Soft ferro rod.

[Stew]

I've misplaced my ferro rod that I have been using for some time (really worn now!)
Was playing around with fire with some friends earlier and pulled out some ferro blanks that I have, ready for handles, but they're really quite hard on comparison, making them hard to get a decent spray of sparks, if any sparks!

So, anyone know of a source of reasonably priced ferro rods that are the softer type. I think my old one was a light my fire but unsure really as had it so long that I forget the details!! Blanks would be preferred but if handled at sensible cost then that's fine.

 

[Corso]

unless you've got some of those dodgy Chinese ones that were doing the rounds a while back it might be that you've met Misch Metal Firesteels - I found the ones I tried needed a far harder/sharper striker to work well when compared to the Swedish ones

www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk do the Swedish ones with or without handles,

 

[swright81076]

The misch metal ones do need a good deal harder and faster contact, but throw off lava like globules.

touched by nature

 

[Stew]

These hard ones are a few years old now - at least three.

 

[MartiniDave]

The blanks sold by Woodlore are really good, nice and soft and throw fantastic sparks.

Dave

 

[Everything Mac]

I bought some mini ones from eBay. -Chinese obviously at £4 for six, but they strike well enough. I found I had to scrape off what I guess is an oxide layer to get them to strike. Once this is off they strike ok.

Couldnt simply be that Stew? I don't mean to insult your intelligence but you never know.

If not I've been quite happy with my Swedish army one. Big shower of good hot sparks.

Atb
Andy

 

[Stew]

I bought some mini ones from eBay. -Chinese obviously at £4 for six, but they strike well enough. I found I had to scrape off what I guess is an oxide layer to get them to strike. Once this is off they strike ok.

Couldnt simply be that Stew? I don't mean to insult your intelligence but you never know.

If not I've been quite happy with my Swedish army one. Big shower of good hot sparks.

Atb
Andy

Not a silly suggestion. I did think the same myself but even once past the crust its tough to strike.
I ended up hunting out a really old plastic match case thast has a thin ferro rod stuck to the side and that was much easier to strike, as expected!

I'm going to pop into the bushcraft store - should do, considering I drive past it every day! I'll do a comparison of the two types, at least for my own sanity!!

 

[Everything Mac]

Let us know how you get on mate.
Andy