This supposed to happen?

fedaykincmndr

fedaykincmndr

Joined
Aug 3, 2004
Messages
971
So, I was trying to start a fire with the Swedish Firesteel scout I got from 1sks and well, it broke. That's right, in half while I was striking. All I have to say is thank God I was not in a situation that would've required such a tool. I was just practicing my skills (or lack thereof). My question is, is this supposed to happen or have I done something horribly wrong? Thanks in advance.
 
Are you striking the firesteel with a glancing blow? If so, that may be your problem. You don't need to hit it to produce spark. Just run the metal thingie (or knife blade) along it in a fast scraping motion...
 
The same thing happened to one of the guys on survivor last year. As akennedy73 noted, you scrape the rod not chop into it.

-Cliff
 
You can also hold the knife, and scrape the rod backwards across it....this causes all the sparks to hit the same location.
 
Nope no striking only downward, slow, scraping motion with the stock striker. I did it with my knife as well and seemed to have less of a problem but this time when it broke was only the second time I'd used it. Is the military version better being that it's thicker?
 
Wow, never seen one break. Maybe there was previous damage when transporting, or a manufaturing flaw of some kind. On the other hand, if you used a lot of pressure when striking, you could have broken it. It doesn't take any pressure while running the striker along the sparking rod. It only takes an appropriately sharp edge (not cutting edge of knife). Many knife spines are rounded, not sharply angled and getting a good set of sparks will be difficult, especially from a Stainless blade, where getting the tool to spark may never happen. All applying more pressure will do is..................

The Army model is thicker and will spark many more fires, but the technique will need to be correct, as will the striking tool.
 
Feday, I've never experienced or heard of one breaking, either, which leads me to believe that yours may have been defective.

I've used both of the firesteels and prefer the military version, due to its vastly thicker design. Both will work well (at least, shouldwork well :eek: ) but the thicker firesteel/metal match will start many, many more fires.

It's a good thing that you tried yours out before voyaging out into the wild with it. In fact, it's a good idea to test out ALL wilderness tools while in town, before depending on them where they are much more critical.
 
longbow50 said:
Many knife spines are rounded, not sharply angled and getting a good set of sparks will be difficult, especially from a Stainless blade, where getting the tool to spark may never happen. /QUOTE]


Hey longbow,

A ferro rod should spark just fine from a stainless steel blade or even a sharp rock. Just to make sure it wasn't my senior hard drive that was malfunctioning, I just used it successfully with the stainless steel main blade of my Victorinox Ranger.

Doc
Click to expand...
 
I would call the supplier and ask about an exchange, or the maker

mine is 5 years old and works just fine, only one i have ever seen broken was misused by someone who had no clue, (not implying anything) but the person used that one as a lever to tighten a turnbuckle
 
To be honest I've not used on like this but I've never seen one break either. Wherein lies the question. I think in retrospect I may have been bearing down on it a little hard but it didn't seem to spark unless I did so. Any suggestions on technique so I don't break another one, and another thing; it took a LONG time to get the tinder to catch. How long is it supposed to take? How many strikes (to get to the red hot center of a fire :D)? I was using natural tinder down here in FL, the most abundant type, dried Spanish Moss. It catches nicely with a lighter or match but it took some time to get it to light with the firesteel. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
I get a TON of sparks off of the flint embedded in the standard magnesium-block starter by using a little piece of a hacksaw blade. You'll get good sparks off the back of the blade, but for a real torrent, use the teeth. (rough on the flint, but makes a lot of sparks... good for emergencies?) I broke off 5 inches and wrapped the first few inches in tape to make a handle-type-thing.

Holding the striker still and moving the flint does seem to be much more controllable.
 
I beleive that the firestarters come with a coating that must first be removed by scraping and its possible that you were trying too hard to get sparks with the coating still on which led to too much pressure then breakage.

..........Mike
 
I had one from gerber that was the size of your finger. I cant remeber what the name is but I will go look.
It works SO good I don't even carry matches anymore.
 
http://www.campsaver.com/product.php?pid=372226
I guarantee this thing works. Ive had this one since i was like 20. It still works great
comes with its own edge to strike with. has a compartment in it to hold stuff
I have fisjh hooks, #60 spider wire, a compass, sharpened one side of the little blade.
It can pull out so one end is shapened and one is square.

THE BEST SPARKER EVER I was in the boyscouts and the other kids were SO jealous when I showed up with one of these.
screw magnesium shavings, run the scraper down this slow and make a little pile then throw a spark at it and cover your hair and eyes!!
 
fedaykincmndr said:
I may have been bearing down on it a little hard
Click to expand...
That there is your problem. You shouldn't lean the tip of the ferro rod at all. I have one that has lasted about ten years and is worn thin as a match that still gives good spark and hasn't broken. Try the method stated earlier holding the knife stationary and running the rod across the spine. Good luck.
 
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