I have been searching for a long time for a tool for fire starting to go with my victorinox knife I suffer with mobility issues and 'go for a walk' on my c90 around the countryside here in lincolnshire and often carry a stove for a roadside brew, normally a pocket alcohol courtesy of red speedster normally I carry a small bic but have been disappointed to find it empty when it gets jostled about, the same happens for those I carry in my watch pocket, got fed up so carry a firesteel I've just discovered the firefly, a firesteel designed to replace the toothpick on your swiss army knife - fantastic anyway, I thought it may be of interest
Had a quick look, are they still looking for advance orders/cloud funding? I don't have a fire steel but wouod be interested.
I wavering on being tempted on these. I've got several light my fire ferro rods so I don't have to get some but the utility of having a backup in my Swiss Army knife is appealing. Some interesting techniques in that video for using ferro rods in general so I've learnt something even if I don't go ahead. Regards John
Brilliant. I see one example where they lit an alcohol stove. I've tried, in 40 degree temperatures, to light a ethanol / methanol blend and the spark was not hot enough to ignite it. Any ideas if the problem was the flint, the cool temperatures or the fuel? That issue aside, a piece of flint with the knife seems a lot more useful than the toothpick it displaces.
I have lots of ways to make fire, but that is very tempting. A real cool addition to your McGuiver knife. Ivan
I don't own or carry a SAK, but this thread inspired me to buy one of the inexpensive 2 inch ferro rods for my keychain.
Try some sort of wick material to spread the liquid. A leaf, cotton ball, carbon felt, fiberglass wick, scrape the bark off a twig, etc. Sparking liquid will be more difficult in cold weather. Another method I have tried with the long lighters or sparker is to dip them in alcohol then they light easily and act as a candle. Use care with the flame of alcohol. It is invisible. Ken in NC
Using my Trangia in the cold I make a tiny roll of toilet paper or paper towel and put it vertically in the alcohol. The paper wicks up the alcohol and lights instantly. I have done this down to 12°F, which is the coldest temperature I have seen since I moved to North Carolina. On my 8R, 123, Optimus 111, and Aida 100 I make a small carbon fiber wick in the spirit cup. That makes the alcohol light easily. I don't put the wick in the cup of my silent burners because I want the priming flame to burn out completely before I light the burner. I think that helps avoid underburn. I must confess I have not tried to light the stoves with a flint or other spark type lighter. Not sure how easy that would be.
Just ordered the 3 pack from Tortoise Gear, Paypal accepted and shipping to UK, total £20. Couldn't find UK supplier. Don't require all 3 really but I'll bring them along to Newark if anyone is interested in picking one up, will trade for any quantity of beer at 2am.
@ally, order accepted and the website was showing 80 odd available. Will see if they send tracking info.
Not sure I'd want to use this with a knife that wasn't a straight blade or locking design. If you watch, in many clips they are holding a thumb on the accessory/blade. Most Swiss Army knife are not locking. Just an observation. I keep my little executive razor sharp and the thought of that little blade doubling back gives me the willies.
just double checked, website says pre-order, there is an update saying they had an issue with the injection mould eject pin breaking some rods so it's back for a redesign, april is mooted @anlrolfe - it seems that just about any blade will strike if you're worried
@ally Apologies didn't look on the kick starter site where the update is, nothing on their News section of the home site, they may be selling pre release samples hence the sale price. Our Uuni pizza oven was one of the first batch into the UK which were delayed a few months as issues were ironed out, came with a free pizza slice for our patience. Have every sympathy for getting a brand new product into mass production. Reworking the moulding tool must be very frustrating.
@anlrolfe as the video shows you can use just about any piece of steel on the SAK where there is a 90º corner. So the back of the scissors was one example which should be less worrisome. They also have whatever they are using canted over at about 45º so they can use their thumb to push the edge into the ferro rod to get the necessary friction. In that position the blade is much less likely to snap back. That said, my cheap SAK clone only has one tool with a sharp 90º corner..... the saw! Which has just made me wince at the thought of getting it snapping back however unlikely that might be. Regards John
There are places selling them. That pre-order post is old. http://tortoisegear.com/product/firefly-3-pack-pre-order/ Right now ... 81 In Stock
