RAT Fire Tool Help

R

RatDrall

Joined
Feb 7, 2009
Messages
467
I tried using my RAT fire tool today and it didn't go well.

I might be misunderstanding something.

I started with the edge of the knife against the top of the rod. When I pulled the rod back, leaving the knife in place, it just shaved the coating off of the rod, which is now shiny silver metal, without creating a single spark.

Am I doing something wrong?
 
RatDrall said:
I tried using my RAT fire tool today and it didn't go well.

I might be misunderstanding something.

I started with the edge of the knife against the top of the rod. When I pulled the rod back, leaving the knife in place, it just shaved the coating off of the rod, which is now shiny silver metal, without creating a single spark.

Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...
i might be wrong but in my experiance when that happens i use less pressure and more speed to the procces
 
Many times it takes me a few strikes to get good sparks.

Seems like I have to get through that dull gray oxidation layer before it will spark good sometimes.
 
i normaly dont get a spark till i get some of the coating off... then i just go at it... your going to have to practice a bit before ya get it though
 
Takes a sharp edge, pressure, and speed. Much more so than a "firesteel" on the last two. The coating doesn't really matter much, it can seem to spark better after the coating is off, but seems to me more that it just takes a couple tries to get used to the technique than the coating having much to do with it.
 
I had a similar problem, and yeah, they take getting use to, but once you get them going, its a huge shower of sparks. just make sure you blade is 90deg to the rod, if you are leaning back at all, it will chatter and your rod will look funny. I havn't found out yet if that will change how the rod works though.
 
Just use the blade and crank that mother!

It's not like a normal firesteel, it'll do much less damage to your edge and remove alot more of the firesteel but it'll shoot off little balls of the sun.
 
RatDrall said:
I tried using my RAT fire tool today and it didn't go well.

I might be misunderstanding something.

I started with the edge of the knife against the top of the rod. When I pulled the rod back, leaving the knife in place, it just shaved the coating off of the rod, which is now shiny silver metal, without creating a single spark.

Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...

Exposed shiny metal is a good thing, that's the stuff that makes sparks. The black coating is just that, a coating. Fire steels don't reallly work until you strike in the same spot a few times and wear through that.
 
You can buy the rods at GoingGear.com.

From what I understand you will have to drill into the replacement rod so it will screw in. It is just a blank rod. I have to imagine you would want to drill that thing over a concrete floor while wearing a mask. And a fire retardant suit. Also try having a hose nearby ;)
 
The coated part will keep it from sparking, scrape that gently off.
I use a spoon/can opener/bottle opener tool I got from BestGlide as a striker
or I use the back end of a small Buck key chain/neck knife, that works well also.
 
That rod will last quite awhile. When it burns up, buying a new one is goin to be less risky than drilling into the top of a firesteel.
 
I actually found the rat rods to burn hotter and longer than the firesteel.com and going gear rods. They seem softer, leading to more burning metal bits. Thus, most awemosest.
 
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