Beckerheads, What Are Your Fire Making Tools?

I've been happy with the various versions of the LightMyFire firesteels.

I know Moose really likes the Misch Metal rods (they don't just throw sparks, they throw molten globs).
Based on the item description of the GobSpark, it may be the same product.
Also, Moose often squares up the edges on his Becker knife spines so he can use them as strikers.

BasiliOS, you might want to check out this recent Becker contest thread on firemaking: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/848184-Contest-1-Moose-s-Fire
 
I just got one of their strikers in the metal tube...works great. As it's my first one, I have nothing to compare it to, it gets the job done.
 
I have the Gobspark Ranger on my Mora sheath. Also have Light My Fires, which are fine but nothing special. Just ordered a few from Deal Extreme in China to check out...prices are CHEAP but the quality is good...just takes a few weeks.
I keep mag blocks, Tubes of Petro-Jelly (great multi-use item), Firestarts like Wetfire, Homemade ones with cotton/petro jelly/crushed wetfire. I keep sheets of aluminum foil folded up with my fire kits. I square off the tops of all my carbon steel knives...which is almost all of them.
I buy different firestarts at the dept store to try out. Last one was about 2X the size of wetfire, but compressed kerosene blocks. Serious flame maker. Box of 16 was $3.00. Sometime you can also find a product called "Ignite-O" which is the same stuff as wetfire but in a big packet. Just check the BBQ section whenever you go to the store. Then go by the vision center and ask for some free fresnel lenses.

I keep trick birthday candles, tons of scripto disposable lighters, jute twine, Coleman Fuel Tabs, etc, etc. I love making fire. I think I was a pyro in a former life.
 
Squared BK14 spine + GoinGear.com Badger rod =

100_1720.jpg


Moose
 
What you can't see there is that the spark is actually coming off his nipple. It was chilly that night.
 
Lots of great options.

I figure at least one of them will be able to strap to the sheath of my becker or kabar.
 
I have several

In my PSK - light my fire swedish scout firesteel from goinggear.com

attached to the sheath of my clipper - fox firesteel misch metal blank from goinggear.com

in my backpack - a coughlin magblock with attached rod from walmart.

I also keep matches in my backpack and a lighter in my PSK.

I have started fires with all of them easy enough, it's all about good tinder (carry firestraws).
 
I use a Coghlan's Firesteel And replaced the striker with a scissor blade.
5885586-origpic-d01087.jpg

It is strapped to the back of my bk2 sheath with ranger band.
 
i like goinggear.com's misch metal rods a lot but you just have to strike it hard to get sparks. if you always carry cotton ball for tinder, then i find that the light my fire type of ferro rods work just fine. for wood shavings, birch bark, or any not as fine tinder, i almost always light it up faster with misch metal than ferro rods. both are cheap enough that you should buy both and see which you prefer...i always carry both types.

here's one of my misch metal rods :D

50_cal_firesteel.jpg


becker_firesteel_01.jpg
 
I like using my strikeforce. I like it mostly because it's all there in one piece and it has a small spot for a wet fire tinder cube, or any other tinder, in the end of it. I also have a nano firesteel that stays in the loop on my BK2 sheath. After those I would have to say a 4 1/2" grinder and some nice dry tinder works pretty well :D
 
a map gas torch with built in sparker is great when the wood is wet under six inches of snow you were NOT expecting in late may :)

that and some liquid fuel tossed on. oh yeah :)
 
Ended up grabbing one from goinggear as well as the one I mentioned.

Figured might as well get both and compare them:)
 
BasiliOS said:
Ended up grabbing one from goinggear as well as the one I mentioned.

Figured might as well get both and compare them:)
Click to expand...


Here is a vid I made a while back showing the difference.

[youtube]l2Kh2kkoxz8[/youtube]
 
As far as ferro rods go I don't think misch is categorically better than the light my fire nor vice versa. They both have their good points. I like that misch rods throw globs of hot molten metal for some applications, and I like how shavings can be scraped off of them as an initial tinder in some situations. However, because misch sparks are so energetic and erratic a lot of the time I prefer my LMF rods. I usually have one of each type in my pack, but if i am only packing a small rod it's a misch rod.
 
I have a a couple of lighters with a sparkylite for backup. Firesteels are rendered a novelty in wet Rainforest. I keep the lighter in small ziplok bags with bits of rubber or cottonballs/vaseline.
 
JV3 said:
i like goinggear.com's misch metal rods a lot but you just have to strike it hard to get sparks. if you always carry cotton ball for tinder, then i find that the light my fire type of ferro rods work just fine. for wood shavings, birch bark, or any not as fine tinder, i almost always light it up faster with misch metal than ferro rods. both are cheap enough that you should buy both and see which you prefer...i always carry both types.

here's one of my misch metal rods :D

50_cal_firesteel.jpg


becker_firesteel_01.jpg
Click to expand...

wow yoou handled yours so much cooler than mine! I just wrapped some electrical tape around it with a small piece of paracord.

I use a piece of hacksaw blade as astriker for all my firesteel.

moramod002.jpg
 
I use Esee firesteels, goinggear firesteels and firesteel.com firesteels.

Add some fatwood and your good to go
 
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