Who uses the Spark Lite?

I'm very satisifed with one of the brass ones (same model as Bagheera modified w/addition of ring - BTW, great mod!) that I've had & used for several years. Strong points: one-handed operation, compact size, & replaceable flints. Major weak point: replaceable flints.
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No, I'm not contradicting myself. I find the ability to replace flints to be a strong point in a tool that is going to see ongoing use. However, in a survival situation, you could very well find that the flint has been expended. For this reason, I'm more comfortable replying on metal matches for sparking needs in a survival situation. Of course, another solution could be buy one for use & put another, or several, aside for emergency use.

Squid is right about the Sparklite tinders. They work great with every conceivable spark source!

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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
I do. They’re the most compact and most reliable fire starter I’ve used, and indeed have the very best waterproof tinder, to boot. Bagheera’s overnight soaking test nicely confirms that.

Throw away those magnesium sticks -- all-time WORST “survival” tool/fire starter, IMO.

Glen
 
Hi guys:

Just the people I need! I would like a bunch of people to help check out Spark-Lites. Not destructively like I check out out stuff - but a worthwhile check nevertheless.
The problem with disposable lighters in the bush is that when they get wet they take forever to dry out to the point that they will spark. The water seems to hold on the striking wheel. I'd be very grateful if a few people would soak their Spark-Lites under a tap and see how long it takes to get a spark that will ignite tinder after that.
My info on firestarters is here with what I did: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/5404/survival/

Thanks,

Jimbo
 
Jimbo,

They work fine. Soaked it about 15 minutes, gave it a good blow and shake and a couple strokes and it was working normally.

If you like, I have an extra I can send you, it will be yours to abuse as you see fit, contact me by email.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Talonite and Cobalt Materials Resource Page

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
Thanks!
It's very important to know that the Spark-Lite works well after being soaked!
I think that the results I got with disposable lighters are pretty constant with all types. Whenever I have a friend with a type I haven't used - I borrow it to try. So far it's taken about the usual 200 tries to get a spark after soaking. I'm going to borrow some lighters like Zippo's to try to in the near future. I think a lot of people are counting on lighters that might well fail them under tough conditions. It's great to know that the Spark-Lite can be counted on!
Sure I'll take up the offer of trying the Spark-Lite - thanks!
More pages are going up on crooked knives and axes today if I can get the files uploaded to Geocities.. http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/5404/survival/

Jimbo
 
Originally posted by Marion David Poff:
Soaked it about 15 minutes, gave it a good blow and shake and a couple strokes and it was working normally.
Click to expand...

Yup, almost the same result here -- it sparked on the first try.


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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Hi Jimbo,

I didn't forget about your question soaking the Spark-Lite in water, I just was so busy with my normal work that I didn't have time to reply to you.

Jimbo I soaked my brass Spark-Lite (AKA Ever-Lite) for a night in a glass of water and the next morning all it took was a quick shake and a blow to the spark wheel and it sparked like it never had soaked in the water.
The same thing was done with a glass of water containing a table spoon of salt to make it more seawater like and again after soaking for a night all it took was a quick shake and blow betwen to the spark wheel and it sparked like it never was in the water.

Afterwards I took my brass Spark-Lite apart and rinsed it in fresh water dried it and gave it a spray of WD40 (internal spring and spark wheel) to protect it against rust.

I have also compared the flints that came with my brass Spark-Lite to replacement flints that I had. The original flints produce more spark at least so it seems compared against the Zippo replacement flints that I also tested.

However when using the supplied tinder it makes absolutely no difference when lighting it. In my opinion the quickness of lighting the tinder depends on how well you "fluffed" the tinder. The better you do that the more individual fibers are ready to catch the hot sparks produced.
In short spend some extra seconds fluffing the tinder tabs it pays off by almost 100% ignition on the first "sparking" you do.

I also tested the tinder from Four Season Survival when having soaked it for a night in water and it ignites readily when you fluff it like I said above.

In short when the Scouts in our group (about 25 in total) all manage to light tinder and built fires using the Spark-Lite + tinder tabs it is "child"/"fool" proof.
Up until now not one of them managed to break a Spark-Lite and that's quiet an astonishing feat as those Scouts are able to wreck almost anything that is not absolutely foolproof
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.

Last but not least I will try making some digital pictures for you but that (again) could take some time, I have a hell off a workload at the moment.

Best regards from a Spark-Lite-ing Holland,

Bagheera

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[This message has been edited by Bagheera (edited 04-10-2000).]
 
Jimbo,

Ditto MDP, BCaffrey, and Bagheera. I soaked one in water (not overnight, just 10 seconds or so
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), shook it off, and got sparks first try. It works!


Bagheera,

I learned the virtues of "child/foolproof" tools years ago while teaching/leading college undergraduates in day and weekend backpacking treks. (I'll bet your scouts are more competent than my students!) Spark-Lite was always a winner --

Glen
 
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