super large firesteels?

I use a spray bottle with water while drilling ferrocerium. It not only cools, preventing sparks, but it lubricates, resulting in longer drill bit life.
 
I have a 0.5" X 4" ferrocerium rod and as others have mentioned, it throws a shower of sparks. However, it is kind of heavy, 3 ounces (feels like 3 pounds in my pocket). I have reserved this for my woodstove, and carry a 3/8" X 2.5" rod which weighs 0.5 ounce and throws almost the same amount of sparks.
 
approximately how much is that plus shipping to Canada? let us know how it turns out and i may end up making a bulk order. thanks
 
I have drilled some rods as well. First I tried with slow speed and no water. That worked until I was trying to widen a hole and the whole pile of drilled out stuff caught fire and it smelled like ***** in my house. I now just place the whole drill rig in the zink and pour lots of water over it all and drill, still quite slowly.
 
Neanderthal said:
I use a spray bottle with water while drilling ferrocerium. It not only cools, preventing sparks, but it lubricates, resulting in longer drill bit life.
Click to expand...

My main problem is that I don't have a drill press so even clamping down the ferro rod tight so I don't need to hold it, I am running out ouf hands to use any kind of Spray bottle... :D :D :D

I may just ask for help to someone else to spray it with water next time. What kind of drills do you guys use?
Mikel
 
Mikel,

I just use a new (sharp) HSS drill. I ussually start with 1mm and go up to 4 or 5mm depending on the firesteel thickness.
I just drill slow speed and stop to add a drop of water after a while. Just to keep the shavings wet. When I have a pile of shavings, I remove them to prevent combustion........:D

CZ
 
cz75b said:
Mikel,

I just use a new (sharp) HSS drill. I ussually start with 1mm and go up to 4 or 5mm depending on the firesteel thickness.
I just drill slow speed and stop to add a drop of water after a while. Just to keep the shavings wet. When I have a pile of shavings, I remove them to prevent combustion........:D

CZ
Click to expand...

Thats exactly what I use... HSS drills... but I start and finish with the very same drill bit (3mm I guess, I have a ferro rod now on me but don't have a calipper to measure it). Maybe it is worth trying to start with a smaller one and then enlarging the hole with a bigger one. That would take less pressure to do the first hole and enlarging is always easier.

A little bit off topic...
While watching the DVD of the Sharpmaker I noticed how Sal explains how to sharpen wood drill bits with the stones. Now my question is, can HSS drill bits be sharpened using the sharpmaker stones? I am just sick of having a bunch of dull drill bits lying arround... Before anyone tells me about it, NO, I don't plan on getting a full enchilada dril bitt sharpenning machine (I know they exist though).

Mikel
 
Mikel_24 said:
My main problem is that I don't have a drill press so even clamping down the ferro rod tight so I don't need to hold it, I am running out ouf hands to use any kind of Spray bottle... :D :D :D

I may just ask for help to someone else to spray it with water next time. What kind of drills do you guys use?
Mikel
Click to expand...

================================= I clamp the rod in a vice and make a dimple while holding the drill with two hands. From there I simply hold the drill in my right hand while using the spray bottle with my left.
 
OR, you guys could just drill a hole in the end of a cork, real or synthetic, and put a dab of hot melt glue in the hole then shove in the rod. Now you have the place to hold the rod while striking it. It floats, seen easier if you drop it, and can be cut to be used as a fishing float if need be.
 
You are right Tracker... I bought six of them, drilled them all and two of them got damaged in the proccess. One just got chipped a little bit, no big deal. But the other one split by half almost an inch! I just glued that big chunk back on and hope it gives just the right amount of strength so I don't end up with two pieces of ferrocerium when I attemp to strike it with a knife.

The next ones will probably be thinner (6mm thick) and I won't even atempt to drill them.
Mikel
 
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