Firesteel

M

mr.trooper

Joined
Dec 5, 2005
Messages
1,449
Are these things even worth the effort, or should i just use my $8 to buy 12 disposible lighters? 12K strikes from the $8 firesteel Vs. 3K strikes from the $.65 lighter.

The reason im asking is because iv had several people tell me that actualy lighting a fire with them is a P.I.T.A.
 
they are much more difficult to light a fire with, but are essentially unbreakable, whereas a lighter is not. Ideally, you might use a firesteel as a backup in case your lighter or matches ran out/broke.
 
If you practice with them, you can learn to get a fire going pretty quick. No problem carrying a lighter, but a firesteel would make a great backup to it.
 
What Stormshadow said - Redundency is good where fire is concerned. :thumbup:
 
They are great, not only are they unbreakable and impervious to weather they are fun to use :)

Firesteel meets A2. I could ignight shavings made from heartwood with relative ease, so you see, you dont really 'need' a fine tinder you can manufacture it well enoguh to light with just sparks.

Long-stoke-sparking.jpg
 
Nice. I think Iv seen that pic before!

So how many strikes would you say it takes to light that pile of tinder?
 
Actually there is a technique with a Fire steel, I have my own name for it but it depends on the tinder.

I call it the long stroke as seen above and the short stroke (Like Ray Mears uses). The Long stroke is better on grass and very fine tinder. The short stroke is best on harder to light tinder because it concentrates the heat/sparks in a much smaller circle. This took 4 strikes using the short strike method.

short-stroke-sparking.jpg
 
I really like the firesteel though I carry a lighter also. They can corrode like crazy so keep it clean and dry.
 
By all means get a firesteel. When coupled with PJ treated cotton they are very fast to light fires with and a host of other tinders work well too. The big advantage is that they are durable, weatherproof, and long lasting. They are a great back-up to matches or a lighter.

They also encourage experimentation, you find yourself testing all sorts of stuff and in the process make all kinds of discoveries. Mac
 
A Bic, a firesteel/ferro rod, some treated cotton balls and some pitchwood/fatwood and you are the master of the fire lighting universe!

A small saw to cut fuel, a fixed blade to split kindling and a sharp knife to shave tinder for your ferro rod and you have it made!
 
If you practice with them, you can learn to get a fire going pretty quick. No problem carrying a lighter, but a firesteel would make a great backup to it.
Click to expand...

Actually one advantage to a ferro rod is that it works when it's wet. Try putting your Bic in a container of water and then try to get it to spark.

The pappus (fluff) from Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) and from Thistle (Cirsium spp.) will light readily from the sparks from a ferro rod.

As Karl Malden says, "Don't leave home without it."

:) DOC-CANADA :)
 
pict said:
By all means get a firesteel. When coupled with PJ treated cotton they are very fast to light fires with and a host of other tinders work well too. The big advantage is that they are durable, weatherproof, and long lasting. They are a great back-up to matches or a lighter.
Click to expand...
+1 on these comments. With vaseline impregnated cotton, the firesteels can be really quick to light a fire.
 
i carry a BSA hotspark every day, like someone said above it is fun to test stuff to see if it ignites. i got my hotspark for $2.35 at my local BSA store.
 
Ferro rods are wonderful- put away the lighter for a while and become proficient with the rod. You can always go back to the lighter. The rods are tough (but can corrode) and dependable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top