Are all firesteels created equal?

[Dunelm]

I've just bought a new firesteel from the "Light My Fire" company and it's most definately not lighting any fires.

I've tried to use it with a frosts mora and 1 or 2 little sparks resulted but nothing spectacular. It won't do a thing with my BR Northstar - despite the (supposedly purpose made) serrations at the top of spine. Nothing. Nada. Nowt.

My previous firesteel - origin unknown - worked every time, I wish I hadn't lost it.

Does anybody know if these rods are all made at the same source or do different suppliers make their own?

 

[Toddy]

This may sound a bit cheeky, but have you gotten through the protective layer of the new firesteel yet?

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Dunelm]

This may sound a bit cheeky, but have you gotten through the protective layer of the new firesteel yet?

Cheers,
Toddy

No, be as cheeky as you want! And yes I have

 

[MagiKelly]

No they are not all equal. I have quite a few and there is a real noticeable difference, however, they will all light a fire. The "good" ones will do it easier though.

The frost knife is not known for its great performance with a firesteel but if it has worked well with your previous one it should not be the problem.

 

[falcon]

Try it with something like a piece of old hacksaw blade which produces spectacular results.....if it still doesn't work

 

[leon-1]

Well on a similair note to Falcon, if you have a Leatherman Wave use the back edge/spine of the wood saw, that normally casts a good shower as will the spine of the Opinel saws, piece of hacksaw blade and most of the Falkniven range of knives.


Light My Fire firesteels are normally reasonably good. I have never had a trouble with one before, Fireball Firesteels are pretty good as well, but being an amalgam of elememts it is possible that they do have a bad batch every now and again. If it fails to cast a decent shower of sparks it may be worth getting in touch with Light My Fire and telling them.

 

[bent-stick]

The back of an opi carbon steel gets great sparks.

If that doesn't work it sounds like you have a duff steel.

 

[Voivode]

Well on a similair note to Falcon, if you have a Leatherman Wave use the back edge/spine of the wood saw, that normally casts a good shower...

Holy crap. I hadn't tried that bit, and does it ever! I have a Primus firesteel and it easily throws a spark that persists from standing height to the ground with the back of my Wave. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Tiley]

Not all firesteels are equal. I have one from Light my fire and one from that man Mears. The latter always produces a really good shower of sparks; the other remains pretty feeble, no matter what I use it with.

 

[Shinken]

The one that ray mears sells on his site is a light my fire one isnt it?

 

[Tiley]

I'm not sure it is - certainly doesn't come with all the 'Light My Fire' logos on it. My first one from them had a green plastic top to it and seemed to be greyer than the LMF ones.

 

[British Red]

I think you will find the RM ones are Fireflash rather than LMF. I like Freballs cos I can handle them myself and get em for about £4

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

If it's the same one I have, it's got a shiny striker tied to it ?

I have used my workshop bandsaw to add hacksaw style serrations 'teeth' to it. Doing that has made a big diference.

Like the wheel on a fag lighter, it has wee serrations for the flint.

Nick

 

[leon-b]

serrations do help but they eat away your firesteel
leon

 

[Mungo]

I picked up a Magic Striker from a shop in Canada here, and I am really disappointed with it. I have used a fire steel from Primus which worked well. I think the Magic Striker is just either low quality or simply a magnesium rod, with a very limited amount of ferrocerrium etc... in it. Can anyone else tell me if they've used a Magic Striker and been disappointed? I can hardly raise a spark from it, using a carbon steel Mora - and yes, the black protective paint coating has been removed.
Shall I take it that everyone's recommendation is either Light My Fire or Primus?
Mungo

 

[Mungo]

Further to my last post, I was recommended a firesteel from a company called Exploration Products here ... anyone used this before?

 

[Harmonica]

My 'Light my fire' firesteel works great off the back of any of my knives (though they are carbon steel) and realy well off the little striker thing that its attached to (though i can never explain why the striker only works one side up )?

 

[addyb]

I have a Primus, and I've never had any problems with it.

 

[Dave Budd]

there was some discussion about this on BB a while back. It seems that the alloys used vary and the harder alloys tend to produce fewer sparks but they often last longer and burn hotter. If you have got a hard firesteel (such as those sold by Cam at firesteels.com) then you need a harder and possibly sharper edge than for th Swedish firesteels that say outdoorcode sell. I have both and once you get used to this fact, they both light fine.

Mind you, I tend to use a proper flint and steel more than the sticks myself

 

[Voivode]

I have a Primus, and I've never had any problems with it.

Ditto that. I haven't been able to get super-awesome sparks with the back of my mora, but it's otherwise good. The flint on the back side of the Coleman magnesium block isn't all that bad either.