troubles w/ the rat firesteel

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bmw4life1

Joined
May 9, 2009
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anyone else have problems getting tinder lit with their rat firesteel? i get sparks but never enough i guess? maybe i just need more practice.

thanks

dylan
 
I haven't used one, but with GoingGear type mische metal rods which produce the same type of molten globs the rat kits do, the technique is more geared a forceful strikes and trying to aim the globs to enter and stop in the midst of your tinder pile. I think Mistwalker described it like tossing jumping jacks towards your tinder.

Also what kinds of tinder are you using? My recommendation is to start practicing with something bomb proof first like petroleum jellied cotton balls or wet fire tabs. Once you've mastered that start trying out fatwood shavings then natural tinders. Always best to have a reference to compare with.
 
Get proper tinder in a pile, prepare the fire correctly and if that doesn't do it, do it again and then take about 18 - 24 inches of jute twine, fluff it up in a bird nest and then stick the rod right into that nest and pull it backward like you are pulling the starter on a lawnmower.
 
It's all in the technique. If you do it too light, or with a dull striker, you're going to only get sparks. you should be getting bits of burning metal literally jumpping off the rod if done correctly.

I use an izula or a gerber ezout as a striker. hold the edge at 90 degree to the rod. push toward the rod with the blade, and pull back on the rod. it's not a 100% force thing...you dont want to hurt yourself. just use firm pressure. Use a nice easy pull, not too fast...not too slow.

I killed the exposure, and punched the blacks on this. looks like hell, but shows what kind of sparks you should be seeing.

4145299144_42d12f2431_b.jpg
 
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Not sure if it's just me. I seem to have better results when I hold my starter straight up and down over my tinder. Using forceful strokes always seem to work. If I hold the starter at an angle I just don't get good results.
 
I find it's best to hold the knife on the steel very close to the tinder, and pull the starter, rather than strike it with the knife. That way, the burning globs are right next to the tinder when they come off the steel, and go in a concentrated burst into the heart of the tinder.
 
It takes practice, a lot harder to do than your standard ferro rod.

I would suggest starting with dryer lint, that is a simple tinder, like kgd said, start simple.

When I first tried to use it I got no spark, lol. Took some time and I am getting better, but still not there myself.

The best sparks I have gotten so far was by using my Buck multitool blade which is partially serated.
 
My SAK Soldier model has a wee reamer that is brilliant for using with the Firekit. That is about the only real use I have ever found for the reamer so there you go!
 
thanks for the replies. i get sparks but have a hard time directing them to the right place. also i think everyone is right i need to use better tinder. i keep meaning to put some cotton balls soaked in jelly in my pack. i need to also just make a tinder tin to through in my bag. thanks again everyone ill try your suggestions

dylan
 
Good post Jean! Now I know it's not me....it takes me about as many strikes to get one going.....nice music on that one vid:thumbup:

BM....get a section of hemp rope......you can buy it anywhere, take some apart....try it, works good for me.
 
dryer lint soaked in parafin. thats what we did when i was in girl scouts. never go anywhere without a small waterproof tin with firestarting stuf. even in the urban core-ya just never know when you will wanna start a fire. yeah a knife with good serration or thumb grid works best in my experience
 
Jute twine great cheap tinder. Cut off a piece take the 3 strands apart then take the individual strands apart and fluff them up. Burns up pretty quick but will help get other materials ignited
 
I've gotten in the habbit of wearing jute twine cordage bracelets. I have yet to find anything better for catching that initial spark than a nice jute birdnest bundle. I also keep a bunch of fatwood in the RC fire kit. I'll shave fatwood pieces into the twine bundle, get it all fluffed up and POW, fires right up. Then you can start putting tinder on it, fuzz sticks, whatever, and before you now it, you got yourself a handy dandy little fire going. The only time I use the PJ cotton balls is when stuff is wet. It works like a champ with the RC fire kit. Just gotta make sure you fluff it up a little. I have trouble getting solid clumps to light. Just fluff out the pjcb a little with the tip of your knife or with a small stick and then strike over it.
 
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