Keychain ferro rod

[Sharp Eye]

Which ferro rod do you recommend for a keychain? Where can I get it?
Thanks once again for your help.

 

[3wolves]

The smaller scout firesteels are great. You will get them at any surplus or outdoor store.
Or you can buy the blanks (I believe kiahs is selling them in gadgets and gear) and make your own handles out of wood, bone, antler, G-10, micarta, whatever, to your own specifications. Its not hard. I am going to find some grey micarta and make firesteels to match my RC-4 (when I get it).

 

[redscorpion6]

ebay always has them listed.

 

[Gautier]

A BSA Hotspark or a LMF Mini/Scout would fit nicely on a keychain I imagine. The latter of which can be found all over the place. The BSA store is the only place I know that has the Hotsparks with any regularity, but I could be mistaken.
If you wanted to go a semi-custom route and felt up to a project, you could either buy the blanks like 3wolves mentioned, or go to your local sporting goods/Wal-Mart/Target/etc. Buy one of those 4-6$ mag bars, knock off the 1/8" rod and rehandle it with your own materials.
Could cut the 1/8" rod down to size better for a keychain or if you were really ambitious, leave a bit of the magnesium backing on it and just drill a hole for the keychain.
Just tossing some ideas out there.


Gautier

 

[Pritch]

I've carried a BSA Hot Spark.on my keychain for the past couple of years and have started dozens of fires with it.

It is about the size of a key so it is no trouble to carry. At first I thought the rod would have to be protected, living in rainy Washington state, but it has held up just fine. For $2.49, it'w worth buying a handful. You'll probably end up wanting to give them as gifts.

-- FLIX

 

[peripatew]

There is this as well:

http://www.campingsurvival.com/stmak1misufi.html
I've been wanting to handle one for a while, but I don't really like the mag bars that much.

 

[Robert H]

The new mini firesteel is great.

 

[Pritch]

There is this as well:

http://www.campingsurvival.com/stmak1misufi.html
I've been wanting to handle one for a while, but I don't really like the mag bars that much.

Yup. Grabbed one of those a couple of weeks ago with some vague notion of using it as a zipper pull. Haven't got around to using it yet.

Oh man! "Hello. My name is John and I'm a sparkoholic. . ."

-- FLIX

 

[savagesicslayer]

http://thelanyardzone.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=53 I like these.I'm gonna get one soon

 

[IUKE12]

The BSA hotspark almost seems to have been made with a keychain in mind. As Flix mentioned, it is the size of a key, and it is very easy to thread onto a split key ring due to the tapered handle. They cost me about $4 locally, so I have a few of them

 

[tholiver]

You can buy the firesteel rods without the handles.
You can drill holes through one end and then thread a SAK ring through it and attach it to your keychain.
When drilling the hole drill slowly as the heat and friction can ignite the powder.
Its best to keep the rod wet when drilling it, frequently wet the rod with a wet sponge or cloth when drilling.
And it seems obvious but....
only wet the ferro rod!
Keep water away from the drill and its electrical parts!
Electricity and water together are a recipe for disaster!
Danger Will Robinson, Danger!

 

[ROCK6]

I can't remember the original name, but Hoods Woods has the small keychain version:

http://survival.instantestore.net/pd_keychain_sparker_kit.cfm

ROCK6

 

[Sharp Eye]

Thanks for all the info everyone. If I get to test some of these, I will post a report.

 

[stingray4540]

I carry a handleless 1/4" x 2.5" firesteel that I got off ebay. Drilled a hole through one end and used some Jute cord to attach it.

 

[k-spar]

+1 for the BSA hotspark. no need for anything more expensive.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

There is this as well:

http://www.campingsurvival.com/stmak1misufi.html
I've been wanting to handle one for a while, but I don't really like the mag bars that much.

those work great.. i picked up a few a while back....

i also really like the BSA hotsparks... i have used them for years... i have yet to try the LMF mini firesteels, but i hear they work great too....:thumbup:

 

[j williams]

I read an article whrw a guy used the refills for a torch striker and threaded eye screws into them to make keychain firestarters. Looked pretty neat.... anyways, just an idea.

 

[Sharp Eye]

those work great.. i picked up a few a while back....

i also really like the BSA hotsparks... i have used them for years... i have yet to try the LMF mini firesteels, but i hear they work great too....:thumbup:

Mike,
What is LMF?

 

[Sharp Eye]

those work great.. i picked up a few a while back....

i also really like the BSA hotsparks... i have used them for years... i have yet to try the LMF mini firesteels, but i hear they work great too....:thumbup:

Mike,
What is LMF?

 

[Sharp Eye]

Never mind, I figured it out. Some of us are a little slow on Mondays.