Lets see your Firesteels & Tinder kits! (lighting fires too!)

stichawl...I noticed the breakdown of my firesteel too. I have the StrikeForce and have used it for years. Lately I have been trying out a LMF and well, not getting out as much as I used to so the SF has sat in my kit for a couple years. Last night I was getting ready for camp and showed it to my Son. I noticed it had build up all over it, not sure what it was but I will check it out closer once I get to camp. It was like a powder all over the rod????

Any thoughts?

I have to check out some PJ cotton balls this weekend.

Craig
 
Yeah, the ferrocerium rods will slowly oxidize and degrade. I coat them with nail polish for weather/moisture protection and it works quite well. Here's some pictures of an assortment:

Essentials4.jpg


FireStarters2.jpg


ScoutFire.jpg


PocketFire.jpg


FireStarters.jpg


ROCK6
 
ROCK6 said:
Yeah, the ferrocerium rods will slowly oxidize and degrade. I coat them with nail polish for weather/moisture protection and it works quite well. Here's some pictures of an assortment:

Essentials4.jpg


FireStarters2.jpg


ScoutFire.jpg


PocketFire.jpg


FireStarters.jpg


ROCK6
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I'd trade my Randall just to be able to see the expression on the face of the guy who comes up to you and says "Hey mac, got a light?" :thumbup:

Stitchawl
 
DocArnie said:
I found out about those recently. I think my next ferro rod is going to be a blastmatch.

Also, to be honest, I haven't tried making fire with carbon steel and stone yet. :o
Click to expand...

Do give it a try! It's a lot of fun to go completely primitive. While the BlastMatch and FireSteels are faster and throw more sparks, there is just something that 'feels right' about using a flint and steel. You can get a cheap set with a good quality striker, a couple of pieces of flint, some char and some jute pretty cheaply over the net. There are a couple of Eagle Scouts who are marketing a set. That's what started me off. Then I began making my own strikers, getting better (read 'larger') English flint, making my own char cloth, etc.

After about my 12th striker design, I ran out of steam on that and began making "fire pistons." Interesting, but it's the sparking that I really like, so the pistons got pushed to the back of the shelf.

They are all fun, but for a survival kit, I'd go with the magnesium bar and ferro rod wrapped up with some jute twine. Smaller, lighter, great tinder (the magnesium,) and good hot sparks.

Stitchawl
 
CKE2 said:
stichawl...I noticed the breakdown of my firesteel too. I have the StrikeForce and have used it for years. Lately I have been trying out a LMF and well, not getting out as much as I used to so the SF has sat in my kit for a couple years. Last night I was getting ready for camp and showed it to my Son. I noticed it had build up all over it, not sure what it was but I will check it out closer once I get to camp. It was like a powder all over the rod????

Any thoughts?

I have to check out some PJ cotton balls this weekend.

Craig
Click to expand...

No doubt it's some sort of oxidation, and it can get pretty bad judging from the condition of my firesteel. However, it still sparks just as well as ever, although the striker really feels the pits and missing bits. I have a feeling that it would have been completely oxidized in a couple of more years. I don't know why I was surprised... It is, after all, an iron alloy and that really should oxidize. I have to wipe my steel flint strikers with 'Tuff-Coat' before storing them away or they will rust up.

I've just tried cleaning it all up with some sandpaper, then coating the FireSteel with 'Marine Tuf-Glide.' I stuck it back into the closet and will leave it there for a few years. I'm curious to see if that will protect it. I'm going to order another one and try vacuum sealing it in plastic along with some tinder. I wish I was younger so I could do longer experiments.... *grin*

Stitchawl
 
stitchawl said:
They are all fun, but for a survival kit, I'd go with the magnesium bar and ferro rod wrapped up with some jute twine. Smaller, lighter, great tinder (the magnesium,) and good hot sparks.
Stitchawl
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This is a good point. I really like the larger Strike Force for my pack, but for a smaller kit (which is more likely carried 24/7) Stichawl is spot on about keeping it small and functional.

ROCK6
 
One more thing; anyone else notice that if you store your ferro rods for a couple of years, they degrade? My old one looks as if some mice got at it. Pits and dings all over the rod. It was in the bottom of the closet for about 5 years.
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I forgot mine in my pants pocket and ran them through the wash. It will still throw sparks, but not as many and it looks as if it might snap at any time. My Fenix E01 went through with no problems...
 
DocArnie said:
I think I'll keep on carrying fatwood as tinder. It won't ruin my blade and I can get new stuff for free. I don't see the advantage of magnesium.
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Hmmm.... might not be any! :)
On the other hand, maybe because the magnesium burns a LOT hotter than the fatwood, it can start less-than-ideal wood burning. On the other hand, ( is that 3 hands now?) the fatwood burns LONGER than the magnesium and might be able to start less-than-ideal wood burning. :eek:

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!! :confused:

I just talked it over with my adviser (read: wife.) That bastion of pure logic (cough, cough) gave me the answer I needed. A few matchstick sized pieces of fatwood laid against the magnesium bar under the wrapping of jute! Additional weight: almost none. Additional size: virtually none. Additional tinder value: exceptional. :thumbup:

Stitchawl
 
ROCK6 said:
This is a good point. I really like the larger Strike Force for my pack, but for a smaller kit (which is more likely carried 24/7) Stichawl is spot on about keeping it small and functional.

ROCK6
Click to expand...

Years ago (and I'm talking about 20-30 years ago,) I had a magnesium/ferro combo rod that was a bit thinner than the size of the ferro rod in the BlastMatch. I can't remember where I bought that thing, but its size was perfect for an emergency fire starter. Certainly not something to be used on a regular basis for starting the BBQ as it would wear down too quickly, but for an 'always have with you' emergency kit it was the perfect size.

Stitchawl
 
I found a companion for my firesteel today:

41Tx-x1bsJL._SS400_.jpg


I'll fit some PJCB and charcloth in it, maybe some magnesium and firewood if I can find some.
 
stitchawl said:
Any reason you guys prefer 'firesteels' over ordinary flint and a striker other than the amount of sparks? I see plenty of char cloth, plenty of jute for tinder, even fatwood sticks. Very primitive. Then high tech ferro bars.... Not even a magnesium bar with a ferro stick in that. It's got me wondering. I can understand you preferring the fire steel over flint and striker as it produces more spark. But how come no magnesium with a ferro bar? And why no 'one-handed' "BlastMatch?" Too big?
Click to expand...

I believe the reason for your questions and points is based on some approaching this thread from a survival perspective vs. non-survival situation such as primitive living. Personal experience is obviously a factor too.

Personally, I like using char cloth and my knife as I posted earlier in the video link (sorry I don't have a pic of my firekit at the moment). However, from a survival standpoint, I always have a metal match/magnesium tool because is a convienent, durable, and waterproof solution. Good thread.
 
This is all I've been carrying recently unless the available tinder is wet:
EnZo-grnm-02.jpg
 
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hehehe for THAT I break out the Altoids kit! (no pictures at the moment).

Actually, sorry about the mis-post. I meant to show a picture of my latest "copy" of Bark River's firesteel sheath, but posted a picture of the axe by mistake! It's fixed now ((( :D )))
 
ROCK6, that is some spread you've got there for firemaking. Looks like you've got it covered from every angle. BTW, the PSK knife will be headed your way next week.
Scott
 
Great Kit Guys....I'll post pics of my different kits,I will say that maya dust works great w/ LMF firesteel
 
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