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Firesteel Recomendations?

Iboschi

Iboschi

Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
2,692
I've seen so many, and many people have their own preference in terms of brand. I'm looking for a great performer. I noted some to stay away from in a recent thread. Any recommendations for a great one?
 
cant go wrong with lmf if you like the harder ferro rods.if you like mischmetal,the ones goinggear.com sale work great.
 
cant go wrong with lmf if you like the harder ferro rods.if you like mischmetal,the ones goinggear.com sale work great.
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I'll be honest. I could use some educating on the difference between the two.
 
G'day Iboschi

I don't have the same level of experience with firesteels that others have on this forum, so I'll willingly bow to their greater expertise :thumbup:

However, I'll give my opinion (based on personal experience).

There appears to be two different types of firesteel that are differentiated by the duration of spark.

The classic shorter term spark (eg Swedish firesteel) is all you need for easily ignited tinder like PJ cotton balls, fat wood dust/shavings, paperbark shavings, birch bark shavings, etc.

The longer burning spark (eg what is often decribed as Mischmetal, although in truth they are all mischmetal, just different combinations of metals) is better for harder to light kindling (eg stringy bark fibres, ghost gum shavings etc).

So IMO, the answer as to type of firesteel is going to be determined to some extent by the type of tinder you are likely to use.

I'm sure there are others that are better qualified to talk about brands :thumbup::thumbup:


Hope this helps (but then again, maybe it hasn't :D ).




Kind regards
Mick
 
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My honest opinion is that you should get one of each...get a 3/8" LMF Army model, and a 3/8" "mischmetal" Badger from going gear. They both have advantages and disadvantages and as Mick said...which you'll want will depend for the most part on which tinders you'll be using. I want to try the Cedar bark again with a mischmetal firesteel.
 
Posts: 650
G'day Iboshi

I don't have the same level of experience with firesteels that others have on this forum, so I'll willingly bow to their greater expertise

However, I'll give my opinion (based on personal experience).

There appears to be two different types of firesteel that are differentiated by the duration of spark.

The classic shorter term spark (eg Swedish firesteel) is all you need for easily ignited tinder like PJ cotton balls, fat wood dust/shavings, paperbark shavings, birch bark shavings, etc.

The longer burning spark (eg what is often decribed as Mischmetal, although in truth they are all mischmetal, just different combinations of metals) is better for harder to light kindling (eg stringy bark fibres, ghost gum shavings etc).

So IMO, the answer as to type of firesteel is going to be determined to some extent by the type of tinder you are likely to use.

I'm sure there are others that are better qualified to talk about brands


Hope this helps (but then again, maybe it hasn't ).




Kind regards
Mick
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Thank you! That does help. It also raises more questions. What are some additonal advantages and disadvantages of either? Does the Mischmetal wear down faster?
 
Iboschi said:
Thank you! That does help. It also raises more questions. What are some additonal advantages and disadvantages of either? Does the Mischmetal wear down faster?
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The LMF don't throw as big of sparks but will light dry tinders and fatwood and won't wear as quick. The mischmetal ones throw big molten globs that burn longer helping ignite "wetter" fibrous or fluffy tinders but wear down faster....in my opinion.
 
Thanks Mistwalker! How much faster does the mischmetal wear (approximately)?
 
Iboschi said:
Thanks Mistwalker! How much faster does the mischmetal wear (approximately)?
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Judging by the LMF firesteels, and the firesteel[dot]com mischmetal firesteel I have, I'd say twice to three times faster maybe more. maybe Tony and a couple of others who actually own and use their going gear firesteels a lot will weigh in those.
 
Thanks again Mistwalker. I would love more info. Doesn't seem to be a ton of data comparing the two out there. I will add that I have an LMF and while it works fine, I've seen some recently that really throw sparks well. Those must all be mischmetal then I presume?
 
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G'day Iboshi

Iboschi said:
..... Doesn't seem to be a ton of data comparing the two out there.
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I think you have identifed a potentially valuable future post (ie a direct comparison between the two types of "firesteel" with different types of tinder) :D




Kind regards
Mick


P.S Thanks in advance to anyone who is able to (ie access to different types of tinder) and prepared to do the evaluation :thumbup:
 
I know Tony uses both pretty regularly, I sent him a pm asking him to weigh in on this so maybe he'll say something tomorrow. I'm sure some others will too.
 
I know Tony uses both pretty regularly, I sent him a pm asking him to weigh in on this so maybe he'll say something tomorrow. I'm sure some others will too.
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Thanks yet again Mistwalker!

I have watched more than a few videos lately with people using firesteels with varying results. I've even been farting around with mine under different scenarios. Some of the threads (Mistwalker's and Pitdog's), and my own LMF firesteel experiments have recently caused me to wonder whether I would rather have quality sparks vs quantity sparks. I am starting to think I would rather have quality sparks with a shorter life span (depending what "shorter" entails). If I am in a situation where I really need it, I want to know its gonna throw lots and lots of heavy sparks. My LMF doesn't do that. I'm curious if there is any data that compares the life span in terms of usage from two firesteels of the same size. If the mischmetal only has 100 uses in it, we may have a different issue.
 
i have both and these are the differences i noticed. mischmetal is softer and does wear a bit faster.however,these throw globs of molten metal,not really sparks and they actually burn for a second or two.the only drawback on these is that they take a different striking technique to get them to throw those globs(honestly though,once you get the technique down its quite easy)

the harder rods like lmf do wear slower and do not take a very difficult technique to spark them.these throw a very hot shower of sparks but they do not "burn" like the mischmetal.

in the end,they both work great its just preference.as a general rule of thumb,mischmetal lights courser tinder but i have lit most the same tinder with my lmf.i think mistwalker is right on to get both,practice with both and carry both.hope that helps.
 
Iboschi said:
Thanks yet again Mistwalker!

I have watched more than a few videos lately with people using firesteels with varying results. I've even been farting around with mine under different scenarios. Some of the threads (Mistwalker's and Pitdog's), and my own LMF firesteel experiments have recently caused me to wonder whether I would rather have quality sparks vs quantity sparks. I am starting to think I would rather have quality sparks with a shorter life span (depending what "shorter" entails). If I am in a situation where I really need it, I want to know its gonna throw lots and lots of heavy sparks. My LMF doesn't do that. I'm curious if there is any data that compares the life span in terms of usage from two firesteels of the same size. If the mischmetal only has 100 uses in it, we may have a different issue.
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The big thing about the mischmetal rods is that you can scrape more off if you want, but it is not necessary. If you use a sharp edge like you are whittling a stick, the sparks will fly like crazy and you will not be scraping off much material. If you use the spine and scrape hard, then you will be scraping off more material, but the sparks will be burning globs of metal that last a really long time.

I would say that you could easily get 5-10,000 strikes off of one of my 3/8" rods. I sell my stuff at gun shows in the southeast, and demo firesteels with at least 100 strikes per day. The rod that I have been using since April of this year for 3 shows per month is less than half gone, and that includes the usage from guys that come up and scrape with every bit of might that their 250 lb frames can muster.
 
I much prefer the misch metal firesteels over the LMF type. How long it lasts is secondary to its purpose. I have a bunch of each type and the LMF steels are gathering dust.
 
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