Those who grew up in the 1980s may remember the TV show MacGyver, with Richard Dean Anderson playing the title role and righting wrongs worldwide. MacGyver was known for his unique on-the-fly defense creations and for being a quick-thinking engineer, crime fighter, and quick-thinking engineer.

MacGyver escapes numerous dangerous situations to live another day by using “chewing gum and chicken wire” and his trusty Swiss army knife. For example, in the first episode, he fashions pieces of a crashed satellite in Afghanistan into a hang glider to escape the Russians.

On another occasion, some bad guy gets the wrong end of a homemade teargas game—this time using a hot water bottle, cayenne pepper, and vinegar. Whether you remember the series or not, having a few MacGyver-like instincts is always a nice idea. Here are five DIY survival projects to deal with a sticky situation.

Real-Life DIY Survival Projects

Soda Bottle Gas Mask

A simple 2-liter plastic soda bottle (minus the root beer or Dr. Pepper!) can protect against toxic gas and other harmful inhalants. Leave the cap on and cut one side of the bottle to the top so that it would wrap around your face, as seen in a commonly shared prepper pamphlet below.

Add some rubber foam and tape or material around the edges where you cut to protect your face and create a seal to keep harmful gas out. Secure a medical mask to the neck of the bottle where your mouth will be to offer protection as well. The straps from the mask are removable and stapled to the back of the mask to provide a solid fit. Voila, you’re now ready for the end of the world. Or at least have something interesting to show off to friends.

Homemade Compass

Which way is north? If you need a compass (or a cell phone), finding magnetic north is easy with just a few simple items. First, you need a shallow receptacle of water. Next, take a needle or thin piece of metal and rub a magnet against it. Complete this about 20 times in the same direction.

Next, use something that floats to place the now-magnetized needle on. The needle will point toward magnetic north when the paper and needle are placed on top of the water. This may not be a skill to save your life when lost in the wild, but it’s cool nonetheless.

Balloon Border Crossing

In 1979, an electrician and bricklayer hoped to escape communist East Germany with their families. They devised a plan to sew large strips of cloth into what would become a hot-air balloon using a  40-year-old manual sewing machine.

The men used an iron frame and sheet metal to fashion a gondola that could hold several people. They then built a burner using bottles of liquid propane, hoses, a water pipe, a nozzle, and a stove pipe. The result? In the early morning, the balloon passengers lifted from an isolated forest and rose to 6,600 feet. Eventually, they floated across the border into West Germany.

The ordeal became a Disney movie, Night Crossing, in 1982. A German film, Balloon, was also released in 2018. These guys were the real-life McGyvers.

Tear Gas DIY

Are you worried about rioting or some other potential dicey situation? McGyver’s homemade tear gas recipe actually works. He gathers cayenne pepper, vinegar, and baking soda to produce a toxic cocktail. A water bottle acts as his delivery device.

As the bottle expands, a puncture releases the cocktail, creating a pepper spray effect that temporarily incapacitates a lousy guy— provided he’s not wearing a soda bottle gas mask!

Fiery Eggs

A survival pack would only be complete with a few fire starters to make that perfect campfire while out in the wild. An empty egg carton can help make the trip. Fill the carton about three-fourths with dry material like dryer lint, cotton balls, or sawdust.

Next, pour some paraffin wax over the lint, cotton, or whatever you’ve chosen. Cut each “egg” from the carton and throw them in your backpack. After a day on the trail, gather some kindling and set one of the eggs on fire to get the flames flowing. Bring the hot dogs or some more ingredients to complete the experience.

Now that you’re an expert at DIY survival projects be sure to practice your SKILLSETS with articles like these: Survival Myths