Firesteel vs a Lighter...

I carry both, but I don't think I've ever started a fire with my lighter in the woods. Much more fun with a fire steel.
 
I carry a mini bic for the sake of convenience but always have a ferro rod with me in case it's windy or the lighter just doesn't work.

I was in the middle of the bush a few months ago and realised I didn't bring anything to light my REI stove. After cursing myself as a fool I remembered that I have a little light my fire rod in the survival kit I always keep in every pack I have.
 
Don Rearic said:
Wisdom.

I have read tens of thousands of words on how your life depends on a knife and then people go on to say that a folder is not hardcore, lifesaving gear because they bend in the middle, they have moving parts, they can fail and then you will die. And then go on to extol the value of a Bic lighter. :D
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True!!!

Dago Red said:
i must do something wrong then. i carry a firesteel with my stuff, "in case". I prefer strike anywhere matches and use a lighter as backup to them. I enjoy nursing fires to life, but the firesteel is an exercise in frustration for me. It seems that it is a pain in the ass to shave off enough to start a fire. I plan to buy magnesium shavings online (I found a place you could buy them bulk) and put them in a little container to carry instead.

Red
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You dont shave off shavings to start a fire, you use the rod to ignite the tinder, not create the tinder.
 
I realize most guys dont NEED to become proficient with a firesteel. Fact is, if you never go far, and never in bad weather, then a lighter will serve ya fine, or you can quit and go home if thats your thing too. However if you are serious about becoming a skilled woodsman, and not just in this for the gear hoarding, you NEED to become proficiant with this tool. It will help you to understand the mechanics of fire, it will prepare you for more primative means(flint and steel), and its another skil to give you piece of mind.

I know a guy, and im not mentioning names, that said "If I have a spark, I can get fire." He found out very quickly that its not as easy as some guys make it look, and it whooped his ass. Remember folks, just cause you saw it once online doesnt mean you are an expert at it, or even a novice. That only comes with practice. Light man made tinders with one in your backyard in various weather conditions, then move on to natural tinders. Practice and hone your tech to muscle memory, then practice more. When im in the bush I practice firesteel with nat materials even when I have a nice fire in front of me. Its a good feeling when you can rely on a ferro rod, and nothing else if need be. Its an even better feeling to know you can get fire proficiantly with nothing, even a knife.

Sometimes(and im not saying this is the case), people tend to use their lack of skill with a tool to put it down, or justify not carrying it. This IS an important skill, and one that is a strong foundation in firecraft.
 
Meh, I'm not a big fan of the firesteel hype. I have one and use it for fun, and it's great in the summer where you can just light up almost anything you pick off the ground. But when it's wet, unless you bring tinder with you, your ability of getting a fire going depends on your luck of finding tinder. A lighter OTOH will light small twigs directly.
 
I may be a ''fire freak''. I have a small pouch dedicated to fire-starting...I have numerous methods of starting the precious spark.

1. Bic(s) One for everyday use and a couple sealed in plastic for waterproofing.

2. Ferro Rod

3. Magnesium block with built-in striker rod (I presume it's a mini Ferro Rod?)

4. Strike-Anywhere matches in a water-proof matchsafe.

5. Fresnel(sp?) lense.

6. Flint&Steel



...and I also know how to make/use a bowdrill.

LOL I guess it's better to have redundant back-ups then be without fire. I just kinda carry it to the extreme.
 
demoteamone said:
Meh, I'm not a big fan of the firesteel hype. I have one and use it for fun, and it's great in the summer where you can just light up almost anything you pick off the ground. But when it's wet, unless you bring tinder with you, your ability of getting a fire going depends on your luck of finding tinder. A lighter OTOH will light small twigs directly.
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I can assure you its not hype. There is ALWAYS dry tinder, you just need to know how to prep it out. A firesteel works very well in the rain. I can attest to that 100%. Ive used em in some pretty hardcore storms. Plus, I hope that lighter is dry, or I guess you gets no fire if its raining, or out of season....

Im not trying to be a dick, but I just want you guys to understand that firecraft is something you need to prepare for above all else. Do not think cause you have a lighter you are good. You will find out otherwise very quickly.

That said, I carry one. Its stupid not to. Just dont put all your eggs in one basket, and dont think that if you can use a lighter you can use a ferro.....Naive.
 
Dago Red said:
i must do something wrong then. i carry a firesteel with my stuff, "in case". I prefer strike anywhere matches and use a lighter as backup to them. I enjoy nursing fires to life, but the firesteel is an exercise in frustration for me. It seems that it is a pain in the ass to shave off enough to start a fire. I plan to buy magnesium shavings online (I found a place you could buy them bulk) and put them in a little container to carry instead.

Red
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You are thinking of a Magnesium block firestarter...a Ferro rod is just a sparking tool, you need seperate tinder.
 
thrillbilly said:
I may be a ''fire freak''. I have a small pouch dedicated to fire-starting...I have numerous methods of starting the precious spark.

1. Bic(s) One for everyday use and a couple sealed in plastic for waterproofing.

2. Ferro Rod

3. Magnesium block with built-in striker rod (I presume it's a mini Ferro Rod?)

4. Strike-Anywhere matches in a water-proof matchsafe.

5. Fresnel(sp?) lense.

6. Flint&Steel



...and I also know how to make/use a bowdrill.

LOL I guess it's better to have redundant back-ups then be without fire. I just kinda carry it to the extreme.
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You are the kind of guy who will never be in a survival situation. You are prepared.
 
j williams said:
I realize most guys dont NEED to become proficient with a firesteel. Fact is, if you never go far, and never in bad weather, then a lighter will serve ya fine, or you can quit and go home if thats your thing too. However if you are serious about becoming a skilled woodsman, and not just in this for the gear hoarding, you NEED to become proficiant with this tool. It will help you to understand the mechanics of fire, it will prepare you for more primative means(flint and steel), and its another skil to give you piece of mind.

I know a guy, and im not mentioning names, that said "If I have a spark, I can get fire." He found out very quickly that its not as easy as some guys make it look, and it whooped his ass. Remember folks, just cause you saw it once online doesnt mean you are an expert at it, or even a novice. That only comes with practice. Light man made tinders with one in your backyard in various weather conditions, then move on to natural tinders. Practice and hone your tech to muscle memory, then practice more. When im in the bush I practice firesteel with nat materials even when I have a nice fire in front of me. Its a good feeling when you can rely on a ferro rod, and nothing else if need be. Its an even better feeling to know you can get fire proficiantly with nothing, even a knife.

Sometimes(and im not saying this is the case), people tend to use their lack of skill with a tool to put it down, or justify not carrying it. This IS an important skill, and one that is a strong foundation in firecraft.
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Practicing with a ferro rod is a fun thing to do, I certainly enjoy it. Where I live (and the wooded area I room in) I don't have the need for the ability to make a fire. no life or death scenario, with or with out, a fire.
For me it's more the process of making the flame then anything else that I enjoy doing.

I have put in hours of flame making with the ferro rod over the years. often on my way home from work I ride along an old, now removed, railroad track, trough a wooded area.
If it rains, I like to stop and make a flame with what ever I can find, and a ferro rod. no home made tinder allowed.
Just the flame, and having it grow and live a bit, I have no interested in making a fire. (No doubt my skills in making a usable fire is a great deal less, then my skills in making a flame).

I don't do this with a lighter or matches, well because there really is no enjoyable work/skills involve in producing a flame with either. you flick your thumb and there is a flame, with out tinder or anything else. ( Finding the right tinder to the ferro rod is also part of the enjoyment).

I wonder if people would put the same hours (lots and lots ) practicing with the ferro rod, into practicing with the lighter, under the same conditions.

like leaving it submerge for 5 min, then start a fire in less then 1 min.

Or start fires with a Bic with no fuel in it.

Would it really be considered so inferior to the ferro rod ? given equal time spent working with it.

I know a lighter properly won't handle being smacked with a big stick, as well as the ferro rod, but honestly I don't often do that any way ;)
 
I dont think its inferior....I just believe there are to many variables for failure that are out of your controll. If its broke, thats it. Unless you use the tiny "ferro rod" in the lighter. Same goes if its out of fuel, or runs out of flint. However, its not inferior. Things progress. From hand drill sets, to flint and steel, to matches and lighters....All about making the task of producing flame easier. Like everything else in life from huts and lean tos, to big ass houses, and nice cars. That said, maybe as a woods tool it is inferior to the ferro rod....I dunno. If the ferro is wet, it works. If it is broke, it works. If it is cold, it works.

If I need fire. Like hypothermicly need fire, Im breaking out the good ol adjustable flame crack lighter in my bag. However if said lighter is out of service, I am very confident I will have a fire with the ferro rod, even in the rain. So in that case I guess the ferro is a backup. However my confidence with the ferro only comes from the fact that my lighter is back up in every other scenerio.
 
Some interesting tid-bits, fellas! Good info! :thumbup:

j williams said:
If I need fire. Like hypothermicly need fire, Im breaking out the good ol adjustable flame crack lighter in my bag. However if said lighter is out of service, I am very confident I will have a fire with the ferro rod, even in the rain. So in that case I guess the ferro is a backup. However my confidence with the ferro only comes from the fact that my lighter is back up in every other scenerio.
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So how's about a more aggressive igniter likesay a flare? Anyone pack a few for emergency fire-starting (especially on winter trips?) I've never fallen through the ice (and don't ever care to) but it is a real hazard. Should something like that happen, I don't think I want to be dicking around with a ferro rod or a lighter...
 
I'm pretty sure that most of us (hopefully all of us!) are carrying a lighter/matches in addition to a firesteel. I don't think of the firesteel as superior to a lighter or vice versa, they are both tools that if used correctly and operating correctly can start a fire.

Jakes point that the firesteel takes practice is spot on. I concur that practicing w/ a wet or empty lighter is also prudent. The point really being, that starting a fire under less then ideal conditions shouldn't be first attempted when you most really need it.
 
Instead of a flare, just pack a lighter or ferro and a gallon ziplock full of wood shavings. You will get fire, and a bag of prep weighs nothing. If you need tinder for the ferro use PJ cotton. One strike to light the cotton, and add your shavings. Then squaw wood as needed to build it up. For a drying fire like that you want big flames, fast. A flare would provide ignition, but I dont see any advantages over a lighter, and a flare is a one time use item, which has no place in my kit.
 
mtwarden said:
I'm pretty sure that most of us (hopefully all of us!) are carrying a lighter/matches in addition to a firesteel. I don't think of the firesteel as superior to a lighter or vice versa, they are both tools that if used correctly and operating correctly can start a fire.

Jakes point that the firesteel takes practice is spot on. I concur that practicing w/ a wet or empty lighter is also prudent. The point really being, that starting a fire under less then ideal conditions shouldn't be first attempted when you most really need it.
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Right on MT. You get me. :thumbup:

Im just saying that dont let the fact that a ferro is your back up deter you from mastering it.

Its not an issue as to carry this or that, (you should have both) its an issue of being proficiant with your gear. Backup or not. I guess its hard for me to understand why a ferro would be back up to a lighter if you arent in a life and death situation. Thats the time to practice with it.........

I guess you could just carry 2 lighters....A back up to your lighter. Or a flamethrower, or a phos grenade. Or just pack me on your back, and Ill start the fires. :D

Interesting thread.:thumbup:
 
j williams said:
Instead of a flare, just pack a lighter or ferro and a gallon ziplock full of wood shavings. You will get fire, and a bag of prep weighs nothing. If you need tinder for the ferro use PJ cotton. One strike to light the cotton, and add your shavings. Then squaw wood as needed to build it up. For a drying fire like that you want big flames, fast. A flare would provide ignition, but I dont see any advantages over a lighter, and a flare is a one time use item, which has no place in my kit.
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I think the advantage would be ease of use. Fresh out of the ice water, a fella would be shaking so bad all dexterity would be out the window... no?
 
I pack a Bic lighter and a ferro rod.

I put this little kit together a few weeks ago to pack on the motorcycle for emergency use. It's an empty, plastic spice bottle packed with Vaseline soaked dryer lint. Using a slice from an old bicycle inner tube, I banded a ferro rod, striker and a couple of pieces of fat wood to it. Really light and compact and could come in handy some day.

 
timberweasel said:
I think the advantage would be ease of use. Fresh out of the ice water, a fella would be shaking so bad all dexterity would be out the window... no?
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no experience w/ a flare as an ignition source, but do have experience will falling into ice water :( duck hunting trip via canoe on the Bighorn River, mid December- ambient temps around 5 above, water very close to freezing as there was a lot of ice flow

we made a turn into a slough and caught a unexpected eddy and were flipped as quick as you can snap your fingers- I swam hard to shore and immediately attempted to start a fire. First thing I found out was that my Bic lighter wouldn't spark when wet. Went to my backup, strike anywhere matches- every time I lit one, it would go out as there was water running/dripping down my arms- five minutes into this ordeal my fine motor skills were toast. We climbed back into the canoe and paddled our a$$ses off (about 3 river miles) to a waiting truck- cold, wet, scared, but alive.

I learned a few valuable bits during this outing (besides the wet bic and matches thing)- good clothing (in this case a mix of wool and fleece) can ultimately save the day; a dry set of clothing in a dry bag is not a luxury item- it's a necessity; tinder- bring your own tinder- PJCB's, wetfire- something that will catch even if wet!; a waterproof/windproof lighter is better than a bic lighter; a good firesteel (w/ lots of practice behind it) would be a wonderful item to have had :); lastly it's good to have angels watching over your a$$ :D
 
In December 1979, I was shooting while visiting the northwest corner of Michigan's UP. The temp was well below 0. I had walked at least half a dozen times to check my target. On one of my return trips to the firing line I punched thru a concealed stream beneath the snow and was instantly soaked to the waist. I was with a father and son pair, with all three of us realizing that I was in some serious trouble. We considered starting a fire in the woods that were behind the targets but opted for the 1/2 mile hike to the truck. The snow was near waist depth and I had the additional problem of my hands and arms being soaked from catching myself and getting out of the stream. We were able to get heat quickly from the truck as it had not sat for very long. I got my clothing off and warmed up under the heater until we got to the house. I question my ability to have gotten a good fire going quickly had I been alone and without the truck nearby.
 
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