OK, we’ve all seen the video demos for various fire steels and how the sparks just fly. We’re so impressed we go buy one only to discover that something seems different with the one we got. It just doesn’t put out that fourth of July shower of sparks! Why not?
Well, it is true that not all fire strikers are equal. But before you conclude that you’ve got junk, try a simple change in your technique. Most people strike too fast and with the striker at an angle. The secret for more sparks is to get the maximum surface area in contact while striking, and instead of moving fast, slow the movement down a little and press harder. You want to achieve a sort of grinding feeling. You’ve got to find the optimum speed – not too fast, not too slow and press hard. And remember, the two pieces of steel should be perpendicular to each other – not at an angle. This will give you more surface area.
Tags: fire starting
Worked for me. I think I’ll make my own demo video. Great tips.
It really does make a difference how you hold the striker. Keep in mind that with some strikers, (particularly those that are made of thicker steel), you need to hold it at an angle so that the sharp edge can dig in.