Firesteel comparison video - LMF, blank, Blastmatch

storl

storl

Joined
Apr 17, 2007
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I made a short video comparing a few of the different firesteels available on the market on New Years Day that I thought some of you might be interested in. I use the LMF Scout, a blank from ferrocerium.com and the Blastmatch. All three work great, but I prefer the Blastmatch over the other two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbdcH5taRZ8

More Info
 
Cool video. I like the flaming balls of dryer lint rolling across the screen, I hope I don't hear of any wildfires in Georgia in the next couple of days lol.

Could you list the diameters of each steel? I'm assuming 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2"?
 
stingray4540 said:
Cool video. I like the flaming balls of dryer lint rolling across the screen, I hope I don't hear of any wildfires in Georgia in the next couple of days lol.

Could you list the diameters of each steel? I'm assuming 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2"?
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You got it. Good guesses. :)
 
nice video, i like that blastmatch... what was that knife you were striking with?
 
btuner said:
nice video, i like that blastmatch... what was that knife you were striking with?
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It was a custom in 1095 from John Wylie. It was one of his first, so he didn't like the fit and finish, but I think it is a great little knife.
 
The one downside of the Blastmatch is the plastic eventually cracks and it breaks.
You are still left with a thick ferro rod after.
Bill
 
billym said:
The one downside of the Blastmatch is the plastic eventually cracks and it breaks.
You are still left with a thick ferro rod after.
Bill
Click to expand...

I was thinking the exact same thing while playing with it. It is high quality and durable plastic, but it is still just plastic. I have already starting working on a design for a similar tool in aluminum.
 
storl said:
It was a custom in 1095 from John Wylie. It was one of his first, so he didn't like the fit and finish, but I think it is a great little knife.
Click to expand...

cool videos.....:thumbup:

i like that john wylie knife.... john does some great work.. i have a few of his blades....:D
 
I like the idea of a Blastmatch too but have been pretty satisfied with the firesteels I own. They work very well but do require both hands.
 
storl said:
I was thinking the exact same thing while playing with it. It is high quality and durable plastic, but it is still just plastic. I have already starting working on a design for a similar tool in aluminum.
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Storl,

I've read somewhere that aluminium and firesteels don't match well. There is some kind of interaction between the metals, that starts corrosion very fast on the firesteel........so be advised!

CZ
 
I like the striker that comes with the scout model, provided it's not upside down, I get big sparks off it, but I wouldn't mind one of those big blanks to go with it.
 
billym said:
The one downside of the Blastmatch is the plastic eventually cracks and it breaks.
You are still left with a thick ferro rod after.
Bill
Click to expand...
Like he said, it will eventually break. I have heard that the tab that it uses for a scrapper can break loose. Other than that I have read or heard anything bad about them.
 
cz75b said:
Storl,

I've read somewhere that aluminium and firesteels don't match well. There is some kind of interaction between the metals, that starts corrosion very fast on the firesteel........so be advised!

CZ
Click to expand...

Ah, that's a bummer. I'll have to mess around with some different materials and see what I can come up with. Maybe galvanized steel or something would work better.
 
So has anyone actually seen or heard of a broken Blastmatch or is it all just speculation on what might happen?
 
no they break...right at the striker/cover lock...very thin plastic under repeated stress of bending..i had three that all broke in the same spot. one after only five times using it. not a bad design if you dont use them to much. but then whats the fun in that.
you can reinforce them with epoxy resin but it still wont keep it from breaking...i know, mine still broke.
i just have three nice sized firesteels i keep in my psk's.....
 
I have broken one, the striker part gave out and snapped off. These are not very durable. The concept is good, only needing one hand incase of injury, but again, not very durable.
 
Well, considering there are other one-handed alternatives to making fire (strike anywhere matches, lighters, etc.) it seems like the fire steel or little sparker wheel that Tinder-Quik makes are still the best alternatives. At least for me. You can buy two Scout firesteels for the price of one Blastmatch. They don't break either. Well, mine haven't anyway.
 
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