Fire Starter Steel Flint & Striker Survival Tool Kit - Outdoor Camping Living Survival Tool

I purchased this item for a little over a pound and at the price think that it is ideal as a survival tool. I must admit that if I am trekking I prefer to use matches as they are simple to use, however, in very wet conditions this little fire starter is brilliant. I know that many people keep a small kit with them containing cotton wool (in my eyes best with a bit of vaseline too) in a waterproof container, but for me the ideal is my small trangia burner, which lights instantly with a couple of sparks from this fire starter. Both items fit with ease into a pocket, normally a zipped one such as found on Rohan or similar garb, so I don't lose either whatever the terrain. Whilst I make a brew, I could always make a fire whilst I am waiting for the water to heat up, but I must admit that I do not see myself as a backwoodsman anyway and have never lit a fire YET. So what's it like in use? Great, it isn't the sturdiest and at the price I wouldn't expect it to be, but once the sealant covering the flint is removed, a quick couple of strikes and enough sparks are generated quickly to set the methylated spirits aflame on the trangia; which if you should be worried about water ingress, works better with a 10% addition of water to the meths anyway. I have tried to light a fire in my woodburner with it, but when my 13 year old scouting son looked at me as though I was mad blowing on the embers, I reached the for matches anyway. Have no doubt that this item will work if you want to light fires, but for me it is a cheap and ideal back up to matches or it for lighting my stove. Great value, delivered extremely promptly complete with a good strong tie to prevent the flint and striker becoming separated. Excellent.

This is a very inexpensive flint and steel that works to perfection. Friends have bought other brands that don't spark well, so these products are variable. This one sparks perfectly like the one I bought in New Zealand at almost ten times the price. Tip 1: Give it a few strikes to remove the painted coatings on flint and on striker, then it will spark. Tip 2: The supplied striker has teeth in the end. If you use the teeth it tends to gouge the steel (the round rod) a bit too much. I found that using the long edge of the striker works better. Tip 3: You can use a similar hardened steel object with a square edge to strike the steel e.g back of a knife blade, or the blade itself in a push, though this might wear the blade. I keep a small scalpel blade handy, and this gives an excellent spark. Tip 4: Using cotton wool as tinder works brilliantly, it spontaneously combusts, (not everything will, so this is part of the art). Also you have to be quick with the next layer of combustible material e.g a bit of toilet paper or leaves otherwise the cotton wool has all burnt out before you know it.

The red striker plate that comes with it is useless and I thought it was a complete dud until I saw a guy on Youtube using the back of a knife blade as a striker and I did the same. It worked really well producing good strong sparks and, using lint from the washing machine as tinder (outdoors!), I was able to start a fire. You need to practice to get the right technique and provide good shelter if it's a windy day. Much harder to light a fire on a windy day so, if you are out camping, carrying a second means of starting a fire would be essential. Good little tool to have. Recommended.

This is a great fire starter. You do have to remove the coating on the flint first, but once you do then you can get good sparks every time. As others have said it is down to the technique and what you are lighting. I practised for about 10 mins and then got to make big sparks every time. I used the fluff from the tumble dryer, which worked great. You need to pull the flint away from the striker, keep the striker close to the material to be lit and it will light after a few strikes. For the cheap price, it is a great addition to your camping gear and works just as well as the more expensive versions.

Works OK (getting sparks has a it of a knack to it, but it works), the problem is the ferro rod is absolutely tiny! It's great for a little survival thing that can always be carried around, but if you're planning a lot of use; I'd recommend getting multiple cheap, large ferro rods from china on Ebay. They're extremely cheap, good quality and two will last for an extremely long time. (you can make your own handle for it if you'd like, but it's optional)

One can use many different methods to start fire in adverse conditions when in need. To use this fire starter makes life so much easier and FASTER to make fire thus, life supporting warmth in truly adverse situations. Good tool. NEED TO SCRAPE surface first, to obtain best results and strongest sparks. IF Not ABLE to scrape magnesium, very best tip I offer for consideration from practical experiences in **real life** situations is to use as starter is cotton ball in any situation combined with this tool, or in really soaking wet situations, cotton ball soaked/smeared on partially VASELINE(such a cheap item) and make fire in 30 seconds flat! GOOD TOOL to have for emergencies. I recommend it highly. To your success and survival in extreme situations. Could be a LIFE saver one day!

The flint is to small and striker is not good either it feels like it can only be used by a 10 year old it's so small. The flint bearly produced a spark and the paint on the striker and flint got scraped off due to the constant use of trying to get a reasonable spark. This item is terrible and should not be bought.

I know this was bought as a gift but i did decide to scrape some of the cover off it to make sure it worked. Yes, it worked :-) Cheap, cheerful and operational. I am not at all sure how long this will last for and I got a new more expensive one for myself (how selfish am I and I am now wishing I had just got a couple more of these wee ones. On the subject of size,, it is small and it doesn't look like an awful lot but again it does the job and sparks well (just mind and use the right angle and make sure the black powder coating is off)..