ferrocium rod corrosion -- several years neglect

[RokJok]

This Firesteel Army model (3/8" diameter) ferrocium rod spent several years stored in the outer pocket of a cordra sheath (kydex lining) along with a piece of Maya Wood (pitchwood, resinous fatwood).

The pictures show the wierd round-bottom crater-shaped corrosion that occured along the shaft of the ferro-rod and the pitting in the tip end of the rod. FWIW, my other Firesteel ferrocium rods are coated with nail polish and/or stored inserted into vinyl tubing which blocks such unfettered exposure to air and works well to prevent corrosion.

The inside of the sheath pocket where this occurred and the entire surface of the fatwood were liberally dusted with a whitish grey powder from the ferro-corrosion. The powder was so fine like flour that it followed the contours of the wood's grain, completely coating the wood in the whitish grey stuff.

I cleaned the rod and fatwood up brushing them (old toothbrush) under running water, then wiping them dry. I struck sparks from the rod after cleaning it off and it worked like a champ. You can see the strip of scraped-clean bare ferrocium in one of the pictures.

Anybody seen similar or have a guess on why the corrosion invaded in the cratered pattern or why it wasn't more diffuse in its attack on the rod?

My guess is a reaction between the ferrocium and something in the fatwood's resins, since I've seen other ferro-rod corrosion that was more diffuse in nature.

Side of the rod showing the scratched-clean stripe where I struck sparks from the rod.

Pitting on the end of the ferro-rod.

Profile shot showing how deep some of the pitting is. (sorry about the slightly out-of-focus picture)

 

[OwenM]

I have the same firesteel, similar corrosion, same dust from being stored in a ziploc bag with a couple of foil-packaged trioxane tabs(so I don't think resin from the fatwood caused it). It works just like it always has, regardless.
edit: By "similar", I mean the type of corrosion. Mine has pits in the used portions of the rod, but not on the end like yours does.

 

[OwenM]

Mine wasn't as bad as I thought. The pits looked much more impressive viewed full-screen
It had been wiped clean, and was used a couple of weeks ago, so the dust that fell off just from setting it down and turning it is new.

I guess it's not the same thing. Looking at your pics again, you've got pits down what looks like an unused side of the firesteel, while the ones on mine are all in areas that have been used, and there are none in the "in between" portions. Hmmm...

 

[RokJok]

Owen, thank you for the input and the pics of your ferro-rod corrosion. It does look to be much the same phenomenon. And as you say, it doesn't seem to affect the performance striking sparks.

The corrosion pattern on mine is two strips of craters more-or-less diametrically opposite each other. I was thinking that maybe the culprit is something in the nylon pocket material (mfr'ing chemical, coating of some sort even though it is not a waterproofed material) because the corrosion is so pronounced at the tip where the rod was jammed down into the crease at the bottom of the pocket (lots of exposure to pocket material). What seems to disprove that is the fact that the strips run well up under the shoulder of the rod's handle on the unstruck side of the rod where there would be no touching of the pocket fabric.

My other guess is that it may be affected by by grain orientation within the rod. Whatever caused it, it's weird in my world.

I'm hoping one of our ferrocium rod vendors will speak up with their experiences or opinions.

 

[kage]

I bought an old Spark-Lite from a surplus store a few years ago that seemed pretty old. When I opened it there was not ferro rod left in it, just fine gray powder.

Spark-Lite made it right and sent me a new one and said that they have only seen that a very few times. It was enough that I don't use the Spark-Lite for long term storage and prefer thicker rods so that if there is corrosion then hopefully there is something left under the powder. I do coat all of my rods in nail polish to try to protect them somewhat.

Still keep the BSA Hot Sparks on my keychains and mini kits though, regardless of their thin diameter. They're just too good for me not to use.

 

[tiguy7]

My Nanostriker comes with a waterproof case that has an o-ring seal. The rod is threaded and can be replaced. Now if I can just figure out where the kids left it the last time they used it.

 

[Marion David Poff]

If you see the images of the ferro rod combo I gave mistwalker, you will see the same corrosion.

It is pretty virulent, don't put that rod around other rods, or it might spread. I have a bag of ferro rods I was not using, and they all developed that. Some of them developed it even through a thick layer of painted lacquer, that was specifically applied to prevent it.

Best,
Marion

 

[WJC01]

I have several and have not seen that, maybe a light coat of oil would work.

 

[VA27]

You oughta see what a Doan's looks like after a swim in the ocean. It still sparked though and I finally wore it out...the rod I mean, I still have the mag bar.

 

[Marion David Poff]

I have several and have not seen that, maybe a light coat of oil would work.

Once it gets going, that does not seem to work.

I realized mine were going that way, and hit them with white petrolatum, and that did not work.

Best,
Marion

 

[sircantaloupe]

That is bizzare, seems almost like a distant relative of tin pest.

 

[Tinbasher]

I think they have Magnesium in them, that will corrode after a while, we get the same white powder on mag fitting in some aircraft.

Richard