Brass Cartridge (Deactivated) Handled Firesteel

The firesteel rod is glued into an Brass Cartridge (Deactivated) Handled. Attached through a hole in the end is a small brass keyring.

Thousands of lights!

When you scrape them with a piece of hard steel such as knife, hacksaw blade, or even a key, these emit long lasting sparks of over 3000 degrees.

Confusingly these rods a given many different names; I call them firesteels. Other names they may be given are:

• Ferro or Ferrocerium rods - Referring to the material they are made from,
• Magnesium rod - They are not made from magnesium,
• Modern flint or Flint Fire Starter - They have a resemblance, in use, to flint and steel fire making using natural flint.

Brass Cartridge (Deactivated) Handled Fire Starter

When the rod is struck against the steel, or vice versa, a spark is thrown. Tinder can be used to catch the spark; it should be shredded up and unraveled and formed into a sort of nest, cotton wool also works very well. Put more kindling on top as it catches alight and you can build a fire from there.

How does it work?

When struck, ferrocerium particles rapidly oxidize and spontaneously ignite in the atmosphere, creating hot sparks.

Modern rods use mischmetal which is an alloy of Cerium, Lanthanum, Neodymium and praseodymium. Iron and small amount of magnesium are used to harden the rods.

How do you use it?

Ferro rods come with a black protective coating that must be scraped off before, or during, use. The inside has a bright silver like colour.

A dedicated striker, or the back edge of a knife blade, make good ferrocerium strikers due to being made from a high carbon steel and seems to make the best fire starter sparks.

For beginners we suggest setting up a safe fire area in which to practice striking and fire making. The sparks need to fall onto flammable tinder such as charcloth.

Advantages?

• It lights quickly.
• Long lasting (In long term storage clear nail vanish helps).
• Waterproof
• Windproof
• Will still work if snapped.

Specifications:(Approximately)

Diameter 12.7mm

Length 127mm 

Diameter 10mm

Length 100mm 

Diameter 8mm

Length 100mm

Diameter 8mm

Length 80mm 

Diameter 6.5mm

Length 75mm 

Diameter 6mm

Length 60mm