The Best Magnesium Fire Starter For A Surival Kit?

[@ronstoner1823]

Where I live there was a truck hauling magnesium wheels that caught fire. The fire department couldn't put it out with foam or anything else. All they could do is block traffic and watch it burn. Luckily it wasn't in the city limits and it wasn't fire season,or we'd have had a range fire. It did burn out a lot of the pavement. So yeah, it's an effective fire starter. I keep some in my kit.

[@csh6220]

In an emergency you would love to have a bag of this stuff! No playing around, just a real hot fire real fast. Magnesium burns hotter than any substance known to man and magnesium flares are used in fighter jets to draw heat seeking missiles away from the plane. Great product Brian, thanks for showing it.

[@NewSpirits]

We just like spending time with you Bryan no matter what you're doing. And no matter how old the video is!

[@loganwolf2037]

Hi Brian. Yes, magnesium shavings is a great fire starter in calm weather conditions BUT not in less than calm conditions being windy, wet, cold, nearly frozen hands/body or a combination of all. For the shavings not to get blown away by the wind, use electrical tape strips lined with magnesium shavings down the middle of the sticky side of the tape but away from the edges/ends. Use duct tape for a wider magnesium strip for more intensity. Wrap a few tabbed strips (each with 1 easy grabbing folded over end) around a full size Bic lighter or 1 strip around a waterproof match. When ready, unwrap a strip off the lighter and ignite using lighter/ferro rod. If using the match, ignite with a match striker. Another pre-made method is to use a pot of boiling water to heat up 1 vessel of petroleum jelly and another of wax. Place the vessels in the boiling water until the contents are liquidfied. With a baking sheet ready on the side, use tong tips to take a fluffed up 100% cotton ball or non-fluffed 100% cotton wafer (found in store cosmetic aile) and soak thoroughly in liquidfied petroleum jelly, let drip and then soak thoroughly in liquidfied wax. Afterwards, place on wax paper and insert a waxed protruding match head wick (or waterproof match) and cover generously with magnesium shavings before the wax cools entirely. When ready, use lighter/ferro rod/match striker to ignite. Weather resistant, 3 way fast ignition and long burn, enough to boil water. Another is the sawdust egg. Using a CARDBOARD egg carton, LINE the inside of the egg wells to the top with liquidfied wax. Place sawdust in the egg well to the top and pour just enough liquidfied petroleum jelly on the sawdust to soak in. Insert short waxed (or waterproof) protruding match head wick. Top off with liquidfied wax (will soak into cardboard) and cover generously with magnesium shavings. Let cool. Cut the carton into individual eggs with the cardboard intact. When ready, ignite with lighter/ferro rod/match striker. The cardboard also helps as a bit more fuel. 3 way fast ignition, long burn enough to boil water. All are highly weather resistant. The only way to fail is to not have a lighter/ferro rod/match striker. Then wait for a sunny day and use a magnifying glass/lens. LOL ! Brian, just a few ways to effectively/ efficiently maximize magnesium shavings. I'm a new viewer and only saw a handful of your vidz. So far, I like them. GOD helps those who help (prep) themselves. Stay cool. GOD Bless America.

[@DingaLingu]

Simple, if its windy and wet, take a magnesium bar and tuck it in with the shavings of a full bag and light the shavings with a blow torch. The resulting fire will burn so hot that a pile of green leaves and twigs with a soggy wet limb and log on top of it will ignite immdiately after a storm,

[@hanklarzelier6929]

Soak the wood 24 hrs and use a fan to simulate getting caught in a storm, I'm curious to see if it would still work. I've had to use a propane torch before. Thanks for the video, great to know products like this exist.

[@Charlielizard]

Wow, I mentioned this very same thing in a response to one of your magnesium fire starter blocks. Based on the price of the blocks at harbor freight (which come with their own ferro rod and little striker), I actually saved money as opposed to his cost. I put several blocks on my drill press and with different sized drill bits, on slow speed, and made my own shavings. With the different sized bits, I virtually had no waste. Packaged everything up and used small, sealed candy tins and medicine bottles to keep everything airtight and waterproof instead of cellophane bags.This goes in my small ammo can, which is also airtight and waterproof. I enjoyed killing time and repurposing things that would have gone in the trash. After several trips outdoors in wet and dry weather, I definitely trust my system.

[@cherylperkins7538]

This is if you are able to do it. My drill was too old and I couldn't find my eye protection glasses. I like the fact that its ready to go.

[@Tmaxar]

You are not the only one who is obsessed with fire...I usually watch bushcraft videos and skip to the parts where they start building a fire. There is something about it that is mesmerizing.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Yep

[@tom-dr1ym]

keep one of small bags in my kit bought on ebay years ago does not go bad

[@GOxHAM]

Very relaxing to watch a fire burn.

[@ROE1300]

Interesting, but would a Vaseline coated cotton ball do just as well? It would have been a better “test” if this product had been compared to other less expensive readily available options. This seemed to be more of a demonstration than a “test”.

[@James-ke5sx]

I bought some. Good video, it was great to know that it can start wet wood burning even if it wasn't soaking through. These may not be what you're going to use normally but in an emergency this will come in very handy. I put two bags in my individual emergency kits.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad I could help

[@lakrabid]

This is the best magnesium video I have seen so far. Nice tests. But it also shows a weakness in these type of kits. The strikers are kinda crappy small and difficult to use with cold hands. You had a little trouble in perfect conditions. Always carry a bigger ferro rod and striker!!!

[@larryhillman5787]

I have used a magnesium bar in the past and was not impressed with the results. This product makes a lot more sense. With the magnesium already processed into shavings, a fire can be started without a lot of hassle. Trying to start a fire with wet material can be tough and magnesium is perfect to overcome that. Thanks for presenting this product. I am going to get some cause I love me some fire too.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I predict you will like it.

[@shellariddle324]

Awesome, thank you. Starting a fire is hard sometimes.

[@wayned5872]

Joe is a smart man for marketing this

[@islanddog211]

Brian, I bought this and I splint the bags into 4 separate bags

[@duxdawg]

That was fun! Nice use of the Lean To and Hunter's fire lays. Cheers!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

It was fun

[@JoeFrohlich]

Does the age of the shavings matter? Are the older shavings as potent as the newer shavings.

[@billwithers1349]

I keep a bic in my pocket, a fresnel lense in my wallet, a peanut lighter wrapped in tape in a ziplock bag in my BOB, along with a UCO lantern and beeswax candle .I've never had any need of anything but the Bic and the UCO It's so easy to light the UCO, even in wind and rain, and then just use the candle to ignite scrapings and shavings. The lantern is my backup lighting and can be used to dry out an armful of debris while inside of my bivy. I carry a couple of the $25 each, 1/4 lb each Amazon full body bugnet "suits". With dry grass stuffed between those suits, they serve very well as longjohns. When I add some drum liners, debris and a 2Go Systems 1.5 lb Trifecta XL bivy, i'm good to sleeping at 10F without a fire or any heavy clothing. i do add a shemagh, balaclava, gloves, sock liners, un-laced shoes.

[@reprosser]

Looks like a great option, but is there any danger carrying around mag shavings? (Even in the zip lock bags, the bags could get damaged)

[@jamessotherden5909]

Nice demonstration with the wet wood. Ill have to check it out after Christmas.

[@carlenovember11]

I love the newsletter! Great video as always.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thank you.

[@bushtweak747]

Always great enthusiasm in your videos! Been following you for years. You have been one of my inspirations for starting my channel. You are also to blame for staying up way to late to watch videos when i should be sleeping before work:) Keep em coming.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks and good luck.Nice videos by the way.

[@rafaelterrazas9957]

I REALLY LIKE THIS IDEA. IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IN ICE COLD WEATHER WITH YOUR HANDS FREEZING OR TRYING TO GET RESCUES ATTENTION IT'S ALOT LESS WORK, LESS ENERGY WASTED, AND ALOT FASTER. GREAT JOB.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks

[@garybrown9719]

Great video best yet

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Glad you think so!

[@seanthomasdowd]

Living in the UK I often need to light a fire with damp or marginal tinder and occasionally fail, this would be an excellent last ditch backup, also seems light and doesn't take up much space

[@ryanlake7603]

If you have a air cooled vw (beetle) mechanic who rebuilds motors In your area they will probably give you as much magnesium shavings as your heart desires.

[@72hourbob61]

I just got my order in. I did order the one that comes with 5 bags and the matches. BUT I wish Joe would put the match striker in another place. It came on the bottom of the tin, so if you set the tin down on wet ground the striker is going to get wet. How about putting it in the inside of the lid or even put a few strips in the water proof match holder as there is room in there.

[@joejoe1977]

Got it. Next time I will put the striker in the tin. Thank you for your feedback!

[@72hourbob61]

@@joejoe1977 Good deal.

[@jonnyboat2]

Here’s another test to try, use a temperature detector to measure the heat coming from the magnesium fire.

[@roberttolley5055]

Best test ever

[@alangrossheim2582]

Thank you that was fun to watch. Also the tin it comes in appears to be large enough, to be saved for storing other valuable supplies.

[@charlyapkarian1511]

Hello Sir ! I just have one question for you : with one magnesium bar how many little bag of magnesium you can fill ? Thanks in advance

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I have no idea

[@stevelucier8346]

Learned in the 70's about magnesium and have even seen magnesium scraped off of canopy frames and outdoor metal chairs. However I still prefer my Clipper lighters. Found on Amazon for $8 for 12. Refilled one already and gifted some. Definitely placed the Clipper lighters in the bugout and survival bags. Even placed a few flint replacements in the bags just in case.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Clipper lighters are great but I don't think mine would have started that wet wood burning.

[@roberttolley5055]

I shaved 6 hrs worth, I agree with you

[@vvogt4252]

Pretty Good Starter. Thanks. Great Video

[@Charlielizard]

Ebay sells magnesium shavings for $12.99 lb with free shipping for a better deal as magnesium shavings weigh next to nothing. Forget to mention in my previous post, that I also keep an extra large ferro rod with my magnesium stash as a backup.

[@heyoldtime8969]

super product. Ill get some.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Yes it is

[@skinnyguy3285]

I wonder, how well it would act when mixed with saw dust? Maybe triple the amount of supply. A little mag, maybe 2x amount of saw dust.

[@krishoogstraat6866]

My favorite video of yours to date for me ! All is Scoutmaster‘s Love Fire ! So do our Scouts !!!

[@SoCalPatriot81]

I've done that myself. I've taken a mag bar & shaved off a bunch of tiny pieces. BUT it's a pain in the ass! this seems more convenient & pretty damn cheap.

[@welty69]

I add some to my DIY fire starters........ egg carton wax sawdust and magnesium Mae a GREAT fire starter and it is almost wind proof and lasts for average 15 minutes or more......... I also make some with a mix of magnesium and flare dust.......... VERY HOT and will burn most anything and start a good fire.......

[@hanikaram3351]

All the best of wholesome things to you Brian i wonder if you can ignite the Magnesium shavings using a Bic lighter flame

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Sometimes

[@juliusgonzo7527]

Very nice vid. just ordered 3 tins...obvious why in certain conditions, magnesium gets it done. Very good product.

[@sawdust6968]

thats a useful emergency product.thanks Bryan;-)

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I think so too.

[@strongforce8466]

Interesting, I'd be interested to see if you can light up twigs that been soaking for hours in water though and not just having a brief "rain" on it, chances are the small ones might catch fire (which would then help catch/dry the others) but I think it's very hard to light up actually soaked wood

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

As we say in Georgia “that ain’t gonna happen”. That’s why I want to have a knife I can baton with.

[@hhl31636]

Try mixing some heart pine " fat lighter" sawdust with the magnesium. It will burn much longer and still be as hot as original pile of magnesium. Saw some heart pine with your Silky Saw and collect the sawdust. When the magnesium is burned up you will still have a hot bed of embers.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I call it "fatwood". It is my favorite.

[@sasquatch885]

Those are amazing fire starting kits! Surprisingly inexpensive too.👍🏻

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I thought so too, which is why I agreed to do the video.

[@coryjenkins4179]

Great video thanks for sharing

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

It was fun to make

[@chiefkirk]

Good demo Bryan.

[@robertwarren4706]

Sometimes that magnesium is not a good day to use if it's raining put water on it and see what happens and stand back

[@JMWmemphis]

Have you tried the Smith and Wesson hrt7t single edge knife on striking ferro rods I had success with it

[@peterbalames9815]

Hey Bryan if you could only pick one Priscilla or Jethro

[@WaschyNumber1]

Magnesium burns up to 3000° C = 5 432,0° F To extinguish magnesium use only dry sand or a extinguisher Typ D, everything else makes it most likely worse. Errors excepted

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I blame Google. ;-)

[@WaschyNumber1]

@@SurvivalOnPurpose yes its 👍 Google is the 👿 😊👌

[@JBaads]

You can not get fire going with one stick. Even with magnesium. You have to have 2 or more sticks.

[@kevinkennedy6421]

Where is link to buy?

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

In the video description

[@michiganprospector8209]

Is this considered a hazardous material or something? The Amazon link shows a nice buy price of $11 but the shipping is $26!!!

[@ericholladay5280]

It shows $9.99 and free shipping, for just the shavings when I go through the first link.

[@Charlielizard]

Hell, that's for like a little over one ounce. On ebay I found 1lb of shavings for the same price.

[@macmij]

What watch are you wearing in this video?

[@72hourbob61]

I like myself some fire also. About to order the one with the matches. Thanks for posting.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks for watching

[@walkerone9833]

Really, the best test of magnesium I have seen to date. Thank you! But I think this really tells us that if you are going to carry the fire starter w/you, Can't really beat cotton balls and pet. jelly for duration, wind resistance and price. Anything you demonstrated w/the mag shavings can definitely be done with petballs. And to be fair, the first test you performed utilized the wet tinder (outside) and then used dry tinder over it. I would be willing to bet, also, that the thumb stick that wouldn't ignite would with a 4 min. petroball. Love the vids you do and the learning we garner from you. ATB

[@bennythebossstk209]

That some good stuff there

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Yes it is

[@eqlzr2]

Interesting vid, thanks. I wondered about this stuff. I dislike big old ferro rods, throwing sparks all over the place. Pretty to look at maybe, but a waste of $ and rod in many respects. I'm using the little one-handed wheel sparkers now and prefer those. More efficient, IMHO. Your best demo was the last one, starting the little fire. Made me wonder how this would perform in a real rain and wind. Looked like it might fight off raindrops long enough to get your fire to take life. If a person had the space, looks like it wouldn't be a bad idea to have one of these magnesium packets in a firestarting kit.

[@sinkhole777]

Good video, mate. I did cringe a bit when you started striking sparks in the direction of the open bag. That would have been an awesome demo😊

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

livin' on the edge ;-)

[@neologian1783]

Not a huge fan of magnesium...but I do have some. I get that it burns hot and blocks of it are relatively cheap and stable....but it's burn time is so dang short. Hot yes. Long no. So unless you are really ready with a fair amount of great tinder at hand and unless you move pretty quickly, the average pile most people shave out tends to burn off before they've had time to do anything effective with it...especially with sub optimal tinder. And by sub optimal I don't mean dry tinder that you spill water on...I mean damp deadfall in a rain storm. I suppose that makes these bags of pre-shaved tailings much more useful as you can pour out a substantial pile and improve burn time. Pour enough out and I imagine it'd be hard to beat a few minutes of 4,000 fahrenheit!! That said, the thing I've found to be the most reliable, affordable, easiest to light, wind resistant, and better than decent burn time is the DIY cotton fire disc. Melted beeswax, old candle wax, or gulf wax, and a splash of liquid paraffin lamp oil in roughly a 10 to 1 ratio (10 parts solid wax to 1 part liquid paraffin) does the trick. Dip em, cool em, and pack em. You can make literally a hundred for about 10 bucks. Cheap enough to have them literally everywhere. In the car, in the first aid kit, in the pack, hell.....lay it flat and they'd fit in a wallet (though you'd want to find a way to package it to keep he paraffin off the wallet. I roll mine into little cotton/wax cigars and then seal them inside those oversized "boba tea" plastic straws. The disc is already waterproof by virtue of being saturated with wax but they can melt on hot days so......just pinch the end of the straw with needle nose pliers, seal that end with a lighter, slip in your firestarter into the tube, trim the straw down, seal the other end the same way and Voila! Permanently sealed firestarter discs that never dry out, float, and they can't melt out on a hot day in your pack or the glovebox. Need a flame? tear it half way, fluff up the cotton fibers and put a spark to it. Mine almost always catch on the first ferro strike and I've even gotten them going with sparks from an empty Bic. I get a strong, tall, highly wind resistant flame, that burns for about 6-7 minutes. That's a lot of time to nurse a small sub optimal tinder pile to life. Never had to use them in an emergency but they are just the thing for getting my firebox nano going!!

[@crispychicken2743]

If you dip that rod in water will it still spark ? Answer is NO. Its 2021 and time to upgrade fire starters.

[@bertkelly7650]

LOL. My fire starter is charcoal lighter fluid. You could also use zippo lighter fluid also for your back pack, but we all know that's not bushcrafty enough.

[@angieconley6501]

Oh no! Help me, Mr. Bill!! 😂😅😊

[@gonehomewoodsman9059]

Very cool!!!

[@jefftuttle7890]

Great looking product. Great video review as always. Convenient when you are dealing with wet wood or just want to get a fire going quickly. Thanks for sharing and God Bless.

[@richardsolomon8076]

Hot stuff Brian :) poor weather or poor tinder cold or freezing that heat boost is gonna get the deal done :-) great video bro.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Yes it will

[@josephb7460]

That was outstanding. I like me some fire. I don't like mag bars. Never use them. I would definitely use those shavings. They are bad arse...............

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

The just plain work

[@joekasperek1086]

That was awesome, haven't heard that for awhile..... Oh no Mr Bill....... Looks like it works pretty good. Thx for sharing Bryan

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I'm showing my age

[@joekasperek1086]

@@SurvivalOnPurpose love it

[@robertg8875]

We can see what your doing get on with it!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I ain't gonna do it ! ;-)

[@causa2009]

Not soaked

[@Dcr-nk3fw]

Mister Bill! LOL. Haven't thought about that in years.

[@redsorgum]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGSokIp3h9ijl7c

[@johnlhigh]

Yea exactly. The Mr Bill reference was great!

[@normedwards5305]

Here comes Mr. Bills dog... And Sluggo! :)

[@jamiesuvo7420]

Why do you do your video so close to dark just a question because if you done it earlier on in the day then you wouldn't have to worry about it getting dark but I do enjoy your reviews on survival knives and fire starters

[@richardsolomon8076]

Like alot of regular folks ,,,, he works, so I'm pretty sure that these are all after work videos. We like Brian's sharp and hot videos also :-)

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Because I have a plumbing business that takes up most of my dayligfht hours to actually pay the bills ;-) Now that the days are shorter I am doing the best I can.

[@ronwhite8021]

Magnesium is a great starter. But everypne that wants to be able to get fire going on wet conditions should keep a bundle of fat lighter. That's the best stuff on Earth,it's easy to get, and its absolutely free.

[@normandegeorge6526]

If your going to carry around this kit which is nice, why not carry a lighter or two or a box of water proof matches.

[@thomaslinton1001]

BURNING MAGNESIUM CAN REACH 3,100 °C (5,610 °F) - MUCH HOTTER THAN THAT PRODUCED BY BURNING OF TYPICAL "SMOKELESS" AMMUNITION PROPELLANT (2700°F)

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

yep

[@agnosjr]

I like me some fire as well! What a great and enjoyable video as always. Thank you Cheers!

[@Bob-lt5hf]

Where are the Marshmallows? Great Video Bryan!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Thanks!

[@TheGrizzlyHillbilly]

Ah come on Bryan you already know Grizzly Napalm is the best firestarter! I don't make it anymore though. I don't have access to fatwood like I did back home.

[@scottfergusson8411]

Can’t help but to look at the ground all around you while your playing with fire.

[@dougrider594]

Another great informative video Brian!!

[@mbikesrulee]

@3:04 I was hoping a stray spark would catch the bag ;)

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I actually did light a full bag on fire but it didn't make the final edit

[@randyscj429]

You Go Bryan, "HOT STUFF COMIN' AT YA"! This proves that "MOST of these experts are ONLY in the club of: "I once was a Spert, got kicked out so now I'm an ex-Spert"! I'm at least smart enough to know that I don't know everything and that I am able to learn from anyone!! Keep up the good work, and keep 'em coming! Take care, "God Bless", sincerely Randy.👍👍✔🙏😇👊

[@kevinschmith9379]

Let’s play with fire,fun

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

good clean fun

[@redsorgum]

I’m watching Brian, starting fires...😁😁😬😬👏👏👏👏👏 This is some good stuff.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

It was fun

[@standingbear998]

I would much prefer a good piece of fatwood. magnesium burns to fast and is hard to scrape. it will work. this is a d for a guys product

[@jessierobbins2321]

I like

[@charlie4130]

You look like you are having fun . I like me some fire also . God bless

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

it was fun

[@porkchopspapi5757]

A little tip for ya. Those pinecones at your feet, they burn like gasoline.

[@WaschyNumber1]

Sounds everyone will sell this days magnesium fire starter and when someone buys everything, they have a ton to transport 🤣

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Hmmm

[@kennethcruise7635]

I have a small business making emergency fire starters , and I would be interested in sponsoring you to show my product . You can see it first on you tube @ "Uncle Ken's Flat Candle " and see if you would be interested . Let me know what I need to do to talk with you .Thank you Uncle Ken

[@lauriewilliams8221]

Uncle Ken, I believe this is you explaining your invention in a 15 minute video. Uncle Ken's Flat Candle. Video LINK: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXSwXmdsh69-apI

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Hey Ken. I took a look at the video laurie williams posted, pretty cool. You can go here: survivalonpurpose.com/contact-us/ and I will get back to you. I try not to post my actual email because of the spam robots, I get enough spam already ;-)

[@Stillamonkey556]

That’s a lot of magnesium also that’s a lot of heat being produced by one material and DON’T it water on magnesium fire it will EXPLODE so yeah don’t do that or you’ll hand will be gone and we don’t want that do we

[@752brickie]

The magnesium is amazing ! Thank you again for another very informative great video ! Wow an amazing demonstration ! They used to tell us when we were kids if you play in fire you would pee the bed !! Ha Ha Ha I did and I did !!!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

;-)

[@kinezo1961]

Ok that was weird, i hit pause and realized his watch was at 4:44:44, then i hit like and i was 333.

[@coldsteelrails9855]

“ a big ol’ pile “ lol magnesium overkill ! I like me some fire too Bryan !

[@keithfrazier7481]

Brian, I would bet a bag of Maya Dust/Fatwood Dust would burn longer and work just as well(lower heat longer duration) and you would not feel like a trader to fatwood ;-) ebay Georgia-Heart-Pine-Dust-Fat-Lighter-Fatwood-Kindling-Fire-Starters-Tinder-8-Oz

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

I bet both together would be wonderful.

[@adnanmaharaj324]

Really enjoyed this video, it would be a great addition to my camping bag, thanks and God Bless!

[@semco72057]

That is too much magnesium to use for starting a fire with and I would just stay with the Ferrod rod and work with that instead.