My Ferrocerium (Man made flint or firesteel) Leatherman integration adventure

roberttheiii · **on:** October 08, 2009, 08:11:37 PM

Yesterday I ordered 10 3/20ths of an inch fire steels and today added 1 3/16ths of an inch fire steel. My plan is to glue pieces of the thinner ones inside various MTs but primarily Leatherman waves. Beyond that I'm going to trim down the 3/16ths one and put it in one of the drilled holes in several skeletools. I plan on posting pictures of how and where I secure these items, practicality of releasing them and practicality of striking such flimsy pieces of ferrocerium. Any advice is appreciated. I'm sure I'll get around to my reasons for doing this at some point in this ongoing post, but for now, who cares?

***Goes outside to wait by the mailbox***

Gareth · **Reply #1 on:** October 08, 2009, 08:16:08 PM

Sounds interesting, I'll look forward to seeing the finished job.

John · **Reply #2 on:** October 08, 2009, 08:26:44 PM

I'll put a vid on the tube shortly

[edit]scratch that I failed

roberttheiii · **Reply #3 on:** October 08, 2009, 08:46:40 PM

I'm looking forward to this video!

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2009, 09:13:23 PM

Looking forward to both

John · **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2009, 09:18:25 PM

Quote from: roberttheiii on October 08, 2009, 08:46:40 PM

I'm looking forward to this video!

I'll try again tomorrow

[edit]I'm getting there bear with me

rp252 · **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:10:10 AM

Sounds like a really interesting project. I'm keen to see how it develops. Keep us updated mate

Out of interest is there anywhere in the UK you can get varying thicknesses of ferro rods? I've seen 'blank' ferros, but only ever in one size.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2009, 07:11:37 AM

Not that I know off

rp252 · **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2009, 09:28:48 AM

Quote from: Mike, Lord of the Spammers! on October 12, 2009, 07:11:37 AM

Not that I know off

Bugger.

Guess I'll have to run the risk of customs mistaking the rods for gravity knives, guns and/or ninja assassins then. And pay to get them carted over the pond

roberttheiii · **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2009, 02:23:05 PM

Hats off to www.firesteel.com. I ordered Thursday I believe and received on Saturday. Well done.

The rods (3/20ths of an inch) I got fit perfect in one of the "speed holes" in my Skeletool. Tonight I'm going to score the rod and break a few sections off in the appropriate length to fit in the tool. After that I'll set about trying to actually strike such a tiny piece of ferro. If I can't light easy tinder with it (say a cotton ball) it is pointless to have. I'm debating scraping with the knife on the skeletool or holding the ferro with the pliars and scrapping on a rock. I think most (but not all) situation I'd need the ferro I'd likely be able to find another something to scrape against.

Regarding integration with other MTs my Juice CS4 seems hopeless, things are just too tightly packed in there. I haven't tried my 99' Wave or the newer Wave yet, but I'll keep you posted.

In other MT news, my CS4 was used yesterday to get the COG and SOG data repeating from a GPS tot he instruments on a boat I sail on. People knock leatherman for too many flatheads, but sometimes you need that perfectly sized flathead, and at that time I've got it.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2009, 04:51:21 PM

For tiny Ferro rods I have found that it is easier and more effective to strike the end on a file...as if you were lighting a match.

roberttheiii · **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2009, 09:42:20 PM

I've tried that a bit on the file on my Wave, no sparks. I think I have to strike a little more aggressively. I have found the Ferrocerium is tougher than I expected it to be.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #12 on:** October 14, 2009, 03:02:09 AM

Generally it works better on the "pull" because of the way the teeth are cut. Welding sparker refills work well this way.

Bowman1911 · **Reply #13 on:** October 14, 2009, 06:22:14 AM

Quote from: roberttheiii on October 12, 2009, 02:23:05 PM

Hats off to www.firesteel.com. I ordered Thursday I believe and received on Saturday. Well done.

The rods (3/20ths of an inch) I got fit perfect in one of the "speed holes" in my Skeletool. Tonight I'm going to score the rod and break a few sections off in the appropriate length to fit in the tool. After that I'll set about trying to actually strike such a tiny piece of ferro. If I can't light easy tinder with it (say a cotton ball) it is pointless to have. I'm debating scraping with the knife on the skeletool or holding the ferro with the pliars and scrapping on a rock. I think most (but not all) situation I'd need the ferro I'd likely be able to find another something to scrape against.

Regarding integration with other MTs my Juice CS4 seems hopeless, things are just too tightly packed in there. I haven't tried my 99' Wave or the newer Wave yet, but I'll keep you posted.

In other MT news, my CS4 was used yesterday to get the COG and SOG data repeating from a GPS tot he instruments on a boat I sail on. People knock leatherman for too many flatheads, but sometimes you need that perfectly sized flathead, and at that time I've got it.

Ron & the guys on the forum over at firesteel.com are mostly some good folks, not as good as here mind you, but a not too far behind second. I'm over there too. Same user name. Stop by!

roberttheiii · **Reply #14 on:** October 15, 2009, 02:23:29 PM

I've been "pushing" instead of "pulling." I'll try stryking towards me (or turning the MT around) ASAP.

I have some of the welder's flint for my torch lighter, I can give those a whirl.

I did take a look at a Surge yesterday, I think I'll be able to get a piece of Ferro held in there under a little tab of metal that seems to serve as stop for the pliars.

Nikos · **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2009, 04:19:40 PM

Probably OT (and has been discussed before but I'm too lazy to go around searching) but how do you go about cutting a fero rod? Will a metal saw work or am I in for a spark shower?

John · **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2009, 04:37:37 PM

Quote from: Nikos on October 20, 2009, 04:19:40 PM

Probably OT (and has been discussed before but I'm too lazy to go around searching) but how do you go about cutting a fero rod? Will a metal saw work or am I in for a spark shower?

Yes your in for a shower

best way is to use a vice clamp it to where you would like it to be for size and tap it with a hammer,it will snap off very easily

roberttheiii · **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2009, 07:01:44 PM

John's way is surely better. I've just been scoring it with the file on my Wave, grabbing on side of the score with my Wave, the other side w/my Juice, and snap! You lose a little piece or two, it isn't perfectly clean, but it gets the job done. Bonus: Using two multitools at once!

Benner · **Reply #18 on:** October 21, 2009, 03:16:51 PM

I believe that if you go slow enough with a saw you will be fine.

roberttheiii · **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2009, 06:45:34 PM

I agree, go slow. Or don't, but do it someplace you can't light on fire and wear protective gear.

roberttheiii · **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2010, 03:13:03 AM

I know I'm bringing a dead topic back, but an update, I have not found a reliable way to strike a piece of flint that would fit in one of the holes in my skeletool. It is a real bummer...I'm still working on it...

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2010, 07:26:28 AM

Best of luck with the search mate

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My Ferrocerium (Man made flint or firesteel) Leatherman integration adventure

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