Fire Starting

[Cwi555]

The standard percentages for a mischmetal/ferrocerium rod;
Element Iron 19% Cerium 38% Lanthanum 22% Neodymium 4% Praseodymium 4% Magnesium 4%
Iron, Cerium, and neodymium kick the sparks off, lanthanum, praseodymium, and Magnesium both intensify the heat produced, and provide balancing components to the alloy so that when solid, it becomes stable intermetallic compounds you can carry around in your pocket. Without adding those elements, it would probably not be safe to carry it around.

Pyrophoric substances are materials that will spontaneously ignite in air. Iron, Cerium, Neodymium, Praseodymium etc, all are pyrophoric.
The difference between them being required surface area of particle to spontaneously ignite, and the initiative element (cerium) low required temperature for combustion.

Ferrite (iron) works in this manner but requires small particles rapidly released from it's host body of iron. That is due to iron's propensity to combine with oxygen rapidly forming Fe2O3 or oxidized iron (rust). Once the surface is oxidized, and rust formed, the metal will not burn.
Release enough ferrite rapidly enough, in small enough particle size, and the ferrite does not have a chance to form Fe2O3 before it combust.

More to the point about cheap ferrocerium rods.
Cerium, Lanthanum, Neodymium, Praseodymium, are all rare earth metals. Most of which have went up in cost ~50 percent over the last 18 months. Given that a ferrocerium rod is the part required to create the sparks instead of the flint steel system, reduction and or elimination of any part of that formula reduces the over all effectiveness of the fire steel. Cerium for instance has the lowest spontaneous combustion temperature of all the listed metals. It is the seed by which a mischmetal / ferrocerium rod initiates the reaction in the other listed metals as they have a higher spontaneous combustion temperature. Most of the cheaper ones put out sparks in the 2K F temperature range. A proper mischmetal can get upwards of 4000 degrees F. Thats a big difference.

Bottom line, as said, you get what you pay for. 2 dollar mischrods may work, but I don't think I'd want my life depending on them.

[offtrail]

Jun 13, 2012 12:19:52 GMT -7 tjwilhelm said:

When looking at $1 ferro rods from Harbor Freight...keep in mind that sometimes you get what you pay for...or, said another way, you don't get what you don't pay for. I've had some cheap ferro rods that are terrible...they were a total waste of the buck I spent for them!

We're talkin' "survival" here. Spend a little more and get something that really works well!

Tell it like it is tj. But if it works that's great.Just make sure you try it first ;D And I would only buy one until I seen how it does.

[Dennis]

Primus has a good one if someone is looking for one. There on ebay also.

Primus Ignition Steel

www.amazon.com/Primus-Ignition-Steel/dp/B004RP96S6

store.primuscamping.com/backpacking-stoves/accessories/primus-ignition-steel-medium/

[angelhelp]

I've tried them... but I think you misunderstood. I referred to the Mg bars with the affixed ferro rod, not a standalone ferro. I spent the $3 for 3 of them strictly for having the extra Mg available. I still prefer my former purchases for making the actual sparks, and thanks to cwi, I now know why.

[offtrail]

Jun 14, 2012 7:00:07 GMT -7 angelhelp said:

I've tried them... but I think you misunderstood. I referred to the Mg bars with the affixed ferro rod, not a standalone ferro. I spent the $3 for 3 of them strictly for having the extra Mg available. I still prefer my former purchases for making the actual sparks, and thanks to cwi, I now know why.

I got ya I don't like the mg bars. For me they are a pain in my my my foot ;D But that's just me I know others like them.