Danger: Magnesium fire starter fake!

T

tuxtex

Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Messages
82
Dear all,

I'm new in this forum and I hope my first posting might be useful.

A couple of months ago, I've bought two magnesium fire starters from ebay. I have tried several times to start a fire with the "magnesium" shavings, but they didn't catch any spark and have not burned at all! :mad:

On youtube there are a lot of interesting movies showing the easy lightning of the magnesium. Very strange! :confused:

I decided to try it again with an other magnesium fire starter. A few days ago, I have bought a new DOAN magnesium fire starter and it is perfectly working!:)

I recognized, that the not working "magnesium" fire starter is significant heavier than tho DOAN, while having the same dimensions. The fake weights 53g in opposite to 38g of the DOAN magnesium fire starter. It seems so, that the fake consists of a heavier alloy or maybe just aluminum.

I have also a few pictures, but I have no web side to place them. Maybe someone of you could help me?

I don't want to think about the situation, that someone relies on this fake magnesium fire starter in an emergency situation! This is criminal!:mad::mad::mad:

Take care!

Best regards,

tuxtex
 
Them Chinese are inventive little bastards! It is amazing the quantity of fake goods coming out of China. Gotta be real careful on the bay.
 
Hmm. Odd situation. That would be a real drag if you were sold fake mag blocks.

Could you describe how you went about producing shavings from your imposter mag blocks? Did you use a knife to produce shavings, or a file or saw? Did the shavings not take a spark, or would they simply not burn (even when exposed to open flame)? Did the mag blocks appear dull or corroded on the outside?

Just curious. Hope you get to the bottom of things.

Best,

- Mike
 
Well, its good to learn about this before you are out in the woods in a cold rain trying to get a fire going.
 
Mentor said:
Hmm. Odd situation. That would be a real drag if you were sold fake mag blocks.

Could you describe how you went about producing shavings from your imposter mag blocks? Did you use a knife to produce shavings, or a file or saw? Did the shavings not take a spark, or would they simply not burn (even when exposed to open flame)? Did the mag blocks appear dull or corroded on the outside?

Just curious. Hope you get to the bottom of things.

Best,

- Mike
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,

I've tried several tools to produce the shavings. The back of a knife, a firesteel.com scraper, a hacksaw blade and a file. All with the same result. At the end, I placed a burning match in the shavings. With an open flame, there were a few tiny sparks and that's it!:mad:

I've also the impression that the DOAN is slightly softer and that it is easier to get the shavings out of the block.

The DOAN magnesium fire starter has a little bit oxidation while the fake has no oxidation.

As said in my first posting, the DOAN worked just fine!

Best regards,

Guenther
 
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Good heads-up tuxtex. Underscores the importance of trying out all gear before you really need it.

Doc
 
GWashington1732 said:
Do you remember the brand on the first one?
Click to expand...

Hi GWashington1732,

unfortunately, I don't remember the seller nor the brand.

Having said that, there was a green scraper included.

What makes me angry beside the gap of functionality is, that I've paid the same amount of money for the fake as for the DOAN..

Best regards,

Guenther
 
dsc01163.jpg
 
tuxtex said:
Hi GWashington1732,

unfortunately, I don't remember the seller nor the brand.

Having said that, there was a green scraper included.

What makes me angry beside the gap of functionality is, that I've paid the same amount of money for the fake as for the DOAN..

Best regards,

Guenther
Click to expand...

How much was it, I have a suspicion?
Was the scraper like a dark olive-ish green?
 
Thanks tuxtex.
With the bright site of ordering on-line ... comes the dark side (and yes I know they have cookies :D )
 
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