Hi everyone,

Well I was going back through my super mini wallet psk today that I carry stuffed inside one of those plastic wallet picture sleeves...and I noticed something about my ferro rod..

It seemed to be corroding...wow...I've never had problems with the ferro rod I carry on my keychain showing wear but my backup in the wallet looks like it is..

What are some methods people have used to protect ferro rods from wear like this?

Thanks

Try some shrink tubing (also called heat-shrink.) I use a piece of 1/4" cut to fit over my metal match. It was not necessary to heat it. You should be able to get it at Radio Shack. I know they make some in 3/16" size which might fit better.

Regards, Vince

Now you know why firearms and knives are stored seperately from leather holsters and sheaths. The shrink tubing is a good idea, another fix is a thin coat of clear nail polish.

I also have had some trouble with these rods. One disintegrated completely, it transformed in a small puff of grey dust. It wasn’t even in a kit, I found it like that in a drawer inside the house. Another, a genuine Swedish fire steel, broke when I first used it. A large splinter came free and there was some of this grey dust inside the rod. Originally I thought these things where almost like a stainless steel knife: very dependable with minimal maintenance. One of the first I ever bought and never used (as a test) is almost twenty years old. But this seems not to be the case for every single rod. Check it once in a while just like matches or medication. So, I am not concerned about wear and tear but oxidation and have protected one (witch I wear often on a lanyard around my neck while sweating) with shrink tube.

Clear fingernail polish. Apply a thick coat.