Scraping Magnesium

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
1,864
Well I've tried scraping mag. shaving with both sides of a hacksaw blade as well as with my knife (after a fresh sharpening). both produced pathetic amounts for the work involved (well pathetic ammounts period!).

Whats the secret to getting good mag. shavings? Any tricks or just keep on scraping until you have enough?
 
I know when I did mine the first time it was really hard to do. Once you get pass the first layer though it seemed to get alot easier. I know sometimes I just used the saw on SAK to do it.
 
A sharp corner (some do, but I don;t use the edges of my knives - I use the spine) and lots of short, sharp, pressure. My daughter and I went for a picnic yersday (Columbus Day) and I had a hard time getting a nice little pile of shavings. I just had to bear down and keep at it.
 
Shaving the corners produces better shavings more quickly than shaving the flat end as wel.
 
tknife said:
Shaving the corners produces better shavings more quickly than shaving the flat end as wel.
Click to expand...

Tknife speaks the truth. I like to use the file on my Leatherman wave. You can quickly get a fine powder that will light up readily with a few sparks.
 
Buck,

i have seen 7 yr olds get a fire going with the mag block in less than 5 mins with a dull SAK. I fail to see how you can not do this to your standards with a hacksaw blade and or sharp knife.

Yes, it does take some time and patience.

Skam
 
It isn't what I would call real portable, but I always used a large coarse file when I was making fireworks.
 
Nah, I tried it out again earlier and it was much easier...sober. My buddies and I like to have a lot of bon fires and thats the last time I played with this. hacksaw blade works fine :D
 
I found that using the backside of the hacksaw blade (the one opposite the teeth) works the best for me. As said above, it is much easier to get shavings once the top layer of the bar has been shaved off. I usually use PJ cotton balls and a BSA Hotspark since they are pretty much immune to strong winds and rain, but I carry a mag bar with me also.
 
After finding out about the PJ covered cottonballs, I ditched the mag bar. The effort required to get enough mag shavings, was way to much; especially when I can carry a really small piece of sealed straw with a cotton ball smashed in it. Takes up less room than a mag bar, and it takes a lot less effort to start.

Great Balls of Fire! Cotton Balls Rule!!!!
 
I usually use the file on my Swiss Tool. I don't actually use the magnesium a whole lot any more. . . I've switched to PJ cotton balls. But I still use the insert on the mag block to get my sparks since I haven't gotten around to ordering a fire steel yet.
 
Ive got a 12"x1/2"(diameter) cylinder of magnesium coming to me in the mail. Ive been recommended to shave off "curls", but sounds like its going to be a pain in the ass.

I'm gona try preparing a little glass tube of shavings with some heavier duty tools. It'll know who's boss when its ass is slapped in a vice and eating file.
 
Hey Buck...

Go and get yourself a Cheap-O folder of decent enough quality for that job and then use it exclusively for that purpose...

Hacksaw blades are Ok,, but they are Rough on the fingers and hard to hold onto...

Hold the blade at somewhat of a 90 with the spine facing down and scrap away..
It's alot of work to get shaving regardless of what you use....

Make sure you've got your tinder bundle ready because it's gone in a flash!

Alot of times I'll take a rasp and file the bar to make shaving and just use the shavings as I need them...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
As the gentlemen above said try a 90* or even greater than 90* angle with a sharp knife. I have found this to be one case in which sharper is not always better. Rapid, short, shaving strokes work best for me.

A tip for the green community - dryer lint makes a great medium for a flash ball, as does the "monkey fur" from palm trees from those in the south.

Regards.
 
Hey MG..

Yup that works well too..
As does the spine of the Saw....
spine of the saw is actually awesome for scraping the Ferro...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Would a utility knife work? They are sharp, and won't worry about damaging the blade. Should work well for flint too, no?
 
Hey Guys..

JZ....

It could work,, but not something I would do....

Ever see a carpet knife blade snap ?
I've snapped a couple, one of them Nicked me in the arm as it went Whizzing by..
something a little stiffer would be better I think....

That's why I suggest a Cheap-O folder...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Hey guys,

As far as I've understood, it's not completely safe to scrape a lot of Mg before you're going to use it. Fine grain shavings are prone to easy and violent combustion in a container. So please beware. I've never done this, I just scrape it when I need it.
I think this is also discussed in previous threads.
Please beware!

CZ
 
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