Some More RAT kit Firebuildin'

Dizwolf

Dizwolf

Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
2,513
Just a few shots of making some curlies with the RC6, and using the RAT kit to start a fire.
One thing I noticed, the RAT kit shaves off ribbons of burning metal that I'd almost say explode off of the rod. The firesteel.com ones are very nice, and do get globs of burning metal too. But the RAT rod seems softer, and burns much more vigorously off when scraped off. Gonna be putting one of these in every one of my bags soon. I keep 2 cotton make-up removal pads soaked in vasoline in the back of mine, works VERY well at catching a spark and getting things rolling. Thanks for looking

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Great post. I LOVE making fires -- maybe that's why I couldn't get that firefighter job! :) They're supposed to put fires out, not start them.

We've been having a little cooler and wetter weather here in Dallas lately, and I've enjoyed using my Izula and RC-4 for making shavings to start fires in my outdoor wood smoker - even when I don't plan on smoking any meat.
 
The RAT Fire kit is one of the Best Firesteel's I have played with in along time... I have several different brands and from different vendors yet the RAT fire kit is the one I keep in my son & wifes bag.
 
My fire kit should arrive any day now ... Tony in what way is it different from GoingGear firesteels, if you know that - cause I thought they were pretty similar.


OT: I like those gloves.
 
To me, I have several going gear firesteels and they throw good spark, I just ordered a few more just to try out . The RAT fire kit throws a better molten blob of fire. the going gear throws one but it tends to have a different texture ? I mean it just is not the same ,I can use the Spine on my bushcraft blade on the going gear which seems softer and the RAT I can use the spine but I dont get the same effect as if I use the Edge of the blade.
 
luckykitty said:
My fire kit should arrive any day now ... Tony in what way is it different from GoingGear firesteels, if you know that - cause I thought they were pretty similar.


OT: I like those gloves.
Click to expand...

Not sure on the goinggear ones myself. I've heard they're similiar to the firesteel ones, and what tony says seems to support that. That type I get the same thing with the striker or back of a blade, and a little better with an edge. It's a bunch of sparks, and 3-4 molten balls of burning metal. If I'm standing up, they'll usually hit the ground, bounce a little, then go out in a second or two.

The RAT kit, if you push slowly with the kinfe, you can peel off a ribbon of metal. Happened once to me making that fire. It seems like when you pull faster, you get those same ribbons, then they ignite and burn as they fly. I was actually very surprised by them the first pull. In my second photo, thats all light from the steel, tinder hasnt started to burn yet. There's the big flash on main target, then one six inches over the Izula, and one just past the tip of the striker. I'd say they flare for about 2-3 seconds almost on a good pull. And after how well it took the sparks, I'm replacing all my SOS pads and alcohol wipes with the soaked cotton patches.

OT- I love this style glove too. Getting harder to find locally. Most places have gone to heavy gardening gloves, and the newer NASCAR style work gloves. And the few that I can find, the leather is too rough. Found these nice soft ones at wallyworld the other day.
 
The RAT Fire Kit is by far the best fire starter that I have used. I've tried many other different types of firesteels and none of them spark like the RAT. I've put one of them in all of my bags and kits.
 
I see that the rod is removable. Anyone know where to order a new rod for the kit?
 
I've been a bit of a firebug myself lately.

On a sidenote, I was curious, does the RAT fire kit pit the blade or damage the edge with the "balls of fire" it shoots?
 
There's some residue left on the blade, and it will dull a very sharp edge slightly. Cleans up easy enough
 
Cool, thanks. For as small and cheap as they are, the strikers from Going Gear seem like they’re not a bad option either.
 
going gear, LMF, firesteel.com, all good starters. The RAT's just my favorite. Compact, space for tinder, and I'd say the longest 'metal burn' time.

The strikers from goinggear and firesteel.com work, but won't peel ribbons like a knife will. It's a dramatic enough difference with a sharp edge to be worth it to me.
 
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