How to grind or shave magnesuim to capture a bunch of shavings

[jimh0220]

How can I shave off a bunch of shavings of magnesium block to store it for later fire starting WITHOUT burning it?

 

[upnorth]

I put a chunk into a vise and shaved it down with a file. I also drilled holes in it for para cord with a hand drill.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

make shavings inside a plastic bag, then collect the results

 

[jimh0220]

Yeah, Rat. But that's the hard way. I am thinking machine method. Will it spark on a sander? Last thing I want is a 20000 degree blaze in my garage. I'll figure out how to capture the shavings somehow. File method is promising.

 

[Tommythewho]

I drilled a magnesium bar with a 3/8" bit, got some good shavings that way

 

[VA27]

Yup, a drill or a wood or farrier's rasp is what I use.

 

[Sagewood]

You could try and find a machine shop that has magnesium shavings. They might be covered in cutting fluid though.

 

[eomeo]

I've heard of people using duct tape to keep the shavings in place during windy weather. Duct tape could be an interesting storage method as well.

 

[Sig_Op]

A drill works great done it many times

 

[upnorth]

Yup, a drill or a wood or farrier's rasp is what I use.

I used a rasp with mag in a vice and newspaper underneath. It was a lot of work. I was afraid of ignition so this is as far as I pushed it.

 

[mykel m]

These Stanley rasps work great.
I turn the rasp upside down & drag the mag bar across the teeth of the rasp.
I did it over a sheet of paper on the kitchen table,quick & easy.
Just a couple of mins. & I shaved enough off to fill the little GG capsule.:thumbup:

 

[bobs1415]

I was just about to start a thread with the same question! Gonna try the rasp method mykel described.

 

[upnorth]

I found that the fine filings ignite\react differently than the thicker curls. But I stopped fiddling around with mag last year so I forgot what the difference was. Great stuff though and I always have a piece in the car etc.