Owning the skills Initiative: November challenge

[texastonydobbs]

FYI: the ESEE Firekit ,if the Rod is glued in it is a standard ferro rod (like LMF) if you look into the handle and see a screw head you have a Misch rod , just FYI for RR and others

 

[Normark]

Hey Texas...

All Ferro Rods are "Miche Metal"..

All "Miche metal" means is Mixed Metal.. They are all made with powder metallurgy.. No difference, except for a slight variance in recipe.. This is where you get harder rods and softer rods from...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

 

[texastonydobbs]

yes but as John Stated (Rescue Riley) the magnesium compound is higher on the misch metal rods therefore easier to start a fire. He was wanting you peeps to use more skill by using a standard ferro rod such as LMF . I was just pointing it out for people who own the ESEE fire kit and did not know which version they had .

 

[Normark]

Hey Texas...

I've used a lot of different rods and I don't think there is much of a difference in any of them... At least I have not noticed a difference in the amount of sparks ...

What does changes the amount of sparks is the type of Scraper that is used..
I get the same amount of sparks from any one of my rods if I use the same Scraper...

Miche metal is miche metal, all Ferro rods are Miche metal.

Can you tell the difference between what you call a "miche metal" rod and a standard Ferro rod ?

If magnesium content is higher in some rods,, which brands have the higher magnesium in then..

BTW,, Not trying to argue with you, just want your take on how/if they can be told apart...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

 

[tonym]

Can you tell the difference between what you call a "miche metal" rod and a standard Ferro rod ?

If magnesium content is higher in some rods,, which brands have the higher magnesium in then..

BTW,, Not trying to argue with you, just want your take on how/if they can be told apart...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

A different Tony is offereing an answer

Yes, I can tell the difference. The Mich metal rods that TTD is speaking of are softer and do contain more magnesium. Going Gear dot com carries a good example of them. These Rods when struck correctly will not just spark but actually burn longer, as you are actually peeling of slivers of the rod.
The standard rod like LMF does spark great and hot, but the sparks don't last as long as the "Mich" metal like the ones TTD is speaking about.

 

[tonym]

Here's a quick video. Let me know if you can see sizzle I am trying to explain in my above post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OTrqA0vfss

 

[texastonydobbs]

I have used ESEE Firekits ,
the original had Misch rods(screwed in), they were softer and instead of sparks,you threw out globs of molten fire balls, using the same striker,same angle,same pressure on the newer ESEE Fire kit that have the LMF rod (glued in) , you get sparks ,like striking a zippo w/o fluid. and that is what John wants in this contest of skills, people to start fires with the LMF style (spark) not misch (globs of molten fire) same rod per say different results.

 

[texastonydobbs]

good video T

 

[Normark]

Hey Guys...

Hmmm OK...

I honestly haven't noticed a difference at all, other than a variance in hardness of the different rods...

Thanks

Eric
O/ST

 

[beanbag]

Tinder #3: Dry Ferns.

These were sticking up all over the forest floor:

They torched up easily, but burned out fast.

Bean

 

[Moosez45]

I have used ESEE Firekits ,
the original had Misch rods(screwed in), they were softer and instead of sparks,you threw out globs of molten fire balls, using the same striker,same angle,same pressure on the newer ESEE Fire kit that have the LMF rod (glued in) , you get sparks ,like striking a zippo w/o fluid. and that is what John wants in this contest of skills, people to start fires with the LMF style (spark) not misch (globs of molten fire) same rod per say different results.

I am not disagreeing with you TTD, as I am sure you know what you are talking about. Last night I had my daughters LMF and my ESEE side by side, striking, and my ESEE is softer, and throws globs, not sparks, same as my GG misch does. My daughters LMF is a sparker. Is it possible I got one that has misch? Maybe during the transition. Sorry for the hijack. Moose

 

[j williams]

FYI: the ESEE Firekit ,if the Rod is glued in it is a standard ferro rod (like LMF) if you look into the handle and see a screw head you have a Misch rod , just FYI for RR and others

Hey Tony, Why did they change?

 

[j williams]

Heres some of mine.....

First up is some fluff from Milkweed pods. Its a flash tinder and requires the use of an extender of some sort. Honey Locust thorns, or wood shavings. This stuff goes up hot, and quick.

Next up Fatwood. This stuff burns forever. I got this chunk from an old pine that got cut down in front of the courthouse. Urban Survival I guess...
Seriously, I wish we had this stuff around here.

more to come...

 

[j williams]

The centers from milkweed pods. Takes a spark nicely from a flint and steel, and a ferro rod. This stuff turns into a nice coal, that with a bundle of dry grass or cedar bark will blow to flame. This one might not count to some, but I consider it a natural tinder.

Good ol Cedar bark. My favorite nat tinder. Grows everywhere in MO, and is good year round. :thumbup:

4 down, 6 to go.....

Ive depleted what I have on hand, so its time for me to hit the bush and gather some more.

 

[CoyotePhysics]

I thought that I would challenge myself with my second tinder and try to use nothing more than a dry stick.

Tinder 2

I tried a couple of different methods; a loose pile of shavings, and a fuzz stick.

Loose shavings is how I normally start fires, but I usually use a bit of magnesium as a primer. I thought that I might be hacking away on my steel to get a coal, and then have to blow it to flame, but after my second strike I got a pleasant surprise.

Flame 3

I normally only make fuzz sticks for windy conditions when loose shavings would get blown away. I thought that my success with the loose pile might have been a fluke, but after 4ish strikes I got a flame.

Flame 4

Next time I'm camping in the rain I'm going to try to bust open some logs and try to strike a fire with shavings from the core, (and then pull out some dry tinder from my kit).

 

[Moosez45]

My two tinder for tonight, dry grass (crab, I think) and Red Oak, that been outside or a couple of weeks. Like J Williams, I shave my dry wood for my tinder most of the time. Works well. Here we go:

Grass first, rolled up and made into a ball.

Used my Mora Triflex to make the Red Oak Shavings, a couple of deep cuts and I was in the dry.

Thanks. Moose

 

[skab8541]

My next go at it, Cat tail fluff. Another flash tinder, but man does it really take off, with the littlest spark! It wasn't easy to catch the flame on camera once, little do it twice!

 

[j williams]

I know what youre sayin Skab! You gotta be quick on the draw with some of these! Thats where good prep can be the differance between fire or no fire.

 

[mcjhrobinson]

i never got to finish the oct challenge but i think i can snap out 20 ignitions here! ive been eyeinng some tinderstuffs at work lately. IM IN!

my gf would never let me use my tools (besides knife) indoors, youre lucky RR!

 

[acv]

#1 Birch Bark

I rough up the end of the piece of bark to help it catch the spark.

Using one of my ferro rod based fire kits - a few sparks and it's lights.