Firesteel?

[Infragreen]

Firesteel is a widely-spread mistake.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firesteel

Please do not refer to a ferrocerium rod by a firesteel.

The firesteel is a (currently) handcrafted item, made of steel, used to strike fire from flint (not lighter flints, which are ferrocerium, as are "swedish firesteels").

Let's keep the commercial chatter off these pages, and use the real names for the real things.

Infy

PS. Double-posted on firecraft discussion. Admin: Feel free to remove if necessary.

 

[falling rain]

Yes lets.....................because it's so offensive to most of us isn't it? to call something not by it's exact name. How dare anyone call a Ferrocium rod a firesteel..............disgraceful behaviour..........whatever next

 

[Phil562]

Yes lets.....................because it's so offensive to most of us isn't it? to call something not by it's exact name. How dare anyone call a Ferrocium rod a firesteel..............disgraceful behaviour..........whatever next

What ever next

 

[Toddy]

I never gave it much of a thought to be honest. A flint and steel or a firesteel? Maybe a 'firesteel rod' ??
I think it's like diarrhoea, it's the spelling
That said, type in Firesteel to Google, uk pages, and guess what comes up? Ferrocerium/ Swedish firesteel.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[gregorach]

Funny - I've always heard flint-and-steel firelighting technology refered to as "flint-and-steel", not "flint-and-firesteel". I've only heard the word "firesteel" used to refer to the ferrocerium rods. The old striking steel is just a "steel" in my book.

 

[Stuart]

the accepted use for the word has simply changed, I would say that it is now perfectly acceptable to refer to a ferrocium rod as a 'firesteel'.

with 'flint and steel' or 'strike a light' terms reserved for describing the traditional method.

the only significant error would be to refer to a ferrocium rod as a 'flint'

 

[leon-1]

Actually the wikipedia has it wrong, Stuart has it right,

As you can see from the picture this is quite plainly a Firesteel.

 

[Wayne]

I am surprised anyone uses wiki whenever i have attempted to source info it has been inaccurate. Then again i am usually looking for specialist information.

I would say that for clarity firesteel is the modern ferrocium rod and flint and steel describes striking a peice of steel with a flint to shave a sliver of hot steel to form a spark.

Accuracy is important where misunderstandings can be dangerous but most people use the terms for either.

 

[maverix]

we appear to be having a pedants revolt, watch out for the fishmonger....

 

[falling rain]

Actually the wikipedia has it wrong, Stuart has it right,

As you can see from the picture this is quite plainly a Firesteel.

GO LEON GO, :BlueTeamE :AR15firin :BlueTeamE :AR15firin

 

[BorderReiver]

It's a wee bit like "hoover" and "fridge" isn't it.

Language must evolve or become unusable.English is such a rich and universal language because it has never been controlled like the French have tried to do with theirs.

I'm in the "flint and steel" and "firesteel" camp.

BTW,what are ciggy lighter "flints" made of.

 

[leon-1]

BTW,what are ciggy lighter "flints" made of.

I don't honestly know, but I would imagine pretty much the same stuff, I have ground flint onto cotton wool before now before setting it off with a spark from it and it works pretty much the same.

 

[Marts]

BTW,what are ciggy lighter "flints" made of.

Seem to be just Flint

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Lighter.html

 

[BorderReiver]

Just found this by using Ask:


"Flints are made from sparking alloy of Cerium Mischmetal with Iron, Magnesium & other metals, are widely used in Flint Lighter, Outdoor Fire Starter, and Sparking Entertainment."

So,another "miss use" of flint.


But this one has been around a long time.

 

[AlexRowan]

I dont care what we call them!!

What I do care about though is that we clarify the issue worldwide so I can go to google and type in whatever word we deem suitable so I can find a cheap and easily obtainable metal thing to strike flint with!!!!!

 

[Toddy]

Might I suggest "Flint and Steel"
Use the quotes and google will find steels that are relevant to flint useage.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[-Switch-]

So what exactly DO you want us to call it? Fireflash? Firestick? Sparkstick?
There's no way I'm spending the rest of my life calling it a 'ferrocerium rod'

 

[gaz_miggy]

ok it may not be its the right name but cats talls real name is greater reedmase but we just know it as cats tall so dose it realy matter if we call a ferrocerium rod firesteel we all know what we mean

 

[Stuart]

BTW,what are ciggy lighter "flints" made of

.

The lighter 'flints' are exactly the same composition as the Swedish firesteels they are both ferrocium rods just of different dimensions (and the Swedish fire steels are covered in black lacquer)

Just found this by using Ask:


"Flints are made from sparking alloy of Cerium Mischmetal with Iron, Magnesium & other metals, are widely used in Flint Lighter, Outdoor Fire Starter, and Sparking Entertainment."

So,another "miss use" of flint.

"Cerium Mischmetal with Iron, Magnesium & other metals" also known as.... a ferrocium rod or sometimes referred to as a zirconium rod both of which are the same thing