Fire Starter Info.

[canid]

i immagine that where here a sliver of magnesium still attatched at it's base to the block which caught your spark it might ignite, thereby igniting the block. i've never heard of this happening. remember, ignition is more efficient the greater the surface area of your combusting material. the difference between the surface area of .5g of shavings vs .5g in a cube is great.

[canid]

also, many of the synthetics oroduce much more reliable sparks than natural flint as they are impregnated with magnesium

[Tony uk]

Thanks Canid

[canid]

now i wouldn't go showering a magnesium block with sparks just to be on the safe side because i said that though

[Tony uk]

now i wouldn't go showering a magnesium block with sparks just to be on the safe side because i said that though

You really think i would do that.......................

[Rick]

We had a magnesium plant burn two years ago about thirty miles away. It burned a long time and forced several thousand to evacuate their homes. They couldn't use water and the fire chief said, "God didn't put enough sand in Anderson," to put out the flames so they let it burn.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/14707473/detail.html

[Assassin Pilot]

wow that sucks. its like an electric fire, u cant stop it w/ water.

[Sam]

Hi all, I just got a fluid lighter that does not leak. It's small but I've had it in my pocket for three weeks and no leaking. It screws shut and seals with an o-ring. I got it from a company called EDC.

[BatCat]

Stick with a BlastMatch or a Strike Force. Theyre easy to use, and the BlastMatch can be used one-handed. I carried one in my ruck for about 8 years and it never wore the flint out (The case finally broke; I still have the flint and use a piece of hacksaw blade to spark it


BatCat

[Sam]

Of no man, I carry between 5 and 7 kinds of fire starting tools. After all curtains don't light themselves.

[chopp29]

I suggest carrying around a small magnifiying glass arean old eye glass lense.

[Jericho117]

But with processed flint, like Magnesium Flint Sticks, don't last very long. A $5.00 Magnesium Flint Stick only lasted me about 50 or 70 fires, and I don't use the Magnesuim shavings for the sparks to ignite it, I just use the sparks to catch tinder. A good fist sized chunk of flint will last probably last 3 times as longer than processed Flint. Natural Flint may take longer to start fires with, but at least it's plentiful and free. But I enjoy making fires with the fire plow and bow and drill methods. The materials needed for that method is always usually available, unlike flint. Hear in Connecticut, there is no flint what so ever, I have searched everywhere.

[canid]

plentiful only in some areas, just as quartzite, jasper, obsidian, etc. if you can't get it where you happen to be at, it isn't of any use.

[Chicago Dan]

I know this is an older thread that has been hashed out but I have two more methods that I did not see posted. Now I wouldn’t say either superior but if your already in possession of the two prerequisite items like me they can be nice backups.

1. Item: BPS self powered magnate/copper coil flashlight.
Method: The larger model has a frenzel like lens that comes out. It really
only works on sunny days but hey...

2. Item: Self powered light/radio/phone charger/etc. w/hand crank.
I will not get into details here because you can get a powerful shock if
you don't have competent working electrical knowledge... well it works for
me.

As for my other methods I have a Swedish Fire Steel, Several Bic's, and a Zippo. I also use cotton balls and never seem to have a shortage of lint in my clothes pockets or other less respectable places...LOL

[Omid]

I prefer a magnesium fire starter, it always does the job.

[warman87]

this would be good if you were injured i just ordered one ill let yall now how it is when it arives
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYRKzdSXH34

[Rick]

I'll tell you how it is. It's the berries!

Do a search on here. You'll find several posts on them.

[crashdive123]

Love the blast match.

[NS0201]

I have a flint and steel and a shoe lace. The Old bow drill works great for me.

[Omid]

Has anyone on here actually been able to do this? I remember trying this years ago at a class at a summer camp. I have no clue how people get this to work? I must not have the patience.

easiest way to make fire is to get a crackeling ball (firecracker) and but it in a bunch of dry leaves and wood. You can get like 20 of those for a buck.

other way is to put alcohol or oil or something of that matter. (I haven't tried it)

best way is to just get a bunch of dead leaves and a magnesium fire starter.