who makes the best fire steels?

strikeforce is the best i keep one in each of my packs, esee is second best and i only have one, and wear it on my neck cause it has a compass. both are very very nice.
 
I have been using the Firesteel.com Gobspark Armegeddon lately in place of my LMF Army model. I like the Gobspark much better for my needs. Seems to throw more sparks and molten bits and seems to work in wet conditions better. I have used the Strikeforce steel as well and that is also a good firesteel.
 
i carry both the going gear rods (misch metal rods glued in the esee capsules) and the lmf. i find that they both work equally well if i have good tinder. if i get lazy and just shave wood fairly thin i find that i can light it up using misch metal but not with the lmf.
 
I prefer the LMF Army ones. I like the looks of those custom fire steels, but im not payin that much for a firesteel. I bought a nice brass setup from a buddy of mine that you can replace the rod as you use it up. Looks nice too.

DSC00130.jpg


Not a fan of the misch style rods.
 
I had purchased a number of different sized rods from Going Gear. When I first got them, I went crazy playing with them I used a hacksaw blade for a scraper. They sparked great. Molten globs and lots of them. After I was convinced they do the job, I just put them away. If you don't strike them all of the time, you have to relearn how to use them. Seems like there is a particular speed and pressure to get the optimum result. I don't have the same problem with the flint and steel that I forged. No relearning for me. I guess I am old school. The LMF rods seem to throw more sparks and flash like a lighter, but the Going Gear mishmetal will bounce globs off the ground.
 
j williams said:
I bought a nice brass setup from a buddy of mine that you can replace the rod as you use it up. Looks nice too.

DSC00130.jpg
Click to expand...

I dig that setup!

Is it too late for a "poll" to be added to this thread with the main three or four options that have been suggested? I like graphs. :)
 
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Here is a video I made using a GG one with my Mark Wohlwend Bushcrafter:

[youtube]SclFgsBSGrQ[/youtube]

And another using the GG one which really shows how they differ from the LMF type !

[youtube]jsv2e3vh8To[/youtube]

And two using my LMF one:

[youtube]mtuRVt2hfsc[/youtube]

[youtube]AUE1MH9WmQI[/youtube]
 
I'm looking at getting one from Firesteel.com. I think the fire steel aluminum tubes look good. Like this one.

http://firesteel.com/

firesteel_tube_ranger__33168.jpg

ranger_firesteel_tube_4__22489.jpg

ranger_firesteel_tube_5__39862.jpg


You can get them in really large sizes if you need eleventy billion strikes.

firesteel-diameters.jpg


This one is crazy big! 1/2" x 5" !!

firesteel_bunker_length__83913.jpg
 
thankyou for all the info guys, much appreciated

Pit dog, thanks for the vids, they kept me amused for quite some time
 
Replaced the rod on the EESE starter (after wearing it out) with a longer Going Gear rod, it's my favorite, happy with my LMF as well.
 
Without a doubt I prefer either a LMF Army or StrikeForce.

I want consistency and control of sparks over "drama." "Ooh, look at the globs....cool"

Just watch the videos posted above and see which one threw sparks EVERY time and right on top of where they were intended.

Then again, it really is nothing more than personal preference.
 
fishshooter said:
Those look to be mischmetal rods. I've decided I like ferro rods better. I'd try both types.
Click to expand...

I can't decide if Mischmetal is better or the other way around, mainly because they're advertised as Mischmetal Ferrocium rods

Typo? I don't know!
 
I just dont see the need for molten globs. I can get a very hot spark off of an LMF steel. Its all in tech. Heres a video I did lighting manmade tinders with my LMF.


[youtube]RpvWKVK1l3k[/youtube]
 
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