Ferro rod

Fire at every opportunity

We’re all familiar with the classic ways of making fire. But lighters, matches and the like come with some drawbacks that you can avoid by using a fire steel. These handy tools are a fixed part of the kit, especially for bushcrafters and in survival training. Trekkers also often carry a fire steel, which gives them the best basis for being able to light a fire even under the toughest conditions.

 

What exactly is a fire steel?

Strictly speaking, the term “fire steel” is not actually correct for a modern fire starter, since these handy tools are no longer made of steel. The term goes back to the Middle Ages, when people tried to create an ember nest using a striking iron. Over the centuries, however, the term “Feuerstahl” became so established that it is still used today as a synonym in everyday language.

Commercially available flints are now made from ferrocerium or mixed metals. Ferrocerium is a metal alloy and is also referred to as cerium iron. In the periodic table it has the atomic number 58 and belongs to the rare earth metals. Ferrocerium owes its name to its inventor Karl Auer von Welsbach, who researched three different variants.

At the beginning of his research, he used purified cerium for the flints. However, this was extremely expensive to procure and drove the cost of the fire starter up massively. Research therefore continued and lanthanum was added to this alloy. This ensured that the flint made from Auermetal 2 produced particularly well-glowing sparks. But this variant was also extremely expensive and affordable only for a few. With Auermetal 3, unpurified cerium was finally used, which could be purchased at significantly lower prices. The low market prices and the outstanding functionality of this alloy ultimately contributed to Auermetal prevailing up to the present day.

In addition to the classic fire starter, this material is also found in the flint of lighters and, thanks to its enormous shower of sparks, provides the best basis for making fire under difficult conditions. Only 30% of commercially available fire starters are still made of iron today. These require significantly more effort to ignite a fire.

In contrast, a fire steel, which consists largely of Auermetal 3, requires only little effort to produce many individual sparks. This makes them not only particularly durable, but also easier to control and apply precisely to the tinder bundle.

 

What are the advantages of a ferro rod compared to lighters and matches?

Now that we’ve given you a closer look at the history of the fire steel, we don’t want to keep you in suspense any longer and will get to the key facts. And the fact is simple: a fire steel is an absolute must! Thanks to its many possible uses, it is far superior to lighters and the like and definitely deserves a place in your gear!

This is mainly due to its durability and resilience. Unlike the familiar options, a fire starter won’t let you down even in the rain! Both matches and lighters react very sensitively to moisture and are almost unusable once they’ve gotten wet.

The same naturally applies to wind resistance. While you can still generate small individual sparks with your fire steel even in a storm, the usual aids will often let you down.

When it comes to storage and sensitivity to dirt, a ferro rod makes things many times easier. Completely undemanding, you can stash it in your pocket anywhere without it losing functionality.

Of course, you shouldn’t make things unnecessarily hard for yourself and should use your lighter whenever circumstances allow. But for emergencies we still recommend always carrying a fire steel in your pocket. With it you can get a fire going at any time, even under the most adverse conditions!

 

Easy going – how to use your ferro rod!

A fire steel works through friction and ignites many small individual sparks with which you bring your tinder to a glow. To do this, you have to scrape material from your fire steel with a sharp object. The detached metal shavings begin to glow due to the enormous friction heat and finally produce the desired shower of sparks!

The best tool for scraping is a sharp knife with an ergonomic handle that sits particularly well in your hand. This is important so that you can apply steady, firm pressure as evenly as possible across the entire surface of the ferro rod. In addition to a knife, you can also use a striker to scrape off material. These are usually already included in the scope of delivery, so you’re ready to go right away.

Ideally, you hold your fire starter only a few centimeters away from the tinder so that the sparks land as precisely as possible on the surface of the material. When a spark begins to smolder, take the ember nest in your hand and gently blow on the glowing surface. This will create a stable ember nest, which you then place on the remaining fuel at the fire site so it can ignite. By blowing steadily, you speed up this process and, within a few seconds, generate a large flame thanks to the high oxygen supply.

 

Tinder for your fire – how to succeed with your ferro rod!

When making a fire, it’s not just about the right technique, but even more about the right fuel! The basic rule is: the coarser the structure and the drier the material, the better it will burn later!

So that you don’t wander aimlessly through the forest and still quickly find suitable tinder material, we’ve put together a few tips for you here. Birch bark in particular is a very popular fuel because it contains essential oils that ignite especially easily. The same applies to resin-rich wood, which increases flammability many times over.

In addition, everyday items are also ideal for starting a fire. For example, you can repurpose a tampon as tinder. To do this, you need to tease the cotton apart so that you have the finest possible surface. You can do the same with a tissue by separating the individual layers. Here, too, the rule applies: the larger the surface area, the more easily you can ignite the material with your fire steel!

 

Questions: fire starters

 

What proven techniques are there for making fire?

Bushcrafters in particular master countless ways to start a fire. The best-known method, however, is to generate heat through friction. In addition, there is also the option of creating sparks using light or various chemical processes.

When it comes to making fire, there are virtually no limits to the possibilities. From hand or bow drill to fire sawing and fire piston, you have many options to choose from. Even with a broken phone or a battery, you can get your tinder to start smoldering. Of course, it also works with a magnifying glass or even a simple tin can.

For inexperienced users, however, we still recommend using a fire steel. These guarantee that you can light a fire within a short time even in difficult situations.

 

How long does a fire steel last?

In addition to its superior functionality, a fire steel also scores with its durability! As a rule of thumb, you can expect around 10,000 strikes before the material is completely worn down.

How long your fire starter ultimately lasts depends entirely on user behavior and experience. While an experienced bushcrafter ignites his tinder in a maximum of 2 to 3 strikes, an inexperienced user may need a dozen attempts. Accordingly, your ferro rod will wear out more quickly.

 

How can you recognise a good fire steel?

For this, we recommend using a ferrocerium rod made from a mixed metal alloy. These produce many small individual sparks and are particularly easy to scrape. Another point by which you can recognize a high-quality fire starter is its striker. It should be extremely sharp to achieve good material removal. Strikers made from sheet metal, on the other hand, reduce abrasion and make it harder for you to ignite your tinder.

 

Are there any disadvantages to using a fire steel?

There are really only minor drawbacks here, hardly worth mentioning. The only thing that could prove slightly disadvantageous compared to lighters or matches is its weight, which is only minimally higher. If you look at it very critically, the slightly larger pack size could also be seen as a disadvantage.
As you can see, the downsides are truly minor. Its superior functionality makes it virtually indestructible and usable under any conditions. Of course, a candle or campfire is easier to light with a lighter. Whenever circumstances allow, you shouldn’t make things unnecessarily difficult for yourself and should rely on familiar helpers. Still, as already mentioned, it doesn’t hurt to have a fire starter in your gear for emergencies.