I have a question. Magnesium/flint bars have been problematic for me.

The magnesium filings have to be kept in a nice small pile to allow the thing to work.

Most importantly, how do you generate the pile of filings in the first place? Making magnesium filings seems the best way to prevent having too sharp a knife! Is there any other way to do it?

have a question. Magnesium/flint bars have been problematic for me.

The magnesium filings have to be kept in a nice small pile to allow the thing to work.

Most importantly, how do you generate the pile of filings in the first place? Making magnesium filings seems the best way to prevent having too sharp a knife! Is there any other way to do it?


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1) When it comes to magnesium/flint bars I find that only the DOAN brand, which is the original, is worth buying. Everything is an imitation thereof. I've used various others and they vary between the so-so and useless.
2) The original recommended method was to dig a pit and scrap shaving into it. That works but making a tinder bundle and scraping shavings into that is much more effective.
3) Use the spine of your knife not the edge.

I've never been able use magnesium shavings to start a fire.

Use the magnesium as a booster rather than the primary source of ignition. Personally I prefer a Bic.

I know how it's supposed to work, I've just never had any luck with it. IMOHO fatwood shavings are much better. Despite having several good magnesium products for the space they take up I'd rather have another firesteel or even a lighter.

I agree. I might pack a good magnesium bar (Firesteel dot com has good ones) to prepare for the following unlikely scenario: I managed to get all my tinder completely soaked while it's about 30 degrees F. In that scenario, Mg shavings will still ignite from my ferro rod in the wet and cold. Also, there's a decent chance of the Mg transferring heat and igniting the wet cotton I was carrying, and so on.

Why would I not start fire with Mg on a regular basis? It's because successfully using Mg requires me to have a heightened level of focus and energy.

By the way, my Mini Bic will likely be working in the scenario described above. So, I'd try that first.

I salute those that can use Mg, but I haven't had much luck. Furthermore for he size and weight of the mag chunk I could carry something else that I know will work for me. A 4g ESBIT tablet is one of my favorites. I have a chamber vacuum machine and seal them in tiny red mylar bags, perfect for survival use. They never expire or spoil, they don't absorb water and will burn when wet. They're also easy to light (with flame or a spark if you shave them as you would fatwood or mg).