Firesteel and spy capsule

DaleW

DaleW

Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
2,194
A while back someone on this forum came up with an idea similar to this and I've been gathering bits and pieces to make one. I got some ferrocerium rods on Ebay and I had a long spy capsule that I already used to stow Tinder Quick tabs. The idea is to get it all in one bundle. You can get 8+ Tinder Quick Tabs in the long capsule. Rod and capsule are both about 2-1/2" long.

I took a Dremel tool and buzzed off a flat on the spy capsule to roughen up the surface a bit and gain more surface area. I did the same on the ferrocerium rod. I mixed up a small batch of JB Weld epoxy and glued them together and then did two separate batches of epoxy on each side to really fill it in. I just put the capsule in a small vise with rubber jaws and used a little tape to hold the rod. It is overkill on the epoxy, but I wanted this prototype to work-- I just hate it when things fail when your life depends on it :rolleyes:

I show one example with a simple hacksaw blade scraper and another hooked to a Wenger Handyman knife. I prefer the knife as you get tinder, scraper, saw, and fuzz stick maker all in one package. That compass is a little watch band rig.

On a tangent, the Wenger Handyman has the best selection of tools for a small SAK for survival use --- blade, saw, scissors, can opener, awl and screwdrivers.
 

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Nice job, I would want the ferro rod to end at the same level as the capsule, or closer than it is, I like the hacksaw blade setup. a longer lanyard on that mifhg tmake it carry easier.
 
EmsRescueGuy said:
Nice job, I would want the ferro rod to end at the same level as the capsule, or closer than it is, I like the hacksaw blade setup. a longer lanyard on that mifhg tmake it carry easier.
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Yup, no end of options for lanyards, etc. The scraper is attached to the cap, so you can just unscrew it to use it. You'll be getting to the tinder anyway.

I considered lopping the rod off even with the capsule, but I figured I'd try it full length-- my carpentry skills have taught me that it's always easy to make things shorter and much harder to make them longer :D
 
Man, I bet that rod threw sparks like crazy when you put a Dremel to it. Start any workshop fires?

That should be my new firesteel striker. My cordless Lithium Dremel. :D
 
storl said:
Man, I bet that rod threw sparks like crazy when you put a Dremel to it. Start any workshop fires?

That should be my new firesteel striker. My cordless Lithium Dremel. :D
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Actually, it wasn't too bad, but I cleared the area before even attempting it. I was using a stone and it threw a weanie 1/2" shower. I just cut it down to the same length as the spy capsule as suggested and the hacksaw threw more sparks. I find that you don't get much with fast strokes--- it is the slow stokes with moderately heavy pressure that really make the sparks.
 
I did this on a smaller scale. Mine is only 1" long it hangs on my SAK. I think if it was much larger I would not want on my knife all the time. When I made mine I thought I had came up with something new. Maybe I need to read the forums more.
 
I have done the same thing but in a different way.
I used an extra large spy capsule and attached it to a army firesteel with a split ring.
 
Another way to build a compact kit like this is with a cigar tin. I put a bigger 3/8's ferro rod, some fatwood shavings and tinder quick inside. on the outside I use 5 strips of bicycle inner tube and use them to hold on the cut down hack saw blade.
 
nodh said:
I have done the same thing but in a different way.
I used an extra large spy capsule and attached it to a army firesteel with a split ring.
Click to expand...

All my PSK survival necklace/lanyard setups have a spy capsule with tinder, firesteel, SAK Classic, whistle, micro LED light and compass. You could do a keychain style rig the same way. With any of these compact examples, it makes for a kit that is always there and no excuse to be without it.
 
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This is part of my pocket carry for the woods. You'll see a spy capsule attached and inside is spark-lite tinder. I've seen some guys wrap the this type of tinder with spyderwire or fishing line to be able to carry cordage with them.

While it is nice to have tinder at the ready, don't rely on it. Learn to use natural tinder first and fall back on your spy capsule contents only in a true emergency.
 
that is good work.

sun makes a seven in one survival tool with a spark striker and compartment. i've never seen one, might be junk, or huge, or tiny. has the usual stuff: compass, thermometer, whistle....
 
Dale,

That really is nice work. I have a question for you, what kind of compass is that in the last picture to the right and where did you get it?
 
Don Rearic said:
Dale,

That really is nice work. I have a question for you, what kind of compass is that in the last picture to the right and where did you get it?
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Ebay. They are an inexpensive no-name watchband style compass, but they work fine. The Suunto Clipper and the Brunton models are better. I did get a couple Bruntons cheap from Ben's Backwoods because the glue job was poor and the capsule was peeling out of the rubber holder. In that case, I just wanted the capsules anyway, but I would watch for that defect.
 
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