Home
Basic rules
Basic concepts
Prepare your trip
Gear
Gear Store
Survival kit
Survival knife
Shelter
Build a fire
Start a fire
Finding water
Survival food
Signaling for help
Navigation
First Aid
Predict weather
Quiz
Survival tips
Survival Books
Survival courses
Submit your story
Survival Blog
SiteSearch
Privacy Notice
Contact me
About this site
 

Magnesium match

by Luke
(Zanesville, Ohio, United States of America)

You can use a magnesium match. Shave the magnesium into a small pile on some dry tinder and strike the flint on the other side. When the spark hits the shaven magnesium it will ignite. Make sure you have plenty of kindling and wood, 3 times more than what you think will be enough.

Comments for
Magnesium match

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Dec 10, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		think about it
by: Anonymous

Good idea. never used it before, but sounds like it will work.
Dec 10, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		good one
by: Anonymous

Great suggestion. i have personally used this before. it does take practice to master, but when you do, you have a sure "fire" way to make a fire.
Dec 10, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		magnesium match
by: expert

To add to brian's comment this comes with its own peice of metal that is attached to the chain. You use that and not your knife. If you loose that you use the back of your knife not the sharp end. If you are as skilled as you say you are, you would understand that, and as always you have to practice using it before you have to use it in a survival situation. I have used this multiple times and it has proven worthy to have. I can start a fire with it in less than a minute. Practice with it when you can. It is hard to use in a pinch, if you have never used it before. Good suggestion.
Dec 01, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		A Perfect Addition to the Magnesium Match
by: Anonymous

Add to your kit an old pill bottle full of cotton balls with petroleum jelly on them. Stick just one cotton ball (with petroleum jelly) on your firewood, then use the magnesium match... Instant fire.
Sam
Dec 01, 2008
Rating
starstarstar 		Frustrating
by: Brian

These devices do work but take alot of effort and most likely are going to dull your knife when trying to pain stakingly remove enough of the bar to start a fire. These devices are great if you have all day to wittle and it's a hot summer night. But for a survival situation stay away and go with something alot easier to operate.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Fire starting tips


footer for wilderness survival page