- Joined
- Feb 23, 1999
- Messages
- 4,855
I recently bought a couple of ferrocerium rods from Greg, in both the 4" x 3/8 dia and the 2" x 1/8 dia. The four inch one throws a slightly bigger spark, due to the greater length available for scraping. It also has a hole drilled through one end, so it can be put on a keychain or a lanyard. The 2" one throws an entirely adequate spark, but is harder to hold due to its small size. It does not have any hole or means of attachment to a keychain. I carried the big one for a couple of days on my keychain until I began to realize that the extra weight of the larger metal match was not justified by increased utility. I decided to modify the smaller one for keychain carry. Here's how I did it.
Find an old key that no longer fits anything. I looked for one with a large groove down the middle that I could set the metal match in. An old gas cap key for a car I no longer own fit the bill. Take the key to the grinder and extended the center groove up farther into the round handle of the key. Then grind off the serrations on each side of the key, so only the central groove and some supporting brass on each side is left.
Next fit a colored plastic key identifier over the head of the key. I got one of these plastic things at the hardware store for $0.25. This will serve to secure the metal match to the key. Next fill the groove in the key with epoxy, and set the match into the groove. Force the tip of the metal match up under the plastic covering on the head of the key. Then put epoxy in under the plastic cover also.
When the epoxy sets up you will have a metal match that weighs no more than a standard key. There is more available striking surface, as you can hold onto the key head rather than the tip of the ferrocerium rod. The brightly colored plastic head on the key will help you to spot the metal match if you drop it.
[This message has been edited by Howard Wallace (edited 02-27-2000).]
Find an old key that no longer fits anything. I looked for one with a large groove down the middle that I could set the metal match in. An old gas cap key for a car I no longer own fit the bill. Take the key to the grinder and extended the center groove up farther into the round handle of the key. Then grind off the serrations on each side of the key, so only the central groove and some supporting brass on each side is left.
Next fit a colored plastic key identifier over the head of the key. I got one of these plastic things at the hardware store for $0.25. This will serve to secure the metal match to the key. Next fill the groove in the key with epoxy, and set the match into the groove. Force the tip of the metal match up under the plastic covering on the head of the key. Then put epoxy in under the plastic cover also.
When the epoxy sets up you will have a metal match that weighs no more than a standard key. There is more available striking surface, as you can hold onto the key head rather than the tip of the ferrocerium rod. The brightly colored plastic head on the key will help you to spot the metal match if you drop it.
[This message has been edited by Howard Wallace (edited 02-27-2000).]
