I was bored so I got a Spark-lite, a Blastmatch, and a Mag bar and their prospective tinder and I went out to the bar-b-que and I started messing around. I tore the Quick-fire, crushed the Wet-fire, and filed the magnesium. I found that I couldn’t get the Spark-lite to start any of them, not even the Quick-Fire.
The first time I used it (The Spark-lite) it worked great, the second it took some work, but this time it flat didn’t work. The Blastmatch and Mag bar started all three tinders just fine. Do y’all think I have a bad unit or is there a trick I missing?
Confused and blistered,
Biscuits

Send it back! Sorry to say it but you got a dud. The Spark-lite should be spraying sparks at every turn of the wheel. Not as much as the Blast Match but a healthy amount just the same.

Chris

I would contact the maker www.fourseasonssurvival.com If there is something defective it could be an entire run is faulty. A vendor will simply exchange/refund your money. People have these things unopened in kits. It's always wise to test everything regardless of past performance or reputation.

Thanks. I just wanted to make sure that it was the unit and not the operator before I started sending stuff back.
Biscuits

Thanks. I thought maybe I was missing something. Stranger things have happened.
Biscuits

FWIW, I recently watched someone get frustrated using a Spark-Lite when they rotated the wheel the wrong direction. There are two arrows molded into the top. If rotated the other direction, it doesn't work nearly as well, almost to the point of not working, as you described. It's a pretty easy mistake to make, especially on the O.D. green ones where the arrows don't seem to be a visible.

Biscuit, I received an email from 'Oak' @ 4 seasons. If your sparklite is still malfunctioning send it to them ASAP. They will replace it. Units with damaged sparking wheels are a rare occurance. If you were rotating it backwards 3 lashes with a paracord cat o' nine lash. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Chris,
You know, I can't sit here and tell you I never spun it backwards, but I'll give Oak a call. I appreciate you putting in the effort on my behalf.
Thanks again,
Biscuits

Will spinning it backwards hurt it? Any chance I damaged it if I did rotate it in the wrong direction?
Allen

Don't think so.

WHILE READING THE POST ON SPARK LITE I HAD A QUESTION BROUGHT TO MIND. I HAVE HEARD OF USING POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE IN DIFFERENT AMOUNTS FOR STARTING FIRES, MAKING WATER SAFE TO DRINK AND PUTTING ON MINOR WOUNDS TO KILL GERMS. IF THIS STUFF CAN DO ALL OF THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT. SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD BE GREAT TO CARY IN A SURVIVAL KIT. ANYONE KNOW WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFO ON THIS?

here's a old thread about potassium permangate http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showt...;sb=&o=

Something I've noticed with regular disposable butane lighters seems to pertain to this. It seems that the flint gets smoothed from use in 1 direction. by sppinning the whell the 'wrong' way a few times it seems to roughen theflint up a little, and when struck 'normally' afterwards, i generally see more spraks. I dont own a sparklite yet, so i cant say it works with them as well. Something to try for yourselves i suppose.

Dave