Bushcrafters and survivalists alike each contemplate instruments just like the flint and metal to be the last word fire-starting device to have within the backcountry.
Nevertheless, Ferro rods have grown in reputation in recent times as a superb various to the traditional hearth beginning device.
In case you are an avid camper or prepper, then the worth of getting one in every of these in your essential package in addition to your backup package.
Utilizing a Ferro rod does require a little bit of method to grasp, however there’s nothing fairly like throwing a bathe of sparks onto some dry tinder solely to be greeted by the acquainted crackle of the woodland materials turning right into a flame.
For a lot of, myself included, it’s a sense of accomplishment to show a easy motion of putting a Ferro rod right into a roaring hearth to maintain you heat and secure.
This information gives you some useful info on what a Ferro rod is, plus suggestions and tips on easy methods to use this device to throw off huge sparks.
First, let’s have a look at what a Ferro rod is and the way it differs from a standard flint and metal.
What Precisely Is A Ferro Rod?
Ferro is definitely the brief type of the phrase Ferrocerium and it’s a mixture of metals to make an ignitable alloy when struck by one thing arduous.
Typically referred to as hearth metal or mischmetal it may possibly get fairly simple to confuse this with different merchandise.
Ferrocerium was first found within the early 1900s by an Austrian man named Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach.
He was experimenting with combining totally different metals and observed that sure uncommon earth parts, reminiscent of cerium, would ignite when blended with iron and struck by one thing arduous.
Cerium is called a low ignition flamable, that means that it didn’t require a lot friction to generate warmth.
With Ferrum being the Latin for iron, it made sense to name this new materials Ferrocerium. A Ferro rod can also be one thing to not get confused with a magnesium hearth starter.
Though a Ferro rod typically has a bit little bit of magnesium in it, there are pure magnesium bars which you could buy. These you possibly can shave down and ignite utilizing a Ferro rod, however are utterly various things.
By composition, a Ferro rod typically consists of a share of iron, cerium, and lanthanum.
Every firm has its personal formulation which might have an effect on efficiency, however I’ve by no means had a Ferro rod that didn’t begin a hearth. The sparks are so scorching that they will attain as much as 5000 levels Fahrenheit.
How To Use A Ferro Rod
Utilizing a Ferro rod is usually a tough method to grasp straight away because it requires correct angling of the striker and sufficient strain to offer you sparks.
The kind of striker you employ issues as nicely, softer metals like aluminum received’t offer you any sparks, nonetheless, carbon metal is great for spark era.
Most individuals discover a whole lot of success utilizing the backbone of their knife blade.
Listed below are the steps in utilizing a Ferro rod efficiently:
- Lay out your dry tinder in a bit ball or subsequent. That is vital since you need your sparks to hit the tinder as they go away the Ferro rod.
Should you’re utilizing one thing like birch bark, be certain that to tough it up a bit so it receives a spark higher.
Should you don’t, generally it takes a bit extra effort to get it lit. Don’t neglect to have your dry kindling proper subsequent to you able to go as a result of tinder goes rapidly.
- Put the tip of the Ferro rod within the tinder, nearly resting it on the bottom at this level. In actual fact, it’s widespread to see the tip of the Ferro rod nearly disappear into your tinder pile.
- Angle your striker at roughly 45 levels on the Ferro rod. It will each scrap and ignite the shavings to solid the spark.
You’re going to desire a good quantity of strain when scraping the Ferro rod, in any other case, you received’t get most “sparking” (an ample descriptor for certain).
- Be certain that to run your striker down the complete size of the Ferro rod. Should you don’t have a bigger Ferro rod, a number of smaller scrapes can nonetheless obtain the identical impact.
I’ve a Ferro rod necklace that’s tiny and it nearly requires the identical method as utilizing a flint and metal to get sparks.
- Be affected person along with your Ferro rod. You almost certainly received’t be capable to mild a hearth with one strike (you may get fortunate although!) till you follow.
The previous adage, if at first you don’t succeed, preserve making an attempt, applies right here.
- Upon getting efficiently lit your tinder you’ll have to work rapidly. Place the dry kindling on high of your tinder and let your hearth do its factor.
Some Ferro Rod Options To Get You Began
Not all Ferro rods are the identical, with some having a distinct share of metals or totally different lengths. Firms have grow to be revolutionary of their formulation and the way folks can use them.
Listed below are three Ferro rods which are wonderful selections that can assist you get your hearth began if you want it.
Disclosure: This submit has hyperlinks to third occasion web sites, so I’ll get a fee for those who purchase via these hyperlinks. See my full disclosure for extra.
Überleben Leicht Fireplace Starter
It is a Ferro rod that I preserve round my neck always and it’s extra of an emergency hearth starter than your day-to-day hearth starters.
It’s tiny, nearly weightless round your neck, and begins fires simply in addition to any of the full-length Ferro rods.
That is a kind of Ferro rods that requires a whole lot of persistence because it’s fairly a bit smaller than the conventional measurement.
The basic strategy of utilizing a Ferro rod nonetheless applies right here and is made a bit simpler with the included paracord.
überleben Zünden Fireplace Starter
One of many first Ferro rods I ever bought and I nonetheless use it to today. It’s been an important addition to my package and I like to recommend it to anybody seeking to begin their very own fire-making package.
It has an ergonomic deal with and a prolonged Ferro rod that’s simple to create a whole lot of sparks with.
The striker comes hooked up to the wood deal with and it additionally has a useful bottle opener and ruler hooked up to it.
GobSpark Armageddon and Palm Scraper
This web site is stuffed with superior Ferro rods, however this one stands out from the remaining. It has an revolutionary deal with that permits you to relaxation the Ferro rod towards your palm for optimum stability.
They boast a proprietary deal with and a scraper constructed from a hardened alloy that provides you the flexibility to ship robust sparks.
It comes with a protecting case and other people have seen success utilizing them with gloved arms.
They produce other merchandise as nicely, a few of them being the thickest Ferro rods I’ve seen on any web site.
Closing Ideas
Ferro rods must be in everybody’s hearth or emergency package. They’re weatherproof and unaffected by altitude, which implies they’re indispensable in any scenario.
I might even go so far as to say {that a} Ferro rod is an important side of my hearth package and if I had a selection of things to have with me in a survival scenario, it might be a Ferro rod.
