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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Color Name:Metal
This is a great, very inexpensive, extremely light weight, tried and true fire starting tool for emergencies. I have about five of them in total taking up permanent residence in my parka, hiking Backpack, emergency kits, and gun bag. This way I never forget to take one with me.
Helpful hints:
* The packaging says to make a pile about this size of a quarter for best results. This is very accurate however the pile should be at least 1/8 of an inch deep (eyeball it).
* Be extremely careful when using a knife as a shaver/striker. I found the tool pretty effective without having to bear down on it very hard.
* Use a straight, smooth, fluid motion both for shaving the magnesium off and striking the flint. DO NOT chop at the magnesium or the flint. I watched in dismay as a friend made a mess of his by chopping at it recently so I thought I would include this. The chopping motion is dangerous (when using a knife), ruins the tool, and does not yield NEARLY the same results as using a smooth motion.
* If you have to use your knife, use the back side of your knife or the base of the blade if it is squared off and not sharp. Most fixed blade knifes are squared at the base. If your blade does not lock or is not fixed, USE THE BLADE. Do not try to use the back of the knife if the blade is not fixed or does not lock. It will most likely close on your fingers/hand causing injury if you try to use the back of a non-locking blade.
* Don't just buy this tool and not test it out. Spend 15 minutes playing with the tool and starting a fire (in a safe and controlled environment) BEFORE you actually need it in an emergency situation. Trust me, this tool will last you a LONG time. You are not wasting it.... Read more ›
Helpful hints:
* The packaging says to make a pile about this size of a quarter for best results. This is very accurate however the pile should be at least 1/8 of an inch deep (eyeball it).
* Be extremely careful when using a knife as a shaver/striker. I found the tool pretty effective without having to bear down on it very hard.
* Use a straight, smooth, fluid motion both for shaving the magnesium off and striking the flint. DO NOT chop at the magnesium or the flint. I watched in dismay as a friend made a mess of his by chopping at it recently so I thought I would include this. The chopping motion is dangerous (when using a knife), ruins the tool, and does not yield NEARLY the same results as using a smooth motion.
* If you have to use your knife, use the back side of your knife or the base of the blade if it is squared off and not sharp. Most fixed blade knifes are squared at the base. If your blade does not lock or is not fixed, USE THE BLADE. Do not try to use the back of the knife if the blade is not fixed or does not lock. It will most likely close on your fingers/hand causing injury if you try to use the back of a non-locking blade.
* Don't just buy this tool and not test it out. Spend 15 minutes playing with the tool and starting a fire (in a safe and controlled environment) BEFORE you actually need it in an emergency situation. Trust me, this tool will last you a LONG time. You are not wasting it.... Read more ›
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Color Name:Metal
Coghlan's magnesium fire starter (Coghlan's #7870) is a great product, but it is difficult to use if you follow most instructions for its use, including the manufacturer's instructions, and it will quickly dull your knife.
I wince when I see the precious edge of a knife being used to pare the magnesium block or to strike sparks off the flint.
Instead, break off the end of a fine-tooth hacksaw blade to the length of the magnesium block. Clamp the hack saw blade in a vise or a in a pair of vise grip pliers to break the blade. Join the piece of hack saw blade to the fire starter block with a short lanyard to keep them together. Use the teeth of the hack saw to make magnesium filings. Use the back of the hack saw to strike sparks.
It is much easier to make magnesium filings with the hacksaw blade than to shave the magnesium block with a knife.
The very hard high-carbon hacksaw blade will make a much bigger shower of sparks from the fire starter "flint" attached to the magnesium block than a stainless steel knife. You may have to stroke the "flint" a couple of times to clear oxidation. Much less motion is required with the back of the hack saw blade than with the back of a stainless steel knife to make an adequate shower of sparks -- you are much less likely to disturb your pile of magnesium filings and other tinder.
To see a photo of the lanyard arrangement, Google "A better way to use Coghlan's magnesium fire starter".
I wince when I see the precious edge of a knife being used to pare the magnesium block or to strike sparks off the flint.
Instead, break off the end of a fine-tooth hacksaw blade to the length of the magnesium block. Clamp the hack saw blade in a vise or a in a pair of vise grip pliers to break the blade. Join the piece of hack saw blade to the fire starter block with a short lanyard to keep them together. Use the teeth of the hack saw to make magnesium filings. Use the back of the hack saw to strike sparks.
It is much easier to make magnesium filings with the hacksaw blade than to shave the magnesium block with a knife.
The very hard high-carbon hacksaw blade will make a much bigger shower of sparks from the fire starter "flint" attached to the magnesium block than a stainless steel knife. You may have to stroke the "flint" a couple of times to clear oxidation. Much less motion is required with the back of the hack saw blade than with the back of a stainless steel knife to make an adequate shower of sparks -- you are much less likely to disturb your pile of magnesium filings and other tinder.
To see a photo of the lanyard arrangement, Google "A better way to use Coghlan's magnesium fire starter".
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Color Name:Metal
This product works great, I have used it many times to start campfires in the wilderness. Regardless of conditions, this will never let you down, even if submerged in water, just dry it off, and it works. The only downfall is that you will need to scrape off a lot of magnesium for it to do any good. So, if you don't have a lot of time to spend scraping, you're better off with waterproof matches. But keep this in your pack just in case.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Color Name:Metal|Amazon Verified Purchase
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Length:
0:43
Mins
This is simply a block of magnesium with a small ferrocerium rod attached to one side. Magnesium shavings light at a fairly low temperature, about 880 degrees Fahrenheit, and burns hot at 5,600 degrees Fahrenheit. The idea is to shave off a small pile of magnesium and then light it with sparks from the ferrocerium rod.
I suspect some manufacturers use a higher quality of magnesium than others. Why do I say this? Because the Coghlan magnesium fire starter was almost impossible to light, but I have seen videos online of people starting a fire right away with other brands. It seems that the company "Doan" has the best reputation.
The problem with all magnesium firestarters is getting the shavings off the bar. You are supposed to use your knife blade a whittle off tiny slivers of magnesium. This is increadably hard and time consuming. In a survival situation it would be very difficult. I worked for about fifteen minutes and only got a pile about half the size of a dime. I ended up taking my drill press to it so I would have enough shavings for a demonstration! Drilling through the magnesium was, no joke, as hard as drilling through soft steel.
After I got enough shavings I piled them together and tried to light them. First, let me say that gathering the shaving was difficult. They would blow away like dust with the slightest wind. Also, they were so small the fell into every crack and crevice. They are not an ideal medium.
The ferrocerium rod worked great. I'm sure I could make a fire with just it, ignoring the magnesium.
The magnisium fire starter did poorly in my tests. I will not waste space in my pack with one. There are better ways to start a fire.... Read more ›
I suspect some manufacturers use a higher quality of magnesium than others. Why do I say this? Because the Coghlan magnesium fire starter was almost impossible to light, but I have seen videos online of people starting a fire right away with other brands. It seems that the company "Doan" has the best reputation.
The problem with all magnesium firestarters is getting the shavings off the bar. You are supposed to use your knife blade a whittle off tiny slivers of magnesium. This is increadably hard and time consuming. In a survival situation it would be very difficult. I worked for about fifteen minutes and only got a pile about half the size of a dime. I ended up taking my drill press to it so I would have enough shavings for a demonstration! Drilling through the magnesium was, no joke, as hard as drilling through soft steel.
After I got enough shavings I piled them together and tried to light them. First, let me say that gathering the shaving was difficult. They would blow away like dust with the slightest wind. Also, they were so small the fell into every crack and crevice. They are not an ideal medium.
The ferrocerium rod worked great. I'm sure I could make a fire with just it, ignoring the magnesium.
The magnisium fire starter did poorly in my tests. I will not waste space in my pack with one. There are better ways to start a fire.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Certainly not the best
Magnesium takes forever to scrape off and the ferrocerium strip barely protrudes outside the bar for striking (will wear out quickly). Read more
Published 2 days ago by Mark Simpson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shiny
I was looking for something to make fire and this product is a great solution. Is small and comfortable to carry anywhere. Very good actually
Published 13 days ago by J. Benavente
4.0 out of 5 stars
Works Like the GI Version
Good product, though a little over-priced, when comparing it to military surplus stores. Works the same as the original, which seems to be sold out in every surplus store near me.
Published 17 days ago by Import Exec
1.0 out of 5 stars
kind of a waste
I thought the whole block was magnesium....it wasn't, its a huge holder for a rod maybe double the size of regular pencil lead. I was uneasy with that. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Saj
1.0 out of 5 stars
Just received
I just received this product. It did not come with a steel striker. So I now have to make a striker or risk ruining a knife. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Tinker99206
3.0 out of 5 stars
All magnesium fire starter are great
it is awesome to be able to shave the magnesium and spark it for fire, however the fling is sunk deeplu into the magnesium so I am not sure of how long you can reasonable use the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rod
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the few GREAT things that coghlans manufactures
Works just as intended!! It is the survivalist's best fire starting companion! The flint gives a nice shower of sparks and the magnesium does the trick of providing lots and lots... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Chris Cothron
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works like a charm.
Get's kindling burning quick and easy. I don't know how long these last but for camping this strikes (pun!) me as something that will last a long time.
Published 2 months ago by E. Avalos
5.0 out of 5 stars
gave item as a gift to my son works great
item is easy to use and will come in handy for my son who hunts up north for emergency use
Published 2 months ago by gjfinley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cool
I got this to go into my camping kit. Good to be able to start a fire if the lighter stops working
Published 2 months ago by S. ORourke
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