Blast Match vs Fire Steel (Swedish)

T

Temper

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Oct 30, 2002
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Of you guys that have them how do you rate them against each other?

I just got a Swedish Fire Steel and have enjoyed a lot of sucess with it on a variety of materials. I was thinking of adding a Blast Match too anyone got input on this?

Cheers
 
There's NO comparison... 1/2 inch diameter firesteel and a correctly angled scraper...
Blastmatch
ani2-blastmatch.gif



Strike Force
ani-strikeforce.gif
 
;) An absolute "DITTO" on the BlastMatch!!! Sure, a little larger, heavier, but one-handed operation, and a helluva spark. I usually find myself "out-and-about" with:

1.Permanent Match
2.BlastMatch
3.Spark-Lite

add a dozen fire straws and/or the Spark-Lite tinders; down deep in the pocket or pack there's gonna be at least one Trioxane bar. :D
 
OK, Blast Match it is then. How can they offer a lifetime warranty (wear it out they replace it) Are they just playing the 'odds' game where the stats show that the vast majority of people wouldn't use it even past the 10% worn stage?
 
Natural tinder and cotton type tinder really differ... you get cotton, and it goes right up... soak it in something inflammable, and it goes up quick... you need both something quick, and something long lasting for it to light up kindling and larger pieces of wood. The drawback to trying to light up tinder that's really just small pieces of kindling is that sparks ain't gonna light it up. A steady flame, matches, lighters...those things will light up Kindling...

Edited to add... the last "Kindling" I mistakenly typed Tinder...
 
Heat cellulose to 451 f and it gives off a flammable gas = wood "burning." (Ever notice that "jet" of flame coming out of the end of a stick in the fire?) That's the key to understanding why a spark won't "light" a 2 x 4.

"Tinder" (as in "tinder pouch") usually means something fine enough that a spark will catch. If you need a Bic to light it, it is not what most folks mean by "tinder."

In addition to tinder, I like to carry a zip-loc bag of dry white pine needles. They make a good "next step." Each size in the progression is fine enough that it can be heated to 451 f by what came before.
 
Oh yeah, accidentally broke the little scraping tab on my Blastmatch today... remember to support it when you scrape...
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Oh yeah, accidentally broke the little scraping tab on my Blastmatch today... remember to support it when you scrape...
Click to expand...

I'm not a big fan of the Blast Match for that very reason. It's not a complicated machine, but it is mechanical...and plastic. Good to have, but falls into the "two is one, one is none" catagory. I keep a lighter, Strike Force, and a Spark-Lite kit in my ruck.
 
I like the Blastmatch because you can use it with one hand. I don't like that it's mostly plastic, especially the part that holds the striker.

If you're okay with using 2 hands, the Gerber Strike Force is pretty good and better made. The amount of sparks that you get is a matter of technique.

S.
 
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