Spark Light

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I see other types of sparkers for fire starting out there but it seems to me that the spark light is the easiest to use.

It's cheap, tiny, one handed and if they tell the truth they last a long time.

Any downsides?

Now this is coming from a city boy who has never been far from a match. I do camp though and when I do I take the time to try out these types of things.

This thread comes from another thread about a fire steel and it just got me to thinking.....


Paul
random thoughts on a random night....
 
I like the Spark Lite, but it doesn't throw the biggest shower of sparks. As a result, sometimes it is tough to light some tinders. IT is pretty reliable with the Tinder Quiks that come with it.

-- FLIX
 
I have one and I like it - however, as noted, it works best with the included
tinder. Something to think about is that it is easily used one handed. With
practice you can use a fire steel one handed (actually, one hand and one
foot).

If I could only have one it would be a fire steel.
 
Sparklite will work on cotton balls and cotton bells with p-jelly, so you can live with out the sparklite tender, I know I tried it out.


RickJ
 
I like it too and have several of them. I've been using the same one for several years without problem.

I find the tinder quick that comes with it to be excellent tinder that can be cut in half, or even thirds, extending the number of fires that can be started. Plus, it's real cheap to pick up replacement tinder.

Like was mentioned, the little sparker doesn't throw a lot of sparks, but I've started homemade cotton/wax firestarters, PJ/cotton balls, cattail fluff and powder scrapings from birch bark with it.

I gotta admit though, I like using the BSA Hotspark more, but in a one hand situation, the spark-lite will get the call every time.
 
I have a couple in my packs, but these days I have buying the orange mini-bics to go with my ferro rods and PJ cotton balls. The mini-bic is roughly the same size as the spark-lite and is cheaper (and is also a lighter!). My son and I have messed around with different fire starting strategies (in differing weather conditions) and we have had success with PJ cotton balls and a ferro rods (if a lighter isn't available). I think practice is the key with any option that a person chooses....
 
I have a older spark lite made of brass. Its great, I love it! You can change flints and carry extra ones in the handle too.
 
I've used my spark light to light a candle once. Took about 4-5 flicks.

I like 'em and I'm glad they are cheap!

I would love to get my hands on one of those older brass ones.
 
There was just a run of anodized aluminum ones on E-bay a couple months ago. Pretty cool. I would like to have a brass one as well.

They don't require special tinder - I don't know where these ideas come from...
 
I prefer the Sparklite to a firesteel, but, IF Im completely honest I guess the moving parts ARE more succeptible to damage than a plain old flint rod.

I often carry both anyway!
 
Don Rearic said:
They don't require special tinder - I don't know where these ideas come from...
Click to expand...

That's kind of what I thought to.

A spark is a spark. It may not throw a ton of sparks but you can hit it over and over again very fast.
 
I carry a Sparklite in my Altiods tin PSK along with four of the tinder bundles it came with. They work well for lighting their prepared tinder or PJ cotton. I keep two little straws filled with PJ cotton in the PSK as well.

For lighting natural materials they aren't as good as a larger ferro rod as the sparks are fewer and smaller. I keep it mainly for the one handed feature. Mac
 
Don Rearic said:
They don't require special tinder - I don't know where these ideas come from...
Click to expand...

Almost all spark type fire starters require special tinder. :)

Now, before you try to beat me up in the parking lot, let me explain
what I mean by that.

Even napalm won't light a good sized tree trunk. Tinder has to be brought
to the kindling temperature to ignite. (I'm stating the obvious there.)

So, bigger and hotter sparks have a better chance of raising the tinder
to kindling temperature before the spark cools.

An example - none of us would be too concerned about sticking our hand
in the stream of sparks from a bench grinder. The particles don't have
enough mass to raise our skin temperature to a damage point. However,
what if those particles were the size of BBs? Or marbles?

In the end, it is all about the mass and density of the tinder and the
temperature differential between the two. (And, things that affect
the ease with which the tinder's temperature can be raised - such
as moisture.)

So, what is my point? I really, really like the sparklite and plan on buying
more of them but I have better luck lighting lower quality tinder with
the firesteel.

As always, one size does not fit all, your mileage may vary, and umm...
discontinue use if rash develops.

PS: And have a merry Christmas!
 
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