Refurbished Fitness Equipment: Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Firestarter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought both this and the Swedish Firesteel (Army model) because I like to compare inexpensive tools I will depend on to save my life.I prefer this tool to the Firesteel because it will ignite tinder easier due to the magnesium shavings (but the Firesteel would be a rugged alternative in areas where you could easily get tinder - see my review on that tool).Regardless, I had immediate success with both tools.

I believe other reviewers that gave this less than five stars were using this tool incorrectly.These are points of use I believe important:
1.You do not need (or want to use) a sharp knife.I use a basic metal jigsaw blade attached to a cord I put on this starter instead of the little chain.A short or broken hacksaw blade may be even better because it has a hole you can thread a cord through.
2.SCRAPE the magnesium into a pile, don't CARVE it.I bet the people who try to carve the magnesium (to make the pile of shavings) were butchering their knives.
3.You do NOT need to scrape it for ten minutes to make a pile (unless you are using a wet sponge for tinder :().With good tinder and a piece of paper I made a pile smaller than a dime and got a fire going in under a minute.In fact, I bet with really good tinder you could just use the flint and start a fire.Experiment at home to see how little a pile you can make of magnesium and still start a fire.The key is to keep the pile together so you must obviously have some shelter from the wind.I do not reccomend making a fire in very high wind unless you have the means to put out a forest fire (dig a pit or camp dark or FIND SHELTER!!!).It really helps to have something to collect the shavings on like a piece of plastic or paper, then you can funnel them into a little pile on a piece of bark or rock.If you keep scattering the shavings try not to rest the end of the magnesium bar on the paper/plastic/coat/whatever or get a bigger piece and let them scatter then funnel them into a pile.EXPERIMENT!
4.SCRAPE the flint rod, don't WHACK it like they do in the movies with older means (like in Jeremiah Johnson).It's a little rod and if you give it to kids without instruction they will probably whack it and break the rod.
5.As per the instructions given with the tool hold it steady and scrape shavings of magnesium or sparks from flint.You could probably hold the scraper still and move the magnesium, but this seems silly (although I will try it).Slow steady pressure scraping the flint seems to work well.Note that when you are trying to ignite the magnesium shavings you shouldn't place the end of magnesium bar on the surface holding the shavings as the vibrations will scatter them.You must hold it firm and steady and near the shavings.Practice a little, it shouldn't be too tough.

I wrote this long thing because I was confused by all the negative reviews before I bought and tried this.It seems for evey product there is at least one bad review.Remember there are also bad reviewers.This is a very good basic tool that is easy to use if you take the short time to learn how to use it correctly.It is meant as a backup survival option to matches/lighter (which are your normal means for firestarting).Also carry good tinder (I like cotton mushed with vaseline - cheap and effective).

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Product Description:
This is the genuine G.I. Aviation Fire Starter with a magnesium edge and sparking insert. You can make a spark in just about any weather conditions. Government issue.

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