I would like to obtain a few boyscout hotspark firestarters to add to pocket kits that I am in the process of making. Does anyone know an online source for them? I looked at the boy scout site, but they don't sell them there, they just tell you where to look. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

You can buy them through local BSA council stores. Look for Boy Scouts of America in your phone book. You should have a store by you. That is, if you live in the states?

Yep, in PA.
Got to let my fingers do the walkin'...
Thanks.

Goon,

If you're in north central PA, there's a Scout Shop in the Arnot Mall in Big Flats, NY.

M

I found a store about 30 miles from me that can get them. Now I am just trying to decide whether to go with them or to try something else first. I have been checking out the "gear" section alot before I make any decisions.
Thanks.

What makes the BSA any better than the Kershaw of the Swedish Firesteel?

The BSA HotSpark is small and it fits inside most of the smallest of PSKs. It's design lets it remain an effective firestarter, regardless of it's size ...

M

Plus, I paid $2.10 for mine a couple of months ago!

Not better - different.

They are small, but EASILY grasped and let me put an effective shower of sparks exactly where I want it. I have one in my pocket as I type this - it is EDC for me, clipped to a tiny polymer frame lockback knife with a Fastex sort of quick release. It is always in my left front pocket.

This particular Hot Spark has started hundreds of fires - I have used it at several council and district level events to teach scouts and scouters how to use a MFS to start fires. Plenty of life left in it. Of course, when I do wear it out, I have a stash of them ($1.90 when I bought them).

One thing that is easier to teach/learn with this particular style MFS is to put the scraper edge where you want the sparks and then PULL the Hot Spark away. Scraping the edge down the MFS may make a pretty shower of sparks, but they are distributed all along the length of the MFS and is what everyone trys to do naturally with conventional MFS rods. Hold the edge still and pull the MFS back - presto, all the sparks in the same spot. And that is really easy to learn with this style of MFS.

These things are small but work great. A Hot Spark, suitable scraper, and many vasoline impregnated cotton balls fit in a SMALL Altoids tin, which is how all my scouts carry theirs. Ranger band from a bike tire holds it closed and keeps the whole thing mess-free. Learn to use one and you'll swear off matches and lighters for routine fire starting.

Tom

Thanks... makes sense.

That explains quite a bit. Thanks.

Do the vasoline-soaked cotton balls tend to leak when stored in an altoids can in hot weather?? I would think it would melt a bit and get messy.

I've found people use too much vasoline. You only need a little bit, it shouldn't be messy or real greasy at all, if it is you used too much. The vasoline isn't really what catches or burns, the cotten is really what burns with the vasoline helping to prolong the burn time and waterproof the cotten.

By the way, AyersTG is right. Once you are well practiced at starting a fire with a hot spark/fire steel and impregnated cotton you will never want to use matches or a lighter again. It works so well it is simply amazing.

Even dry cotton as long as you're fast. I often use dry cotton with small ferrocerium rods. Catches with the teeny tiniest of spark and will burn for about ten seconds and if you prepare your fire ahead of time properly then ten second is more than enough time. The big downside however is trying to acomplish this in wet conditions. Having your tinder burn as long as possible is certainly advantageous in wet weather. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ken, Go to McDonalds or Buger King and appropriate a soda straw. Poke the vasoline/cotton down into a chunk of straw. Pinch with hemostat or needle nose pliers and use a match to melt the straw closed.

I've made tons of these containers, all sizes, and never had a leak. Actually, you can open the straw and extend out some cotton and light it like a candle wick (if you're using a match) or, with your hotspark just pull out a plug of cotton and spread it out a bit.

Here is the link to the BSA catalogue

http://www.scoutstuff.org

Click on enter here, go to camping, and then cooking. Look under cooking gear for the hotspark. The site won't do online ordering, but will give you a list of retailers in your area.

Bill