Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 50
 Need Fire? June 27, 2010
Mike P (Houston, TX)
This little guy will start a fire for you just about anywhere. With a little practice you will be setting fires in no time.
 Works Perfect - Just follow the directions March 28, 2010
S. Karl (Michigan)
I tried this magnesium fire starting tool(from Doan Machinery & Equipment - "Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Fire Starter"Genuine Issue Magnesium Survival Fire Starter) out as well as the cheaper(about 50% less) alternative from SE(Emergency Fire Starter - SE - Emergency Fire Starteralso available on Amazon).
Both tools work perfectly fine as described and were able to light up fine fibers(cotton, moss, dried grass) and paper without a problem. The Doan tool listed here clearly states on the packaging to scrape the magnesium portion of the bar with a knife blade PERPENDICULAR to the edge of the tool. I found this to method made for the most shavings and larger shavings at that. The packaging clearly states that you want a QUARTER(U.S. Coin) sized amount (just shy of 1 inch or 2.4cm diameter) Then holding the bar at 45 degree angle to the pile of shavings drag the knife along the flint to create sparks. The directions remind you to hold the blade perpendicular to the bar while "striking" the flint. I would advise not to strike the flint as they are brittle. However, a nice quick full length drag of the blade down the flint creates a shower of sparks for easy ignition of the magnesium shavings.
Both brands work fine. They are nearly identical in shape(the SE is a few mm longer). Each brand has a different finish/coating on the bar itself is about the only difference I can tell. The performance seemed to be identical or at least close enough to not notice anything to complain about. The big difference is the price. The SE(made in China) is about half the price of the Doan(Made in USA - Patented). It appears to me that they are both the same, and one is just made overseas so that is why it's cheaper.
One other note: The SE(Chinese one) also comes with a saw blade striker that does work but you need to wear through a protective layer of lacquer for it to work and it's just small enough to annoy my large hands.
You can't go wrong with either tool. I'd prefer to buy American in the long run though, especially for something I might end up having my life depend on.
EDIT: One last note on product life- depending on how much magnesium you need to get your fire going each time, I think the flint will run out long before you ever use up all the magnesium.
A very good tool! March 21, 2010
SURVIVAL,RANGER (Fort Bragg)
Knowing how to use this item will improve your results; so try it out a few times to work out your problems. Very helpful with wet conditions, too windy try blocking the wind. This item is an aid and will improve your chances of starting a fire greatly, and when you "need" a fire it is great to have all the help you can get!
 Buy a LIGHTER Instead... March 20, 2010
S. L. Swayze (Mesa, AZ United States)
0 out of 14 found this review helpful
I remember back in Boy Scouts during Grizzly Adams training, and after a long lecture on how with this tool, your knife, and the clothes on your back you could stay alive practically forever. It always struck me that a much more logical tool for lighting a fire is a simple cigarette lighter. Instead of keeping a chunk of flint or magnesium in your survival kit, why not just throw in 3 or 4 plastic lighters? I'm not a smoker but I've got lighters I bought in 1985 that still work like I just bought them yesterday. Why not teach a kid to 'flick his bic' instead? Are we afraid he'll start smoking (oh dear). Well, maybe that's not such a bad idea. All these super-fat kids are the result of cigarette commercials being outlawed anyway. And if he was a smoker chances are he'd never leave home without something to start a fire with...namely, a LIGHTER!
Problems with starting in the wind? March 5, 2010
D. faletti (northern california)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I always have a little fine steel wool in the pack with this, scrape off a little magnesium into the steel wool and spark it.starts fast
Learned that trick in boy scouts back when I was a pup and wasn't allowed to play with matches,
Burnt down ½ the garage and was the only kid in the neighborhood that wasn't allowed to play with steel wool.
Trust me, works great, same as they have for decades.the price is a little high
Like anything you should try it before you need it (just don't do it in the garage)
Showing reviews 1-5 of 50
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