Magnesium - Cutting to make firestarter

[cgebhard]

Hi,

I'm interested in buy some bulk magnesium to make firestarters. I would like to cut the bulk into smaller pieces. What special handeling or care does it require? Should it be sawed by hand or can it be put into a metal band saw at a slow speed?

I am worried about the flakes/sparks from the saw possibly starting a fire. If it can't be sawed then what method to use?

Thanks in advance for any help/answers.

 

[C_Claycomb]

errum. Now just to check that you are not confusing magnesium with ferocerium?

This is really the sort of question you would do to ask on an engineering forum, you might get lucky though. I wouldn't have much concern about cutting on a bandsaw, provided that it was going slow, and you didn't let the saw dust build up. They cut magnesium housings up on a bandsaw at work, no problem. They never get sparks, never go so fast that is a problem.

What grade are you looking to get? How are you thinking to light the magnesium? Having had a couple "army surplus" magnesium/ferocerium fire lighters I know I would rather fool with fat wood or Wet Fire Tinder any day. I know that the mag burns hot, but shaving enough always was a real pain, particularly when I was in a hurry.

Best of luck.

 

[cgebhard]

I would like to mimic something like this:
EBAY Item

Thanks

 

[Longstrider]

Cutting magnesium should pose no trouble at all as it is a very soft metal. Yes, it burns, but not spontaneously. It requires a heat soource to ignite it before it can burn, and it's too soft to stand much chance of creating any sparks of it's own. Cutting with a bandsaw at relatively slow speed should be perfectly safe, as would using a hacksaw. If using the bandsaw I would recommend that you clean the machine out very thoroughly immediately afterwards. Any future jobs that might cause a spark (like hitting a nail or screw in an old piece of wood) would result in a flare-up withing the bandsaw. At least with sawdust in there it would only smoulder and smoke for a while before there was much chance of becoming a dangerous fire. With magnesium filings you'd very quickly have yourself a dangerous situation. It would be the same for any holes you want to drill in the magnesium, just make sure to clean up well afterwards.

How do you plan to mount the ferro rod on the side if at all ? I toyed with the idea of making some of these blocks some time ago and thought that I would drill down the intersection between where two blocks would be cut from the main piece, then cut them out to leave a semi-circular chanel down the side of each block. Fitting the ferro rod would then only be a matter of peening the edges of the chanel over the ferro rod with the appropriate tool to hold it on place.

 

[Spacemonkey]

Of course, the magnesium 'sawdust' could be retained and used, maybe adding to the vaseline/coton wool ball combo. That should be interesting when sparked from a flint.

 

[cgebhard]

I hadn't really thought the design through yet, but I think that instead of mounting on the side I might drill a hole in the end and expoy the ferro rod into the end. The Magnesium end could be used to hold the ferro when struck.

Also, anyone have a source for ferro rods? Would like to just find the rods that could be cut down, not a "retail" fire starter.

Thanks :You_Rock_

 

[Hoodoo]

I've cut magnesium blocks in an electric bandsaw many times. And by all means, save the dust. I know a guy who went to a junkyard and picked up an old magnesium lawnmower deck for pennies. He used an electric dril and drilled tons of holes in it. Took the drill shavings and packaged them in film canisters. Instant fire starter.