Fire steels & Magnesium fire starters

 
  Anyone use either?  I have a few of the Magnesium fire starter blocks I keep with camping gear, fishing gear.  I came upon an old one I bought back when I bow hunting and thought to myself, how easy is this thing to use really?
  So started to play with the thing.  I scrapped\ shaved off some magnesium from the block, then with supplied metal scraper, started to strike sparks on the striker side of the block.  It was a little rough trying to get the sparks aimed, and took some time to get the magnesium to ignite.  Eventually I got a hot enough spark into the little pile magnesium shavings and it did ignite.
  Having not practiced with this thing, I've learned that the  magnesium shaving pile needs to be larger than what I cut initially maybe the size of a quarter, instead of a dime.
 Overall, I was a little surprised at the effort required to start a fire by this method.  It worked, but my water proof jet lighter is much faster!
 
 
 

I love the magnesium sticks. I always carry one with me on my key chain.

I carried those blocks with the little striker, and a pocket knife for years MC riding across the Mojave desert.  Always thought that if the worst happened they would come in handy.  But I always carried a lighter too.  Vibration from MC destroys lighters and matches, so the blocks were the best option, but they are not easy to use.  Good idea to use one up practicing.  I have been thinking about adding one to my kayak safety gear, now I will.

 
  I actually have many of these little blocks, one in my truck, one in my EDC, 2 in my camping gear, (One of them I used for the topic of this post) and one in my kayak gear. I think I'll be practicing with it alot more now, after exposing it's initial difficulties when first using it.
  I also recently purchased just a fire steel w/striker I'll be practicing with both.
 

I think I got one for about 2 bucks at harbor freight and never try to use it, i think i better see if works.

 
 When you start to practice, shave off enough magnesium to form a pile about the size of a quarter.  It'll have a better chance of catching a hot spark and igniting.

Make sure to have plenty of tiny kindling. Don't count on the magnesium to light actual wood. Shavings work best then transfer that to bigger wood. When making a fire I have 2 piles of wood. Shavings that I start up in my hand with the magnesium and blowing air. Once that ignites transfer it to your big wood.

Why or how come you would set a fire in your yak. 
OH I know to have fresh cooked fish. great.

I carry them and some gorrila tape.  Dave Cantebury shows how to make a birds nest with the stuff.  Burns hot fast!

 
  When one has a BBq grill on his yak (Al) having a reliable fire source is a necessity 

Magnesium + 0000 fine steel wool = fire

a few things I have found. Make sure you use the spine of a un-coated knife and it has to have a sharp 90degree edge. I use a quick pass on the grinder to get that. Also hold the knife sill and pull the ferro rod back toward you. much better control and the sparks do straight down to the tinder. Also the longer the better on the rods. Dryer lint makes AWESOME tinder

add vaseline to the lint or cotton balls and you have instant fire

add vaseline to the lint or cotton balls and you have instant fire

Some of us don't take Vaseline camping.  Remind me not to sleep in an unlocked tent with you near by.

add vaseline to the lint or cotton balls and you have instant fire

Some of us don't take Vaseline camping.  Remind me not to sleep in an unlocked tent with you near by.

chapstick also works....and is less "intimate" then Vaseline