UST Magnesium Fire Starter Bar

Contrary to the other opinions, I have had great success with this item. The trick to getting great sparks is using the toothed edge of the striker on the flint. Hold the mag block on a piece of wood or a rock to steady it then place the toothed edge on the flint and use your thumb to add pressure to the striker - then quickly strike forward several times quickly to keep adding sparks. A similar movement as whittling a piece of wood. I use this item WITHOUT the magnesium shavings to teach youngsters how to build a fire without matches. Just the sparks and dryer lint works great. The magnesium shavings are almost like cheating - they flare up quick! I find it best to imbed the shavings in the dryer lint for extra quick fires which also holds the shavings in place and the wind won't blow them away.

Works well, easy to use. Very happy with this

I have used this twice now and had no issues. Worked fine to start my campfires with plenty of sparks. I use the back side of my knife blade. I would recommend.

Bought this for my cub scout. I shaved off some magnesium and my son made the spark and started the fire. It went great other than it takes a couple minutes to shave off the magnesium and gather it into a small pile while it's trying to blow away. But it worked for us on our first try so I was very happy.

This magnesium fire starter does the job it was purchased to do! Great Sparks every time!

The magnesium bar itself is fine, you can shave off pieces to create a small pile to ignite. However the sparker and scraper bar are completely worthless - it is very difficult to get a decent spark. My other cheap sparker bars work much better.

I bought this at Walmart the other day and I've been trying and trying to get it to do anything. I have shaved and shaved and shaved the magnesium, the striker that comes with it is useless, but, even with my other ferro rods, I can't get the shavings to ignite, so far the best I've gotten is a very small, very dim, short lived ember.....

I have shaved the steel down flat against the bar trying to get a single pile of tinder to light, and the best I have managed is a few embers for a fleeting instant. Don't waste your money.

Striker bar came off almost immediately after opening. Never got even a single use out of it

the striker bar is worthless. wouldn't be able to get enough spark to light gas!