Doan Magnesium Fire Starting Tool Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

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Writer

Russ
Marietta, GA

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Solid State Reliability- On Fire!

outdoorsman, Hiker, practical, nature lover, fan of good design, quality conscious

Pros

Waterproof

SEP

2007

When I'm out in the woods, I almost always have a lighter or some waterproof matches with me, because, if things go south, fire is friend #1. Check that- controlled fire is friend #1- be safe kids! I ALWAYS have the Doan Magnesium Fire Starting Tool with me. Lighters and matches are a little more convenient, but lighters can leak and both can break.

The Magnesium Fire Starting Tool performs reliably under any conditions. If it does break while it's on your person, fire is probably not at the top of your priorities, what with just having fallen off a cliff and all. You also need a knife, or some steel with an edge, to make it work, but you wouldn't get out in the wild without a knife, would you? (If the answer was yes, please stay out of the wild.)

The tool consists of a flint embedded in one side of a bar of magnesium. Scrape off some magnesium shavings into some tinder, and then scrape the flint to send sparks from the flint onto the shavings. This is 100% reliable. The magnesium will catch fire, even in wind and rain. The only thing that isn't 100% reliable about this is dry tinder. If you don't know how to make some when it's wet, I would recommend carrying the tool in a zip-lock with some tinder and kindling.

It will probably scare you to think that you've been walking around with that in your pocket the first time you see magnesium burn, but don't worry. The block of magnesium won't catch, just the shavings. Caveat- don't stare at the burning magnesium. It doesn't burn long, but it is very bright.

If I knew I was going to get stranded in the woods, and I could only bring 2 things, I would bring a knife and then this tool.

Last edited on Sep 09, 2007