Homemade sparklite/ SOS Firestarter

I recently started experimenting with making a sparklite/ ranger ricks SOS firestarter type thingy out of a disposable lighter. The first time I cut the bottom of the lighter off with just under an inch of the resevoir bit left of. I then took the metal guard off the top, drilled a small hole horizontally through the bottom, to fit a split ring, and there you go, its like ranger ricks flint. At the time, I was quite happy with it, but didn't put it in a kit. But just recently I disided to put together a micro kit similar to Pro Survival kits "Micro Pro Survival Kit", (I will post the contents of mine another time. None of the flints that I own would fit into this kit: BCB ranger flint, BCB mag/steel, scout firesteel or my ranger rick style one. I had the idea of making an even smaller flint out of a lighter so after a few experiments I came up with this technique. Out of the lighters I tryed, Ronson works best as the plastic is softer.
1. Remove the metal cap
2. Burn off any excess gas
3. Use a junior hacksaw to saw 1/3 of the way through on the join between the black plastic head and the coloured resevoir. Make sure you saw, starting on the side with the push button.
4. Stick a knife/screwdriver/flat bit of metal into the saw gap and twist the knife to open gap. this should snap head of from rest of body. Make sure the shaft with the spring in remains.
5. cut of button, and excess plastic with a sharp knife. Cut of the front part of the head.

You now have a very compact and light weight one handed firestarter. I hope this is interesting. I'm sorry if I didn't explain it very well, and I don't have any pictures.

how about using one of those sigaret looking/sized lighters and saw the end off it to make a "sparlite" or just remove the upper part that covers the striker weel, it's already quite small...
Isn't what you discrive basically almost the same as the ranger rick "sparklite", that one has the push botom removed 2.

what do you use for container do you use for your micro kit ? i used a old model BCB matchless fire starting kit tin ( the older model one ), but that kit is now strapped to mine knife with some other things to creat mine "knife kit":

That looks like a nice set up. No, this is smaller than ranger rick's as it is just a skeleton.

It like this with the bit covered by the black removed. It then has a shaft containing the spring extending down where that black bit would be, if you understand.
Thats a great idea using one of those cigarette lighters. I think i'll try it. I might get 2 to put one in my PSK or urban kit as a lighter.

Is that the Fällkniven F1 survival knife? and a seatbealt cutter? and a lump of maya wood?

it's a old model fallkniven S1 in his cordura sheet, i think you confused mine V-sharpener ( marketed by coughlan's ) with a seatbelt cutter.
yes that is a lumb of maya-wood, i put some hole's and a slot in it so you can use it as a hacksaw holder ( hacksaw and pin in tin ) 2. I like dual purpose things <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> the hacksaw holder may not be terrible strong, but it works.

Aah yes a sharpener. Do you understand what the lighter looks like now?

i cant visilize it, because i have never cut a lighter open, i like a big handle if i use it as a sparklite, but that could be te reason becase im just lazy <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> i got a real sparlite, so why should i make one for mine kits....but i think i know what you mean now.

Ditchfield

Nice one. how well does it actualy work? Would you rather pay $$ and have a sparklite, or are you happy with the... um.. Ranger Rick lighter?

I'd rather pay and get a sparklite but you can't get them in UK so i'll stick to this for the moment.

bagheera sells them, not in the UK, but close... i got mine from him. they do cost €15, though...

Oooh, i'll consider it. How much postage and packing does he charge?

in mine case postage was included in the € 15.