Why a Magnesium alloy Fire Stick over a "shave and spark" Fire starter?

J_Curd

J_Curd

Joined
Jul 26, 2006
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I'm a fire starting newbie. I see alot of fire starting sticks in this forum, and almost zero "slab" style "shave then spark" fire starters.

Is there a reason that everyone opts for one over the other?
 
Good question, I was just reading 98.6 degrees and noticing that Cody Lundin is big into the magnesium block thing.
 
I'm not 100% sure but I believe the the Ferro rods throw a hotter spark.

Can anyone confirm?
 
I don't know about hotter, but I find the mag blocks to be difficult to use, while the firesteels are a breeze to get to work.
 
The magnesium block uses the same ferro rod as the larger. Average temp is approximately 5,000 to 5,500 degrees. You get a much larger spray of sparks from a larger diameter ferro rod. That is why I like mine to be 1/2" in winter and 3/8" the other 3 seasons. Also, the mag block is nice for emergency tinder but I prefer VCB and prefer natural materials even more.
 
The real advantage of the Doan and similar blocks is creating super hot burning tinder. They're a bit of a pain to use because you have to get a big enough pile of shavings and most people who have trouble with them quit shaving too soon. Doan recommends a pile about the the diameter of a quarter. The other problem is that the shavings tend to blow about in the wind so you either need to make a depression to contain them or take a piece of duct tape and shave them onto the sticky side. You'll probably have to shave a bit more that way but it all burns.

I've got three of these things but have ultimately set them back in the closet because the bigger firesteels work pretty well for me for my occasional fires and I carry other tinder in my pack anyway. But the Doan mag bar is a self-contained firemaking unit as long as you've got a scraper of some sort.
 
I agree with CSG...these are really two different things: a sparker and a tinder.

Magnesium can be wicked tinder if you can control where it's going. Use a ferrocerium rod to light it!

Jeez, I must be drunk...I'm on a "everybody is right and everything works in its own beautiful way" kick.
 
"Doan recommends a pile about the the diameter of a quarter."

There is the main problem. A quarter size pile of magnesium shavings takes 3000 calories of effort to produce ;). I can cram a decent quantity of PJ cottopn balls into about the same size as a mag block. Granted the mag block will last much longer because it is so difficult to produce shavings in any quanitty,
 
k_estela said:
The magnesium block uses the same ferro rod as the larger. Average temp is approximately 5,000 to 5,500 degrees. You get a much larger spray of sparks from a larger diameter ferro rod. That is why I like mine to be 1/2" in winter and 3/8" the other 3 seasons. Also, the mag block is nice for emergency tinder but I prefer VCB and prefer natural materials even more.
Click to expand...

Where's the best place you've found for the larger rods? All the ones I have are 1/4" and I had to buy a batch of them from Ebay. I know I could look on there but I'd only need 1 or 2 and normally I only find batches of them.


Nevermind, I posted before I looked. 1/2" ones on Ebay sold in singles. Blanks with no handle, yet singles.
 
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chris, that's the bottom line for me - too dang much trouble when there are so many easier alternatives.
 
I used to think the same as many of you. Don't give it up. The magnesium/ferro rod is an excellent back-up should your man-made tinder be lost or compromised. And natural tinder is sometimes not very forgiving to a ferro rod alone.

Don't think of the magnesium as your tinder, but as a heat source to get stubborn natural tinder to flame. I make a tinder bundle like I would for a friction fire. Paying attention to the wind, I scrape about a dime widths worth of magnesium on a good size leaf. Fold it slightly like a funnel and poor in the middle of a tight packed tinder bundle and light with the ferro rod. You most likely will have to blow the bundle to full flame.

They come in a really small carry solution too. I like Sparky for a back-up as it fits on a key ring.

http://www.wisementrading.com/firestarters/magnesium.htm
 
chris in mo said:
"Doan recommends a pile about the the diameter of a quarter."

There is the main problem. A quarter size pile of magnesium shavings takes 3000 calories of effort to produce ;).
Click to expand...

...and a fire bow, saw or plough roughly takes enough calories to equal bailing out wall street. ;)
 
I carry both now, a 3/8 firesteel in the Leatherman Wave's pouch (I'm sure they designed it for this - it works perfectly) and a mag. block in a pocket as well as one I always carry in my ATV. Matches have almost become my secondary means of firestarting now ! :D
 
pic00008tq3.jpg


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I carry a small magnesium rod with my ferro rod and find a few scrapings from it work as an accelerant in getting my other tinder to catch quickly.

It can be very efficient in cold or foul weather when you want a fire NOW.

In fact at times just a few sparks from the mag rod will do the job without even using the ferro rod.




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

Big Mike
 
There is a question of; do you use the mag block for emergencies or is it for everyday fire starting? I keep mine only for emergencies so I cut my block in half, keeping just the side with the ferro rod and about 1/2" of magnesium. (I know that they sell small rods commercially made this way, but I haven't seen them in my area and it was easy enough to make myself.) Although the thicker, harder ferro rods do throw hotter sparks and more of them, I've never had a problem with the very thin rods... A single spark lights a fire if you've prepared your tinder properly. My flint and steel throw a lot of hot sparks (judging by the holes in my clothes...) and I prefer to use that for regular fire making. In a survival situation I know that I'd be very happy to have some C4 to burn (that stuff burns HOT!) but will be satisfied to use mag scrapings, pj, wax, hex, fatwood, bellybutton lint, etc., etc., etc. depending upon what's in my bag or on the ground, knowing I can get at least one good spark out!

Stitchawl
 
I have used them both with so-so results. Neither works anywhere near as good as a Match or lighter. However these matches are not as cool I guess.;) However I have to confess that matches are my number one choice when I need a fire NOW. I carry bith of the other devices just in case I ever run out of matches.
 
Big Mike-

Where did you find magnesium bars?

Also, when are you gonna show us more pics of that beautiful knife? I don't recognize it.

Dozier, right?
 
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