problems with going gear firesteels!

[theamazingdrew]

I just cant seem to get sparks to go off them I have nevr had problems with other fire steels, is there a certain way it needs to be struck? It seems to be softer then others when I strike it curls peel off instead off sparks, im hoping somone knows whats up...................

 

[DWK2]

You'll get plenty of guidance on that here. However, did you check with Going Gear? Nice folks who are helpful.

DancesWithKnives

 

[Iboschi]

I'm considering buying one from them. I'd be curious if this is a technique issue or what. I'll stay posted.

 

[theamazingdrew]

You'll get plenty of guidance on that here. However, did you check with Going Gear? Nice folks who are helpful.

DancesWithKnives

I figured I would check here before I bothered them.

 

[dougo83]

I figured I would check here before I bothered them.

Send a message to storl. Goinggear is his baby. He's a member here too :thumbup:

 

[pitdog]

I heard ya have to strike them quite hard and fast or all ya end up doing is peeling little bits off !

 

[MRpink]

I heard ya have to strike them quite hard and fast or all ya end up doing is peeling little bits off !

+1

I messed with some in the past, and you really need to put some pressure and speed on them (at least more then a standard firesteel). What are you using as a striker?

 

[DWK2]

I figured I would check here before I bothered them.

I recognize that you're trying to be nice to them. However, I'll bet that storl would want you to contact him so that he can personally make certain that you are satisfied. I'm confident he doesn't want any unhappy customers around.

I believe that there are a couple videos on how to best strike the Going Gear misch metal firesteels. You may be able to find them here or by searching You Tube. Sorry that I don't have them marked.

Best of success,

DancesWithknives

 

[storl]

Here you go, this should help:

[youtube]oS8TJAXC9zQ[/youtube]

The key is hard and fast scrapes.

 

[Shuya]

I got problems with them some time ago, too.
There is no trick. If you have experience with other firesteels like the LMF ones, you have to vary a little:
Dont apply too much pressure and strike faster. You get shavings if you are not fast enough to ignite the material with friction.
So: moderate pressure and higher speed is the key.

The LMF Steels are a little less difficult to handle, you can strike them fast, slow, hard, light....

Regards
Michael

 

[matthewdanger]

The Mischmetal fire steels that GoingGear sells are different than the usual Ferroconium fire steels and therefore require different technique. Once the technique is learned they are quite effective.

 

[facablade]

same problem here, no more orders from there :-(

 

[tonym]

There is absolutely no problem with firesteel Going Gear sells. It maybe a lil more difficult to strike for some, but once you learn how to it is one of the most effective firesteels on the market. Specially if you live in a damp climate.
You have to use the whole length of the firesteel and have a solid sharp striker. With medium to hard pressure strike down fast. The outcome will be a shower of sizzling sparks that last about 3 seconds. The extra burn time will ignite your tinder easier than the LMF.

Just with anything, practice makes perfect. Writing off a tool because you can not use it is silly.

 

[okbohn]

same problem here, no more orders from there :-(

It really is a technique thing.

I have found with the misch metal ones it requires a different angle than the LMF ones.

It is not a problem with the steel, or with GoingGear. I was very frustrated when I tried one the first time, but once I got the hang of it I can throw blobs of hot metal over and over and over.

Keep trying and vary your angles.

********tony beat me to it!

 

[Gravitas]

I've had both GoingGear and FS.com firesteels and both work well with a specific technique. I found after about 3 months of use though that I prefer the LMF rod simply because I am used to it, it is much easy to direct sparks and maintain control when using, and it works better with my knife. However, that said GG does make a very high quality "Misch Metal" Rod which requires a different technique and IMHO will light a wider variety of tinder if struck right.

I tend to not like using a striker (to minimize my equipment), and just as a side note I noticed permanent markings on the spine of my F1 where the fuel (aluminum or magnesium) from the FS.com and GG burned into the VG10 laminate. It was strange to see this happen to a knife from a firesteel, took about 10 minutes of 600grit sandpaper to get it out.

 

[Stormdrane]

All of the misch metal firesteels, that I bought from GoingGear, worked just fine. :thumbup: I used the awl on my Leatherman Juice to test each one and just had to get the correct angle with a fast scrape for a shower of sparks.

 

[maranello]

How'd you manage to tie or get the cord to stay on the rod?

 

[Mikel_24]

What now may seem like a disadvangate... it is actually a huge advantage. Unless you are trying to light cotton balls or something very flamable... you want the sparks to last as long as possible. And the curls you get from goinggear fire steels do exactly that. Maybe you end up scratching one, two or three curls without a single spark... but I bet you that once you the the fourth strike to spark... all the previous curls are going to catch on fire and your tinder is going to light no matter what.

It happened to me the other way arround. Fire steels that are harder don't give you such a long lasting sparks. They may make the so called spark shower... but I find easier to light stuff with softer firesteels (like the ones from goinggear).

Mikel

 

[KuRUpTD]

I just cant seem to get sparks to go off them I have nevr had problems with other fire steels, is there a certain way it needs to be struck? It seems to be softer then others when I strike it curls peel off instead off sparks, im hoping somone knows whats up...................

What are you using as a striker ? just remember whatever you use needs to have a sharp edge or else you won't have much success.
Goinggear also sells an inexpensive striker that works great with those rods.

 

[Stormdrane]

How'd you manage to tie or get the cord to stay on the rod?

I made the knots as tight as possible(snake knot used with 2.4mm braided nylon cord), and it won't come off the firesteel unless I intentionally twist/work it off.

A little grip tape or X-treme tape could also be wrapped around the firesteel first, and then knotted over, or some glue could be added at both ends of the knot work to further secure it, but I didn't find it necessary.