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Magnesium Firestarting Tool
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Magnesium Firestarting Tool

Item # 407152

$5.50

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Fire-starting tool made of magnesium can start hundreds of fires.

  • From the block, just scrape off magnesium shavings with knife, then scrape the sparking insert rapidly next to the shavings to ignite.
  • Fireproof in solid form

Made in USA.

Item 407152

Magnesium Firestarting Tool Specs

Specification

Description

Dimensions3 x 1 x 0.31 inches
MaterialMagnesium

Magnesium Firestarting Tool Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Magnesium Firestarting Tool
 
3.9

(based on 38 reviews)

87%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Compact (37)
  • Lightweight (33)
  • Functional (26)
  • Easy to use (11)

Cons

  • Difficult to use (17)
  • Ineffective (4)

Best Uses

  • Survival (29)
  • Backcountry camping (26)
  • Winter camping (17)
  • Campgrounds (16)
  • Day trips (12)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (22), Casual adventurer (18)
  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Minimalist (18), Comfort driven (10)

Reviewed by 38 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Feb

21

2009

(15 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Nearly Perfect

By Aaron Frankel

from Houston, TX

About Me Avid Adventurer

Pros

  • Compact
  • Easy to Use
  • Functional
  • Lightweight

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backcountry Camping
    • Campgrounds
    • Day Trips
    • River
    • Survival
    • Trips
    • Winter Camping

    Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

    This is a great, very inexpensive, extremely light weight, tried and true fire starting tool for emergencies. I have about five of them in total taking up permanent residence in my Parka, Backpack, Emergency Kits, and Gun Bag. This way I never forget to take one with me.

    Helpful Hints:
    * The packaging says to make a pile about this size of a quarter for best results. This is very accurate however the pile should be at least 1/8 of an inch deep (eyeball it).
    * Be extremely careful when using a knife as a shaver/striker. I found the tool pretty effective without having to bear down on it very hard.
    * Use a straight, smooth, fluid motion both for shaving the magnesium off and striking the flint. DO NOT chop at the magnesium or the flint. I watched in dismay as a friend made a mess of his by chopping at it recently so I thought I would include this. The chopping motion is dangerous (when using a knife), ruins the tool, and does not yield NEARLY the same results as using a smooth motion.
    * If you have to use your knife, use the back side of your knife or the base of the blade if it is squared off and not sharp. Most fixed blade knifes are squared at the base. If your blade does not lock or is not fixed, USE THE BLADE. Do not try to use the back of the knife if the blade is not fixed or does not lock. It will most likely close on your fingers/hand causing injury if you try to use the back of a non-locking blade.
    * Don't just buy this tool and not test it out. Spend 15 minutes playing with the tool and starting a fire (in a safe and controlled environment) BEFORE you actually need it in an emergency situation. Trust me, this tool will last you a LONG time. You are not wasting it.

    Cons:
    * The product does not come with any kind of striker/shaver attached. This tool could really benefit from a small piece of metal to use as a striker and to shave magnesium off.
    * Shaving magnesium off and striking the flint with your knife will dull the blade pretty quickly.

    • Gift:
    • No
    • What Is Your Gear Style:
    • Comfort Driven

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (15 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

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    Dec

    2

    2007

    (15 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Need need to prepare first

    By craigo

    from Boise, ID

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Compact
    • Easy to Use
    • Functional
    • Lightweight

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Survival

      Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

      These things really work if you have have your tinder bundle well laid out. Shaving the Mg is a pain and if you have good dry tinder you won't need it, but it's there if you do.

      One thing that will help tremendously is to make a striker from a 2" piece of broken hacksaw blade (if you get the end with the hole in it you can put it on the chain). Put the bare, broken end--not the teeth--on the flint and use the spring action of the blade like you're striking a match. MUCH better spark action than using a stiff knife blade.

      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Comfort Driven

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (15 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

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      Oct

      5

      2008

      (11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Outstanding Firestarter

      By Survivor0311

      from Here and there

      About Me Outdoor Professional

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Easy to Use
      • Functional
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • Not Windproof

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping
      • Campgrounds
      • Day Trips
      • River
      • Survival
      • Trips
      • Winter Camping

      Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

      The design of this product is to provide a sustainable method of fire starting, and it delivers. I have used this as my primary starter for years, and it has never let me down. My process... as you always should, gather your tinder and wood when you setup camp... I use a file in my leatherman or the teeth on the inside of my pliers to scrape the magnesium on to a leave or piece of bark. Make a small pile , about the size of a pencil eraser will do, then flip it over and use the same file on the striker. Save your matches for the real emergency... this product works every time. It will wear out eventually, I carry two just in case, but one will last for a month of fires. In a strong wind it can be difficult to collect the magnesium, but I created my own little method, and you will too.

      • Gift:
      • No
      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Minimalist

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

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      Dec

      30

      2007

      (10 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

       
      2.0

      not as easy as the swedish firesteel

      By roblee

      from midwest

      About Me Casual/ Recreational

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • Difficult to Use

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping
      • Campgrounds

      Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

      I used to bring this, however, as with other reviews, it unnecessarily dulls your knife and is not easy to use in wind (the shavings fly away). When you can actually get the spark, i do have to admit the fire/spark was fun to watch but I would say, though, i think the swedish firesteel is MUCH easier to use (if you dont want to use a lighter), and i have taken the magnesium firestarting tool out of my survival kit and backpack and replaced it with the swedish firesteel (which is quite fun to use)

      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Comfort Driven

      Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

      (10 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

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      Jun

      9

      2008

      (8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

       
      4.0

      Perfect for its intended purpose

      By O Gaúcho Tchê

      from Seattle, WA

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Functional
      • Lightweight

      Cons

      • Difficult to Use

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping
      • Survival
      • Winter Camping

      Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

      I'm not sure why so many reviewers are complaining that this is difficult to use and dulls your knife. First off: why would you even be using your knife blade on this? [...]. Secondly, this is meant to be used as an emergency/back-up firestarter. It's not intended to be or--as far as I can tell--marketed as something that is easier than matches or a lighter. When used as intended, this works very well. A year ago, I was backpacking in Southeast Asia during monsoon season. Even waterproof matches were useless because everything was completely saturated. Nevertheless, with some minor patience and effort, I did not have much problem starting a fire even in wet conditions using this tool. All you have to do is first get the driest tinder you can find (i.e. make shavings of the drier interior of dead wood or bamboo). Then scrape magnesium shavings into a fold of your waterproof map (which you should have on you in any backcountry situation) using the BACK of your knife. Carefully dump the magnesium shavings into the center of your tinder nest, strike a couple of sparks and viola! you've got a fire going.If you're just building a normal campfire, use a match or a lighter because they are much easier to use than this tool. When all else fails, however, this is a fool-proof backup that could save your life.

      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Minimalist

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

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      Dec

      10

      2008

      (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      A vital, trustworthy companion.

      By cityslicker

      from California

      About Me Casual Adventurer

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Durable
      • Functional
      • Lightweight
      • Trustworthy
      • Works when wet

      Cons

      • Takes time and effort

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping
      • Campgrounds
      • Day Trips
      • Survival
      • Winter Camping

      Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

      Takes a little while to get a proper fire going, and takes some practice to master, but it's weatherproof: it works even when wet. This makes it more reliable than your average match or lighter. Comes with a ball-link chain so it can be mounted as a key chain or hung from almost anywhere.

      Quick tip: I found that the easiest way to scrape off the magnesium is to keep your knife at about a 45 degree angle and scrape at it with quick strokes without your knife going off the end. This is much easier than keeping the knife at a perpendicular 90 degree angle and attempting to scrape, and it spares you the horrible screeching sound. Also, make sure to push the magnesium shavings into a pile before attempting to light them, and when you do, make sure the tinder is very close to the shavings.

      • Gift:
      • No
      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Minimalist

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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      Jul

      18

      2008

      (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      An emergency must

      By pacmule

      from Atlanta Ga

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Compact
      • Functional
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Survival

        Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

        This is a great survival tool. It virtually cannot be destroyed. It can get wet, dropped, banged it will always work. However it takes practice, as with any gear you buy practice and learn how to use it (buy two at first practice with one). I have used it to start a fire at night in darkness with little trouble. The magnesium burns so hot 5000 F it will ignite any tinder. Do not use the sharp edge of your knife but the back of the blade to shave it. But it is an emergency tool not a daily user. They are small and light have one just in case

        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Comfort Driven

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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        May

        4

        2008

        (5 of 24 customers found this review helpful)

         
        2.0

        Buy a new knife

        By skyler the piler

        from New Milford CT

        About Me Casual/ Recreational

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Difficult to Use
        • Ineffective
        • Recks your knife

        Best Uses

        • Backcountry Camping
        • In the back yard
        • Survival

        Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

        I bought this proudct from [...] just for fun before i was a big camper. i must say iv tryed it hunddrids of times and the best i got was some broken knives and burnt fingers. if you realy want this proudct buy a new knife just for this and buy 2 to pratic because they weair down VERY quickly

        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Minimalist

        Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

        (5 of 24 customers found this review helpful)

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        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

        Mar

        2

        2008

        (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        What blade should I use?

        By spiff

        from Wellesley MA

        About Me Casual/ Recreational

        Pros

        • Compact
        • Lightweight

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Backcountry Camping
          • Campgrounds
          • Survival

          Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

          When using this product with a pocket knife, use the blade from the bottle opener(if it has one). it works just as well as the main blade but saves it dulling.

          • What Is Your Gear Style:
          • Minimalist

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

          Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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          Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

          Nov

          11

          2007

          (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Who is up for a challenge!!

          By nccartllry

          from Illinois

          About Me Avid Adventurer, Casual/ Recreational

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Compact
          • Functional
          • Lightweight
          • Wet Doesn't matter

          Cons

          • Takes Practice

          Best Uses

          • Anywhere with know how

          Comments about Magnesium Firestarting Tool:

          Yes, it takes practice. Even for a pyrojunky (like me who needs a fire for work), it took a time or two to get used to it. What I found works is a flat hard surface for shavings, tinder nearby, twigs, and then logs. Walla you have fire!!

          The hard and flat surface (out of the wind) works well for scraping all the shavings (nickel size) close together .

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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          Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

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