Using A Magnesium Fire Starter.

[Mistwalker]

While everyone tends to develope their own individual styles and techniques with pieces of kit this is what method works best for me here in this environment when starting a fire with a magnesium firestarter. First I gather the smallest dryest tinder I can find, best to get it of the ground here as I live in a deciduous temporate rain forest. Dried hanging brush and old dead vines will work really good, the smallest pieces of which will light easily even if just a little damp.

Then I gather some larger twigs to have at the ready. I break up the smallest dryest part of the tinder and make pile ready to use.

Then I gather a handful of the dryest leaves I can find. If there is much of a breeze you'll want to place a twig, rock or something with a little wieght to it on the leaves as you don't want to be trying to chase leaves during the rest of this. Turning my back to the wind or using a wind break if there is a breeze I use one of the cupped dry leaves as a "collection bowl" and start scraping off shavings holding the knife edge at roughly a 90 degree angle.

untill I get a good sized pile

Then I arrange the dry leaves on top of the magnesium pile with just the edge of the pile of shavings exposed and pile some tinder on top.

Then holding the magnesium bar at an angle as such that I am sighting along the line of the ferro rod at the shaving pile I hold my knife at roughly a 90 degree angle to the ferro rod, press tight against the rod and push forward. The sparks are pretty bright so it's best if your hand and knife are between the sparks and your eyes at night you may wish to close your eyes or turn your head just like with a fire steel as it is the same material

The pile of shavings ignites the leaves

The leaves ignite the tinder

Add some of the larger twigs

Then you soon have a nice fire going.

 

[batosai117]

Good stuff :thumbup:

Until a month or two ago I would faithfully use a magnessium block with the rod attached to it for my fire making. As of late, I've gotten hooked on my kershaw firesteel. It sparks a lot more than my older ferro rod and is a lot bigger to boot.

Nothing beats those magnessium shavings though, the only exception being PJ cotton balls

Nice set up and thanks for the pics, made me feel like I was there

 

[Mistwalker]

Good stuff :thumbup:

Until a month or two ago I would faithfully use a magnessium block with the rod attached to it for my fire making. As of late, I've gotten hooked on my kershaw firesteel. It sparks a lot more than my older ferro rod and is a lot bigger to boot.

Nothing beats those magnessium shavings though, the only exception being PJ cotton balls

Nice set up and thanks for the pics, made me feel like I was there

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the post. Of late I have gotten to where I use my firesteel and fatwood shavings because there is always so much of it available in this area. I'm working more with a fire bow now, but a mag stick is a good back-up piece of kit. Don't even really need a knife with it, I've used one and just a square edged piece of steel, an old sawz-all blade and...I think maybe with a p-51 canopener too. There are various ways you get them or carry them. Just have to keep an eye on the oxidation on both the magnesium bar and the ferro rod in high moisture/high salt environments.

One of the things I like about my SOG Bowie is that a mag stick fits nicely in the stone pouch, but I think the tanin in the leather is a little rough on it when left for long as it oxidizes a bit after a while.

Small ones like these handy little neck kits from Wildertools are great you want to travel very light or just have around for a back up for contengencies.

I split one in half and carry part of it and a Swedish firesteel in this knife pouch, if you look you see the piece of fatwood I carry too...lol, I like having more than one back up option and I can use the fatwood as tinder or knidling.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

great stuff man..:thumbup: i love those mag. blocks... i keep a few in some of my kits... i also have a really cool knife made by Robert Dark, that has a mag. pouch on the front...

my dad has had one of those, probably my whole life...

 

[Mistwalker]

great stuff man..:thumbup: i love those mag. blocks... i keep a few in some of my kits... i also have a really cool knife made by Robert Dark, that has a mag. pouch on the front...

my dad has had one of those, probably my whole life...

Thanks, glad you like the review. Do you have pics of the knife on here?

My dad was a Marine but he was in Korea...lol, I gave him his first mag stick...bet he still has the same one...his favorite survival fire starter is his Zippo....says he's too old now for all that "playing around"

 

[mtnfolk mike]

Thanks, glad you like the review. Do you have pics of the knife on here?

My dad was a Marine but he was in Korea...lol, I gave him his first mag stick...bet he still has the same one...his favorite survival fire starter is his Zippo....says he's too old now for all that "playing around"

i can't access my stinking photobucket right now for some reason.. lets see if this works.. it's an awesome knife.. the sheath is solid too...

 

[Mistwalker]

i can't access my stinking photobucket right now for some reason.. lets see if this works.. it's an awesome knife.. the sheath is solid too...

Good lookin' knife and sheath. Does the knife handle hold the mag stick in if you run or fall?

 

[mtnfolk mike]

Good lookin' knife and sheath. Does the knife handle hold the mag stick in if you run or fall?

it's pretty snug in there... it should definately stay in there if i run or fall...

 

[KuRUpTD]

Good info ... I keep one in my pack but use a ferro rod primarily.
I think most folks just feel it takes too much work to get a good amount of shavings.

 

[texastonydobbs]

Great post,I have a few mag blocks and I carry a magnesium rod & flint Daily, every one in my family has those with their Izulas.
I also have a few on these lying around as well...

 

[Mistwalker]

Good info ... I keep one in my pack but use a ferro rod primarily.
I think most folks just feel it takes too much work to get a good amount of shavings.

Agreed, it does take a few to get the needed amount of shavings. That's why I tend use my firesteel and fatwood shavings or other material sometimes hexamine, sometimes trioxane and some other concoctions....this is easier on the edge of my knife also. I just thought since they are a great back-up piece of kit I'd do a post to show some one method for using one that might make it a bit easier if the need ever does arise.

Great post,I have a few mag blocks and I carry a magnesium rod & flint Daily, every one in my family has those with their Izulas.
I also have a few on these lying around as well...

I love the little mag kits, I like the neck kits just best to keep them seperated from your skin in a hot and humid environment if you are going to be sweating a lot.

 

[batosai117]

I found a pic of mine that I used in the EDC thread, it shows my firesteel:

That's what I take with me everyday, whether in the city or in the bush. Ya never know

 

[Mistwalker]

I found a pic of mine that I used in the EDC thread, it shows my firesteel:

That's what I take with me everyday, whether in the city or in the bush. Ya never know

Cool, the Kershaw's are Light my fire brand firesteels, no wonder you like it so much they're fantastic! I have three scout models and an army model I use when holding classes.

 

[batosai117]

Cool, the Kershaw's are Light my fire brand firesteels, no wonder you like it so much they're fantastic! I have three scout models and an army model I use when holding classes.

Oh wow, I didn't know that I saw "kershaw" on it so I ordered it for myself The package did say that it was an "alloy" and not just a regular ferro rod. I guess that's why it works for me, lights grass and tinder like the fourth of July

 

[batosai117]

I found one of my other pics of a BSA hotspark next to my Kerhshaw:

The kershaw is a beast compared to the BSA hotspark

 

[Mistwalker]

Oh wow, I didn't know that I saw "kershaw" on it so I ordered it for myself The package did say that it was an "alloy" and not just a regular ferro rod. I guess that's why it works for me, lights grass and tinder like the fourth of July

Lol when I gave my brother one he stopped twice on his way back to Knoxville to light different things. He called and said "hey man that things light sage grass quick!" he's been playing with it ever since....guess I should go ahead and pick up another one so when he wears that one out playing and learning I can give him one to keep around

The hotsparks are small...but they come in handy and tuck away nicely, I just like the sparks from the light my fire ones better than any others so far