Esee fire steel

[grey menace]

Hi, does anyone have the ESEE fire steel and what do you think of it? does it throw a good spark? does it light tinder easy? thanks.

 

[Dizwolf]

Good spark:

Played with this version of it to more clearly show tinder ignition (vasoline soaked cotton)

I'm a fan of the kits

Oddly enough, I strike the non-logo side on all of mine, didn't plan that, just noticed it.

 

[DoctorDan]

Does it come with a poratble compass inside?

I got the impression from someone that reviewed the Rat Pack on their own website that the compass was included, but when I was about to order it from another store, it said that the compass was to be user supplied...

 

[lilknifekid]

Mine came with a compass.

What do yall use to strike yours? Ive havent been able to get good sparks. What technique, speed, angle? anything would be helpful.

 

[1066vik]

I use a squared off section of spine on my knife if available, otherwise the edge as close to the choil as possible.
I've also heard of using a short scrap of hacksaw blade.

 

[texastonydobbs]

The original Firekits did not have the Compass ,the new version, all dealers carry now do include the Compass.
I love them as well , I have 7..... working on a few more as gifts

here is a few Fire kits

New style w/Compass that dealers are carrying

and here is the older style Firekit.(I added a longer rod)

 

[tarditi]

Did you just epoxy the new ferro rod on the holder?

 

[texastonydobbs]

Did you just epoxy the new ferro rod on the holder?

The older version had removeable rods. so after I wore out the original rod , I order a replacement and being silly I snagged a 6"misch rod and drilled & tapped it and there it is .... if you look at the pic with all 7 in it another shows a 4" rod in it as well

 

[kyhunt]

Can the rods be replaced in the new ones?

 

[texastonydobbs]

Can the rods be replaced in the new ones?

The new ones are epoxied in ? I am sure you could change it out..just take alittle more effort

 

[DocBurN]

as firestarter, in my canadian sector, there is always plenty of birchbark (écorce de bouleau) and i have never carried any tinder in my life.

I was preping for my next expedition next week and was wondering what would be the best tinder to put inside the esee firesteel waterproof compartment ? I was thinking of a small ziplock baggy full of cottonball) 1, soak in vasoline or 2, i'll put purel on it since i already carry it and my purel catch a spark like no other.

better suggestion as tinder that will fit the ESEE firesteel ?

 

[texastonydobbs]

Tinder inside ESEE firekit ....I usually keep 4ea. tinder tabs inside mine
1. AMK Tinder Tabs
2. Cedar bark
3.Jute twine
4.Fatwood
5.wetfire cube(shaved to fit of course)

 

[DocBurN]

Tinder inside ESEE firekit ....I usually keep 4ea. tinder tabs inside mine
1. AMK Tinder Tabs
2. Cedar bark
3.Jute twine
4.Fatwood
5.wetfire cube(shaved to fit of course)

wow, thats a lot! I usually take a 2" x 2" of bark and pierce some pine bubbles.. that glue-like-liquid spark like gasoline.. i guess in your sector, its not available..

Personally, i want firestarter in case its 2 am in the morning or freezing cold and feel too lazy to find natural tinder.. even then i could use a small bic lighter in my tin survival kit but i never go there unless i would be dying.

thanks for the idea..

 

[Mistwalker]

Man...after seeing Dizz's & Tony's posts maybe I don't like them as much as I thought I did, I have only bought three of them , but I do plan to by more

Yes, they throw great sparks!

The series of shots pretty much speaks for itself. I reeeeally like this little jewel.

 

[texastonydobbs]

I agree .....
all the items I list wont fit, but pick & choose...I like the Tinder tabs...pull 'em apart /fluff'em up and they catch a spark pretty good & burn roughly 1-2minutes.
I have a Yellow Otter box 1000 and it is a fire kit only,full of Tinder items from KSF and then I add some of my own stuff to it as well.
Yellow box in pic...

 

[Mistwalker]

Jeeeez, and I thought I had a firesteel fetish

 

[texastonydobbs]

I have added to the pile....
wife purchased me as a gift... a 1/2" magnesium rod with a 5/16th ferro rod imbedded into it, with a wooded handle,looks cool I'll give it a whirl too
I have a few more ESEE fire kits inbound as well. (a few are gifts to friends)

 

[JV3]

Can the rods be replaced in the new ones?

yes. i used a lighter to heat up the base for 20 secs or so. i replaced my newer one with a misch metal. i was too lazy to drill and tap so i just permanently epoxied the replacement.

 

[Dizwolf]

Good call on the heat. Small torch should do the trick.
Strikers, I use my izula most times. You've gotta play with the angle a bit, but it's mostly 90 degrees. Use moderate pressure. The idea is te lock the blade in place, and yank back on the firesteel. I tend to use a push pull method. Short SAK blades, back of an SAK saw, and firesteel.com or goinggear.com are all alternate strikers. Since you're not doing it often, I haven't had too much trouble using blades. I intend to get a clip point rc3 and 4 soon, and use the clip as a striker.

 

[dogboye]

The ESEE-3 with the clip point is really calling to me, specifically for fire-steels. But really, I need another knife like I need a hole in my head.

The best striker I've found so far for the firesteels are the strikers that are currently supplied with the Light-My-Fire steels. They went to a dull, thinner scraper, and it works MUCH better.