How To Use A Magnesium Fire Starter

The basic process of using a magnesium fire starter is easy. Simply use the included scraper or the back of the blade of your knife to scrape off a small pile of shavings from the magnesium block, place the shavings on a tinder bundle or kindling and then strike a ferro rod with the scraper or knife to create sparks and ignite the magnesium shavings.

Video Tutorial

Here’s a short video tutorial for you:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to use a Magnesium fire starter to start a fire in 7 simple steps:

1. Prepare your fire bed, preferably in bare soil or on exposed rock. Make sure your fire bed is at least 10 feet away from dry grass, leaves and other combustible material that could accidentally catch fire.
2. Gather your dry tinder and kindling and set it aside. Dry leaves, bark, twigs, pine needles, fatwood shaving or even cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly can be used for your tinder bundle. For kindling, use fatwood or smaller twigs and branches that are completely dead and dried out.
3. Create a pile of magnesium shavings. Use the included scraper or the back of your knife to shave off a small pile of magnesium that’s about the size of a quarter. Collect the shavings on a dry leaf, bark or even a piece of paper.
4. Sprinkle your magnesium shavings on top of a small pile of dry tinder (or a tinder bundle), a cotton ball fire starter, and some kindling in your fire bed.
5. Use the ferro rod and the scraper (or the back of your knife) to ignite the shavings. Tip: Hold the ferro rod close to the magnesium pile at about a 45-degree angle. Place the scraper near the top of the rod (so it makes solid contact with the rod). Pull the rod back (away from the tinder) with a slow and steady motion to create a show of sparks that will eventually ignite the magnesium. Tip: see our How To Use A Ferro Rod article for more info.
6. Add more tinder to the fire to help build a solid flame-foundation for the rest of your fire.
7. Carefully add larger sticks (less than 2 inches in diameter) and twigs to the burning tinder bundle. Be careful to not smother out the flames… fire needs to breathe.

FAQ

What is a Magnesium Fire Starter?

A magnesium fire starter is a compact, reliable tool designed for outdoor survival scenarios. It uses highly flammable magnesium shavings to ignite a fire quickly even under challenging conditions.

How Do You Prepare to Use a Magnesium Fire Starter?

Begin by preparing a fire bed in a safe location, away from combustible materials. Gather dry tinder and kindling, ensuring they are completely dried to aid in the fire-starting process.

Can You Describe the Steps to Use a Magnesium Fire Starter?

1. Create a small pile of magnesium shavings using the tool’s scraper or a knife (see our list of the best bushcraft knives).
2. Place the shavings on your tinder bundle.
3. Use the ferro rod included with the magnesium fire starter to create sparks, igniting the shavings.

What Materials Work Best as Tinder for a Magnesium Fire Starter?

Dry leaves, bark, twigs, pine needles, fatwood shavings, or cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly serve as effective tinder. The key is to use materials that catch fire easily.

How Do You Ignite Magnesium Shavings Effectively?

Hold the ferro rod close to the pile of magnesium shavings at a 45-degree angle. Use a slow, steady motion to pull the rod back, creating sparks that ignite the shavings.

What Should You Do After Igniting the Magnesium Shavings?

Once the magnesium shavings catch fire, gradually add more tinder to the fire. Carefully build up the flame by adding larger sticks and twigs, being cautious not to smother the flames.

What Are Some Tips for Successfully Using a Magnesium Fire Starter?

• Ensure the fire bed and all materials are dry.
• Collect a sufficient amount of tinder and kindling before starting.
• Practice pulling the ferro rod back smoothly to create a consistent shower of sparks.

Check out our How To Build A Campfire article to learn more about how to build a roaring fire.

And check out our Magnesium Fire Starter FAQ post to learn more about magnesium fire starters, especially when you are trying to start a fire with wet wood.