Firesteel comparison video - LMF, blank, Blastmatch

For what ever its worth the blast match can still be used without the striker latch just like any other ferro rod and that large 1/2" ferro throws a massive amount of sparks much hotter than the scout model:)
 
Well, all it takes is enough sparks to light the tinder, right? I've never had a failure from the firesteels or even the little Spark-Lite (which is also a one-handed sparker, isn't it?).

Not really arguing against the Blastmatch because as long as it works, great and, as you say, Mike, you can still use the ferro rod if it breaks as a traditional fire steel.
 
I have a couple of the BlastMatches. I've not had any real problems yet, other than one of them always seems to open itself in the pack. I finally stuck it in a small bag to keep it closed. What I do like about them is the tremendous amount of sparks they throw. You can light newspaper that's laying flat on the ground or even a piece of copy paper if it's been wrinkled up a bit. No real piece of special tender needed.
 
Both my wife and kids like the blast match. I know for my son, it's easier to manipulate...I've used a little duct tape around a couple that looked loose and ready to break, so far so good.

I know it's the largest by far, but I still like the mammoth Strike Force fire starter. The Ferro rod is the same diameter as the Blast Match, but you have a large case and fixed rod. The handle side has a small compartment that you can stuff a few Quik-tinder bundles into.

Good little video BTW storl,

ROCK6
 
The 3/8" Firesteel by 'Light My Fire is the 'Army' model - and comes with that same striker ~$15. The thick black paint is a problem to remove. I also have a stag handled one with a 3/16" firesteel inset into the 3/8" magnesium rod, with a rawhide lanyard keeping the piece of a hacksaw blade scraper handy. You scrape some Mg shavings off and 'light' them with the smaller firesteel - a real fire starter. The 'Montana Fire Starter' was obtained from a fellow arts & crafts dealer at a local show - has an address of 'Montana Antler Craft' in Fernwood, ID. I got it nearly a decade back in trade - it's price was $16.50.

I have a small vial in my Altoids tin containing Q-tip cottons with a Mentholatum-type chest rub - great little fireballs, the wax and petroleum distillate really lights easily with a spark or two.

Stainz
 
TimeConstant said:
Why did you scrap the fero rod with the edge of the knife instead of the spine?
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The spine is not very sharp. John said he messed up the heat treat on the knife, so I basically abuse it on a regular basis. I would never do that to a knife I take on a trip. :)
 
Hardly a new idea, but you can drive a knife inta' a log at an angle and drag the firesteel across the lower edge of the knife at an upward angle. As in most things, practice helps.
 
I am working on making a sturdier version of the Blastmatch. I'll definitely let you all know how it turns out.
 
One thing that I consider is that simpler it works and the lighter it is the more likely you will have it when it counts. Watch the video in this link. Its -15 c (5 F) and the Fire Steel (A Small Rod of Zirconium and a Steel) does the Job. Naill by the way had been out in the woods for a week moving each day and in the middle of the afternoon in a randomly chooses patch of woods I said start a fire with a Zirconium Striker and Natural Tinder, in this case Birch Bark. This video was the result.

http://boreal.net/Research/fire-lighting-zirconium-striker.shtml

Bruce Zawalsky
Chief Instructor
Boreal Wilderness Institute
boreal.net
 
BruceZed said:
One thing that I consider is that simpler it works and the lighter it is the more likely you will have it when it counts. Watch the video in this link. Its -15 c (5 F) and the Fire Steel (A Small Rod of Zirconium and a Steel) does the Job. Naill by the way had been out in the woods for a week moving each day and in the middle of the afternoon in a randomly chooses patch of woods I said start a fire with a Zirconium Striker and Natural Tinder, in this case Birch Bark. This video was the result.

http://boreal.net/Research/fire-lighting-zirconium-striker.shtml

Bruce Zawalsky
Chief Instructor
Boreal Wilderness Institute
boreal.net
Click to expand...

Isnt that just a ferrocium rod...? It looks just like the kershaw model with the red handle, unless zirconuium is just the another name for the same thing?
 
nick-nack said:
Isnt that just a ferrocium rod...? It looks just like the kershaw model with the red handle, unless zirconuium is just the another name for the same thing?
Click to expand...

Looks like one to me. If zirconium is not the same as ferrocerium, it sure throws some decent sparks, and I want one. :)
 
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...

Yeah, if you're going to mill it, try brass (brass and iron play well together) - otherwise you need some type of dielectric material (plastic, rubber, maybe even epoxy) between the two dissimilar metals.
 
Great Video - makes me want to pack some dryer lint into an old film canister and toss it in the pack...
 
As far as I know, a "fire steel" (sometimes AKA ferrocerium/hot spark/metal match/flint) does not contain the metal zirconium. The typical formula today is cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, iron oxide, and magnesium oxide. I have not encountered fire-starting tools containing zirconium, but the world is wide.
 
Ferrocium is an alloy made of 22 different metals. Zirconium is a rare earth metal used mostly in the nuclear industry and I think it works slightly better than Ferrocium. The Swedes seem to use Zirconium where some of the strikers made in the US use Ferrocium.

Bruce Zawalsky
Chief Instructor
Boreal Wilderness Institute
boreal.net
 
I have purchased "fire steels" made in Sweden. They do not contain zirconium as an ingredient - if we can rely on the manufacturers.
 
I would like to get a few blanks from ferrocerium.com (cheaper than Swedish Fire Steels and a few differente sizes to chose among) but I don't know if they ship worldwide. I sent them an email yesterday but still didn't get an answer. Does any of you know if they can ship them to Spain?
Over here people get fire steels 90% of the time on eBay but they come from UK or even USA so shipping is high. I was planning to buy a bunch of them, that is why I am interested in ferrocerium.com.
Mikel
 
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