Ferrocerium rods

20610 Views 81 Replies 37 Participants Last post by ninjasurvivor, Sep 2, 2014

socom2173

Discussion Starter · Jan 3, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

I believe there is way too much interest in Ferrocerium rods in a "Wilderness Survival Kit". This is equipment that you should have on you (on your person)whenever you are in the "Wilderness". That could save your life if you were separated from your main pack or gear. Honestly, I find them great fun to use. But they realy are little more than a novelty, fad or toy.

I drop Bic lighters in with all my gear. Do you know what Bic lighter is?...

Its a FERROCERIUM ROD! complete with built in idiot proof striker, and its own "tinder" or FUEL in one tiny, self contained unit!

Not to mention, Its WATERPROOF, fast, lights on the first try, requires no techniqe to use. And If I fall in a river and have minutes to get warmed up while Im shivering severly, I dont have time to gather tinder or, scrape and play with "toys".

I do not consider a firesteel to be true Bush craft as, you still need the Firesteel. If you can plan ahead and bring a firesteel, you can bring a lighter instead!

What will you do if you drop it in tall grass or snow and cant find it?

I prefer the bright red lighters, good luck finding that narrow little rod that looks like a twig! this may **** some of you off but, it is reality.
Your first priority is to learn to make fire using a Fire Drill (Hand or Bow). You may not have a rod (or anything) with you when you need a fire. THEN, carry a lighter!

Some will say "A lighter can break" well, this is true. My experience from 15 years of smoking, lighting 20 cigarettes a day is that I only recall 2 lighters ever "failing" me they were both cheap gas station plastic lighters. the only time a Bic didnt light was when it was out of Fuel!

And if you're worried about it falling apart in your hands, buy TWO! I have several 5-packs in my closet with my gear these will light thousands and thousands of fires! they are $4. Fire is too important to not have when you need it! You can still have a rod if you like (I have one on my keychain) but do not rely on it as your only source of fire, you could die.

If you are trying to conserve space, they make a Mini-Bic (This is what I carry in MY belt kit) that takes very little space.

Don't misunderstand me, The most valuble "skill" you can have is being able to make fire with nothing, from sticks. And I advocate this techniqe whenever you light a fire in the wilderness for practice. I just do not want to die in the wilderness because i didnt have a fire when I NEEDED it.

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Smudge

· #41 · Jan 14, 2010

Having to repeat myself all my posts from yesterday have gone missing BUT THIS is bloody funny

Jida said:
7) You can't dominate a tribe of primitives by holding up a ferro rod.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Reactions: 1

txprep

· #42 · Aug 19, 2014

Just revisiting this topic. Just read an article comparing lighters to ferro rods. The conclusion is lighters are *much* better than ferro rods.

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2014/07/ferro-rod-vs-bic-lighter.html

They address
the # of fires you can light
The weight
lighting in the cold
etc

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SgtDice

· #43 · Aug 19, 2014

IMHO ferro rod's are awesome and Bic's can't be beat for reliability too.
But something so important 2 is 1 and 1 is none should be applied why not have both?
There's no debate here.

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panoz77

· #44 · Aug 19, 2014

haha49 said:
ah... stick a bick in a freezer.. leave it for a few days take it out and try and light it under cold conditions.. it fails.. its failed me with lots of fuel in it.. But I used the rod and a knife to light the bic because the spark wasnt hot enough or something to light the fuel but the rod light it..

Rub it in your hands using friction heat for 20 seconds and it will light, or stick it under your armpit or between your azzcheaks for a minute, I know that is too much work for some people, but it is much easier than most other options. Even when they get soaking wet, you blow them out and they still work. Again, it takes about 20 seconds to dry, by the way, you can't light a bic underwater, just an FYI.

charliemeyer007

· #45 · Aug 19, 2014

Try a get a wet BIC to light, good luck until it dries out. At like -10 they are almost impossible to light until they warm up in your hand. Plus sometimes the valve sticks and all the fluid is gone next time you go to use it.

My solution for BIC's. With a long paracord necklace the lighter can hang upside down inside your shirt where it stays warm and dry ready for use. The long seam is treated with jeweler's rouge for stropping a blade. 2' of recoverable artificial sinew sewn with a locking double needle stitch technique.

This is my ferro rod. .25 x 2. 5 rod epoxied into a 6mm necked 30-06. Case hold enough waste gunpowder for at least 10 emergency fires. Grade 5 bolt lathe cut to a square edge so it could be used as a scraper. Red rubber gasket completes the water proof seal.

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Alea iacta est

· #46 · Aug 19, 2014

I really love the BlastMatch but, I also pack a couple of BIC lighters & Stormproof Matches.

Actually I think Stormproof Matches will start a fire even better than a BIC but, of course the BIC has many more available "lights" than a box of Stormproof Matches.

ROCK6

· #47 · Aug 19, 2014

SgtDice said:
IMHO ferro rod's are awesome and Bic's can't be beat for reliability too.
But something so important 2 is 1 and 1 is none should be applied why not have both?
There's no debate here.

I agree as well. I always pack 2-3 Bic Lighters, even as a light-weight backpacker; one in the pants pocket, one in the pack's waist belt pouch and one in my cook-kit. Still, I like having a ferro-rod.

My ferro-rod also includes tinder in it's tube handle but more importantly, the advantage to using a ferro-rod is the discipline to collect good tinder and spend more quality time in pre-ignition fire prep. Instant ignition sources are extremely important when needed, but don't forget a good accelerant to assist in getting a fire going quickly...which is when they are truly needed.

I wouldn't take the stance one is better than the other; both have a place in my kit...this is an "essential" that requires redundancy and having different ignition sources just expands your capabilities.

ROCK6

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Alea iacta est

· #48 · Aug 19, 2014

If you have not ever seen this UCO Stormproof Match Video you must watch it. It is only a bit longer than 2 minutes.
It sort of proves my point that for the most adverse conditions AKA High Winds, Water, Rain, etc etc. They sort of "beat the pants" off of any other method BUT, of course you are limited to one fire per match.

So carry a BIC and Carry a Ferro Rod and (for sure) also stuff a couple of boxes of Stormproof Matches in there also.

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ninjasurvivor

· #49 · Aug 19, 2014

A match is really just a sparking device with its own tinder built in. There's no functional difference between a match or a fero rod and cotton ball. But the fero rod can be used thousands of times, and your tinder options are extensive. A match will do little good without additional dry tinder and kindling, the same as a fero rod.

DomC

· #50 · Aug 19, 2014

I carry what works for me, not what everyone else thinks or deems is the "best". The most important thing is to PRACTICE fire making with what works for you and to to be redundant with your fire making tools...it's all good imo.

IMO finding and using suitable tinder that is synonymous with your area is important if not more important than the fire starting method or implement. Having reliable and pre-tested man-made tinder on your person is always a good idea...

In survival situations, procurement of a sustainable fire with the least expenditure of energy is very important...

DomC

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ninjasurvivor

· #51 · Aug 19, 2014

Understanding the triangle of fire is more important than what fire starting implement you have on you. If you understand how wind, moisture, types of wood, and the structure of your fire lay interact to make or prevent fire, then it won't matter if you have a lighter, fero rod, matches, or flame thrower. You'll get you're fire going if you understand the big picture.

My buddy had a lighter on him and spent three days in the woods without fire because he said it was "too windy" to get one started. Flick the bic, wind blows it out...Well, guess its impossible!

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DomC

· #52 · Aug 19, 2014

ninjasurvivor said:
My buddy had a lighter on him and spent three days in the woods without fire because he said it was "too windy" to get one started. Flick the bic, wind blows it out...Well, guess its impossible!

Pretty sad state of affairs spending three days without a fire. I would have improvised a wind break out of materials nearby and made fire. Improvise, adapt, overcome...What happened on the fourth day?

DomC

bushcrafter

· #53 · Aug 20, 2014

For those of us that live in very cold places, bic lighter is useless during the winter time when temperature is 40+ below. Match works better than bic at that temperature. But again you gotta have few methods of fire making so if one fails the other one might work.

ninjasurvivor

· #54 · Aug 20, 2014

DomC said:
Pretty sad state of affairs spending three days without a fire. I would have improvised a wind break out of materials nearby and made fire. Improvise, adapt, overcome...What happened on the fourth day?

DomC

He went home on the fourth day. I asked him why he wouldn't just go inside his tent (as a wind break) and light some tinder in there just to get it going, but he said it was "too risky". I mean this is the type of guy I could picture striking a fero rod with a knife, but there'd be no sparks and you'd look down and see his severed finger in the tinder pile.

bushcrafter said:
For those of us that live in very cold places, bic lighter is useless during the winter time when temperature is 40+ below. Match works better than bic at that temperature. But again you gotta have few methods of fire making so if one fails the other one might work.

I live in places humans were meant to live, so I don't have that problem. I here it's darn near impossible to get a fire going in the bottom of the Marianas Trench too.

:

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Vanishing Nomad

· #55 · Aug 20, 2014

The only Bic lighter I am willing to carry, is an empty used up one. Anything newer than that is not allowed in my kit.

panoz77

· #56 · Aug 20, 2014

Vanishing Nomad said:
The only Bic lighter I am willing to carry, is an empty used up one. Anything newer than that is not allowed in my kit.

You win most hardcore used bic lighter without fuel award.

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Vanishing Nomad

· #57 · Aug 20, 2014

panoz77 said:
You win most hardcore used bic lighter without fuel award.

Whooo Hoo!!

marbro

· #58 · Aug 20, 2014

The one fire making tool that has never failed me is my firesteel. It in essence is just banging two rocks together just like flint and steel. Banging two rocks together is about as primitive as you get. Got a **** eating grin after reading that firesteel is not bushcraft eee enough. Lol pleease.

Is it because its manufactured? Ill wager your bringing up quite a bit of synthetic material.

Outside of friction fires, the most difficult thing about making them is gathering enough firewood.

I always carry firesteel out in the wilderness simply because it never fails. I always bring a bic or two because its the most convenient. Hell, a little grill lighter fluid in a tiny dollar store bottle works wonders for an easy fire start

. Dont you hate trying to get and keep a flame going when its windy and rainy out? I do and in the Pacific NW it will happen. That is why I like to bring a small torch.....

Fire does not have to be difficult just reliable. And the only reliable tool I have is firesteel. I may not use it but I hope I do not use my emergency med kit either. Better to have the best around when your life depends on it.

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Arsenul

· #59 · Aug 20, 2014

It's just multiable ways to start a fire. I have two of these, storm proof matches, lighters, and even a chemical solution to create fire. One may not work while the other may. Having only lighters in your kit is probally the stupidest thing you could do. If you continue to think that a lighter will keep you alive in all situwations, then you will probally die in a SHTF scenario or any life threatening survival situwation. Don't get me wrong, lighters are great. Like I mentioned, I use them, but you should NEVER only rely on them.

ninjasurvivor

· #60 · Aug 20, 2014

I posted a video on here a while back of me trying to get a fire going in a remote area with skant tinder resources. I didn't have any paper on me so all I could use was whatever was on the ground. I had my light my fire steel with me. I spent like 15 minutes trying to get some stuff going. It actually flamed for a moment then fizzled out. It was very challenging. I had to give up after a while due to time constraints. I'm not saying it's impossible, just challenging. Yet a bic would've got that stuff going instantly.

That's one of the problems with the fire steel. It assures sparks, but not flame. You absolutely must have some type of viable tinder to get your flame going. That may mean having to spend a lot more time and energy searching for it and processing it, or worse case scenario, not being able to convert that spark into fire.

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