Can anyone tell me how to make a signal mirror, the kind with the hole in the center, I heard that just a small glass one that you buy at a pharmacy works well.

Thanks

Hmmm... Well, survival mirrors such as the very popular StarFlash mirror have a special feature that you won't find on regular mirrors : an aiming aid.

It is very precise and once you've tried one, you will want to buy one. I demonstrated how it works to my father the day I bought mine and he was impressed that in less than one second, I could aim the reflection of the ceiling light into his eyes. It's really amazing. This is what I want in a survival situation : you simply wiggle the mirror a little bit while aiming at an oncoming aircraft, that should get you out of trouble. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I wouldn't settle for anything less (ex.: CD-ROM) in a hiking backpack or survival kit.

P.S. : This is the mirror that's included in Doug Ritter's commercially available PSK.

like bee said, a DIY mirror will not have a aiming aid.

(most) commercial sinal mirror have a aiming aid, which allows you to aim with one hand. If you use a normal mirror to signal, you have to use 2 hands. Also if you don't have a hole in the middle of the mirror, you will be a little off with the your aim.

I haven't taken the time to figure out how to fashion an aiming device, but these work quite well.

Bee,

The low quality StarFlash is not the one in the Ritter PSP!

I feel line the odd-man-out on this one. Pay the $8 and get a real GLASS signal mirror! If you get the Ritter PSP you will have the best plastic mirror made. The StarFlash is trash. A make-up mirror would give you a much better reflection and you could use your thumb or two fingers in a V to aim.

StarFlash AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I really like the little glass mirror ($8) and case ($3) sold at http://www.countycomm.com. It has become my primary signal mirror.