#100854 - 07/26/07 03:46 PM
Firesteel
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Member
Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 149
Loc: Philadelphia,Pennsyvania, USA.
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I bought a firesteel at a gun show and it worked ok. After a few uses it doesn't spark anymore. I am using a piece of saw with the back sharpned and nothing.
Which is the best firesteel that produces a lot of sparks and doesn't wear out so soon?
Thank you!
Edited by joaquin39 (07/26/07 03:49 PM)
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#100862 - 07/26/07 04:56 PM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: joaquin39]
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Old Hand
Registered: 09/19/03
Posts: 736
Loc: Montréal, Québec, Canada
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I've heard that the commonly available Swedish Light-My-Fire (come on baby) are very decent.
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#100867 - 07/26/07 06:01 PM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: billym]
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Old Hand
Registered: 03/01/07
Posts: 1034
Loc: -
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Most likely it's just oily. Try to dissolve the oil on the rod and on the saw blade with some solvent (acetone, for example, but watch the plastic parts, acetone is very aggressive). Hot water with dish soap may work too (depends on the grease).
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#100878 - 07/26/07 07:44 PM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: MartinFocazio]
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Member
Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 149
Loc: Philadelphia,Pennsyvania, USA.
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Martin:
Both, sometimes I don't get any sparks, and sometimes I get some small and weak sparks.
When I bought it I could light a piece of newspaper with it but not anymore.
I have seen shows on tv (Man vs Wild) and that guy has a flint that looks like the one I bought but that one really puts out a lot of sparks that can light a fire with natural tinder.
Thanks for any help!
Joaquin.
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#100929 - 07/27/07 06:50 AM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: joaquin39]
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Journeyman
Registered: 06/01/06
Posts: 80
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joaquin39,
I am no expert or even a journeyman at this.
I hope some of the above suggestions work for you;
sounds like they have not yet helped.
Have you experimented in subdued light, so that you
can see the sparks easily?
Generally, I do not think of a fire-steel as starting
newspaper on fire. If there is such a steel for sale,
please let me know; I will upgrade.
For first spark tinder, I think of char-cloth, cotton
with petroleum jelly, magnesium filings.
For "natural tinder", for the first spark, think in
terms of 1)very dry 2)downy (not real down), like cattail
3)fine like a birds nest 4)charred may help.
Flint and Steel method generally produces less sparks
than a fire-steel. After a demo, it only took me 20
seconds to get char-cloth glowing. Then, gently blow,
on the char-cloth; transfer the char-cloth to a downy nest,
gently blowing the whole time, and woosh. Flames will leap
from the nest, so you better have you small kindling ready.
Edited by Hike4Fun (07/27/07 07:07 AM)
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#100955 - 07/27/07 04:22 PM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: joaquin39]
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Member
Registered: 01/25/06
Posts: 144
Loc: Nevada
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The way a firesteel works is that small particals of the firesteel alloy shaved off the firesteel. It takes a sharp edge some times. With a hacksaw blade there are two methods, 1) smap the saw blade with a pair of pliers so a jagged edge is formed where the blade breaks. Use this edge to strike against the firesteel. 2) Use the teeth of the hacksaw blade this produces tons of sparks but it will chew up the firesteel and leave it grooved.
I also use an old blade from a SAK using the sharp edge to make sparks.
But I think once you under stand how a firesteel works it is simple to make sparks.
cheers
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#100961 - 07/27/07 05:01 PM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: Hike4Fun]
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Member
Registered: 03/19/05
Posts: 149
Loc: Philadelphia,Pennsyvania, USA.
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Hello HIKE:
I don't know what brand was the one I bought at the gun show, but believe me, it did started newspaper and paper napkins.
The problem is that like Martin said, probably it was just a coating of sparking material, and now it doen't sparks anymore, or so weak that it dosn't lights anything.
Thanks for the help.
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#101007 - 07/28/07 02:39 AM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: atoz]
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Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
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Or use the back of the hacksaw blade. I get a very nice spark shower that way, have for years.
_________________________
-IronRaven
When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.
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#101043 - 07/28/07 04:01 PM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: MartinFocazio]
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Journeyman
Registered: 05/19/07
Posts: 63
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"Magfire" is about the same as "Light My Fire" which available through REI.
I wouldn't mind running a comparison to see which one is better.
Has anyone ever tried to ignite natural tinder with a "Blast Match" or with a "Strike Force" ?
LW.
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#101055 - 07/28/07 09:04 PM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: BigCityHillbilly]
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Veteran
Registered: 03/31/06
Posts: 1355
Loc: United Kingdom.
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"Magfire" is about the same as "Light My Fire" which available through REI.
I wouldn't mind running a comparison to see which one is better.
Has anyone ever tried to ignite natural tinder with a "Blast Match" or with a "Strike Force" ?
LW.
I have. THey both work well with shaved tinder. The blast match works very well. One handed operation etc. Better for one handed use than a Spark-lite in conditions where you have to use gloves. Only real issue with it is the tendency of the sparker to drop out. Glue it in place upon purchase. Striker Force is good as well. Very robust. I have replaced the WetFire tinder in the handle with Tinder-Quick. It's too heavy and bulky for on body carry. Has a place in a backpack or vehicle kit. Need's two hands to operate. So far as I am able to tell (and I own ferro rod's from all of them) there is no differance between MagFire, LightMyFire, Firesteel & WebTex. They appear to be identical in all respects. They look to me as if they are all manufactured by the same company(s) and branded/packaged as required.
_________________________
I don't do dumb & helpless.
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#101304 - 08/01/07 10:34 PM
Re: Firesteel
[Re: Hike4Fun]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 03/12/04
Posts: 316
Loc: Beaumont, TX USA
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joaquin39,
I am no expert or even a journeyman at this.
I hope some of the above suggestions work for you;
sounds like they have not yet helped.
Have you experimented in subdued light, so that you
can see the sparks easily?
Generally, I do not think of a fire-steel as starting
newspaper on fire. If there is such a steel for sale,
please let me know; I will upgrade.
For first spark tinder, I think of char-cloth, cotton
with petroleum jelly, magnesium filings.
For "natural tinder", for the first spark, think in
terms of 1)very dry 2)downy (not real down), like cattail
3)fine like a birds nest 4)charred may help.
Flint and Steel method generally produces less sparks
than a fire-steel. After a demo, it only took me 20
seconds to get char-cloth glowing. Then, gently blow,
on the char-cloth; transfer the char-cloth to a downy nest,
gently blowing the whole time, and whoosh. Flames will leap
from the nest, so you better have you small kindling ready. Try the Blast Match... I was showing a friend how it worked, and thinking that it could not set a newspaper on fire, used it to protect the plastic plate I was going to use to press it on. That was a mistake... Newspaper caught on fire, FAST, and part of it lifted into the air and fell on the carpet... We had to stamp it out. I also showed someone else(outside this time  ) how it worked by placing it on some copy paper that was very damp(so much so that it was limp), and was HOPEING for it to at least scorch the paper... Well guess what, it caught on fire!
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