Fire Steel

G

Ghost93

Joined
Nov 30, 2004
Messages
114
Can anyone tell me where i can get a hold of a fire steel set. Also how well do they work, because i have used magnesium igniters in the past and it takes forever to get enough of the stuff to start a fire. Thanks in advance.
 
A "fire steel" is made of the same material as a cigarette lighter flint -- and the dark material along the edge of the standard mangesium block fire-starter.

The larger fire steels generate a shower of hot sparks that work well with good tinder. (I like cotton balls or cotton dryer lint speared with petroleum jelly, but mangesium scrapings burn quite hot.)

One Stop Knife Shop sells large fire steels at a very competitive price.
 
Also you can pick up the hot spark version at your local scout shop. These are great one's that can fit on a key ring.
 
You can get them here, scrol abou 1/2 way down-
http://www.onestopknifeshop.com/store/camping-survival-preparedness.html

On the magnesium blocks the ferro rod works fine, the magnesium flakes are tricky, they are fine and they can blow away in light wind. It is better to relie on other tinder source but if you want to use magnesium because it lights fast and very very hot, you can shave beforehand then roll cotton balls or lint saturated with petroleum jelly in the magnesium flakes, then store them in a old case for roll of film or similar. -Martin
 
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