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Steel fire striker HELP!

9

99f250

Joined
Mar 23, 2009
Messages
503
Ok, I've been trying with no success to make a steel fire striker to use with flint. I got a piece of 1/4in carbon steel rod, heated it up so I could bend it to an oval shape to place my fingers in to strike with and no sparks. I've watched plenty of vids on the tech. Any advice or links on the proper way?
 
I have a forged striker from one of the muzzle loading supply places. I had flint & steel sets many years ago but when I tried to imitate my old technique, this steel wouldn't produce sparks. I tried all sorts of different striking angles, levels of force, speeds, etc. What finally got a few sparks with this particular steel was starting with the steel right up against the flint edge at about a 60 degree angle between the bottom of the flint and the steel. I then pulled/ground the steel across the flint very quickly, maintaining contact for as long as possible. More of a scraping motion than a striking motion.

A big English grey flint worked better than the smaller ones that came with the kit. I held a piece of charcloth on top of the flint to catch the sparks---once I finally got a few.

Despite the fact that this is supposed to be a very good steel, it doesn't seem to perform as well as I recall from decades ago. Of course, it may just be that in my memory they worked better back then than they really used to....;)

DancesWithKnives
 
How hard the steel became after it cooled could have everything to do with your problem. If the steel is too hard, the sparks will be minuscule and won't catch at all as only small pieces of the steel will be dislodged. With a softer steel, the flint will render larger pieces. The miniscule pieces only stay hot for a very short time, probably not enough to make any visible light. The larger the piece, the longer it stays hot and the better chance you have of catching it in your char cloth. Maybe try annealing your steel?
 
Blais said:
How hard the steel became after it cooled could have everything to do with your problem. If the steel is too hard, the sparks will be minuscule and won't catch at all as only small pieces of the steel will be dislodged. With a softer steel, the flint will render larger pieces. The miniscule pieces only stay hot for a very short time, probably not enough to make any visible light. The larger the piece, the longer it stays hot and the better chance you have of catching it in your char cloth. Maybe try annealing your steel?
Click to expand...

I quenched the steel in oil after heating and bending, whats annealing?
 
The steel you use needs to be high carbon steel (old file, knife and saw blades, 1095 etc.) low carbon steel doesnt usualy work at all.
 
could be the shape of the steel rounds dont work as well as sharp corners, I also agree with you could have gotten it too hard try putting it in your oven on 500 for 20min
 
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