Emergency - Magnesium Fire Starter Block

[David_JAFO]

hello,
I was rooting through a gorilla box in the cupboard looking for some spare hemp cord which I had wrapped round a card not long ago & I came across this magnesium fire starter block. I've had a few of these since the early 1980's from US Service personnel I've met & served with during my service & this one was from the US Rangers 1984 if memory serves me? Anyway it was never used only scratched the flint edge as a demo twice later in 1984. I never used the block at all as I had already started using another, which I still have, I received at the same time on exercise. We were originally setting about making a new batch of waxed hemp cord earlier, previous batch of cord that had been pre-soaked in a turps solution dried followed by a dip in wax for tinder. I used a few scrapes of the magnesium added to the wax mix before dipping the cord. Firstly checking there's no reaction mixing the magnesium with the wax, cord, & turps. Tried & tested the cord ignites well with the added kick from the magnesium. I'm still unsure about the turps ok it's dried into the cord 'but' short term use I'll give it a go but not for storage till I'm 100% sure. Anyway a wee trip down memory lane finding the unused block, still unused. I gave it a wipe with some soapy water & a cloth it came up nice & bright you can see the details pretty clear. I cleaned off the original dark grey coating it had way back plus through wear & tear carrying such around kind of polished away the tarnish effect. I'll add either another dog tag chain to keep it authentic. A Cold War souvenir.
Regards
David

12227

[Rasputin]

Hi David, I like your cord Idea, sounds like a winner. I'll have to give it a try,atb, Ken\

[David_JAFO]

hello,
Ken it works ok BTW. I'm just a tad concerned storing such for next time.. I'll use/share what I have for now. The hemp cord is thick enough measured into short lengths of about match stick size soaked in turps/dried/dipped/coated burns well.
Regards
David


Hi David, I like your cord Idea, sounds like a winner. I'll have to give it a try,atb, Ken\

[Valantine]

I also like that idea with the mag'.
Don't worry about storage the turps will evaporate in a couple of days if not sooner when dipping in warm wax.

[David_JAFO]

hello,
That I understand but it's the possible chemical reaction turps with magnesium filings.
Regards
David


I also like that idea with the mag'.
Don't worry about storage the turps will evaporate in a couple of days if not sooner when dipping in warm wax.

[Rasputin]

hello,
That I understand but it's the possible chemical reaction turps with magnesium filings.
Regards
David



Maybe a phone call to a fire station would get an answer ? I would phone ours but its an unmanned, volunteer station!

[David_JAFO]

hello,
I've a few connections within the Fire HQ I could ask or pop along to the local Division HQ is not far either. Probably flip give a lecture on storing combustible materials at home :ashamed:.
Regards
David

[Valantine]

Glad you posted this. Will look in to it myself so we can exchange info

[David_JAFO]

hello,
No problem Valantine.
Regards
David


Glad you posted this. Will look in to it myself so we can exchange info

[DuxDawg]

I have found magnesium alloy bars to be the slowest, most laborious, least reliable modern method of ignition. Pure magnesium scrapes and burns much better than alloy. If the aluminum content in the alloy is too high, it will not ignite with a ferro. With a little skill a few scrapes on a ferro is plenty. If you plan on relying on a magnesium alloy bar I highly recommend testing it before heading out.

[David_JAFO]

hello,
The combination was tried & tested works without a doubt. I've also since been given a 2oz tobacco tin with magnesium shavings/filings from recycling millings from a workshop that was using magnesium blocks/rods. I was more concerned about the storage of such as it's classed as an 'incendiary' in this form, I didn't want this combination of hemp/jute cord, wax, turps, & magnesium going up as I was unsure of the shelf life or storage of such between uses? Ready for the next batch as I used/shared such from July (now December).
Regards
David


I have found magnesium alloy bars to be the slowest, most laborious, least reliable modern method of ignition. Pure magnesium scrapes and burns much better than alloy. If the aluminum content in the alloy is too high, it will not ignite with a ferro. With a little skill a few scrapes on a ferro is plenty. If you plan on relying on a magnesium alloy bar I highly recommend testing it before heading out.

[ian c]

Hi David I used to have one of them magnesium bars and it worked very well, SWMBO bought me a new one made by doan which are still issued to the American armed forces.

[DuxDawg]

Hi Dave,

My post was about magnesium alloy in general, not your fire starters in specific. However, since we find ourselves on that subject, here we go. I have not experimented with "turps" (guessing turpentine) soaked jute. At a guess the wax should seal it fairly well. I have used waxed jute, waxed cotton balls and magnesium alloy shavings stored in a piece of plastic drinking straw with both ends melted. Also the waxed jute and waxed cotton balls stored in a ziploc, no straw. All were fully functional after being stored for more than two years.

I was somewhat surprised the magnesium alloy didn't oxidize and suffer in performance. Appears the turps are the only unaccounted for variable, everything else should store for years and still work just fine. Hope that helps.

[David_JAFO]

hello,
DuxDawg the magnesium alloy shavings didn't oxidize or suffer in performance, I did intend to create a batch & use soon as, I was more concerned if I had to store such long-term, so you have answered my question. I've also tried & tested over time your other suggestions. Ian C I've seen these Doan Magnesium blocks I think they're the same as the originals, only different stamp/manufacturers details on either sides? Thanks for the replies appreciated :wink:
Regards
David