where to get cheap firesteel blanks?

[Dale_jonez]

anyone know of anywhere decent to get firesteel blanks? i want to make a few of my own.

thanks for any help

[FishyFolk]

Ebay

[Dale_jonez]

would they be of the same quality as others? Or are they all pretty much the same?

[JEEP]

In my experience there is a vast difference in quality. My advice is always to buy LMF blanks, they may be more expensive, but imho. they are better; they last longer, doesn't corrode so fast and throw a good spark.

[Dale_jonez]

where would i get LMF blanks jeep? From the company website?

[FishyFolk]

The only fire steel I have that has corroded...is an LMF fire steel :-)
That said, i don't actually get mine from ebay eitehr. When I make one, it's always just one, so I get a cheap, no brand one. They even sell them at the super markets here.
They are 1/3 of the price of the LMF ones, and never had a problem with them. I think they throw better sparks, and easier to get sparks from. As they seem softer than LMF steels.
Of course that makes the life span of them shorter. But The ones I have where made last eyar and still going strong. And at a price of 3£ I am not that concerned if they last me 1 year or 5 years...
But I have found one that works. Getting them from ebay is more uncertain.

Anyway, I cop off the plastic handle and make something like this, using juniper.

Here is one I made for Jeep, using the knife in the picture that Jeep gifted me with. Still a part of my EDC when i go into the woods :-)
http://bushcraft.no/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Jakob-009.jpg

[Dale_jonez]

thats really good mate , i like that :) thats the sort of thing i wanted o do , is that a cover for the firesteel with the striker in the pic? if so thats a good idea :happy-clapping:

[Dale_jonez]

i was given one of those bear grylls firesteels for my birthday last month, its not bad actually, i have lit the house fire many times with it haha, and i like the fact it has a cover for the steel and a little tinder compartment :campfire:

[CanadianMike]

In the US, but shipping shouldn't be too bad since they are small and light...

http://usaknifemaker.com/ferro-rods-survival-and-camping-c-69/ferro-rods-and-fire-starters.html

[ian c]

I have been getting mine from EVIL bay and they are good as rune said some are softer, the ones that i get are as good as LMF if you want them the item number is 271025733193 and work out at about £3 for 2 of them the only problem is the waiting time for them to get to you my last lot took about 6 wks to get to me but i am happy with that as i always have 1 or 2 spare in my kit, hope this helps.

[Sar-ian]

Not the cheapest, but this is the one I use,

http://http://www.amazon.co.uk/Compact-Fireball-Striker-Firesteel-Survival/dp/B000TEORL0/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1364049898&sr=8-15

[FishyFolk]

thats really good mate , i like that :) thats the sort of thing i wanted o do , is that a cover for the firesteel with the striker in the pic? if so thats a good idea :happy-clapping:

It's sort of a sheath for it. Then I hang the sheath from my neck, and can take the fire steel off it when i need to use it. It is secured with a bungee lanyard on the steel.

Here is a pic:

http://bushcraft.no/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Jakob-007.jpg

And here is the same design attached to a small souvenir knife from Brusletto. The knife is used as the striker, and is also my neck nife...

http://bushcraft.no/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/neckknife-001-1024x576.jpg

[nilo52]

Try Amazon , Or Firesteel.com they sell a wide variety of sizes.

[Hill40rt]

I've discovered that in fact, it mostly depends on the striker or scraper used in my experience.

If you use the serrated tin things that used to be supplied with LMF firesteels ( don't know if they still are) they are poor for the job, as well as potentially dangerous, due to the sharp edges all over the things.

The hacksaw blade type strikers are poor too, so that leaves something like the larger flat scrapers supplied with the Ray Mears "fireflash" which are okay but a bit small.

The "de rigueur " alternative is the back of the knife, which, if you have the correct grind on the spine of the knife works well, but is potentially very dangerous, particularly for beginners or kids, but also seasoned veterans when it's cold, wet, blowing a gale, your tired, stressed, etc etc etc.

So now, if I'm using a firesteel, from the very very cheap, to the stupidly highly priced, I use my own, flat bladed scraper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc2wQ9ryts0&list=UURddL3mkjOvJ3tAtVHpW-XQ&index=3

This works extremely well with every single firesteel I've tried, very much better than any of the scrapers supplied with the steels and more importantly, very much safer than using a knife spine.

As for where to get firesteels-ebay if you want cheap-Ray Mears if you want top quality, but there really isn't that much difference

good luck and be careful:)

Steve

[David_JAFO]

hello,
Dale PM your address & I'll send you a spare Ray Mears
blank fire stick rod brand new. I was given a couple of these
recently & have a spare :wink:
Regards
David
http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/715-Fire-Stick-Rod/

[rawfish111]

T^ to all

[Dale_jonez]

It's sort of a sheath for it. Then I hang the sheath from my neck, and can take the fire steel off it when i need to use it. It is secured with a bungee lanyard on the steel.

Here is a pic:

http://bushcraft.no/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Jakob-007.jpg

And here is the same design attached to a small souvenir knife from Brusletto. The knife is used as the striker, and is also my neck nife...

http://bushcraft.no/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/neckknife-001-1024x576.jpg


i really like that idea (the firesteel sheath) i may attempt something like that myself :) i love this site , so many cool idea's. well done to you mate :)

[Dale_jonez]

hello,
Dale PM your address & I'll send you a spare Ray Mears
blank fire stick rod brand new. I was given a couple of these
recently & have a spare :wink:
Regards
David
http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/715-Fire-Stick-Rod/

ive replied to your PM David , thanks very much for the offer :)

[Dale_jonez]

thanks to everyone who has replied to my thread :) much appreciated

[Dale_jonez]

Not the cheapest, but this is the one I use,

http://http://www.amazon.co.uk/Compact-Fireball-Striker-Firesteel-Survival/dp/B000TEORL0/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1364049898&sr=8-15

i tried to look at that link mate , but it kept saying the link was broken :(

[David_JAFO]

hello Dale,
You are :welcome: mate. PM received & I'll snail mail you the item asap :wink:
Regards
David

[nilo52]

You Sir , are a VERY kind man !!

[butchthedog]

hello Dale,
You are :welcome: mate. PM received & I'll snail mail you the item asap :wink:
Regards
David

Well done David

[Dale_jonez]

hello Dale,
You are :welcome: mate. PM received & I'll snail mail you the item asap :wink:
Regards
David

yea no worries mate , send then whenever you get the chance. thanks a lot mate , your awesome :)

[Kernowek Scouser]

I've discovered that in fact, it mostly depends on the striker or scraper used in my experience...

...So now, if I'm using a firesteel, from the very very cheap, to the stupidly highly priced, I use my own, flat bladed scraper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc2wQ9ryts0&list=UURddL3mkjOvJ3tAtVHpW-XQ&index=3
Steve

I imagine this would not be something that would appeal to everyone, but I like the thinking behind it and the craftsmanship that has gone in to making it. So well done fella and thanks for sharing the link.
T^

[Hill40rt]

I imagine this would not be something that would appeal to everyone, but I like the thinking behind it and the craftsmanship that has gone in to making it. So well done fella and thanks for sharing the link.
T^

Thank you very much KS:) The thinking behind it was mostly motivated by the safety and efficiency side of things but it also covers the legal issues inherent in carrying a fixed blade knife, too.

thanks again

Steve

[Sar-ian]

i tried to look at that link mate , but it kept saying the link was broken :(

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Compact-Fireball-Striker-Firesteel-Survival/dp/B000TEORL0/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1364212323&sr=8-15

Try this....

[Dale_jonez]

I've discovered that in fact, it mostly depends on the striker or scraper used in my experience.

If you use the serrated tin things that used to be supplied with LMF firesteels ( don't know if they still are) they are poor for the job, as well as potentially dangerous, due to the sharp edges all over the things.

The hacksaw blade type strikers are poor too, so that leaves something like the larger flat scrapers supplied with the Ray Mears "fireflash" which are okay but a bit small.

The "de rigueur " alternative is the back of the knife, which, if you have the correct grind on the spine of the knife works well, but is potentially very dangerous, particularly for beginners or kids, but also seasoned veterans when it's cold, wet, blowing a gale, your tired, stressed, etc etc etc.

So now, if I'm using a firesteel, from the very very cheap, to the stupidly highly priced, I use my own, flat bladed scraper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc2wQ9ryts0&list=UURddL3mkjOvJ3tAtVHpW-XQ&index=3

This works extremely well with every single firesteel I've tried, very much better than any of the scrapers supplied with the steels and more importantly, very much safer than using a knife spine.

As for where to get firesteels-ebay if you want cheap-Ray Mears if you want top quality, but there really isn't that much difference

good luck and be careful:)

Steve


i like that idea also :) what did you make it out of? just a piece of scrap metal ?

[Dale_jonez]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Compact-Fireball-Striker-Firesteel-Survival/dp/B000TEORL0/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1364212323&sr=8-15

Try this....


thanks Ian that link work fine :) not a bad price either :)

[David_JAFO]

hello,
Dale your fire stick rod has been mailed (requires a signature on receipt) no problem,
no need for thanks, enjoy. A few NBC members have been very kind in recent times
to assist I, so as part of the NBC just repaying the kind deed least I could do :wink:
BTW FishyFolk I really like the Juniper end you applied to the fire stick rod neat stuff.
Regards
David

[Dale_jonez]

hello,
Dale your fire stick rod has been mailed (requires a signature on receipt) no problem,
no need for thanks, enjoy. A few NBC members have been very kind in recent times
to assist I, so as part of the NBC just repaying the kind deed least I could do :wink:
BTW FishyFolk I really like the Juniper end you applied to the fire stick rod neat stuff.
Regards
David

you may not want thanks but your getting them anyway! haha thanks very much matey, much appreciated :)

[paulthefish2009]

What a lovely bunch of happy campers on here,very generous David T^

[Dale_jonez]

The firesteel arrived this morning David, thank you very much :) it is quite a chunky one haha thicker than the other one i have.

now to get to work on a handle and sheath :) thanks again

oh P.S Thanks for the Help For Heroes bracelet , wearing it as we speak/type lol


thank you David :)

[David_JAFO]

hello,
No problem your :welcome: mate. Comparing Rods..oh..er.. :ashamed:
Ketchup L-8-er!
Regards
David :wink:

[Dale_jonez]

hello,
No problem your :welcome: mate. Comparing Rods..oh..er.. :ashamed:
Ketchup L-8-er!
Regards
David :wink:


:jumping-joy:

[snowleopard]

Try shark tinderbox for more Dale.

Joel