Hi I've been noticing that I can get far less sparks with my stainless steel mora than my older carbon steel clipper. Is this to be expected? Clipper has a slightly battered edge which may help when scraping fire steel. Any idea? Ed
Fire steel using stainless steel knife
- Thread starter Khumbu8000
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the material doesn't matter, what counts is a sharp corner 
If your carbon steel one is burred and the stainless one is not then it will certainly work better.
That is of course you mean sparks from a ferro rod, not flint? If its proper flint then the carbon stell willwork while the stainless likely won't, but then you would be far better off with a proper steel rather than a sharp soft knife
If your carbon steel one is burred and the stainless one is not then it will certainly work better. That is of course you mean sparks from a ferro rod, not flint? If its proper flint then the carbon stell willwork while the stainless likely won't, but then you would be far better off with a proper steel rather than a sharp soft knife
Its just the shape of the spine that makes the difference.
Sharp corner on it = good sparks.
Rounded corner= crap sparks.
Sharp corner on it = good sparks.
Rounded corner= crap sparks.
Fallknivens knives (stainless) come with a sharp spine and they throw proper sparks. Its all about the sharpness of the striking edge.
For me the very best striker I've so far seen was the one that came with the firesteel.
No bother there then.
No bother there then.
Hi Ed,
As others have pointed out, it's not the type of steel, it's the profile.
Fast solution to this issue is to square the back of your Mora blade with a file. I've had to do this with carbon Moras too, where the back of the blade was a little rounded.
Slán,
Mal
As others have pointed out, it's not the type of steel, it's the profile.
Fast solution to this issue is to square the back of your Mora blade with a file. I've had to do this with carbon Moras too, where the back of the blade was a little rounded.
Slán,
Mal
Well, I got sparks from the round end of a carrot...
I think you can cure that with antibiotics.
rancid badger
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
The key is indeed a square edge.
But to be honest, I'd advise not using the back of a knife for scraping a firesteel anyway, as its potentially quite dangerous.
Each to their own of course but you might be better off with a large flat scraper, like this:
[video=youtube;sgwYlGHZPlY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgwYlGHZPlY&list=UURdd L3mkjOvJ3tAtVHpW-XQ[/video]
Admittedly more to carry but much better than having to deal with a sliced finger or hand etc.
good luck
Steve
But to be honest, I'd advise not using the back of a knife for scraping a firesteel anyway, as its potentially quite dangerous.
Each to their own of course but you might be better off with a large flat scraper, like this:
[video=youtube;sgwYlGHZPlY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgwYlGHZPlY&list=UURdd L3mkjOvJ3tAtVHpW-XQ[/video]
Admittedly more to carry but much better than having to deal with a sliced finger or hand etc.
good luck
Steve
I think if you grab the ferro rod high enough, you can't cut yourself. I've used one for years to start my fires and the only time I cut myself with it was when it broke because it had worn out so much.
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