Premium Ferro Rod Fire Starter - Gift Box 6", 4 1/2" Ferrocerium Rod Survival Kit - 3 in 1 Magnesium Flint and Steel Set with Paracord & Scraper - Lightweight Emergency Camping Tool

BLUF - This rod will start a fire; it is simple to use, and in ideal or slightly adverse conditions, I would rely on it as my only means of getting a fire started. I've started fires with cotton/petroleum balls using less expensive rods, so I'm confident this will work in the rain. br>br>The kit is nicely packaged in a cardboard box with a foam insert, but I wouldn't mind if it came in a plastic bag as long as it worked. br>br>I began with a large bird's nest made of dead, slightly damp grass and a piece of charcloth that I had made. I placed the charcloth in the center of the bird's nest, scraped the rod's paint into the nest, and used the provided striker to make two strokes on the rod, and the charcloth ignited. In my haste to test out the rod, I had not collected enough small wood to start a fire, so I essentially let the bird's nest burn while I collected tinder for the nest attempt. On my second attempt, I was unable to get the striker provided to work at all. When I looked at the striker, I noticed that one of the edges had rolled over, preventing the striker from working. At first, I assumed it was a striker issue, but then I realized it could be a deliberate design choice. I was able to create an ember for the second time by holding the striker at a light angle and using the rolled edge of the striker. It took me three strikes this time because I hadn't scraped a little of the rod onto the charcloth like I did the first time. This time I was prepared and was able to get the fire rolling. br>br>I learned about this product from a Facebook advertisement; I don't usually click on these ads, but I have a slight obsession with fire starters and wanted to give this one a try. They were willing to give me a $14. If you paid $16 for this item, you'll get a $9 Amazon gift card. I paid $2 for the kit because I was 95 years old. I made my charcloth out of an old pair of bluejeans and a candy tin. br>br>It was well worth the money, and they did give me my gift card. br>br> Simply cut the cloth (100% cotton) into squares to fill the candy tin (Altoids), poke a hole in the tin top of the tin , drop the cloth into the tin,% Smoke will billow from the hole as the cloth burns inside the tin. Pull the tin from the fire once the smoke has died down and set it aside to cool. Charcloth will be used to line the inside of the container. The idea is to get a spark on the charcloth to create an ember, then use that to light a bird's nest. br>br>The only drawback is that I bought a ferro rod kit from a big box store and had the same success with it, plus the rod was cheaper. This rod, on the other hand, is substantial and should last a long time; I've used rods that produce far more sparks but cost twice as much for the rod alone. Also, because there are no instructions, if you don't know how to use one of these rods, you should do some research online before using to ensure your success. Practice with it, make sure it works, and make sure you know how to use it before you need to use it in a survival situation.

Kobe Gray

| Apr 25, 2021

I recently bought a bayite version of a ferro rod in the same size, and it makes a great spark, so that's the first priority here. Let's take a look at the tool that comes with it. In terms of spark production and ease of use, it's not the best. To make a spark, you need to scrape away a section of the black coating, which the tool currently fails to do. That isn't an issue for me because I always carry a knife, but the fact that it should be able to do it without the use of another tool (knife) or, say, a rock in the wilderness, is important. Although I prefer the bayite tool, this ferro rod is a solid ferro rod in its own right. The cord doesn't have any bells or whistles, and it's not as useful as the bayite's (paracord), but it keeps the ferro rod and tool together, and I can wear it around my neck if I need to, so that's a plus. I'm not a great fire starter, but I'm confident that this ferro rod will generate enough sparks to start a fire, and the rod's length and diameter will ensure that it lasts a long time. If you want to start a fire without using a source flame, you can't go wrong with the Holtzman's Ferro Rod. It's an excellent survival tool that will undoubtedly serve you well for many years.

Aden Schaefer

| Feb 05, 2021

Before deciding on this one, I looked at a few large ferro rods, some of which were three times the price. I'm no Daniel Boone when it comes to the outdoors, but I wanted something to practice my fire-starting skills and keep in my hiking/camping gear. This is one I'm glad I got. It's new to me, but it appears to be adequate. The set includes a ferro rod, lanyard, and scraper. br>br>It's a big one! It throws a lot of sparks after scraping away some of the protective coating. If you're looking for a ferro rod to give as a gift, this is the one to get. It is packaged in a very nice presentation box. If you're looking for a usable ferro rod, don't spend $30 or more on it; get this one instead.

Zelda McNeil

| May 15, 2021

I had ordered the Exotac nanoStriker XL, which according to a website is the best of the best. br>br>I couldn't get any sparks at all, and after several minutes of futile attempts to light DRYER LINT, I gave up. br>br>I looked around and saw one made by Holtzman, from whom I had recently purchased a survival bracelet that I liked. That has a small sparker on it as well, but it isn't as bright as this one. This is it. br>br> sucked. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong because when I used a file on it, it sparked like a grinder. I kept fiddling with it until I realized the striker had to be scraped on one side only, and when I realized that, HOLY COW! br>br>With this beast, I'm throwing sparks 5 feet away, and I'm loving it! The weather has improved today, so I'm going to start a fire, which I'm confident will be a simple task!.

Brendan Newman

| Mar 06, 2021

Because there are so many F rods on the market, I decided to go against the grain. Purchase something of high quality in terms of spark, scraping ease, and material thickness. This item satisfies all of those requirements and more. The packaging's presentation completely blew me away. Like on Christmas morning, I didn't want to rip anything. I knew this was going to be a good book as soon as I saw it open. Nice avg. A scraper of sufficient size will suffice. The addition of the extra paracord is a nice touch. Finally, the spark, which, in my opinion, should be standard. It was so simple to get some with a little pressure and then showtime, and scraping off the coating didn't take long at all. I will purchase again. This size is perfect for people with bear paws.

Lucas Webster

| Feb 10, 2021