Flint striker from a ships nail?

[calgarychef]

Hello, a question for the blacksmiths! I've acquired an old ships nail that's big enough to form into a strike a lite and I can get a few more although they are quite corroded from being buried in the mud.
Would it work, is there enough carbon in an iron nail to produce sparks?

Thanks

 

[Everything Mac]

Unless it has a decent measure of carbon in it then I seriously doubt it.

if it is wrought iron then definitely no. They just aren't hard enough.
You could work harden and then maybe case harden it, but that's a fair amount of work.

You'd be better with an old file I'm afraid.

Andy

 

[launditch1]

In a word, no.
If its a very old one it would probably be wrought iron.Not a great deal of carbon there.
You could always try heating it to cherry red/non-magnetic and quench it then tap it with a hammer, if it breaks that means it can be hardened so good for fire striker making.
Or hold it against a grinding wheel, if you get lots sparks that look like little christmas trees or 'bursting sparks' then it is more likely to be high carbon steel.Wrought iron sparks look dull orange colour and not as many as normal steel.

 

[calgarychef]

Well that thought was dashed to smithereens! Any good ideas of things to make with large wrought iron nails?

 

[Everything Mac]

you could have a go at these
http://www.etsy.com/listing/104185831/personalized-bottle-opener-hand-forged