LabStockBrand Jumbo Firesteel DIY Pack, .3575 X 4 Inch, Set of 4

These rods are actually misch metal. They have a high magnesium content, which gives small blobs of flaming magnesium to light the fire. This is better than just the sparks from ferro rods that quickly burn out. These do not give the huge shower of sparks seen on some Youtube videos. The best striker I have found is a tool sharpener with a square tungsten carbide insert from Blue Hawk, sold at Lowes. They are about $5 in the garden tool area.A good fire starter is 1/3 of a cotton ball next to a roll of paper towelling with cotton yarn for wicks that has been soaked in hot candle wax. The sparks light the cotton ball which lights the wicks in the waxed paper toweling. Put 1 wick in the end & tie several inches around the outside with 2" exposed. Try different sizes for the burn time you need. I use rolls about 2" long to light fires in our fireplace insert.

Surprised at the mixed reviews on these. Pulled 2 from the package and got great results right off the bat. Will take one of these and destroy it to get a better feel for it's effects. At this point can't say much more. However, the order arrived before expected which is Great!!! Besides, the vendor is in the best Beer producing areas in the Pacific North West. So I might be a little prejudiced this early in my testing. For the price point at this time, I'm very happy. Even if this don't produce as well as other 3-4 times the price, I am confident they will work better then matches or lighter in damp conditions. But, I'll be back with further comments.

I ordered a set to try based on recommendations, then ordered a second set because I gave them away to my friends. I have the Light My Fire Army 2.0 version and like it very much. These are a bit softer, so they throw the big spark that dances around for a sec. I use Ferro rods to light fires and camp stoves, etc. Both work great, but LMF has a bit more of a spray of sparks which I like better for stoves. I like these better for camp fire starts. These softer rods have the advantage of being like a Magnesium starter and sparker. Because they are softer, you can scrape a small pile of shavings onto a piece of paper, through the spark in, and it will flame. Nice to have if you are in less than ideal conditions and fine tinder is harder to find.

There has to be a "potency" differance in the fire steel available. after about a total hour of playing with the"Labstock Brand Jumbo Firesteel" using a new 2" piece of hack saw blade, with lines around the entire end i could shoot a single flying and crackling shard of burning hot amusement 1/2 way across the room, freaked the cat out. Prep your piece by striking then turning around the end being struck. Hold the striker blade firm and use force like you want to break the tip OFF. I use the US military original from Doan as THE standard, going to make gifts of the other 3 left in the 4 pack. Decent product so i bought 8 rods total.

These are good quality fire steel, however after extensive use, they provide mixed results. Above all else, one should understand that fire steel composition varies. This brand seems to have a high magnesium content. The metal peels off and burns for a second or two. Most fire steels have a higher percentage iron and this type produces a shower of sparks. My experience is that this brand is quite finicky about which striker produces good sparks. I use highest quality bushcraft style knives with 90 degree spines and 01 tool steel designed for fire steel striking. One knife will work great and then the next produces only a few weak sparks no matter what technique is used. (While that same knife will produce huge sparking with any other brand fire steel.) Not saying anything negative here - just be aware of what these fire steels are. Some people love them. For me, I'll stick with other well-known firesteel brands with higher iron content.

These are nice firesteels, especially for the price. I really like the extra length and thickness of these rods. I plan to add different handles. I believe they are of the softer variety of firesteels with less iron content. The sparks that they produce often fly off and keep burning (magnesium blobs). Be aware that the softer firesteels will wear out quicker since more material comes off with each strike.A good firesteel overview video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnrOhfry-0o#t=540

picked a rod out of the pack, it threw nice sparks at first with a carbon steel knife blade then nothing till i moved to a new spot. Hum ,tried a file minimal sparks,a piece of flint better. then I remembered a you tube video by Norwegian buschcraft-" misconceptions and myths about fire steels",. tried a stainless steel blade and it threw a nice shower of sparks repeatedly. these rods are a bit on the hard side but they do work.

I am very pleased. These are nicely sized for fitting to the handle of your choice. I have been using pieces if deer antler. As noted in other comments, these come with a black coating that must be scraped off to reveal the shiny core. Rub the back of your knife blade against this exposed section to produce a shower of sparks. BTW, use a 23/64" drill bit to mate with handle.