Firesteel scraper - one mans trash is ....

[kgd]

Seeing the last couple of posts about pre-packaged PSKs got me thinking about how we have all this crap in our houses and rarely piledge our own garages, basements and little cupboards under the bathroom sinks for 90% of the stuff we need.

So, my son was cleaning out his room and was about toss this little vinyl packaged nail clipper kit that my mother stuck in one of his christmas stockings. Ever the opportunist I peaked at the contents and found this little beauty that now has a new home as my firesteel scraper.

It is a cheap 1/16th inch or thereabouts piece of crap 420SS (I'm guessing) that you would find somewhere in the dollar store. Has an essentially useless screwdriver bit that I'm sure will twist into a twirly bar if I every used it and a little nail file that can actually be used for its intended purpose. The best thing though is the little, piece of crap, warncliff blade that is too dull to cut but throws sparks like crazy. Even the handle is comfortable to use.

Paracord ties the package togther such that the striker can be used while still connected, and it is just big enough to string around the neck if I like. Much more comfortable than a hacksaw blade and just as affective.

 

[CanDo]

Nice. Recycling is always good

 

[eomeo]

I imagine almost everybody has a couple of those little tools lying around. I probably had 5 or more hiding in the corners of my room when I was a kid.

 

[Mtn Hawk]

Great tip! :thumbup: I'm always looking for a better scraper.

Thanks for posting.

 

[raindog101]

My dad was always bringing those home for me when I was a kid. They were pretty useless, but were the only "knife" I was allowed to have when I was young. I bet I could probably turn up one or two when I go back to my parents' house this summer.

 

[kgd]

I went out today and gathered some dried up fragmities and initiated a failed attempt to make cordage. So now what to do with this stuff...Well if you can`t make rope, then try and make fire!

This is the fluffy head used as the tinder:

The tinder was a flash flame, but the dried leaves when positioned right took the flame pretty good. Did you ever hear that expression `out of the frying pan into the fire` - well I guess I got it bit bass-akwards...into the frying pan goes the fire

Can`t hold the camera and strike at the same time unfortunately. One useful tip that was posted on the RatCutlery site on their survival fact sheet is to keep the striker stationary and pull back the fire steel. It always seemed intuitive to me and I always did it the other way around, but half the time you end up bashing your little tinder pile with the striker. This way the sparks are always directed downards and into the tinder.

 

[Don Rearic]

Scroll down near the bottom of the page. Then, if you find it interesting, continue through pages two and three.

Great minds think alike.

http://www.donrearic.com/kstuff1.html

 

[kgd]

Lots of good information there Don! Yep I recognize my little scraper there for sure.

 

[Don Rearic]

On page three I have a couple of them with notches cut in them with a chainsaw file along with pill fobs for cotton balls and ferro rods, etc... I like giving new life to old junk. They will take an edge though, take a diamond rod to that thing. It will work.