Recommended Firesteels?

K

k-spar

Joined
Jun 8, 2007
Messages
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I've got an old BSA Hotspark which has served me well, as long as i've been using cotton balls. After reading this link,
http://www.mikespinak.com/articles/Essays/e994firesteelhowto.html, I've gotten a lot better at striking it and getting a constant stream of hot sparks, and even got a good ember on a piece of printer paper in a few seconds.

But now I realize that a longer and wider firesteel would be better. Do you guys have any brands you recommend? Also, any good places online to get them cheap? Thanks
 
here is the quote from the linked article, which I personally agree with:

Longer ferro rods work better than shorter ones, and larger diameter ferro rods work better than smaller diameter ferro rods. Larger firesteels allow you to strike a larger surface area, and thereby create more sparks per strike. Larger firesteels also allow for a better grip, which lets you strike the ferrocerium rod both harder and more adeptly.

It is for this reason I use the 1/2" diameter by 4" long firesteel.
It has a drilled hole for a lanyard, which also gives you a way to attach a striker, and even a small container of your finest tinder.

here is where i got mine:
http://www.epcamps.com/4in_Flint.html

I have it on my list to get another, in order to outfit two separate kits.

The "Light My Fire" style / original Swedish fire steels do seem to be made of high quality mischmetal , as well, as many folks sing their praises.

Here is another source of various sizes of generic fero-rods if you want to make your own kit, even add your own handle, or make some "mini" kits:
http://www.campingsurvival.com/flintbar18x2.html
 
You can get 10 firesteels (1/4" x 2 1/2") for $8.90 plus $5.00 shipping on ebay. Just search ferro rod.
I just bought some, but haven't gotten them yet.
 
Anyone know the weight of those big 4"x1/2" ferro rods? I'm tempted but I'd think they're be fairly heavy.
 
I like the light my fire steels. Bark River even makes those ferro rods into custom steels.
 
+1 to ferrocerium.com. Good prices, great customer service, and different sizes to choose from. I posted on my site about how one of the ones they sent was split in half, and they promptly replaced it after an email.

I like the blanks much better than the LMF ones, since I can make my own handle, don't have to deal with a crappy striker, and they are cheaper! I know I could just modify an LMF, but I would rather start with a blank in the first place. :D
 
thanks guys, just bought 1 from ferrocerium, as well as a light my fire army from amazon. They were out of the biggest at ferrocerium which was disappointing, but their shipping is decent.

Good thing I posted this thread, as I just snapped through my old hotspark! Too much fun using the new hacksaw striker :o
 
Ultimate survival "Strike Force".

tough construction case protects the rod, a fixed striker and you can fit a 5 yr supply of vaseline cotton balls in its hollow handle. Perfect all in one unit if size is less and issue.

Skam
 
My favourite is the Blastmatch:

Blastmatch

It is compact, protected, and the sparks are sure hot. Only downfall is that the end needs to be pushed against something to use it.
 
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