Magnesium Bar fire starter.

I used to have the same ignition problems with the mag bar..until I remembered some dumbass trying to burn down the plant where I used to work. He "threw" grinder sparks into a drum of Mag/Steel dust (PITA to put out).

I "slice" off a pile of little flakes of mag, then use the file on my Leatherman to saw off a pile of "fine grain" material. Mix the two piles together. The fine material ignites more easily, which in turn ignites the bigger flakes, which burn hotter/longer.
 
Something that I find works well to extend the quick flame life of the shavings right after ignition is to shave them into some tinder themselves. Loosen a cotton ball or break up some pine needles, then pile them and shave onto them.
 
The spark rod on the magnesium bar usually ignites good quality fluffy tinder by itself. The magnesium is there for when the spark alone won't work to ignite the tinder. Scrape magnesium ONTO the tinder, and ignite the magnesium, which will in turn ignite the tinder.

David
 
agree with Moine on this one guys. i hold my blade perpendicular to the block and get shavings piled into my hat. then put the shavings on top of my tinder pile. i use a big pile of dry grass and some small dry twigs.

i like these things so well i picked up a small diameter mag stick from cutlery shoppe to ride on a lanyard on my sak
 
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