Thinking of buying some misch metal rods as my primary survival firesteel...

K

Kirk_Ferentz

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Feb 16, 2010
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589
... this is based on my research in these fora--it looked like a misch rod from goinggear might be the best option out there. Some of the posts are pretty old, so wanted to hear what you all had to say about this. Confirm or tell me if you think there is a better option.

I know that a lot of it comes down to personal technique and preference, and there are many good options out there.

Also, any specific recommendations about which rod to get, which striker to use, etc. would be appreciated.
 
Goinggear is still the best place IMHO. Size will depend on your preference, my favorite is the badger.

I prefer to use the back of my knife, which has a good square spine, as opposed to a dedicated striker...one less thing to keep up with.
 
Any advice about whether to get one of the models with a handle? The website is a little ambiguous, but I'm guessing that the handled models are still misch metal (it doesn't say so)? It would be nice to be able to thread a lanyard through a handle hole to attach it to a backpack or sheath or something.

Also, my understanding is that high carbon is what works for strikers, and stainless is weak or ineffectual as a striker. Anyone have any experience using an AUS8A blade for a striker? I will upgrade to something like a bravo-2 or fallkniven S-1, but for now my main chopper blade is AUS8A. I'm guessing 440C doesn't do very well as a striker ... My other knife is 154CM and may be picking up a D-2 blade--guessing these work very well as strikers.
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
Any advice about whether to get one of the models with a handle? The website is a little ambiguous, but I'm guessing that the handled models are still misch metal (it doesn't say so)? It would be nice to be able to thread a lanyard through a handle hole to attach it to a backpack or sheath or something.

Also, my understanding is that high carbon is what works for strikers, and stainless is weak or ineffectual as a striker. Anyone have any experience using an AUS8A blade for a striker? I will upgrade to something like a bravo-2 or fallkniven S-1, but for now my main chopper blade is AUS8A. I'm guessing 440C doesn't do very well as a striker ... My other knife is 154CM and may be picking up a D-2 blade--guessing these work very well as strikers.
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Thats only with a pice of stone, stainless works as good as any carbon on a misch metal or ferro rod:thumbup:
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
Also, my understanding is that high carbon is what works for strikers, and stainless is weak or ineffectual as a striker.
.
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All you need is a sharp edge and stainless will work just as fine as carbon steel. My Fallkniven F1 works just as well as my Ontario TAK as a striker.
 
I bought a few ferro rods from firesteel.com and they work well enough but don't throw the globs like goinggear mischmetal rods. I handed them out to friends, kids, put them in kits, etc.

Lately though I've been considering the complications with mischmetal rods if starting a fire one-handed is required.
 
I love the going gear rods, once you figure out how to spark them you will be fine. Like the other guys said, any hard sharp edge will throw sparks regardless of type of steel. The badger fire steel is 4", and what I prefer. The longer surface enabled the user to more contact to get better and bigger sparks.
If I am want to take a smaller firesteel, I opt for an LMF type fire steel.
 
Going Gear's mische metal rods are good and I like the fact that you can buy them in almost any size configuration and without the handle to save costs. At the same time, many other brands (even some of the cheap Chinese knockoffs) seem to work well. Some of those knockoffs work horribly also.

My advice, first, don't settle for just one firesteel as you will loose it or eventually wear it out. Buy 4 or five and tuck them into different parts of your kit. Second advice, really practice with it. Even the best firesteels require some skill to use and basic technique. The best way to practice is to regularly use your firesteel to start your campfires rather than a lighter or matches. Also whenever feasible, use natural tinders rather than synthetics so that you challenge yourself under difficult conditions. With great technique and knowledge of tinders you will be able to make even the cheapest knockoff's work well for you.
 
The Mishmetal of the GG firesteels is awesome. I have handled many firesteels, and it is second to none. I bought a striker for mine, but I mainly use a rock as the striker, to be honest with you. The rock has a notch like think in it and the firesteel fits perfectly into it. Throws sparks just as well.
 
kmm said:
All you need is a sharp edge and stainless will work just as fine as carbon steel. My Fallkniven F1 works just as well as my Ontario TAK as a striker.
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Hardness has a lot to do with it too. I have some stainless knives like the Fallkniven A-1 in laminated VG-10, and my SOGs in AUS-8 that will throw great sparks using the spine, and I have some knives in O-1 and 1095 that will throw great sparks with the spine. But I also have some knives with differential heat treats with O-1 steel and D-2 steel that even with squared spines don't throw sparks quite as well. If you really want to trow some great sparks find a nice sharp-edged sliver of flint :)
 
kgd said:
My advice, first, don't settle for just one firesteel as you will loose it or eventually wear it out. Buy 4 or five and tuck them into different parts of your kit.
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Yes, also pick up a few Surefires while you are at it so I can go home early this weekend. :D

Another consideration would be the one handed fire starters from UST, the BlastMatch and Sparkie. I know there are methods where you can stick a knife in a log, your shoe, passing squirrel, etc. and use a firesteel one handed, but I really like the spring loaded mechanism of the Sparkie myself.

That said, I can't throw sparks with it nearly as well as I can with my hardwood handled 3/8" x 4" rod and a properly hardened knife. I can shoot the sparks a good 10-15' with that combo.

For a striker, any hard, sharp edge will work. We have strikers specifically made for this that work well, but I prefer a fixed blade because you can get more leverage and pressure on the firesteel, which means more and longer burning sparks.
 
BigNate said:
I bought a few ferro rods from firesteel.com and they work well enough but don't throw the globs like goinggear mischmetal rods. I handed them out to friends, kids, put them in kits, etc.

Lately though I've been considering the complications with mischmetal rods if starting a fire one-handed is required.
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Place knife on ground at a slight upward angle over tinder nest. Secure knife with foot. Take ferro rod in one hand and stroke upward along back edge of knife, sending sparks into tinder. Repeat as needed.

Practice until you're an expert. It won't take long.

:thumbup:
 
BigNate said:
I bought a few ferro rods from firesteel.com and they work well enough but don't throw the globs like goinggear mischmetal rods. I handed them out to friends, kids, put them in kits, etc.

Lately though I've been considering the complications with mischmetal rods if starting a fire one-handed is required.
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While goinggears are great steels, I have 0 problems throwing globs with firesteels.com steels.
 
i've used a piece of broken glass from the bottom of a bottle as a striker. it works great! as mentioned above, carbon steel is not required.
 
Here's my recommendation on misch metal rods. I've tried the "light my fire" rod, the goinggear rod, and most recently the ones from firesteel.com

"Light My Fire Rod": Throws good sparks but no globs..meaning it doesn't throw shavings of the metal that burn for a while. However, when you scrap the sparks they go where you want them to go.

"GoingGear Rod". Throws globs of metal that burn for a while. However, it's hard to control where the sparks go. Most of the time they go everywhere except where you want them. Just takes more practice (but they do work well)

"Firesteel.com". For me..this was the PERFECT blend of the the above two firesteels. You can throw globs of misch metal that will burn for a bit AND you can control where they go.

In my opinion I rank them as such.

1. Firesteel.com
2. GoingGear Rod's
3. Light my Fire.

Obviously there are more choices out there but these are the ones I have experience with.

*EDIT*

I think the real test is not how well a firestarter lights up things like cotton balls, fatwood, or magnesium. I think the real test is how well it lights up "normal" tinder. Stuff that is not as flamable...or stuff that is not prepared as tinder.

I know pine needles are little flamable but they are not wood shavings. I just went outside and tried to light pine needs (without crushing them) with my goinggear rod and the firesteel rod. The goinggear rod lit the pine needles the fastest (actually really quick). I'm sure that's due to the long burn time of the metal shavings. The Firesteel.com rod lit them as well it just took a little longer. So I guess I'm back to a toss up between the two rods. I like the control of the sparks with the firesteel.com rods but the goinggear rod will easily get almost any tinder started as long as you get the sparks where they need to be (which can be easy once you've had some practice).
 
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Thanks everyone, a lot of good info. I already have a one-hander in case that is ever needed, and yes, I plan to buy 3 or 4 of the rods. Probably one pretty big one and some smaller ones to place in other kits and a back up in my main kit.
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
Thanks everyone, a lot of good info. I already have a one-hander in case that is ever needed, and yes, I plan to buy 3 or 4 of the rods. Probably one pretty big one and some smaller ones to place in other kits and a back up in my main kit.
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Get at least 2 in each size that you plan on using. That way you have one for practice and one for your kit. Below is a list of the things I have in my fire kit just incase you want some help with that also:

Going Gear Firesteel
Going Gear Striker
couple sticks of fat wood
PJ Soaked cotton balls in a Going Gear battery capsule
1/8oz Tobasco jar with Lighter Fluid - If the PJ cotton balls don't light, the Lighter fludd will
TP for extra tinder and it keeps things from rolling around

Heber
 
I grabbed one of the larger Going Gear mischief metals last year and built a handle. Not the prettiest thing in the world, but it's the best firesteel I have ever owned. Big, long and easy to throw sparks.

I'm sure this has someone to do with my technique, but the mish metal one has been the only one I have ever been able to get fire on birch bark without any effort.
 
newknife said:
"Light My Fire Rod": Throws good sparks but no globs..meaning it doesn't throw shavings of the metal that burn for a while. However, when you scrap the sparks they go where you want them to go.
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Really depends on how hard you scrape and how sharp your scraper is. Honestly, with a sharp spine and solid stroke I can make LMFs throws the globs just like the Mische metal ones. The method I like best is to press the tip of the rod down into the tinder onto the surface, holding part of the tinder down with rod. Then a solid scrape forces the sparks right there.

Magnussen also demonstrated the score technique that works really well with LMFs which allows you to throw globs of metal but also to control how much globs come off and to direct it at the tip. Take the edge of your knife and make a small score line about 1/4" from the tip of the rod about 1/3 of the way around the diameter. Now hook the edge of your scraper into the score line and give it a forceful scrape. The scraper will remove all the metal at the score line to tip and give you a healthy smoldering glob. Nice thing about this method is that it eats your rod from the tip down in a controlled manner rather than giving it the hour glass effect. Bad thing is you have to trust the heat treat of your knife when you are scoring it all the time and that means a bit more sharpening time when you come home.
 
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