Ferro Rod vs. Swedish Fire Steel

[go2ndAmend]

I'm putting together a few Altoids sized PSK's for family and friends. I'm stuck on the Ferro Rod blanks vs. Swedish Fire Steel as part of the firemaking components. Does anyone know the differences between the two. Which would you recommend and why? Thanks.

 

[fixer]

AFAIK, they're all the same, including the ones on magnesium firestarters. only real difference is the length and diameter. there might be slight differences in the percentages of alloys, but they don't seem to make a noticeable difference.

the wiki page doesn't mention the use as firestarters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrochromium

broken glass like from the bottom of a bottle makes a great striker for them.

 

[wildmike]

There are different materials in some fero rods. There is a softer material going round which is a little harder to strike and which throws molten globules (goinggear.com)

Then there is the harder variety which throw just a bunch of sparks. (swedish firesteel, blastmatch, and strikeforce.

Personaly I would put one of the swedish firesteels in and get one of the others from goinggear. Then go out and experiment with both and see which type works better for you.

Ypou can buy tinderquick tabs as tinder or make up some cottonballs loaded with petroleum jelly for the same purpose.

 

[carspidey]

the cottonballs with/without pretroleum jelly will light up pretty quick with a few sparks...