The difference between Mishmetal - and Firesteel - group project.

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

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Mar 19, 2007
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The reality is that both Firesteel and Mishmetal are really a conflated concept that fall under the heading of the actual term 'Ferrocerium'.

"Ferrocerium is a man-made metallic material that has the ability to give off a large number of hot sparks at temperatures at 3,000 °F (1,650 °C) when scraped against a rough surface, such as ridged steel." (Wikipedia)

Originally Ferrocerium was simply iron and cerium - but modern Ferrocerium is made of different alloys (Combinations of metals) to make up a product that produces sparks of different durations.

For the purpose of this thread - I will call all of these types of Ferrocerium devices "Ferro Rods"


There appear to be two loose camps of these alloys - an alloy that produces shorter lasting sparks, but uses less material (from the rod) and is easier to spark (takes less velocity when sparking) and an allow that produces longer producing sparks, but is softer and takes more velocity to make a spark (thus at times producing just curls of material instead of a spark).

The former, harder alloy I will call 'Firesteel' for the purposes of this thread - and the later, softer alloy I will call 'Mishmetal' for the purposes of this thread. (In reality these distinctions are specious - but it appears this verbiage is being used in Wilderness Survival as a whole - and so I will carry this tradition).

Firesteel:

The quintessential firesteel that appear in this type of Ferro Rod is the 'Swedish Firesteel' made by 'Light My Fire'.

http://www.industrialrev.com/swedish-firesteel-army-2.html

This firesteel is much easier to strike - but produced smaller sparks and less material comes off the rod and seems to be harder in composition.

Products that fit under this category:

BlastMatch
Light My Fire Firesteel
Doan Firestarter Tool
Magfire Magnesium Firestarter


Mishmetal:

A Mishmetal that is used very often is the one found at firesteel.com.

This mishmetal takes more velocity to strike, but the sparks produced are much longer in duration and the rod seems softer in composition.

Products that fir under this category:

Goinggear.com Blanks
firesteel.com blanks
Strikeforce


A comparison:

Here is a great comparison done by GoingGear.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbdcH5taRZ8&feature=relmfu

LMF Firesteel and Blastmatch seem to use a 'Firesteel' whereas the 'firesteel.com' is a 'Mishmetal'.

Check out this video - that shows how a 'Mishmetal' when used slowly actually shaves off material without producing sparks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS8TJAXC9zQ&feature=relmfu

Also - this video (By our own Mistwalker) shows the 'Mishmetal' (first rod) and the LMF 'Firesteel' (second rod) and how they produce sparks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MONy4VYvJpc


Purpose of this thread:

This thread is not to argue which is better - as each person seem to have their favorites - the purpose is to simply identify the difference in products out there and what camp they fall in so that people can make an informed decision when buying a Ferro Rod.

So - here is where you come in.

Post up the product you own and have used and which camp it falls under 'Firesteel' or 'Mishmetal'.


Thanks,

TF
 
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I have a couple of LMF's and a firesteel.com one, and rank them the same as you do. :)
 
I own a couple of them all. I have my best luck with the old esee mishmetal versions. then going gear and then the light my fire ones. I can do it with any of them it just take more patients for me with the LMF. I also found these magnesium ones at a gun show, not like the mag blocks at walmart but very nice ones. if you got a tinder bundle and scrape of the shavings in to it, they light so easy. it's not like magnesium you normally see (supposedly their own creation) but it's very soft and scrapes of very easy. burns super hot and if you add water it burns hotter. pretty cool and by far one of my favorites for wet conditions.
 
I really have taken to using the Doan mil-spec magnesium block jobs. I still have some LMF's, but I haven't been using them.
 
i like the goinggear/mischmetal ones. the main reason is i found i can light up wood curls far more often/easier than lmf/firesteel. also, mischmetal can also act like a magnesium bar - just shave off a nice pile of it on hard to light tinder and then strike it as usual to light up that pile...it's almost foolproof.
 
JV3 said:
i like the goinggear/mischmetal ones. the main reason is i found i can light up wood curls far more often/easier than lmf/firesteel. also, mischmetal can also act like a magnesium bar - just shave off a nice pile of it on hard to light tinder and then strike it as usual to light up that pile...it's almost foolproof.
Click to expand...

Someone just needs to make a little brick out of it like the Doan mag blocks. Then you have your tinder and ignition source in one piece. :D
 
Mischemetal fits my style....Strike that steel as fast and hard as a bunny humping a stick!
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Someone just needs to make a little brick out of it like the Doan mag blocks. Then you have your tinder and ignition source in one piece. :D
Click to expand...

goinggear's 1/2" diameter mischmetal rod makes mag blocks obsolete :)

50_cal_firesteel.jpg


becker_firesteel_01.jpg
 
I want to try and focus on what Firesteel's fit what category - as opposed to what people like.

I have found it to be tough to tell before buying which is which.

TF
 
Talfuchre said:
I want to try and focus on what Firesteel's fit what category - as opposed to what people like.

I have found it to be tough to tell before buying which is which.

TF
Click to expand...

Well on that note, any idea what type of firesteel the striker is in the Doan magnesium blocks?
 
My LMF Swedish Army steel and my Mag Fire are very similar, and relatively hard. My Blastmatch is also fairly hard. I would classify all three as Firesteel under your classification system.

My Strike Force is definitely softer and behaves more like your description of Mischmetal.
 
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Lambert,

You mention the Strike Force Twice and in both categories - did you mean to?

EDIT:

OP edited to reflect our current findings.

TF
 
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TF - Oops, my bad, I corrected that. My LMF and Mag Fire are very similar, and, along with the Blastmatch, would be Firesteel. The Strike Force (Ultimate Survival) is more like Mischmetal.
 
Just chiming in to say that your explanation and classification so far is right on and matches my experience. Ferrocerium Rod is the proper generic term in my mind, while Blastmatch, FireSteel, StrikeForce are trademarked product names created by various manufacturers.
 
Tal,

Based on your descriptions above, all referenced below would fall under the definition of Firesteel that you have provided:

Doan, several antler handled mag block/ferro sticks, Boy scout firesteel, LMF.
Over the last few years, my favorite has been the LMF army model, but I think it is just a phase because I enjoy the total process of fire prep and the overall size of the ferro.

Mishmetal?:
I don't know the name of the unit, but was referenced on the forum a few years ago and has magnesium? and ferro in the same rod (not separately but combined - so unsure if it is magnesium or not ). Sparks are very hot, and have impressive burn time, in fact, the chunks that come off will even bounce on a hard surface they are so large, meaning the longest burn time per strike I've seen on a ferro solution);due to size, I'd have to carry in my pocket (which are already full :rolleyes:), so I EDC the Army LMF because it can ride in the same case with my Leatherman.
 
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Thanks for the effort everyone, and particularly to the O.P. I had about 3\4 of this figured out but this thread has helped me with final clarification and organization, the links are great. I appreciate all the effort and input. :thumbup:
 
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