Fire Is Life

Magnesium Fire Starter

A magnesium fire starter is a light weight, weather proof, incredibly easy to use fire starting tool. It is a block of magnesium, a metal with a low ignition temperature and high burn temperature, with a ferro rod attached for striking the spark needed to ignite the magnesium. This tool can even be used immediately after immersion in water.

All you have to do is scrape off a pile of magnesium on top of your tinder, preferably bowled, and then striking a spark off of the ferro rod with a knife or other bladed ferrous metal object. A few strikes should set the magnesium ablaze, starting your dry tinder as well. In windy conditions, it is best to dig a small divit in the ground in which to start your fire.

Char Cloth

Char cloth is an excelent way to make a quality fire starting material at home or in the field. All you need is some cotton material, such as cotton balls or a few pieces of t-shirt, a metal container that can be completely enclosed, minus one puncture, and a heat source.

First, place the cotton material inside of the container and close it. Punch a small hole in the top of the container and place it on the heat source. The goal is to get the container to reach at least 400° C (752° F). As the cotton carbonizes, gasses, and sometimes flames, will escape through the hole. Your char cloth is finished when the gasses from the top stop escaping. Make sure you wait several minutes after removing from the fire before you open the container.