Has there been any thoughts using a strip of Magnesium Ribbon as signaling device? A couple of feet takes up almost no room and weighs nothing. Used in the proper situation (obviously on land), like when a search plane is visible, it could make a very bright signal.

A 2' strip is going to be very fragile, subject to corrosion, difficult to ignite. A good flare kit is a better option.

Yes, I'm going to have to agree with Chris on this one, unless you are planning on carrying a pocket torch lighter with you everywhere, the magnesium is going to be very hard to ignite in a short amount of time.

I have to agree with Chris and Hawk.
Pure magnesium corrodes very easily, and it is very difficult to ignite.
It burns so quickly that you might harm yourself trying to light it with matches.
Go with Chris's suggestion, get some quality flares.

Thanks for the feedback. I wasn’t suggesting to use a piece of burning Magnesium Ribbon in lieu of flares, smoke, satellite phone, etc. I just wanted to know if anyone had discussed the usefulness of adding some Magnesium Ribbon in a very minimalist kit. Say in a kit where you’d normally wouldn’t have flares. Obviously you wouldn’t use it floating in a raft, and you’d be careful how to handle it, light it, etc. So my question was really in its usefulness in compared to little or nothing else, how bright it was compared to other signals, etc.

I too thought about that and ask my uncle, a physics/chemistry professor >> no good !

As said before, it's quite hard to ignite.... I'm sure matches aren't enough.

It's certainly very bright , but again, too difficult to ignite.
+ short shelf life (corrosion pb)
+ won't burn very long

If you already had a fire going and dropped the ribbon in that, would there be enough heat?

Sue

Only way to know is to try.
I will try to get hold of such a ribbon in the next weeks....