How to Start A Fire With A Ferro Rod?
In a survival situation, knowing how to start a fire is an essential skill. Knowing how to start a fire with a Ferro rod is an invaluable skill to have. Unlike a lighter or matches’ a Ferro rod can in theory start thousands of fires before being worn out to a little stub (I have not managed to wear mine out yet). Of course, everyone should have a lighter on them and hopefully some matches as a backup. But both options are finite.
Even if I had a lighter and matches with me, in most survival situations I would recommend using a Ferro rod and saving the lighter and matches for dire circumstances when time is of the essence.
What is a Ferro Rod?
A Ferro rod is short for a ferrocerium rod, a synthetic mix of cerium, neodymium, iron, lanthanum, and often magnesium, with a couple of other ingredients thrown in depending on the manufacturer. When a Ferro rod is struck or scrapped with a harder object it will produce sparks. These sparks are over 3000+ degrees Celsius and will ignite tinder quite easily.
Because of the Ferro rods’ ability to create such hot sparks, Ferro rods can be used in adverse conditions to start a fire. Which is why they are considered an essential survival tool.
What Is The Difference Between A Ferro Rod And A Flint And Steel
There are some similarities between the two, they both require two objects to create a spark. One harder than the other, they both require one of the objects to have a sharp edge. And they both throw off hot sparks. The main difference is that flint and steel throw off fewer sparks and therefore require more effort and skill to start a fire. With a little bit of practice, both of them can start a fire quite quickly. Without practice, they can cause quite a bit of frustration.
Think of a Ferro rod as a modern updated version of a flint and steel.
How to Start A Fire With A Ferro Rod?
OK, yeah, I am sure that some of you out there will be thinking, “elementary my dear Watson” or it’s not rocket science, scrape the danged Ferro rod, aim the sparks at the tinder, and voila. Fire.
Yup, that’s about it, that will work. But there are a couple of techniques that will make it a little less of a hit-and-miss, also a couple of do’s and don’ts.
So let us start with the traditional and most common method of using a Ferro rod.
Traditional Method Of Using A Ferro Rod
The most common method and probably the first method a novice to using a Ferro rod will learn is the push method of scraping a Ferro rod. Hold the ferrocerium rod in one hand above the tinder, or with the tip of the Ferro rod just beside the tinder. With the other hand, hold your knife and place the spine of the knife, against the top of the Ferro rod. Firmly, push and slide the knife’s spine down the Ferro rod.
A couple of common mistakes to be avoided:
Holding the knife with the tip angled too far down. Optimally the knife and Ferro rod should have an X shape as the knife scrapes down. This will prevent the tip of the knife from scattering the tinder.
I was very surprised to see some people scraping up and down the ferrocerium rod. For goodness sake do NOT do that, the sparks will fly toward you, which is not something you want.
And Most important of all, I cringe every time I see this. Do NOT use the blade of your knife to scrape a Ferro rod.
Pull The Ferro Rod Method
This method is the same as the traditional method except that instead of pushing down on the Ferro rod with the back of a knife. The knife is held stationary above the tinder. The top of the Ferro rod is placed against the spine of the knife. The Ferro rod is then pulled back swiftly while simultaneously pressing against the spine of the knife.
This method works quite well and has the added benefit of not disturbing the tinder. But the traditional method of pushing against an object to scrape it feels more natural. If practiced, this is probably the better method.
How To Use A Ferro Rod One-Handed
If for whatever reason you find yourself in need of a fire, but only have one hand to do it with. Don’t fret, you can still use your Ferro rod. Using a Ferro rod one-handed is not as difficult as it may initially seem. All that a person needs, is a stationary object to Pull the Ferro rod against
Let us assume that you are going to use the spine of your knife. Let’s take this step by step:
Arrange the tinder on the ground.
Place a stick or piece of wood beside the tinder.
Place your knife across the piece of wood with the blade just above the tinder.
Carefully step on the handle of the knife with the same foot as the injured arm to hold it in place.
Now take a knee beside the knife, keeping your foot on the hilt of the knife.
Hold the top of the Ferro rod against the spine of the blade and pull the Ferro rod upwards away from the knife spine.
Be careful not to step too hard on your knife handle, and to maintain a smooth steady pressure on the Ferro rod as you pull upwards. Do NOT jerk it towards you.
Common Problems Starting A Fire With A Ferro Rod
Most of the problems I have seen with novice users of the Ferro rod are, using cheap inferior quality ferrocerium rods that throw few sparks. Here are the common problems and solutions:
Not Enough Sparks
There are three reasons why a ferrocerium rod does not throw enough sparks.
1. Not enough pressure was applied while scrapping the ferro rod. The solution is simple, increase the pressure.
2. The object used to scrap the ferro rod did not have a decent 90 degree edge on it. Solution, use the provided scraper, or file down the back of your knife spine to create a 90 degree angle.
3. The ferrocerium rod is of inferior quality. Buy a good ferro rod. Here are a couple of the Authors recommendations.
Scattering The Tinder
When using a Ferro rod, people tend to hold the rod just above the tinder. And as they push downwards, the tinder scatters. There are two solutions to this.
1. Place the tip of the Ferro rod on the ground, near the edge of the tinder at a slight angle. There is less chance of the Ferro rod or knife scattering the tinder.
2. Use the Pull The Ferro Rod Method.
Tinder Not Catching Fire
A Ferro rod is a spark-based method of starting a fire, it is not like using a lighter or match. The tinder needs to be fine and highly combustible. Instead of trying to light a feather stick or twigs. Try to light fine wood shavings, char cloth, cotton balls soaked in Vaseline, or certain types of fungi.
Tinder Fire Goes Out
A spark-based fire-starting method requires a bit more care than using an open flame to start a fire. Often, this oocurs when the tinder is too compact And there isn’t enough oxygen for the fire to breath, or there isn’t enough tinder.
As soon as you see a spark hit the tinder, blow on the tinder gently to start a fire, and have more tinder ready to add on a little bit at a time as soon as you see an open flame. Keep feeding the tinder until you have a flame large enough to add large fuel (feather sticks, twigs, etc).
Conclusion:
A Ferro rod has quite a few advantages over a lighter or matches and very few disadvantages. Which is probably why it is so popular with preppers, survivalists, and bushcrafters. It does take a bit of practice. But that is less on how to use a ferrocerium rod and more on how to start a fire with a spark instead of an open flame. The biggest problem most people new to using a spark-based method of starting a fire have is that they choose the wrong type of tinder.
Pros:
It is cheap, durable, waterproof, windproof, and can last for thousands of strikes (meaning it can start thousands of fires).
Cons:
There is a learning curve, also it is spark based, so there is no open flame. You can’t use a Ferro rod for illumination.
Be Aware:
There are some inferior quality Ferro rods on the market that throw fewer sparks.
