Using Empty Lighters for Starting Fire

Your old lighters can be used to strike up a fire.

1. Hold the lighter upside down atop your bed of starter material (frayed jute or wood shavings work well). Roll the flint several times (about 20), without sparking it. Magnesium will flake off the mechanism.
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2. Use the flint to spark into the spot you've just rolled the flint over. The magnesium should fire in a few tries. Make sure the spark is close enough to your flakes.
   

3. If wild animals are around, for sure, you can also toss your lighter into the fire and stand back several feet. Your lighter will explode from the pressurized gas left inside. Mind you, if you do this, you'll lose your flint to the fire! But it may work to spook the animals away for a time.