Fire Steel Sources and Size Prefs?

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Wapiti

Joined
Sep 25, 1999
Messages
493
What is your preferred source for fire steels?

After about 20 yrs of using the old Doan style I am ready to step up.

I see Countycomm has a good price on the smaller type (I think it is the smaller one...)

I also was wondering if anyone knows of a place to get just the rod with no handle or striker. I don't really need the striker and prefer to make my own handles for my stuff.
I thought someone posted a link to a source for the plan larger rods here, but I can't seem to get the search function to help me out.

Lastly, what are your arguments for getting the larger or smaller dia rods, or visa versa?
You get more strikes with the larger one, but the smaller one would be lighter...

Thanks again, everyone,
Brome
 
Hitchin a ride on this post because I'm interested in this also. Hope someone out there has a source.

Thanks,

Charles
 
Just so we are clear.. You just want the flint rod.. Right?

If that's what you are looking for, check here..
http://www.epcamps.com/4in_Flint.html

This is a 1/2" diameter 4" length rod, and needs no handle. This is what is issued to the SERE instructors at Fairchild AFB, and should last you decades. I use mine every week, and I may need to replace it.. In about 10 years!
 
Thank you, Rescue Mike.

Just what I was looking for.

Still interested in opinions from others about your preferred size or type...

Thanks,
Brome
 
Very good point, Mr Wilson.

I just thought I would check out these fire steels I here so many folks talk about and see what all the fuss is about.

The Doans are larger, and I was looking for something a little more compact, but the one Burncycle posted might work. Same idea as the Doan, but more compact. I like having the tinder (mag) with the steel.

Thanks,
Brome
 
Rescue Mike said:
Just so we are clear.. You just want the flint rod.. Right?

If that's what you are looking for, check here..
http://www.epcamps.com/4in_Flint.html

This is a 1/2" diameter 4" length rod, and needs no handle. This is what is issued to the SERE instructors at Fairchild AFB, and should last you decades. I use mine every week, and I may need to replace it.. In about 10 years!
Click to expand...

That's the one I have. Hefty!! I recommend it. :thumbup: :thumbup:
Saw a 1/2" x 4" rod somewhere else, was twice the price.
 
I've used a Spark-Lite for about the past year or so with great results, but it really isn't a firesteel. Prior to the Spark-Lite, I always used a mag block or a military match (small version).

Since my outdoor adventures have slowed down a little bit these past few months, I have started looking into other ferro rod devices. I recently order a couple BSA Hot-Spark rods. The scraper they came with didn't work at all for me, so I cut up a carbon steel hacksaw blade and used a piece of that as a scraper. Worked like a charm. The BSA Hot-Spark is affordable enough that you can get several and stash them in kits, cars, PFDs, wherever. I am happy with the Hot-Spark, and look forward to trying it out next month.

I recently realized I had another ferro rod device in my posession: A Permanent Match. A while ago, I had purchased a Coghlan's fire starting kit on a whim. The kit came with 6 pieces of gooey, fiberous tinder, and a black plastic box with a ferro rod inbedded into the side and a removable 'striker.' I thought it was odd that the striker had bits of fabric around the tip and a rubber o-ring at the top nub. I was able to get a good spark off of it, so I attached it to a knife sheath and threw it in the pouch on my PFD. In cruising the Internet a number of weeks ago, I came across a website selling the 'Permanent Match,' and dang, if it wasn't the same thing! I poured some Zippo lighter fluid into the black box, let it sit for a minute, and tried it out - bingo! A permanent match!

The Permanent Match does cast a decent spark. The addition of fluid to the mix is, I think, a novelty. But it is pretty nifty, nonetheless.
 
I also was wondering if anyone knows of a place to get just the rod with no handle or striker. I don't really need the striker and prefer to make my own handles for my stuff.
Click to expand...

I have a BCB "Fireball Flint and Striker". They are UK made, barcode 016544 265023. I bought mine on eBay, if you contact me directly I'll give you the specific source. It's they're higher end model, marketed towards guides, instructors, and other hard users as opposed to the lesser models marketed towards casual users. The flint has a hole drilled through it for the accompanying chain, and comes with a combo striker/knife/saw. You can scrap the chain and get what you want.
 
If you want a really tiny one, Hoods Woods has a 2" x 1/8 rod that is great for even the smallest mini kits. Look here.

-- FLIX
 
Wapiti said:
What is your preferred source for fire steels?

After about 20 yrs of using the old Doan style I am ready to step up.

I see Countycomm has a good price on the smaller type (I think it is the smaller one...)

I also was wondering if anyone knows of a place to get just the rod with no handle or striker. I don't really need the striker and prefer to make my own handles for my stuff.
Click to expand...

I have the Countycomm one and it works for me. Check out their LED lights too-- they were $1 each the last time I was on there. I have one of their AM/FM/SW radios with a built-in LED lamp. If you want a good disaster kit radio, or a lightweight for hiking, it's the one to get.
 
Go to ebay and put this number in the search window.190070386177
Should take you to a great deal on fire steels. I have some, they work great.
 
Here is a comprehensive supply of plain old fero-rods.
All sizes.

http://www.campingsurvival.com/maflfi.html

and when you click on the 1/8" flint bar, it brings you to a hidden page with all the flint bars. what a find!
http://www.campingsurvival.com/flintbar18x2.html

To me, the 3/8" by 2.5" looks like a decent deal. Drill a 3/8" hole in anything you have, wood, plastic, antler , add a few drops of superglue, and you have your own custom cool-dude fero-rod.
 
Iuke12,

Thanks for pointing us to the eBay source. I've come up with a couple of firestarter ideas (non-ray gun based!) that I wanted to prototype so I ordered a pack of these. The guy is just a few minutes from my office! Cool beans!

-- FLIX
 
Has anyone tried this one

http://bestglide.com/ranger_firelighting_flint.html

I'm thinking of ordering a couple (one to practice with and one to pack) They are claiming hotter sparks due to magnesium impregnation. I can't figure out what that smallish piece of metal is thats attached to the rod itself (looks like wire) Perhaps to provide support when it gets thinned out from use?
 
Time for something a little different?

I was in a surplus store, today, just looking around and I saw the Coghlans' Lantern Lighter. I have seen it many, many times before, but this time a light went off.

CoghlansLanternLightermod-2.jpg


The modification was very quick. I tested it with both cotton and Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and it worked excellently! Sorry I can't post photos (no digicam) so I thought that a diagram might help. It also has a spare flint (regular lighter type) in the knurled knob.

Price is right, too. Less than $3.00.

Doc
 
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