Pimp your firesteel?

[Bambii]

Heres mine, i knocked the old plastic handle off it and replaced it with a small roe deer antler...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_R-rObqieitw/TPv-I7onrSI/AAAAAAAAACo/1PuN7-Pop_w/s400/THINGS%20039.jpg

[Bush_Men]

This is my firesteel (light my fire army model) with a watertight capsule to always have some tinder ready:

http://c4.quickcachr.fotos.sapo.pt/i/od005cf78/7554315_qa0m7.jpeg

It's always stuffed with some fatwood:

http://c1.quickcachr.fotos.sapo.pt/i/o0505267e/7554291_gEGKN.jpeg

[Bambii]

Thats a cool mod, i like the idea of having tinder in my firesteel.

Good work :)

[Kieran]

What firesteels do you guys use?
I have one that cost £1 on eBay... It's 'okay'... Not great. Lol.

[Bambii]

What firesteels do you guys use?
I have one that cost £1 on eBay... It's 'okay'... Not great. Lol.

The one above used to have a plastic handle, it was off a large highlander firesteel.

You can buy the blanks which is cheaper than buying it with a handle.

[Bush_Men]

As I said above Light my fire for me...But i've seen some good talkin on the blanks that come from firesteel.co.uk

[paul standley]

A slight drift off the original thread - but what's the best way to get the "bur" back on the blade that comes with the steel ?. mines losing the bur and it takes a bit more effort to generate good sparks these days.

[Shewie]

A slight drift off the original thread - but what's the best way to get the "bur" back on the blade that comes with the steel ?. mines losing the bur and it takes a bit more effort to generate good sparks these days.

By "bur" do you mean a good edge ? The best strike you'll get off the spine of a blade is if it's a perfect 90* angle, some of my pricier knives are crap at striking a ferro rod because the top edge is slightly rolled. If you can bring yourself to do it then take a file to it and get a nice sharp angle.

[paul standley]

By "bur" do you mean a good edge ? The best strike you'll get off the spine of a blade is if it's a perfect 90* angle, some of my pricier knives are crap at striking a ferro rod because the top edge is slightly rolled. If you can bring yourself to do it then take a file to it and get a nice sharp angle.

Shewie - I mean the bur on the little metal blade (striker) that comes with the ferro rods. I have used the back edge of my knife which works great but so far I've tended to use the little metal blade that comes with the ferro rod most of the time simply cus' it's still attached. (like the one in Bush_men's picture above)

[CanadianMike]

Replace the striker with a chunk of metal saw blade, works even better at making sparks.

[Bambii]

Replace the striker with a chunk of metal saw blade, works even better at making sparks.

Mine came with a piece of hacksaw blade, never had an official striker like the light my fire ones.

[CanadianMike]

I have a couple like that too, and also have the light my fire one. Preference................ dunno, but I know that the LMF striker does need a good sharp burr on the edge to work properly, where a metal saw it won't matter. Plus the saw blade can be used as a little saw, and can even have a razor sharp edge put on it as well.

[Bambii]

I generally use the back of my knife, the little nylon string loop was annoying me so i cut it off.

[paul standley]

I like the idea of using a piece of saw (hacksaw) blade for the striker and I just thought of an idea for increasing the sparkshower as well using a piece of hacksaw blade so I'll have a play tomorrow and post my idea if it works.

[paul standley]

I like the idea of using a piece of saw (hacksaw) blade for the striker and I just thought of an idea for increasing the sparkshower as well using a piece of hacksaw blade so I'll have a play tomorrow and post my idea if it works.

So, thanks all for the tips on using a hacksaw blade for a striker, I sorted a piece out today and works great. I found that using the "saw tooth" edge creates nice shavings off the ferro rod if you need to build up a bit of extra on your tinder and it generates a significant shower of sparks whith a single stroke whilst the spine produces a normal amount.

For the heck of it, I also ground a sharp straight single bevel edge on my blunt LMF striker and that actually put a nice bur back on it but I think I'll go with the hacksaw blade for a while.

I used a piece of blade (24 teeth per inch) that is just slightly longer than my LMF rod (approx 3") so that it would be effective as a short metal saw in the field if I ever needed one.

Usefull thread, learned something today...

[Metal mug]

How about a firesteel with a welder handle. ;)

[JEEP]

My firesteels:

306

Light My Fire new model Scout (w. whistle in the striker), i prefer the old model really
LMF old model Army
"Sami multitool" w. tin-/can opener and firesteel, a new one I just bought
Kauko Raatiniemi puukko w. firesteel
LMF model Scout w. oak handle, my main carry firesteel
LMF model Mini, resides in my lightweight cooking kit

[Bambii]

Show off :D

Nice! I like the bottle opener and the puukko.

[JEEP]

Working in an outdoor store, one tends to pick up a lot of bits and bobs :D

[paul standley]

Jeep - Nothing like being prepared...! Some nice pieces there.

[JEEP]

Thanks :)

Btw. as stated I much prefer the old model LMF firesteels to the newer ones, with the whistle in the striker. A few has asked me why:

1. The handles on the new model are a tad smaller than on the old model, I do not have very large hands, but I still find the new model way too fiddly to handle
2. The handles on the new model are somewhat ergonomically shaped, giving the rod a backside and a front. Some may not mind this, but I find it unnecessary and somewhat irritating
3. Though the new model is a tad lighter than the old model, the new model has a somewhat less sturdy feel to it - it may not actually be so, but it feels like it, especially the striker
4. Carrying a whistle when going outside is a good and sound idea for many reasons. But, the new trend of building whistles into everything is just plain silly. It is not even a very good/loud whistle anyway - I really feel that this is just a gimmick to make people, who already have a perfectly good firesteel, feel that they need to "upgrade"

I say; get the old model LMF, Scout or Army (only get the Mini if you looking for a super lightweight one as reserve or in you survival kit). The old models are still available in some places, but they won't be for long.