Why carry a Ferrocerium rod?

C_Claycomb

C_Claycomb

Joined
Dec 11, 2000
Messages
1,044
Over the last few weeks a question has started to run through my head. I have one of those Swedish fire-steel type rods and have been practicing my fire lighting techniques under various conditions, mainly damp rainy ones. It seems that the hardest thing to locate is dry tinder to take the spart and make either flame or a hot ember. The temptation is to start carrying nice dry tinder along with the ferro rod. And here is the question. If you start carting lots of tinder around for your spark fire-lighting, why carry the ferro rod at all? Why not just carry a gas torch and fire starting bricks, or other petro-chemical accellerant?

Don't get me wrong, I like my fire steel, but you still have to remember to take it (and maybe tinder too), in which case why not take something easier to use?

Chris
 
we should always question our gadgets and gear.

fire steel is just one method of fire I carry. I also have strke anywhere matches and some tinder. I think the fire steel is a good choice because it will outlast a lighter and matches.

one thing I always consider is if I am in a "temporary" emergency situation I will use whatever means necessary to start a fire, I won't be like, "Hey I am a survivalist, I can only use spark based fire". but if that situation turns into a few days then I can gather necessary tinder and prepare it keeping by it dry.

I see nothing wrong with petro-chemicals, which I think is esbit fuel tabs and trioxamine type fuels. I also have these in my BOB, but they won't fit in my MINI-KIT. If in an emergency with my BOB I would surely take that out with a match and have a cup of tea and some soup. but again if the situation goes into OT then the gathering of tinder and ferrocium rods would come into play.


good luck
 
i carry one of these along with some trioxane tabs, and vaseline soaked cotton balls as these will give me a fire, sometimes i just carry a tube of vaseline lip balm, and if i need to i can get a piece of cloth from my clothing, rough it up with a knife blade, dop it with the lip balm and light it to start the fire.

matches, lighters are prone to failure if they get wet. the ferro rod will light no matter how wet it is, if you have the dry tinder, accelerant you will get a fire. especially if you practice in the wet and cold woods, i like to take my kids with me so that they get to do the fire building, they then learn a skill, how to use a fero rod, how to collect wood, and build a fire on the snow, etc.

the trick is to always be able to start the fire, so practice when you arent in extreme situations and then you will have the technique down no matter what the flame source is.

alex
 
As previously stated; matches, lighters, etc are prone to failure in wet conditions. The ferro rod comes into it's own in those conditions. No matter what type of fire starter I carry, I also carry a small supply of tinder, either in the form of TinderQuik tabs from Four Seasons Survival or my own home brewed vaseline soaked cotton balls. With the FireSteel or BSA HotSpark or USGI MFS AND my tinder, I've created fire in monsoon like and blizzard conditions sans any problems, so I'm comfortable in relying upon the ferro rod for my primary means of ignition. I can't say that about any other fire starter source I currently have available. Even if I happen to run out of prepared tinder, I can find ignitable tinder in almost any environment I inhabit. It's all in knowing where to look and what to look for, ie. birch bark, pine fatwood, cattail, etc. The key here is to find out what you have available in the areas you haunt and practice with them until proficient ... then practice a little more.

Lesson One ... Move the ferro rod, not the striker. This puts more spark right where you need it in order to ignite harder lighting materials.

Mike;)
 
Again...lighters and matches fail.
The firesteel, and a trioxane tab always work, and don't take up much space or add much weight. Mine normally stays in a pouch on a sheath, along with a LM Wave.
To tell the truth, I usually tote a lighter in my pocket, and a spare in my pack, but don't even carry matches anymore, and haven't used the lighters the last several times I went camping.
 
To be honest, it's matches I question as survival gear. I don't like how many uses you get out of them for the space they take up, and they're the most susceptible to dampning. A bic, for instance, won't work too well when wet, but as soon as it dries, it works again. You can't say that about matches, or even a zippo.
As a side note, somebody noticed I had three sources of fire on me, (I gave him a lighter because I had more,) and he said "What're you, a survivalist?"
I guess you know your'e a survivalist when you carry more than two lighters.
 
Along with my Magnesium & Ferro rod, I always have some dry tinder, as the others above carry. The way I figure it, after I get my first fire started and get warm, I'll make it a point to dry out new tinder made from shavings of wood drying by the fire. When I move out the next morning, etc., I'll have dry tinder and even some dry twigs, so I can start my next fire.

I carry the "threes," Bics, Ferro & Magnesium, and strike anywhere matches in waterproof cases. I've never had any problem with strike anywhere matches and I've made fires in some pretty inclement weather. I keep a small patch of dry cotton on the tips of the matches in the case.

In a really bad situation, there's nothing like a road flare to start wet wood. In a "fix" I'll take anything I can get.
Works for me. L.W.
 
Thanks. That has more than cleared things up for me. For me I think the business about lighters not working in the wet is the best reason. Glad to know that it is taken seriously as a piece of kit, for a little while there I was wondering if it was all for show! :D

Now to I just need some more practice. :) Thus far I have not tried any prepared tinders, the only processed one being shredded cotton string. Otherwise I have been doing it the hard way and hunting for tinder in the damp woods.

As a matter of curiosity, what NATURAL tinders do people use, other than the most obvious like fat wood, thistle or cat-tail down, and birch bark? I have heard that various other types of bark and inner bark can be used, also certain fungi and lichen. The only fungi that I have had luck with are "cramp balls" hard black nodules that grow on ash trees.

I know that it is more efficient to use prepared tinder etc etc. This is just for interest.

Thanks

Chris
 
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