Magnesium firestarter question

[dipbait]

How are you suppose to shave this stuff? It takes forever to scrape a pile of shavings with a knife , dulling a knife to boot. A file doesnt work either. Any suggestions?

 

[Mentor]

I use the bottom of the file on my Leatherman Wave. It is coarse enough that I can create a decent pile of shavings in about 30 seconds.

I have also attached a cut-down hacksaw blade to my mag blog (using the ball chain that came with it). This works just as well as the Wave, but it is a bit less comfortable to hold.

All the best,

- Mike

 

[KuRUpTD]

I also use a piece of hacksaw blade.

 

[dipbait]

That must be quite a file on the Wave. I tired a medium bastard file to no avail.

 

[tknife]

Scrape down the edges of the block, you will get a pile quickly. I just use the back of my knife.

 

[Mr. Sogetsu]

Serrations work well or back of a knife. Scrape the corners. How big of a pile are you making? You don't really need much if you have good tinder(penny/nickel size) otherwise use more.

 

[dipbait]

Scrape the corners. I was trying to scrape the backbone.

 

[scotsmanspride]

:thumbup: For the hacksaw blade!

 

[Bushman5]

of course, once you scrape all the corners your right back to square one......

I clamp it in a vice, put a pan underneath and use a jack plane with an old blade in it. Makes tons of shavings with little effort. Put all the shavings into a plastic film container and you set for the days fire making.

 

[Thomas Linton]

of course, once you scrape all the corners your right back to square one......

I clamp it in a vice, put a pan underneath and use a jack plane with an old blade in it. Makes tons of shavings with little effort. Put all the shavings into a plastic film container and you set for the days fire making.

Never thought of a vice and plane for my PSK.

:thumbup:hacksaw blade.

If there is a breeze, shaving fine pieces onta' the sticky side of duct tape keep 'em from escaping.

 

[Big Mike]

A piece of worn hacksaw blade is the way to go with most fire starting rods/blocks.

Mag., ferro or misch metal, I like the hacksaw blade better then a knife.




"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[Todd A]

If there is a breeze, shaving fine pieces onta' the sticky side of duct tape keep 'em from escaping.

Or a gauze pad smeared with anti-septic ointment from your first aid kit.

Excellent way to start your fire on a windy day.

 

[pict]

Use the squared off spine of a knife. Mac

 

[DH1]

The spine of the saw on SAKs works well also for scraping.

 

[txmoonwolf]

The sawback of the USAF pilot's knife works good too.

Matt in Tx

 

[Neanderthal]

Carbide replacement blades for a paint scraper. I purchased mine at Lowes ( ~ $8). They are about 2" long and extremely sharp. I put duct tape over one end to facilitate holding the blade and reduce the chance of being cut. Being carbide steel, they hold their edge well.

 

[Hawkings]

Any thing you would use to strike a ferro rod will do the trick, you should get long wide strips if you do it right

 

[warrigal]

I have gone back and used a file to square of the back of my knives that weren't( mainly Mora's).
The trick is to have the blade at angle 45degrees. Long deliberate strokes don't get tempted to use short strokes. It'll dish out the bar and make it harder to use. I don't like using the edge of my knives and as mentioned the back of the saw on any SAK will do a stella job. Be aware that Mag will corrode with exposure to air in particular marine air. It will go all powdery I fnd the easier way around that is to coat it in clear nail polish ( one day I will build the courage to go into one of those shops delve into the nail polish and find some nice blaze orange) It scrapes off easily doesn't affect the function and protects it from the air.
Carl

 

[Echo4v]

of course, once you scrape all the corners your right back to square one......

I clamp it in a vice, put a pan underneath and use a jack plane with an old blade in it. Makes tons of shavings with little effort. Put all the shavings into a plastic film container and you set for the days fire making.

Bushman5-I suggested this on another thread ( I used to carry shavings in a contact case ) and was informed rather quickly that the reason these things come in blocks is because the shavings are corrosive and prone to spontaneous combustion. Mine never combusted but I figured that it wasn't worth taking that chance so I quit doing it.

David

 

[Leaf Fan]

Just be careful when using the back of a slipjoint knife when shaving the magnesium bar, a little pressure the wrong way and she'll close up right quick, right on your thumb. Didn't happen personally but I'm always worried about it happening, so I try and stick to locking knives to use the back scraping method.