Really? Why not?

Exotac products seem like they're rugged, but just too overpriced for the way I do things.

The rod is tiny and the striker is very small - a bit of a challenge to use (for me anyways) with gloves on. A Ranger or Armageddon tube (firesteel.com) gives me a better warm and fuzzy feeling.

That's good info being that you have all those products.

A few more pictures of the fire steel tubes. The most practical ones IMHO are the Armageddon and Ranger.


5" x1/2" Bunker


4" x 1/2" Bunker


3" x 3/8" Armageddon - this tube has an o-ring on the steel shaft knob.


3" x 1/4" Ranger


2.5" x 3/16" Pup


All tubes minus the pup have a built in compass.

ChicagoCraig, how are the ferro rods secured in the tubes? With some kind of bolt?

I don't know for sure but when I asked if the steel were replaceable the reply was yes and they are glued into the cap. To replace heat the cap up and the glue loosens its grip from the fire steel. The glue recommended to me to use for securing a replacement steel was gorilla glue.

I like this design over the Exotac method of threading the steel. It is simple and doesn't force me to purchase a steel with threads or cut my own threads.

Hmm just re-reading this and may have I misunderstood your question. Above I describe how the steel is secured to the caps. The caps have threads on them and they screw into the tube. The caps can screw onto the tube with the steel inside the tube (when carrying/storing) or outside the tube (when striking/scraping).

That answers my question, thanks.

Just added a lighter to my tool collection. The manufacture claims a thirty minute continuos burn time from a full butane charge. I will most likely carry this with me.

A Primus Power Lighter


Package Contents

Front


Back


Flame Size (image brightness and contrast modified so ruler in background would show up)

Aurora Fire Starter by Solo Scientific (closed)


Aurora Fire Starter by Solo Scientific (opened)


Striker is built into the bottom of the tube.


top view of tube

Not a bad setup. The entire body and cap is knurled so it is easy to grip the tube to unscrew the cap. The built in striker is a nice feature although for me I find it somewhat cumbersome to generate a hefty spark.

DX has one of these for just over $7



http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.48810