Mag starter or ferro rod?

Omega Leather Works · Feb 25, 2015

I hope this is in the right place...

Just curious about these tools. Which do you prefer, and why?

MrFixIt · Feb 25, 2015

I use both. The mag bar incorporates your "flash" tinder and combustion device in one convenient package.
I just like the sparks that a good ferro rod produces.

B34NS · Feb 25, 2015

As said, both are pretty helpful, that is when the zippo or bic dies out of course.

I keep a couple ferro rods in different packs just to have as a backup, vaseline impregnated cotton balls work well with em.

You guys still get Tule fog down there?

schmittie · Feb 25, 2015

I prefer a ferro rod. Tried using a mag block once but just never kept up with it.

Omega Leather Works · Feb 25, 2015

B34NS said:
As said, both are pretty helpful, that is when the zippo or bic dies out of course. I keep a couple ferro rods in different packs just to have as a backup, vaseline impregnated cotton balls work well with em.

You guys still get Tule fog down there?

This year was/is particularly foggy, much more so than recent years, but then we've had more rain. Give SF a high five for me, I miss that place.

Reason I ask about the fire starters is because I offer ferro rods with my sheaths. They are much more easily equipped (loop versus pouch), but I want to offer the best tool for the customer.

Thanks for the answers so far guys.

Phoynix · Feb 25, 2015

Ferrorod, if you move a scraper down it slowly you can make a pile of Shavings(dust), this dust flashes and produces very intense flash heat as it sparks. From a cost perspective I used to use Doans magnesium blocks, but once I discovered the cheap Chinese generic firesteels work just as well as named brand firesteels I switched to them.

For few bucks I can get bulk lot of rods, using them for shavings, as if they were a magnesium block, matters little and they are cheaper. If you go for the named brand rods, magnesium blocks are cheaper by a fair margin and it would be a waste of the rod unless it was an emergency situation.

Omega Leather Works said:
I hope this is in the right place...

Just curious about these tools. Which do you prefer, and why?

Omega Leather Works · Feb 25, 2015

Phoynix said:
Ferrorod, if you move a scraper down it slowly you can make a pile of Shavings(dust), this dust flashes and produces very intense flash heat as it sparks. From a cost perspective I used to use Doans magnesium blocks, but once I discovered the cheap Chinese generic firesteels work just as well as named brand firesteels I switched to them.

For few bucks I can get bulk lot of rods, using them for shavings, as if they were a magnesium block, matters little and they are cheaper. If you go for the named brand rods, magnesium blocks are cheaper by a fair margin and it would be a waste of the rod unless it was an emergency situation.

Good stuff, thanks for the tips.

Here's a pic of a deal I made for one of the guys.

The loop and top of the rod are shark skin just for fun. Is there anything, from a design perspective, that you guys would prefer differently?

What about a striker? I include a US made p38 can opener for the striker, which seems to make people happier than a piece of hacksaw blade. Is there something you guys see as a better option?

DOC-CANADA · Feb 25, 2015

Omega Leather Works said:
Is there anything, from a design perspective, that you guys would prefer differently?

Sorry for being a little bit off topic, but have you considered doing sheaths for Victorinox Swiss Spirit multitools with a firesteel loop? I've seen these on the internet but they were for Leatherman.

Doc

Omega Leather Works · Feb 25, 2015

DOC-CANADA said:
Sorry for being a little bit off topic, but have you considered doing sheaths for Victorinox Swiss Spirit multitools with a firesteel loop? I've seen these on the internet but they were for Leatherman.

Doc

No, but all of my work is custom so not too far of a stretch. I've been meaning to make a good rig for my sog powerlock, just don't get around to making a whole lot for myself.

I'm not talking to you directly Doc, but I don't want to make this a sales thread, I'm just curious about how to improve my product for the end user.

schmittie · Feb 25, 2015

That's a cool sheath Tony! I like the color.

To me, first glance at the ferro rod loop, it seems out of place. Almost like its out there unprotected. This is just my personal opinion, but for a right handed sheath, I would prefer it on the edge side of the blade, not the spine side. The way it looks now, it seems like it could get caught on things while walking through woods/brush. And I like a higher position, closer to the handle. It almost looks like with the added dangler, you would have to bend at the waist to retrieve the firesteel.

Those two things I noticed but that's it. Looks like a great sheath that should get years of service.

Omega Leather Works · Feb 25, 2015

schmittie said:
That's a cool sheath Tony! I like the color.

To me, first glance at the ferro rod loop, it seems out of place. Almost like its out there unprotected. This is just my personal opinion, but for a right handed sheath, I would prefer it on the edge side of the blade, not the spine side. The way it looks now, it seems like it could get caught on things while walking through woods/brush. And I like a higher position, closer to the handle. It almost looks like with the added dangler, you would have to bend at the waist to retrieve the firesteel.

Those two things I noticed but that's it. Looks like a great sheath that should get years of service.

Hey bud, thanks for chiming in.

That actually makes a ton of sense.

On this one the rod would probably be a pain to get out, but being behind the sheath would get it out of the way 99% of the time I think.

Plus the striker is better situated between the rod and sheath.

schmittie · Feb 25, 2015

I always thought it would be neat to have a small pocket stitched into the back of a sheath for a striker. I think I've seen that before somewhere...

Omega Leather Works · Feb 25, 2015

schmittie said:
I always thought it would be neat to have a small pocket stitched into the back of a sheath for a striker. I think I've seen that before somewhere...

Was that you? I remember it too and it was actually pretty awesome. I try not to overtly copy anything although I've met very few people (like one) that aren't totally gracious about the subject.

schmittie · Feb 25, 2015

LOL! Nope. Not me. I wish I was that creative though.

druid189 · Feb 26, 2015

found ya.....

I have Doan magnesium blocks [tested and work great] but as a general statement, I don't really use them at all.

I DO use ferro rods though and get the 1/2" x 5" monsters on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LD3RIP8...TF8&colid=1LCKDL3XKPN9Z&coliid=I1W1YFT625GCZW and they work great too. I got quite a few, not just for my trekking but for:

One each
* Vehicle/trunk emergency bag
* EDC kit [cut down to a 2" L piece]
* Hunting pack
* One each for my wife/children's bug out bags [kids are aged 16 +]
* One each for my big blade sheaths
* One for my muzzle loading set up

These will light just about anything and work in all temps. Only the wettest materials are all but impossible to light.

B34NS · Feb 26, 2015

Omega Leather Works said:
This year was/is particularly foggy, much more so than recent years, but then we've had more rain. Give SF a high five for me, I miss that place.

Reason I ask about the fire starters is because I offer ferro rods with my sheaths. They are much more easily equipped (loop versus pouch), but I want to offer the best tool for the customer.

Thanks for the answers so far guys.

Oh man! I miss it down there sometimes! I used to live in Visalia for a little while before moving back up home here in SF. :thumbup: Yea! It's been nothing but sunny and warm up here, give a shout if you're ever up here!

I usually just have the ferro rod as a zippo/bic lighter backup, but designed this sheath to carry one for light excursions incase one needs a warming fire, wasn't too fond of loops when bushwacking from snags. The ferro rod normally rides in my backpack, but it's nice to have the discrete sheath carry option.

sideways · Feb 26, 2015

Omega Leather Works said:

That's some quality leather right there. :thumbup:

I prefer a ferro rod out of those two options. The magnesium flame will burn hotter in wet weather but requires more prep work creating the shavings. With both there are quality differences between manufacturers. There is more variability between magnesium block makers, with some being so bad as to be totally useless. Ferro rods are pretty consistently OK.

For ease of use I tend to use matches, lighters and ready tinders (paper, cardboard, hexamine fuel tablets etc) to get my fires going.

North Arm Knives · Feb 26, 2015

If it's wet enough a spark alone isn't enough to light natural tinder. If I was in a survival situation and had to choose between having a mag block/ferro rod combo and just a plain ferro rod, I'd choose the former. I usually carry a mag block with ferro rod embedded in my pack. Then again if you're in a situation where you really need a fire you should have brought multiple tools to start one...

A mag block would be pretty cumbersome and heavy to put on a sheath IMO. I would probably do just the ferro rod in the sheath and then tell customers to carry a couple fire starters in their pack; Cotton balls and Vaseline work well as B34NS said. For the properly equipped adventurer, a ferro rod is a nice compliment to the other fire starting tools they should have with them.

A couple weekends back I was hiking above snow line with a friend. When it came time to light my msr liquid fuel stove I realized both my bics had been affected by moisture and wouldn't work properly. I ended up using a ferro rod for a spark to ignite the fuel.

-mike

Omega Leather Works · Feb 26, 2015

druid189 said:
found ya.....

I have Doan magnesium blocks [tested and work great] but as a general statement, I don't really use them at all.

Yeah, I'm not sure if mine is decent or not. The mag does light, but the rod gets worn down very quickly. It's a Coghlan, so pretty cheap. I bought two, one to play with and one to use for fitting a pouch if someone wanted.

The ferro rods I make leather handles for are good. They are mischmetal.

B34NS said:
Oh man! I miss it down there sometimes! I used to live in Visalia for a little while before moving back up home here in SF. :thumbup: Yea! It's been nothing but sunny and warm up here, give a shout if you're ever up here!

I usually just have the ferro rod as a zippo/bic lighter backup, but designed this sheath to carry one for light excursions incase one needs a warming fire, wasn't too fond of loops when bushwacking from snags. The ferro rod normally rides in my backpack, but it's nice to have the discrete sheath carry option.

Cool man. I actually do like Visalia. There and Clovis are nice. In any case, we're both lucky to live in Cali. The weather is gorgeous and the mountains, Pismo, SF and LA beckon...

sideways said:
That's some quality leather right there. :thumbup:

Thanks bud.

North Arm Knives said:
If it's wet enough a spark alone isn't enough to light natural tinder. If I was in a survival situation and had to choose between having a mag block/ferro rod combo and just a plain ferro rod, I'd choose the former. I usually carry a mag block with ferro rod embedded in my pack. Then again if you're in a situation where you really need a fire you should have brought multiple tools to start one...

A mag block would be pretty cumbersome and heavy to put on a sheath IMO. I would probably do just the ferro rod in the sheath and then tell customers to carry a couple fire starters in their pack; Cotton balls and Vaseline work well as B34NS said. For the properly equipped adventurer, a ferro rod is a nice compliment to the other fire starting tools they should have with them.

A couple weekends back I was hiking above snow line with a friend. When it came time to light my msr liquid fuel stove I realized both my bics had been affected by moisture and wouldn't work properly. I ended up using a ferro rod for a spark to ignite the fuel.

-mike

Thanks Mike. I have a sheath that has a pouch on the front. My multi-tool, mag block or other items fit nicely because it has a strap of elastic that goes across the nylon and holds whatever you put in it in place. I get the weight concern for hardcore guys that also cut the handle off their toothbrush, but otherwise the weight, to me, is negligible.

As for the bic, my littlest one use to enjoy driving me crazy by throwing my lighter in water. I found that just running the flint wheel over my jeans didn't always sufficiently dry it so I'd use my backup to (carefully) heat the chimney/wheel enough to get it back to working order. Of course that was at home and I had no desire to break out the ferro rod just to light a cigarette.

I think what I've learned is that a ferro rod of good quality is sufficient, however, the design in how it's placed should be a consideration. Of course any additional thoughts are welcome.

Thanks again guys.

Sam Wilson · Feb 26, 2015

I prefer ferro rods, also. I do a lot of "survival stuff," and haven't had any requests for mag blocks yet. Not that they're not good, just don't seem to be as popular. I prefer to just carry a little extra decent tinder in the "survival kit," myself. I'm sure you know this, Anthony, but about the only mag blocks worth messing with are the Doan brand. The rest, in my experience, seem to enjoy waiting for the worst possible moment to eject your ferro rod into a pile of leaves.

Sam