They inhibit sales? They don't work as well? They lack visual appeal? Some kind of an operator's ego thing? I don't get it. LOL! Come watch my little 3 1/8" x 5/16" bayite keychain ferro rod, all thin and worn down, show out with some wet leaves and dry Pine Needles! Please follow the LINKs below and SUBSCRIBE. Thank You! Ferro Rod Playlist kzfaq.info/sun/PLkoXX8XsMW3lI6k8TH1Bljf57Yvp9K1WD All Ferro Rods Should Have A Point On Them! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rbuDaLx1yLy7f6M.html

Let's face it; the majority of so-called survivalists are not genuine survivalists. They buy a new gadget and suddenly become Les Stroud.

I've even seen a few videos complaining that a ferro rod was defective and not throwing sparks when they were obviously still scraping the coating LOL That and the knife videos in which the "review" consists of taking the knife out of the box and admiring it always gives me a laugh.

I just replaced 2 ferro rods on my favorite fire starters that I have used to teach BSA scouts for decades. Yes, my wife and I have been leaders for about 25 years. This weekend we have an outing called Tenderboot where Scout skills, including fire starting are done. We encourage each Scout to ignite between 20 and 50 fires over the weekend, using many different techniques. I love your site and refer our scouts and adult scooters to it quite often. I am encouraged to see you demonstrated and explain different methods. You do it very well and even approaching 70 years of age, I love to pick up new ideas and ways to share good old techniques.

Hi David - I've owed you a comment since, like 2017! When I read Mike Peterson's comment, I knew I had to write - rarely have a keyboard. I too am celebrating 50 years in Scouting this year and I've likely watched about 70% of your videos over the past 5 years - and you put out a lot. in 2017 you wondered if anyone does anything like your keychain ferro rods. Well - I made 40 kits back in 2017 for my contingent of scouts going to National Jamboree - and we learned how to use them. That was when you were drilling them and inserting nails, which is what I did - what a sparkfest drilling them! Then made the parachord lanyards along with an attached piece of fatwood I split out and a piece of a virginia pine root and a piece of hacksaw blade for a striker. We had a blast trying the different types of tinder you suggest. I even had a smaller group learn how to do the fire roll - that's a neat trick. I have my #10 can waiting to be made into a hobo stove and my Stanley 10-049 is on the Christmas wish list... Just want you to know I appreciate your hard work and willingness to explore and share! God Bless - D

Never thought about that, but you are right, I'll never unsee that from now on! Take care, God bless you with a great day!

Same thing with knives. I did a knife review the other day and pointing out the fact how well used my knives and sheaves are, because I actually use them!

These are the good days, David. The air is full of the sound of birds and the smell of fresh growth. Sounds like a perfect day to make some fire with a well worn Ferro rod.

I like the no frills (no bs) approach you demonstrate. thanks David.

I watch your channel because you practice daily using your ferro rod. It’s great to see all the different ways you can ignite a fire. Thanks for all the demonstrations to help me learning!! Use your ferro rod until it breaks!

I have a propane torch with click ignite and extended tube. I use it every day to light my wood stove. It works every time and I like it a lot. Cheers!

Now I have to switch back to my very worn rod for my freedom fire video tomorrow. Thanks for your excellent instructions, I have 1 year of ferro rod fire starting thanks to channels like yours, keep up the great work 🌲🔥🗡👍🤠🇺🇸

You are definitely the master, Mr. Pyro for sure. Really enjoy learning tricks from you.

My grandpa grew up during the depression and I grew up with him I use things till they're used up, then use them a couple more time😂😉. Loved the video thanks for taking the time.

David , still works just fine , thanks for sharing ,God bless !

This is my first time watching and the moment you said you dried out some Pine Needles I got far too excited for my own good. Very nice content, will definitely be coming back for more.

I like them better when they're about half worn out. Seem to work better. Plus I just like the look of something that has been used instead of new and shiny.

I came out of curiosity, but that was a very chilled and enjoyable video. Thanks

Thanks for the video. Causes me to chuckle a little; I often wonder why some presenters who are supposedly doing a shelter in deep woods or in snow and wet conditions always seem to appear spotless. I can't walk into my woodlot without having muddy boots, at least one wet knee and smudges everywhere. Often I can't escape my kitchen without some soot on my hands or clothing, (we burn wood). My favourite ferro-rod is worn and broken off at about 2.5 cm, still lighting my camp/cook fire with ease. I like the ferro-rod in preference to a "bic" which only seems to work when you don't need it. Here in Canada's often wet Maritimes go-to tinder for me is usually dead standing softwood, birch bark and fir sap blisters, as well as spruce balsam

Great video! Looking forward to new ones.

Hi David...I have tried many different kinds of ferro rod...and honestly the best I have found... are the "Nathan4071" with part of a blade of old scissors and I especially like how you scratch the rod with a slow stroke and a little pressure... if I look at the "survivalists"... who throw their sparks all over the place in any way if I had to choose a partner to start a fire in survival guess who I would choose...😉 you have a very good channel on KZfaq 👍 ( Sorry for my bad english not my language I use a translator)..

I keep one just like that on my keychain. I never leave home without it.

Glad to see this video pop up in my feed 2 weeks after buying my first ferro rod and it just so happens to be a 6" x 1/2" Bayite that came with a striker and Paracord for about $16, figured why not and reviews were consistently good, better then more expensive options even, it's hard to know which ones to buy with so many to choose, guess I got a decent one.

Love my key chain ferro rod which goes with the sturdy little keychain knife that lives with it (whose closed back is one of the best ferro rod strikers I own!). Both have lived for a couple of years on the ring with my car key as part of my EDC. I consider it sort of like a secret bushcrafter/prepper brotherhood symbol .

No BS approach is refreshing so I subbed as soon as I watched the video. I had one of my firesteels so worn it broke in one of my older videos, so not everyone uses shiny new gear all the time. The question about firesteels is in line with some things I keep pondering on. How come most of this guys are always calm, clean clothes, clean nails, clean hands? I'm red and sweaty all over and never came home after few days in the wild looking clean and smelling fine.

Great video I use mine I to have the key ring Ferro Rod. Same brand as yours. I have 2 I use for practice all the time. Thank you for sharing stay safe and God Bless

I had a bucket of prep supplies that I opened up to check the condition of and found a pile of gray dust at the bottom. Turns out the ferro rod had started to disintegrate. I didn't even get to scrape it down to nothing, it just became nothing. Although, the dust burned quite nicely when set on fire.

Dave, your having to much fun playing with fire, just kidding.

David - you make more fires than anybody on a daily basis. If you cut out friction, solar, and fireroll for a week or two, your Ferro rod would wear out sooner and you too might actually get a new one. 🤔

I've come to the realisation that I live in 2022. When I'm out in the bush I carry my 8" x 1/2" Ferro rod (with my hand-carved handle) and tinder kit as well as three Bic lighters. If I get in a situation where I use up all three Bics then I have a back-up. I'm pretty sure my Ferro rod will end up as an heirloom for my granddaughter.

Never thought to use a knife to scrape those My Ferrod came with a little steel plate thingy to scrape but I think it didn't produce enough sparks to actually ignite anything. I tried many times, it was more of a fidget toy to me lol

longevity is an indicator to quality. longevity helps divide the cost to time as to indicate value. the longer something lasts the more valuable it is to me.

I never took note of the condition of peoples striking rods while watching bushcraft vids, however, I did have an epic brain fart moment this vid brought to light. For years I've been using newspaper as tinder for my "backyard Kitchen". Every fall, I rake up about 5 wheelbarrow loads of pine needles and dump them in the woods. >_

Honestly, I haven't used mine. I've lost 2 then found them when I bought another. I bought several for the boys in the family for stocking stuffers. My son uses his. I just always reach for the BBQ lighter. I never noticed that about them not being used on channels before!

Well, you certainly have made a fire or 2 with that ferro rod. I guess your better half is glad you are cleaning up the leaves around the 🏠. At a Boy!

Good question! Mine is like a little nub of a twiglet hahaha

I subscribed because it was no frills, nothing like the real deal.

Good Evening David .. What a Question! 😁. I have all of the Ferro Rods I need (4) .. with all not being particularly well worn. Reason? I light up something to cook with practically every day (liquid / gel fuel, wood / charcoal or gas) and use matches as first choice .. followed by a BIC Lighter and this as an exception as and when required. My Ferro Rod is my option when Plans A and B are not on. Yes, a Ferro Rod is part of my EDC. Char Cloth, Sparker, Magnifying Glass and such also skulk around somewhere there in the background. I'm working on using Bow Drills and Ash Cloth Techniques. At 72, one is never too old to learn something .. although, at this age one has to get a move on before time runs out 😏. Am I proficient in the use of a Ferro Rod? Yes! The wear and tear is the result of practicing to be become so .. and I do stay in practice. Many won't agree .. but that's how I like it. Having grown up with Matches and Ronson (pre-BIC) Lighters, perhaps I'm just 'Old School'. I do also, just for the hang of it, occasionally haul out my Zippo (a gift many years back from the wife), refuel it and take it along. No I don't smoke .. never have. Nice Post .. thanks. Relevant Question 👍. Take care .. Tommy

The one on my Keychain is 40 years old. Still works fine. A friend of mine almost ground one through. I use the zippo now, too old th camp.

I dont know about all channels but i can give a opinion on the channels i watch as they tend to get sent a lot or buy a lot of different ones for testing which could be a factor in always having a fresh rod

I always scrape a little pile of fero onto a leaf and then set that in the pile and then throw Sparks into it.

Me, who does not know what a ferro rod is: Yes sir exactly you are 💯 % correct

No one likes fire like us fellow firebugs.😁

Has anyone used the Ferrorod "magnesium block" combo from Harbor freight tools? Recently I restored a cigarette lighter whose flint had oxidized over the years of just sitting in a drawer. It was a pain to clean out the chamber that housed the flint. Now having discovered that these ferro rods are nothing but the same substance found in lighter flints, I would find it practical to coat the clean scraped side of the rod with a very light coating of bees wax to keep out the oxygen if one plans on storing it for a very long time. Never store it in your pants pocket once coated with the wax, it will come off in ones pocket staining it.

i hated ferro rods till i got the light mi fire army one, it works like a charm, and i have it rather worn, but i start most of my fires with a magnifying glass, i live in the sunny south of Spain

I love my Morakniv Companions. Yes I have 5 or 6 of them. But they are no good to me for my ferrocerium rods. That's okay though, as I have a big ferro rod that came with a great striker attached by a bungie cord. It works awesome. I'll stick with this one when buying ferro rods. It's an überleben (8" length, 1/2 inch diameter). The striker also has measurements on it (a ruler) and is a bottle opener. Not that I need one of those.

They are constantly getting new ones from their subscription boxes they have to get to come up with content.

I wonder how many strikes you made on that one fero rod? A lot of tutorials created with that one. I've got a old file now, just need to convert it.

Hi David, if you and I should ever be in a survival situation.....you can take care of the fire lighting,! But since we are continents apart..I can't see that happening P.S I always watch your vids with interest....why? Because they are interesting ⭐

Try pulling back on the ferro rod to make a spark, that way you aren't punching your tinder with the knife hand, and possibly scatering the tinder tipi

I’ve got one that’s 3 years old still does the job

Where did you get the little Keychain ferro rod? It's so cool

David, I noticed that as you approach using the middle of the rod, you are creating many small scraped facets around the rod. The larger the surface area scraped produces more sparks, enabling one strike fire. I think the more non-single strikes one has to make to start a fire, is a waste of rod material. Wet tinder is worst case scenario, so adapting to a worst case scenario seems appropriate. The way I am addressing this idea is to chuck my ferro rod in a vice and cutting it lengthwise down the middle with a coping saw (an admittedly slow process).... But, now, I have two useful rod that are optimized for one strike fire starting because instead of striking the outer perimeter of the rod, like one would normally do, I am scraping the newly created flat surface to make the most sparks possible. I think scraping the full width of the rod, once, is the most effective use of a rod's resource. I'd like to know what you think about this. These are my ten cents (because:inflation) anyway. Love watching your channel, Brother. Keep going.

Yeah sir. Great little ferro I carry mine on my key ring. Been carrying one since you introduced it to us. Got the 3 pack on Amazon. Thanks for sharing.

I get plenty of orange sparks off my flint n steel onto my char. Have tried many different kinds of char. Rarely get char to catch an ember. Any thoughts? Thank you

Shows no signs of pain or discomfort handling burning starter. He has too have wife to be that tough

They will last quite awhile before there are not of any use . Made a small bag with couple of rods / mag lens / 2 bic lighters / wood matches in a small sealed bag that fits in the Webb belt pouch. The good strike any matches don't seem to find them any more like Ohio blue strike or kitchen chief the one's you could strike off your pants or against each other.

Greg ovens has a wore out ferro rod. He keeps saying he will replace it but he hasn't.

You might want to put a link to the products you use and get a percentage. I have been looking at the items you use for purchase.

Not really sure other than maybe trying out different brands for reviews and such. When I'm out in the woods I used to do the whole Ferro rod thing, now I just carry a mini bic a normal bic and one of the normal sized ones that have the pipe tip that way if somehow 3 bics fail I can just use one as a striker

I guess you haven't seen Greg Ovens From Rocky Mountain bushcraft ferro rod.... his is sharp and really worn.He said a few videos back he was gonna make a new one soon.. he makes his own with a deer horn handle

Just all the birds in the background let's me know this is a legit video

To be honest, ferro rods are so effective they hardly require as much as magnesium fire starters or other flint strikers.

Well mine almost looks like yours david. Mine looks like that from practise and lack of knowledge. Even though we use parafin blocks(fire starters) i mostly use ferro rod to ignite them. Why? To practise and cause its fun. I also ignited very fine dry grass bird nest. And then i also ignited birds nest made from coconut hairs.

More demonstrations from Flaming Sawhorse Ranch. 👍

I was thinking the same thing the otherday.

My Ferro rod looks like a jail house shiv 🤣

Fero rod is like a carpenter using nails.. its frowned upon.. they are busy using bow drills and rubbing sticks together (sarcasm)

Lol Greg Ovens is still using the same one he had on alone season 3 in Patagonia. It's about as think as a chopstick now 😂

I've bought rods where the coating was the only thing that WOULD spark. Once that coating was gone they wouldn't spark for anything.

They are regularly shown on camping videos!

Greg Oven's ferro rod, exceptionally well used 👍🏼

You know the answer to your question we own a fero rod but use a lighter.

I keep the knife still and pull the rod back. This tends to wear the rod to a point, rather than scalloping it out.

Always wondered why mine got smaller... all the ones I've seen stay like new

I know a good workman never blames his tools, but my ferro rod doesn't produce sparks the way I see all these KZfaq ferro rods producing sparks. I have a Survival Inc Strike Force which comes with its own built-in metal striker, and no matter how hard I try, I can never get the kind of long-burning (i.e. 1 second or more), fizzing and crackling sparks I see on these KZfaq videos. I only ever get sparks that are hot for a fraction of a second and then they go out. I've spent half an hour striking it into dry pike needles, dry grass, dry leaves and dry (fine) wood shavings (even dry sawdust) and nothing catches. And just to clarify, I know about the coating that these rods have. I'm not just scraping a brand new rod. The coating is long gone.

How long have you had that rod for?

I bought one because of all that hipe but quickly returned to my Bic lighter. Sincerely, what is the advantage with a ferro rod over a bic lighter.

There it is.there....

I consider a pilot starter to be a safer and more practical backpacking fire starting tool.

Hey Dave, nice video. I was wondering how you feel about wax as a fire making tool? I soaked some small natural fiber rope in wax and when you fluff up the end and hold it along side the ferro rod it takes the spark nicely and you have a flame that can't hardly be blown out by the wind. I also soaked some small pine cones with a small wick attached for handy little fire starters! Cheers from WA, Dan.

people make videos using fero rods that simply haven't been used much, even though it may be the only rod the person owns. I believe many people buy a fero rod after seeing many videos on their use, and make 3 or 4 fires thinking they have it all figured out. They simple don't make more than a handful of fires. Maybe they are afraid of "Using it up".

Greg Ovens uses a very well worn rod but he's one of the few.

I use my old and worn one in almost every video i started a fire in.

And why does all their gear look brand new all the time? Hmmm.

Half the battle is good tinder

I get your point but they are inexpensive and there is no reason not to have a new one in your daily carry kit. But yeah, most of those guys are using a Bic lighter 99% of the time. And, to be honest, I have a Bic in my kit right next to the ferro rod. LOL!

I noticed the handle removed from the pot. Did I miss something? Well I commented to soon.... nevermind

I've got a rod that's near snapping its so worn. Maybe time for a new one...

....and to answer your question ..... like we ever actually use them before or after we record the youtube videos showing we know how to use them ... sheshhh lol

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I once have wore out fire rod i was using it at least one year and it snapped. *Edit 1 i was beginner

Ferro rods are so ineffective. For most of us they are kept just out of curiosity.

I almost never use my ferro rods after my initial trials with them. Sure I could use them every weekend but why? I use my cigar lighter to light my normal fires. It is really an over rated skillset that can be mastered in a few weekends. There is no reason to continue to do it.

Probably more simple reason. Why risk looking like an idiot if it breaks and they really are in the middle of no where. I mean. I'm sure it happens. I can break a 7" long, quarter inch thick hatchet, why would a thin, made to be scraped piece of metal be more sturdy, right? Maybe they like being reasonably certain it is going to function? Maybe they never really used one for long and just didn't know any better? I like knowing for sure in your video it can last long. But unless I were homeless, I would probably replace it long before it became that thin. Either that or use it with a replacement handy and on me. The latter makes more sense to me =D

The Burning question still remains... "Why?"

... and when it came to the part to show him striking the rod, it got censored with the words "4th try"...

I think it's because KZfaq is not real life. It's the edited version of life that's presented. That, and the idea that the tube really is not that important in my life. Other people seem to NEED it for filling their time or making a buck.

We havent worn out our ferro rods cause we have bic lighters..civilization hasnt yet dissolved