I’ve figured out a great way to make magnesium shavings that I don’t ever hear anyone else mention. I’ve found the fastest way to make shavings is to use the file on my Leatherman. It is a metal file after all, and magnesium is a metal. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I wouldn’t use a knife to scrape the flint as it messes up the edge. I think a piece of hacksaw blade works very well. You can make shorter pieces of hacksaw blades by tightening them in a vise, and bending back and forth until it snaps. Then you can clean up the edges with some sandpaper or a rough knife sharpening stone. If you don’t have a hacksaw blade, any 90 degree edge of metal will work. You can also use the spine of a knife if the corners aren’t rounded. I’ve heard the Doan brand ones are really good. Cheaper ones can sometimes have the flint rod come unglued from the magnesium, especially if dropped. And the flint rod is more important than the magnesium, and is more easily lost.

I like large flint rods. The larger the rod, the hotter and more abuntant the sparks will be. If it’s a matter of life or death, this can be very important. Also, a larger flint rod will last longer and start more fires than a smaller one. I really like my Gerber Strike Force firestarter. The flint rod is like a ½ inch thick. Inside of the case it cotains a commerically made firestarter. I also attached a heavy duty stainless steel magnum pill fob to the end. Inside I jammed in 7 jumbo cotton balls. It has an o ring to keep them waterproof. I also cut a finger sized piece of fatwood, and attached it to the firestarter with a rubber band. I’ll put some pics of it below.

Here’s another link you might find useful: Tips for Fast Fires with Flint & Steel

Strike Force with pill fob of cotton balls


With finger sized piece of fatwood that I attach with a rubber band.


Here is where I attempted to start a fire using only the flint rod, and some shredded inner tree bark with no other tinder source. This would be more difficult with smaller flint rods, because they wouldn’t be able to produce a large hot shower of sparks needed to ignite such a coarse material.


And success! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


I hope this was helpful. And, while I’m posting pics…how about a couple of a fire I made with my flint rod. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Me.


Closeup. I like to use the full size version as wallpaper sometimes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />