Magnesium Firestarter...Harbor Freight Hack...

Step-by-step instructions for turning a magnesium firestarter into an attractive keepsake... it might even save your life! (These go on sale for $1.50 at Harbor Freight)
NOTE: Several people commenting on this video recommend using the back edge of your knife to scrape the magnesium bar in order to prevent dulling your knife blade.

[@ForestG]

Looks beautiful. Saw a comment concerning the difficulty of function when you get down to wood, but it is easy enough to simply carve/sand the wood further if you hit that point. Thanks for the interesting idea!

[@gfotinakes316]

I agree with you. Thank you for the complement and have a wonderful Easter holiday.

[@pwkeely]

Why would wood shavings be problematic when starting a fire?

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

S you're out in the wilderness in a survival situation. Try plugging in your belt sander out there

[@billthomas6296]

Hello George, I just bought a fire starter from Harbor Freight and was looking around online to see about using it and came across your video. Brilliant idea with decorative wood sides. I might give it a try on mine. Thanks for sharing your idea.

[@gfotinakes316]

I am glad you liked it. I got some bad comments because of the wood sides. People thought it was silly and would keep it from working. It would take you many uses before you could wear away 1/4" of material. By the way, in what state are you viewing my video? I would like to add a pin to my map for all my video replies. Thank you!

[@billthomas6296]

@@gfotinakes316 I am in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. And I agree, it would take some time before you would wear down enough of the magnesium to even get to the decorative wood. Anyway my hats off to you sir for a very nice piece.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

They turned out very nice, the Danish Oil really brought out the grain pattern, I have a couple of these and I have never had a need to use one. In Boy Scouts we had matches . I wish we would have been taught how use the magnesium fire starter. Seeing you carve the magnesium and making a pile of swarf to light on Fire was a demonstration that I have never seen and being on the tissue is ingenious. Thank you,

[@gfotinakes316]

Thank you for the comment. It took me three years to find it!

[@ILSLF]

Hi, I know this video is over 2 years old, and I am late to the party. Watching this gave me an idea. The polished wood may be slippery in the hand. If it is cold and wet outside, your fingers may not be working 100%, it would be hard to grip the wood. You could cut grooves into the wood, not deep enough, but half the thickness of the wood. It could be perpendicular vertical and horizontal lines to get squares or slanted angled lines across, to get diamond shaped grooves. This could help improve the grip when holding it, add texture and make it look nicer, in my opinion.

[@gfotinakes316]

That would look very nice if you could pull it off. This would make a nice gift. If you are able to make one, send me a picture. (I will give you my email address if you get back to me).

[@rawpraisehorn5716]

Yep , that is the same way I use it too , literally hundreds of fires over many years . Now it’s part of my wallet-chain assembly ( hooks the chain to my belt ) so I always have it with me.

[@gfotinakes316]

They are so amazing and cheap to buy. Have a great Christmas!

[@melgozakoki85]

Thats awesome. I got one of these for my daughter but now im do this to it.. awesome

[@gfotinakes316]

Have fun! By the way, in what state are you viewing my video? I would like to add a pin to my map for all my video replies. Thank you!

[@melgozakoki85]

@@gfotinakes316 I'm in Houston tx

[@LordThree]

Beautiful

[@gfotinakes316]

Thank you

[@gsilcoful]

Thank you. I have never seen a fire starter before. Lived a sheltered life I guess!

[@rickgoddard6925]

Wow I've been bored and really bored but not quite that bored!

[@gfotinakes316]

I guess you must have been pretty bored...you watched the video! Just joking! I am retired and I just love to ticker around with wood. Take care.

[@NvrGvUp]

Rick, I think you missed the point. Anyone can go out and buy a gift wrap it and give, 'as is'. But not everyone will take the time and energy, to make something extra special and unique. George turned a common fire starter into a beautiful, unique and funtional key fob! Nothing finer than to educate others, on how to use a fire starter, at any given moment. By the comments, it sounds like, even Boy Scouts missed a great 'life saving', teaching opportunity.

[@zappa4153]

How many knife's do you go through using the sharp side of the blade to shave and strike the spark.

[@gfotinakes316]

When I made this video, I did not know it would dull my blade thinking both the flint and Mg were softer than my blade. You might notice in the comments that I have advised folks to not use their knife blade as I have. Thanks for your comment.

[@pvt.2426]

George, the walnut trim/veneer that you glue-on, beveled, and then, oiled does looks great. Question: Won't the wood eventually get in the way of scraping off magnesium shavings, if you use the magnesium block often? Comment: Your technique for getting a fire started is excellent. Holding a knife (like yours) is easier than using the included flimsy serrated blade.

[@gfotinakes316]

Your point is well taken. I used one a starter in my classroom for years and I only lost about an eighth of an inch in probably over a hundred starts. I think those using it in an emergency need not worry about getting to the wood any time soon. Have a nice summer!

[@carlosvega9889]

Appreciate you Boss

[@gfotinakes316]

Thank you Carlos, I hope you make one.

[@frankfromoklahoma2142]

Why use the cutting edge to scrape instead of the back side?

[@gfotinakes316]

I guess I was originally shown to use the cutting edge. I now understand through comments that it is not recommended. I will mention this in my video notes. Thanks Frank, have a nice day.

[@Searyu]

@@gfotinakes316 On the package it says to use the cutting edge to prevent the knife from closing and slicing you if you use the opposite side. So I guess that method makes sense for folding knives. Great idea by the way! I love customizing my tools so may give this a shot as well.

[@gfotinakes316]

@@Searyu Thank you for your comment. I hope you try it the worst thing that could happen is you need to chip it away if it looks ugly!

[@tattedgoat]

Thank you for my gift Mr. Fotinakes

[@gfotinakes316]

You are welcome. Thank you for your kindness whenever we meet.

[@daveedwards6567]

Great job But have you thought of using f Atwood instead of the wood you used the more you can help in lighting a FIRE the better thanks again

[@gfotinakes316]

Great suggestion!

[@richardnichols1392]

Exactly what i thought as well the fatwood mixing with the magnesium ,id never thought to glue them on the sides but a mag bar and a stick of fat wood is a good combo imo .

[@greenwolf401]

When you first started to add the wood, I was thinking that the sole purpose was added kindling. That looks sharp and still serves multiple purposes.

[@gfotinakes316]

Several people thought I was crazy to add the ornamental wood thinking it would use up the magnesium area I could access. I used one of these firestarters in my science classroom for years and only scraped off less than 1/4". Have a nice Christmas. By the way, what state are you in? I like to put a pin in my map for all of my replies. Take care!

[@JamusChristus]

The hacksaw blade and the flint strip that come with it are well painted-over. So you have to expose the metal from the blade and skin the striker insert. All you need is ½ inch or so of exposed surfaces. It sparks well.

[@gfotinakes316]

Thanks for the tip. I forgot about the paint coating, it does inhibit the sparking.

[@JamusChristus]

@@gfotinakes316 I finally got skinned. I'll post the video

[@JamusChristus]

Hey George (I'm gonna call you, "Teach"), I have some cable saws from Menard's and Home Depot. Can you review them against hardwoods like Black Walnut?

[@gfotinakes316]

Sorry, I have no budget to buy cable saws and black walnut. I only review things I had to buy for my own use. Why do you call me teach? Were you ever in one of my middle school classes?

[@JamusChristus]

@@gfotinakes316 nope. You're Teach because I respect your lessons. I mentioned Black Walnut because it's a hardwood and they're fairly common in Chicagoland

[@JamusChristus]

@@gfotinakes316 but about the cable saws, I figured you came across them

[@richardhenry1969]

Very nice idea. Funny they had things like these when I was in scouts years ago. Never used they just carried it. Now I use one all the time. I have 2 of these in my bag now. Just don't have your fancy treatment. 😉 I say you ask another location I'm in Maryland (nothing to brag about) Have a good day 😊

[@gfotinakes316]

Thank you for your comment. I used my fire starter every year when I taught a science lesson called, "Does metal Burn?" I bet Maryland is beautiful this time of year. I am in Southern California and the weather is almost always nice, but I have to drive 2 hours to find anything resembling open space. Have a nice week.

[@richardhenry1969]

@@gfotinakes316 yes I live in the country now it's called Sykesville. I go fishing and camping in Patapsco state park. It's beautiful this time of year everything is starting to bloom. I still have a special place in my heart for my science teacher. He had a major effect on my life. I actually joined the army and went ranger because he taught us anything was possible he was a ranger in Vietnam. Taught chemistry and physics. But he showed it in a way that anyone could understand. Back in those days we didn't have internet we had books. Some things didn't cross over from paper to understanding. Anyway I salute you. May you have the same effect on your students. Teachers are very important especially in these crazy times.

[@gfotinakes316]

@@richardhenry1969 I appreciate your story about your science teacher. I too had a fantastic science teacher in high school. I always wanted to thank him for inspiring me to be a science teacher. After 40 years of teaching science, I retired and then went to my 50-year HS reunion. I was amazed to hear that he was still alive. Long story short, I wrote him a thank you note and he wrote back and said we had to have lunch together. We have met for lunch each year since and we will meet again next week! By the way, I looked up Patapsco state park, you are a blessed man to have a place like that to escape to. Take care.

[@NvrGvUp]

I hope you two don't mind me eavesdropping.😁 But I really enjoyed your respectful and interesting conversation! Im from NW Montana so I can appreciate the beauty of nature, so I'll have to look up said park as well! I can tell that you both are men of integrity. Hopefully someday soon, the division in the comment section of any given post and life in general, everyone will realize that it's evil, that wants us divided. May the good in us all prevail! 🇺🇲'United We Stand, Divided We Fall!'🇺🇲

[@NvrGvUp]

@@gfotinakes316 Thanks for this video, what a great idea! What sandpaper grit did you use on your Belt Sander? I'm in the process of organizing my garage, to hopefully create a decent workshop. My Dad has given me so many tools and power tools through the years, its high time I create a decent home for them. Right now, I store all my airguns, tools and supplies in a large suitcases and roll them around to getter done...have tools, will travel😆 I get the luggage at secondhand stores, for about five bucks...WHAT A DEAL!😆 Only problem us I can't fit my belt sander, drill press, etc. in said luggage. Anyways, ideas like this just makes me work that much faster, to create said work space! Thanks Again!

[@GalloPazzesco]

But why?

[@gfotinakes316]

It was fun to make and I thought it would look nice on a key chain.

[@GalloPazzesco]

@@gfotinakes316 God Bless you :)

[@stevec5576]

Never use the knive edge to scrape with . The spine always !

[@gfotinakes316]

Thank you Steve.

[@jeffr5221]

Omg stop using your blade! Great way to instantly dull a knife blade. Just use the backside

[@gfotinakes316]

Thanks, I will try the back side.

[@kpusa3278]

Sure they look nice. but I guarantee you this guy has never used one and has no idea of how to use one. now you can no longer scrape off the magnesium to ignite it this guy assumes the Magnesium is just a handle. he just destroyed the entire point this type of Firestarter!!!!!!

[@gfotinakes316]

I beg to differ, I have used these for years. I can get about 100 starts before I get to the wood. In an emergency, you can just scrape through the wood and you might even be able to carve it away for dry tinder. I just wanted to make it look nice because I would only use it in an emergency anyway. Happy Easter and stay safe.

[@ElessarEstel]

The first thing he did in the video was use it haha

[@lordbwithu1747]

My thoughts exactly, a whole lot of work to make a $3 firestarter look cool but less effective. I’d have to have a LOT of time on my hands to ever get to that project!

[@micahwest5347]

Neat idea. I think with a soft wood and an epoxy that isn’t industrial strength the magnesium block would still be perfectly useable.

[@scotstephenson4617]

Not a hack that's just simply decoration but it dose look good n the wood wen u get down to it will be part of the tinder now that is a hack

[@gfotinakes316]

Thank you! I hope you try to make one for yourself or maybe Christmas gifts.

[@StarDarkAshes]

I don’t know how much time you’d be willing to devote to such a thing, but you could probably sell these in an Etsy shop. I don’t know how long it takes, but it didn’t seem to take very long, so maybe it would be worth it if you sold them for like $20 or even $25

[@gfotinakes316]

I appreciate the complement. I never make things for money, now that I am retired it just makes the experience no longer a hobby but a chore. It is fun to make them and just give them away to folks. Thanks again.

[@bgjk3315]

gripped magnesium block... LOL dude! this is not a pistol!

[@gfotinakes316]

I know, but it makes a nice key chain.

[@Yo-mamashouse]

If you made the Walnut flush with the magnesium, you would also get little shavings of Walnut to act as tinder...

[@gfotinakes316]

Yes, that is true in a pinch otherwise I would use tissue paper or pine needles. The walnut does make it attractive enough to carry as a keychain. Thanks for the comment.

[@Kains_whored]

Almost everything I have made are GE* rated ! Good enough * *for me

[@gfotinakes316]

...and you know that is the only one you need to please when you create!

[@garysams8615]

I guess I don’t understand the purpose of this…except to make it “look nice”? These are designed for emergencies to my way of thinking…and adding an extra step to carve away wood that didn’t need to be there seems counter productive. These are meant to be usable even without a knife…now you all but mandate it’s use. However it does look nice…good luck and God bless you and yours.

[@gfotinakes316]

You are right in that I added the wood simply to make it an attractive key fob. I used one of these in my classroom for years to demonstrate magnesium flammability. I can assure you that this design would get at least 50 fire starts before ever reaching the wood. Thank you for your comment and God blessings to you and your family during coming holidays.

[@stevec5576]

It’s a survival tool cosmetics don’t count !

[@gfotinakes316]

Hey, I am living in Southern California with 10 million people! I am just trying to survive the smog, eathquakes, and lack of rainfall. Have a wonderful Fall season

[@stevec5576]

Why ???

[@darrenhaywood7924]

Looks unnecessary

[@gfotinakes316]

It is unnecessary, but it was fun to make and give away as a keychain novelty. Have a great summer Darren.