I "roll my own" duct tape for my kits. I take the cardboard tube from a pants hanger you get from the dry cleaning place. I start the duct tape on the tube and then unroll about 3' of duct tape but leave it attached to the original roll of tape. I hold the hanger tube about shoulder height and roll the 3' on to the hanger tube. I peel off an additional 3' from the still attached store bought roll and feed onto my hanger tube. I do this until I have 12' of duct tape on my tube. I found this a way to know the appoximate amount of tape I am carrying. 12' of duct tape around a hanger tube is about 1.25" in diameter.

Then I use a saw and cut the hanger tube close to the sides of my new mini roll of duct tape. You can store a golf pencil in the hanger tube. A sparklite would also fit instead. For some reason I tend to make several kits at a time so I ususally make several mini rolls at one time and use up most of a hanger tube.

Sorry about the Spark-LIte - that is unusual. Send us your address and we will replace it as well as the pencil and duct tape. Check out our medical kits at adventuremedical kits.com.

Thanks, Frank

Marketing Director
Adventure Medical KIts

Vindicated:

Are you saying spark lighter flints can not be replaced in the field?

Is the spark lighter a sealed unit?

Bountyhunter

Sounds like more great customer service from AMK. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Robert

No kidding man. Thanks a lot Frank. I'm really happy with the kit overall and I wouldn't think twice about recomending it to anyone. Offering to replace those items, what can I say other then wow. I really didn't expect that. It's really nice (and rare) to see companies stand behind their products like that.

Re: BountyHunter - No I was saying something is wrong with my Spark-Lite. I'm just assuming it's the flint. Looking at the videos comparing the sparks, tinder, and technique, I was able to rule out user error on my part. I don't know anything about changing the flint. I was just going to buy a new one until Frank graceously offered to replace mine. Pretty awsome customer service huh?

That is correct.

Sure does... what is that... three times now in the past couple months that they have amazed us with genuine, old-fashioned, excellent customer service? I get asked all the time about FAKs, PSKs, and a lot of other wilderness equipment and I am constantly recommending AMK these days and telling what I have seen of their commitment to good product and customer service. I think that especially when it comes to things like medical supplies, it is important to deal with a company you have the utmost confidence in.

Just a little update. Today I recieved a package from Adventure Medical Kits with a new Spark-Lite, duct tape roll, and pencil. The new spark-lite works like a charm. Finnally I'm able to light cotton balls, q-tips, paper towels, and other misc things within 1-2 strikes everytime.

Woohoo! Glad to hear it! Those guys at AMK appear to be top notch folks!

Hmmm - that's interesting. I usually take about a half dozen strikes to get a piece of toilet paper to catch fire, and I've never gotten a drop of Purell Hand-sanitizer to burn (and I've ignited that easily with a FC rod).

I have three of the darned things, but I've only ever used one of them. (I bought two of Doug's autographed kits, and keep one in the glove compartment - never opened it; and the other one is still in the gift wrap because the guy I was going to give it to last Christmas moved back east.)

Maybe I'll try the one in the car to see if it's any different from the one I've been practising with.