Are all magnesium fire starters created equal?

[Legion]

Get a few sparks when you were cutting down that fero rod?

I forgot to tell you, you can get little beads or toggles made of ferro. I replaced some zipper pulls with them in my camping, emergency kits.

 

[David]

Get a few sparks when you were cutting down that fero rod?

I forgot to tell you, you can get little beads or toggles made of ferro. I replaced some zipper pulls with them in my camping, emergency kits.

View attachment 1634368

Neat. Never seen those before. I’ll have to order a pack and spread them out on my gear.

 

[Legion]

Neat. Never seen those before. I’ll have to order a pack and spread them out on my gear.

Yeah, they are not very expensive. I've seen people threading them onto boot laces, survival bracelets, etc.

 

[David]

Get a few sparks when you were cutting down that fero rod?

I forgot to tell you, you can get little beads or toggles made of ferro. I replaced some zipper pulls with them in my camping, emergency kits.

View attachment 1634368

How bout a ferro rod through your nose so you can sneeze hot fire?

 

[Ad Astra]

Get a few sparks when you were cutting down that fero rod?

I forgot to tell you, you can get little beads or toggles made of ferro. I replaced some zipper pulls with them in my camping, emergency kits.

View attachment 1634368

I've done the opposite, and gotten a few 6" rods. I need an explosion of sparks, with my poor skills!

Do have a few of those shorties as zipper pulls, on bracelets etc. Jute, for example, is a little harder than one thinks to ignite ... it'd be time consuming with a 1" rod, IMO.

AA

 

[DesertIguana]

Friend was USN Parachute Rigger, he was a SERE INSTRUCTOR.

Many ways to make fire with out gizmos.

This guy taught USN, and USMC Aircrews to survive if shotdown in Vietnam.

Those who listened, and learned had better chance of returning home.

 

[Legion]

I've done the opposite, and gotten a few 6" rods. I need an explosion of sparks, with my poor skills!

Do have a few of those shorties as zipper pulls, on bracelets etc. Jute, for example, is a little harder than one thinks to ignite ... it'd be time consuming with a 1" rod, IMO.

AA

Oh sure. I wouldn’t use one of the little ones as a first choice. But they are better than rubbing sticks together.

 

[OkieStubble]

I second ferrocerium rods. That and cottonballs petroleum jelly have started many a fire for me without issue.

+1. I like to have several options of fire starters with me, especially if it’s cold or raining. I always keep a small zip-lock bag filled with cotton balls and petroleum jelly, along with dryer lint stuffed into egg cartons covered in paraffin wax. I also keep a ‘fairy rod’ (magical sparking fire fairy) and magnesium stick in my camping bag.

I hardly ever use them though, because if I can grab dry tinder like pine needles or grass and leaves from nature, I’ll just take a Bic lighter to it.

 

[lasta]

+1. I like to have several options of fire starters with me, especially if it’s cold or raining. I always keep a small zip-lock bag filled with cotton balls and petroleum jelly, along with dryer lint stuffed into egg cartons covered in paraffin wax. I also keep a ‘fairy rod’ (magical sparking fire fairy) and magnesium stick in my camping bag.

I hardly ever use them though, because if I can grab dry tinder like pine needles or grass and leaves from nature, I’ll just take a Bic lighter to it.

I don't know man. For the space of an egg carton, you could probably fit in 30 Bic lighters

 

[OkieStubble]

I don't know man. For the space of an egg carton, you could probably fit in 30 Bic lighters

I don’t carry the egg carton in one piece, I break off each egg compartment individually and then just throw a few in my backpack.

 

[Wombat ESQ]

+ 1 for cotton balls and vaseline.
+10 for cotton balls, vaseline AND WD40, more flammability/ignition from a lesser spark.

now I need go burn something down/up

 

[DesertIguana]

Pocket lint is great is great fire starting helper.

 

[David]

Pocket lint is great is great fire starting helper.

I always keep a little in my belly button. Never know when you’re gonna need it.

 

[OkieStubble]

I always keep a little in my belly button. Never know when you’re gonna need it.

You won't get specialized belly button & butt crack survival technique's from Bear Grylls. only at B&B folks!

 

[Legion]

I always keep a little in my belly button. Never know when you’re gonna need it.

pack it in there with petroleum jelly?

 

[ODJ]

I can attest that this rod from Amazon throws some massive sparks. Used it earlier this week when I was up in the Lost Coast in Northern CA.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VFBEJX2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ODJ]

Pocket lint is great is great fire starting helper.

I use the lint from the clothes dryer. Was quicker to harvest than pocket lint!

 

[ctr]

Have used magnesium and ferro rods.

Would not recommend magnesium. Requires fine motor skills to use. Coordination that may not be at your disposal.

I carry a sparklite like the one below plus candy in wax paper wrappers.

https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Lite-SL3-HO-Starter-Hunter-Orange/dp/B00029EWIA

I have used the sparklite in an emergency, shaking hands, hyperthermic, in damp misting rain. It works.

 

[Wombat ESQ]

You won't get specialized belly button & butt crack survival technique's from Bear Grylls.

errrr, ummm yes you will, one episode bare gills stuck a water tube right up he dot explaining how to hydrate from suspect water sources with no water purification available.

back to ferro and Mg, strikers to me always are lacking, made my own from tool steel, as you can not carry anything sharper than a butter knife here now days, and harvest Mg from a hot water heater sacrificial anode

I am also a member of Pyromaniacs Anonamouse

 

[Rudy Vey]

We're drifting off-topic, but I just lit a fire with a "solar lighter" parabolic reflector.

Interesting. Does dazzle your eyes ... does also make a cotton ball smolder into flame. $5.

AA

and at night???