Doan Fire Tool

S

ss Dragonfly

Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Messages
257
Firstly let me say I love it, I use it all the time......to light the grill as well as starting more than 1 fire. My question is have any of you worn through the ferro rod down to the magnesium. I have and I think it works better than just the ferro rod. Seems to add significant spark. Has any of you seen this as well?
 
I haven't. I have so many of them I never seem to wear one down that far. But that is pretty cool though. I bet you are seeing more spark because you are scraping magnesium at the same time you are sparking the ferro rod, it's a bonus :D.
 
ss Dragonfly said:
Firstly let me say I love it, I use it all the time......to light the grill as well as starting more than 1 fire. My question is have any of you worn through the ferro rod down to the magnesium. I have and I think it works better than just the ferro rod. Seems to add significant spark. Has any of you seen this as well?
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A buddy just gave me another Doan tool. how long did it take you to get through the ferro rod into the mag. block?
 
You are probably getting more surface area in each scrape as you are halfway through the rod. I have one that's pretty worn down that I've used for years. If you use the saw teeth of a hacksaw they get ripped to shreds pretty quick. Mac
 
I use a piece of hacksaw blade for a striker. It seems to throw pretty good sparks but eats the rod fairly quickly. Can't really say how long but it has thrown more sparks than one would need for any given survival situation. A Doan block and a chapstick container w/ PJ cotton balls is what I carry. I ground little teeth on the end of striker to act as a comb for the cottonballs, I kinda pull em apart with it. If you leave the base in the chapstick container you can stuff 4-5 cotton balls into it and still use the twist up feature. As far as the Mag block it is used as a backup for the cotton balls or as I see fit. All of this tied together with nylon cord. (para cord melts a little with sparks) All and all a simple set that has yet to fail me.
 
I have several of these, but one I always seem to use. While it is not worn all the way thru, it is getting close to it especially in the middle of the ferro rod. I always use the back of my knife. It throws a nice shower of sparks. I like this tool alot. The pj soaked cotton balls work great. I sometimes use fatwood (shreded up) and scrape a small amount of magnesium on it (using the back of my knife), and then I strike the ferro rod (again with the back of my knife), and this lights on the first or second strike. I know that the fatwood will light on its own, but I have never had it light as fast as it does when I scrape a little magnesium on top of it.
 
On my machetes I keep a mag block wrapped in duct tape and covered with innertube rubber. I learned the duct tape trick right here on BF, its a real winner. Use a small piece of duct tape to catch the mag shavings on the glue. Once it looks like a pot scrub pad, slice off a section of rubber and keep it close. I use the squared off back of machete blade to both scrape the magnesium to make shavings and strike the striker. Once the magnesium shavings light up drop the rubber slice on top and you have a decent little fire going. The whole set-up is very weatherproof and self contained.

This is the back-up system I'm using now in addition to the matches, lighter, and PJ treated cotton I give the guys for firelighting. They aren't allowed to use any other method than the mag blocks and BSA hotsparks. I figure any fool can get a fire going with matches or a lighter, they need practice with the back-up system. Mac
 
pict said:
They aren't allowed to use any other method than the mag blocks and BSA hotsparks. I figure any fool can get a fire going with matches or a lighter, they need practice with the back-up system. Mac
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Well done. I would challenge them further and not allow them to use man made tinder but their natural surroundings before during and after rain.


Then tell them they can only use the flint. What this does is it drives home the fact its easier in many cases to protect the tinder you brought and it allows them to learn what can be lit from their environment.

Skam
 
skammer said:
Well done. I would challenge them further and not allow them to use man made tinder but their natural surroundings before during and after rain.


Then tell them they can only use the flint. What this does is it drives home the fact its easier in many cases to protect the tinder you brought and it allows them to learn what can be lit from their environment.

Skam
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I did one better with the better half and made her start a fire with ferro rod and natural tinder but told her once it was going she had to keep it going all weekend. She did a fantastic job of keeping it going and then blowing the coals into flame in the mornings. With only one strike of the rod as well! I knew then I had a keeper.
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
I did one better with the better half and made her start a fire with ferro rod and natural tinder but told her once it was going she had to keep it going all weekend. She did a fantastic job of keeping it going and then blowing the coals into flame in the mornings. With only one strike of the rod as well! I knew then I had a keeper.
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Now you are talking, well done.:thumbup:

Skam
 
"I would challenge them further and not allow them to use man made tinder but their natural surroundings before during and after rain."

Skam,

I only tell them about the cotton after they have tried natural tinders. Each guy has a BSA Hotspark on his knife lanyard. I have them experiment with all sorts of stuff they gather. I normally make them do a solid attempt at friction fire before I let them use sparks at all. The idea is to reinforce the need to carry multiple means. Mac
 
pict said:
"I would challenge them further and not allow them to use man made tinder but their natural surroundings before during and after rain."

Skam,

I only tell them about the cotton after they have tried natural tinders. Each guy has a BSA Hotspark on his knife lanyard. I have them experiment with all sorts of stuff they gather. I normally make them do a solid attempt at friction fire before I let them use sparks at all. The idea is to reinforce the need to carry multiple means. Mac
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Nice! I love to watch the struggle frustration and then eureka of enlightenment when they do it on their own.

The joys of teaching.

Skam
 
Skam,

I'm learning every time I run this course. Early on I was more focused on what I had to teach, having all my ducks in a row as the instructor. I have found that the most powerful teaching tools that I have are their mistakes. I tell them now that the first time we do something they will watch and learn, the second time they will do. That second time can get interesting because I let them make their mistakes (nothing life threatening). They start paying attention. "This ain't no practice world". Mac
 
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