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Magnesium Firestarting Tool

$6.95

(58)

Item # 407152

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Be sure to carry this magnesium fire-starting tool wherever you roam. It can can start hundreds of fires.

From the block, just scrape off magnesium shavings with a knife, then scrape the sparking insert rapidly next to the shavings to ignite
Works wet or dry, and can even ignite damp kindling
Magnesium fire-starting tool is fireproof in solid form

Made in USA.

Item 407152

REI Membership

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Magnesium Firestarting Tool Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Magnesium Firestarting Tool

3.7

(based on 58 reviews)

83%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Compact (53)
Lightweight (45)
Functional (40)
Easy to use (16)

Cons

Difficult to use (23)
Doesn't work (6)

Best Uses

Survival (43)
Backcountry camping (38)
Winter (25)
Camping (24)
Day trip (21)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (31), Casual/ recreational (22), Casual adventurer (4), Outdoor professional (4)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Survivalist / minimalist (29), Comfort driven (18)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (8)

Reviewed by 58 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Feb

2009

(54 of 54 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Nearly Perfect

By Aaron Frankel

from Houston, TX

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

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.

Dec

2007

(38 of 38 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Need need to prepare first

By craigo

from Boise, ID

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

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.

Oct

2008

(17 of 18 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Outstanding Firestarter

By Survivor0311

from Here and there

About Me Outdoor Professional

See all my reviews

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.

Jun

2008

(16 of 18 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Perfect for its intended purpose

By O GaÃºcho TchÃª

from Seattle, WA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

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.

Dec

2007

(12 of 22 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

not as easy as the swedish firesteel

By roblee

from midwest

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

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)

Dec

2008

(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

A vital, trustworthy companion.

By cityslicker

from California

About Me Casual Adventurer

See all my reviews

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.

Mar

2008

(9 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

What blade should I use?

By spiff

from Wellesley MA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

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.

Jul

2008

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

An emergency must

By pacmule

from Atlanta Ga

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

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

May

2008

(6 of 46 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Buy a new knife

By skyler the piler

from new milford CT

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

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

Nov

2007

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Who is up for a challenge!!

By nccartllry

from Illinois

About Me Avid Adventurer, Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

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 .