Spyderco Forums

GoldenSpydie wrote:I've got to try one of these GobSpark things...

Cliff Stamp wrote:The interesting thing about fire steels is that they are an extreme example of hobbyist distortion of a practical issue. The arguments for them over much more effective fire starting tools are not justified, often heavily distorted, repeated without verification and often strongly advocated without any even attempt to verify the veracity of the claims.

Practical demonstration of the effectiveness of a ferrocerium rod vs a lighter shows that the rod requires much more preparation and is simply far less efficient. It is one of those odd things where an obviously inferior device is championed specifically because it takes more skill/experience to use it. If you were to give a rod vs lighter to someone who actually lit fires every day for work vs play, which one would they take?

Fortunately there are more people speaking out posting solid information on how a simply lighter isn't nearly as fragile as claimed and how some of the arguments are simply ridiculous. For example claims that a lighter would quickly wear out in a "real" situation because it can only light so many fires are just silly because you clothes would wear out long before a lighter would run out of fuel, let alone it will still throw sparks even when the fuel is gone.

Now I am not saying knowing how to prepare tinder to be able to light a fire from a spark isn't useful, it is just odd to base choices which start with a given handicap. Imagine designing a knife handle which only allows a grip with the thumb and index finger because you might get your other fingers broken in "survival" situation. Again, learning how to use a knife with a damaged hand is useful sure, but designing and carrying a knife with a built in injured hand restriction is a bit odd.

Here is one of the more balanced commentaries :

- http://woodtrekker.blogspot.ca/2014/07/ ... ghter.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

.357 mag wrote:
[...]
regular Bic lighter won't work when wet

tvenuto wrote:Might I suggest, that if we plan to further discuss the general merits (or lack thereof) of a fire steel, that we move this discussion to off topic?

tvenuto wrote:Ah I worded it poorly. I meant the discussion not the actual thread. I started a fire steel discussion in off topic.

sal wrote:Good info Killer. I plan to use this thread to help teach the staff.

Not ready on the chop sticks yet. I've made a few, but I'm still on the fence about some geometry's.

sal