makes for a great signaling device.

Use your two fingers to frame the reflected sunlight and direct your signal accurately.

Use your two fingers to frame the reflected sunlight and direct your signal accurately.

Plenty of little tidbits inside make great fishing hooks and lures.

Plenty of little tidbits inside make great fishing hooks and lures.

This slide shows a homemade gorge (it lodges inside the mouth of a fish) baited with a worm and ready to go.

This slide shows a homemade gorge (it lodges inside the mouth of a fish) baited with a worm and ready to go.

Hopefully you packed the headphones because the supple wires can be useful cordage.

Hopefully you packed the headphones because the supple wires can be useful cordage.

Headphone wires can also be used to fashion a small game snare.

Headphone wires can also be used to fashion a small game snare.

Snap the circuit board into an arrow shape, then abrade it on a rock until you have smooth, sharp edges.

Snap the circuit board into an arrow shape, then abrade it on a rock until you have smooth, sharp edges.

Lash the arrowhead firmly onto a stick and use it for hunting fish or small game.

Lash the arrowhead firmly onto a stick and use it for hunting fish or small game.

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