What Ferro Rod based Fire-Starting System do you have?

I use the LMF firesteels.

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I use a 6" by 1/2" fire steel from goinggear and the back of an opinel #9 to strike it. I like the opinel for a striker because it throws great sparks, I can use it while the blade is closed and locked (locking ferule ring), and my "fire steel striker" takes a wicked edge.
 
I have a Doan stick, couple of LMFs, couple of going gear rods, couple of Made in China no-names. I think I like the going gear ones the most, not so much for their performance, but I like the fact that I can order rod blanks in just about any length or width configuration imaginable. The going gear ones work consistently for me using Storl's scrapers or other scrapers. I have a little wharny scrappy that Bryan Breeden made for me which is my preferred scraper and it thus far has made every rod I ever used work for me.

I do notice that going gear rods are harder to use conservatively. I.e. just scraping the very tip of them to get sparks. I think they they probably wouldn't last as long compared to an LMF because of this. However, reality is that ferror rods are cheap and I already have 6 or 8 or so of the things around. I'm not really too worried about longevity and if I were, I'd buy a thicker going gear rod to meet my perceived needs.

With LMFs and even one of my Chinese knock-offs there are a couple of tricks that you can use to make them work like a going gear rod, i.e. throw globs of metal. The main one I know of was told to me by Normark by way of Rick. For this method, you take your shapened scraper (or knife) and score a line, perpendicular to the direction of the rod, about 1/8" up from the tip. Then you rest your scraper in the score line, press hard and rip the firesteel backwards. What this does is dislodges a chunk of your ferro rod which ignites into the long lasting globs of molten steel that everybody seems to like. Another advantage of this is that you can control the distance from the tip by positioning the score line and thus control how much material you flake off. This method for sure results in faster erosion of your firesteel. However, you can get the LMF to behave like the globby rods and ignite hard to ignite tinder.

As for the no-name Chinese ones. I find they are hit or miss in terms of quality. There is one brand that is really inconsistent and another brand was decent enough that I use it. The inconsistent one I just threw out. I ended up buying the knockoffs because they are available in department stores for immediate sales and fell victim to spur of the moment purchases. Curiously, I recall they cost about the same as the name brands of known quality. As I said, one brand seems good enough to carry. Another brand I just ended up tossing the firesteel as too difficult to use to consider a survival tool.
 
I prefer mischmetal ones. However, I got one at SMKW last year that sees the most use, mainly because it was only $3, and it works just as good as any others I have seen. (Excluding GG)
 
Do the Going Gear rods come with a lanyard hole?


So not many people are still using magnesium as part of their fire lighting?



bladz said:
I prefer the LMF models. .....With the LMF scout(my favorite size) I can scrape slowely and direct the spark exactly where I want it without knocking the tinder around.
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I have not experienced the misch metal ones yet, though I will probably soon. But, like you, I get really good results with my LMF.


Dnalsi said:
I've used several of the firesteel.com rods.

Based on the wiki definition of Mischmetal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mischmetal

and then reading the firesteel.com "What is FireSteel?"
http://firesteel.com/pages/what-is-firesteel?.html

I'd say yes they are Mischmetal.
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I hear what you are saying....

But two things....

Based on the Wikepedica definition of Ferrocerium http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrocerium They sound like the exact same thing.

Add in the fact that those who sell 'misch metal' rods state their product is different than a ferro rod. And those who have bought them, state that the 'misch metal' rods have different performance than the 'ferro' rods they already own.

So, I am still confused, and have only the marketing information to go off of. At this time, Going Gear lists their rods as 'misch metal' and firesteel.com does not.

Thus my question to the respondent, who states that he only uses 'misch metal' rods, but lists using a product that does not identify itself as being 'misch metal'.


smersh said:
Mischmetal here. The awl on a SAK Farmer is a great striker (when used left-handed -- you get a better bite that way).
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Old School. I used to use the back of Swiss Tool saw, that worked well too.


kgd said:
I think I like the going gear ones the most, not so much for their performance, but I like the fact that I can order rod blanks in just about any length or width configuration imaginable.
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An interesting point, the first ferro rod I used a good deal, was one I got from Davenport.


Thank you, keep it coming.
Marion
 
used to use LMF's, but I found them too small for my mitt's. I use some from a Canadian company now.
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I have Doan's magnesium bars, no-name firesteels and a Going Gear Badger mischmetal firesteel. I have no idea wow many Doan's bars I've used up or lost over the last 40 years or so, and the same with no-name firesteels. I tend to put these things in packs, drawers, and other odd places and lose them, so I buy new ones. Most I've found later, so I end up with extras (but don't ask me where they are).

My absolute favorite, though, is the Going Gear firesteel: there's nothing else like it. If you see me wandering around mumbling about "my precious," that's what I'm mumbling about.
 
I have the Strikeforce & the Blastmatch. The 1/2" ferro rod in them, really throws the sparks. I also carry one or more LMF army model rods in belt bags or other gear.
 
somberbear said:
i think im going to try one of these out they seam small
http://www.exotac.com/
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I've been carrying and working with one for a little over a week and I really like it. Even have one on the way for the missus. They are small to be sure but there is a lot of punch in a small package and they are really easy to use. I like that the ferro rod is easily replaceable but has no play or movement. I now have a ferro rod on me all the time.
 
I pack a LMF Army Steel. Ive used LMF for many years, and dont have any reason to change. Im well trained with one, and can get fires lit under several conditions. Works for me.
 
Marion David Poff said:
Does that ITW-Nexus Whistle sound the same as it's predecessor?

Marion
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Not sure as I've not tried the predecessor. I actually bought a few of the pictured whistle to put on PFDs. Got 'em at Austin Kayak. They just call it the Whistle Cat. http://www.austinkayak.com/products/284/Whistle-Cat.html

Edit to add:

You know what? That one is an ITW-Nexus from Countycomm. :thumbup: I think the Austin Kayak versions have some logo or writing on them. Very similar though.
 
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I have the LMF Swedish Army size. It's on a lanyard with a 35mm film can full of PJ cottonballs, and I use the knife spine to strike it usually.

I've never tried mishmetal, but I'd like to.
 
I am very content with a 4" 3/8ths fire steel. I prefer a michmetal rod, but I am fine with a regular one as well.
 
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