Very cool to hear.....thanks for the post (got it off the Pathfinder FB page). I've been a chemist for 10 years and the only thing I had ever gleaned just by use, was that the harder must have a higher Fe content. Thankfully, you've done the research for me!
Finally someone to explain the difference. I've noticed that it's not all the same thing, but I didn't know what the difference really is. Thank you for this video, it is very helpful to me.
Thanx abunch,great video! Very easy to see why people get confused, but when someone explained it like you did, well very easy to not be confused about the whole thing. Thank you again.
Excellent! I always believed that my strike force is a Mischmetall with lower Fe because of the big chunks it throws. Thanks a lot for bringing light and fire to the darkness of knowledge. Very good and informative video! Best regards from Germany Stefan
Excellent video sir, very informative. I also learned tonight that making fire with a ferro rod is not only about skill but also some luck, I say this because every night I practice making fire with ferro rod and my tinder of choice is fatwood. I made shavings plus scrapings of fatwood tonight and WOW! I failed at lighting it. That has never happened to me before with fatwood. I scraped and scraped my ferro and sparks would hit the shavings but they absolutely would not catch on fire. Now I am using good fatwood, this stuff smells strong and it's sticky plus its even from same stick I've been using to make my fires. If this has ever happened to you let me know because I am dumbfounded.
Thank You! Very informative. I use the Ferro Cerium "High Iron Content" rods to make my Fire Steel assemblies with Fat Wood handles and a piece of extra Fatwood for making Shavings. They work Great and I sell lots of them! Education in fire building is key and there are lots of great videos like yours to do just that. Had never heard the term Mischmetal before either. Keep up the very good vids.
Thanks. I have always noticed that some companies recipes are different. To me in my opinion, that recipe and the right balance of metals is what drives the competition
Regardless of the metal content, it's all about your technique, how hard or soft, fast or slow you strike it, as well as how sharp the edge is on your striker. You can use any of these and get them to throw sparks, or chunks depending on those circumstances.
Yes. For the really hard EBAY cheap ones I use a square lathe bit millling blank. 4 edges. M2 tool steel or a Corona gardening shears sharpener with carbide. Softer ones aren't much of a problem, less pressure more speed and "run"
Well...I just learned something. I knew about the harder and softer Ferrorods and thought the softer was making more sparks. Didn't knew about the magnesium tho. Very interesting. Well explained. Great video. You just got a new subscriber.
Thanks. I was suspicious of something like this when I saw bigger sparks from some rods. This is the only video i have seen explaining what the difference is.
I find many so called "bushcraft experts" who do comparison videos get this small detail wrong. they have no idea the difference between higher iron & higher magnesium. many gig the rods depending on their preferences (more sparks or long lasting molten bits). I am 50 year old female and I remember my high school science. plus, my older brother told me about the differences 35 years ago....thanks for the easy peasy explanation on this subject.
Great video, very informative. I've always distinguished rod as being hard composition or soft composition but never really knew the difference. Now that you've explained it the difference is pretty clear. A nice compromise would be to carry both the hard type ferrocerium rod along with a block of magnesium. If you need a hotter spark, simply scrape off some magnesium and add that to the tinder. I've done it many times and often it will allow difficult tinder to light easier. It is a bit of a pain to add that extra step, but it isn't generally needed unless your stuck with difficult or damp tinder.
Good to know there is a difference. Even though it may not mean much to some, I can see right away why people on the survival shows have trouble. They lack technique when they execute the striker against the rod or bar and I can see as you stated already that the softer rods would be easier to use as those little burning bits would offer a greater chance to catch fire quicker. It's also a nice visual clue as to where the sparks are going and may ignite. I'm sure the harder rods would work with properly prepared tinder, but then again, it's proper preparation and technique that gets one a fire or not. :)
Very good video, John! I just learned something, thanks to you! Very clear explanation and easy to understand the difference! My strategy is high iron with a separate magnesium block for when it's needed. I think there's a lot of confusion in the market about firesteels and you show you know what you're talking about. All the best from Switzerland, Rob.
subscribing now, been hearing dirttime guys talk about you online for years, glad to find you Mr McCan (forgive spelling error I'd any, sir, please) great finding you!
I had never heard mischmetal before, but I now know something that financially speaking will save me a lot of money. my preference is high magnesium because my skill level is low. the longer burning sparks help me. I also am a city folk. I look to these fire starting rods as survival rods so, I will not use them except to practice, and then in the unlikely case that I need the fire to survive. I also keep a generic bic lighter.
very informative (been looking for something like this a LONG time!). as one commenter mentioned, it would be nice to have a list (if that's possible) of as many brands/models of rods of both types so people can be more informed in terms of what it is they want and where to look. one video I had seen the advice given was "you just have to try them out" but that can get costly and I prefer something other than "trial and error" in choosing something if that's at all possible. but I've learned a lot more about rods since seeing this video.
Very good and very interesting. By happenstance all my fire rods are ferrocenium and I have found bigger is better. If you have two rods of the same size what approximate life span of the mishmetal 50% or 75% of the ferrocenium rod? Also with the very small diameter mishmetal rods how long do they last befor they break in two when you use them.
Great video on comparing the different types. I actually didn't realize there was a difference in rods. It seems to be a compromise though. The rods with more magnesium tend to be smaller, and thus throw less sparks. Which ever one you choose, it seems bigger is still better. Personally, I like having my combo block of magnesium with a ferro rod embedded in it. I couple of shaving of magnesium in your pile helps guarantee a start.
Thank you sir. I have been in stores that could not tell me if the rod was even , soft or hard, so how are they going to be able to explain any thing to their costumers?
Great video I really like the light my fire fire steels I have not had any trouble with them I would like to find some others about the same hardness as the light my fire but a little bit larger diameter. Could you give me any suggestions.
Thanks for the very informative video John. From 7:49 in the video on, is there any way you could list the names of the rods that contain more magnesium (or the ones on the right side of the wooden board) please? And do you carry these on your website? I am looking for the rods that throw the "globs" and you seem pretty knowledgeable about this. Thanks in advance.
John,I love your video's.Not only very informative but they make me chuckle when I see your hair and beard getting longer.In a couple more years you can call yourself Merlin?
Thanks for the info, but what is the exact ratio and contens of these Ferrocerium rods ?? So how much Iron, how mich Cerium and how much Magnesium ? Still other metals in this alloy ?? Many thanks.
Thank you for explaining the difference. Where would I go to buy bulk ferro rods. I live in Canada and with exchange rate and shipping from the U.S., it is costly. I still do because of product I can't buy here. What type of company would make them. Thank you.
Thank You for explaining.I prefer the softer ones myself,but then again,I don't think I'd ever start enough fires to worry about wearing one out,let alone the display you have.Even for people like yourself,whom I guess spends a lot of the time in the wild,how many fires does a person need to start?If I'm camping,I usually start a fire and keep it going the entire trip.
***** Kinda like the film "Blair Witch Project".I'm SO scared!Well get the Hell outta there.Run in a straight line 'til you find someone.....anyone,lol
Bowtie41 ..... If you are hiking and sleeping at a different camp each night, you might need to make three or four fires everyday.. There are many variables that determine when you need to build a fire.. A down-pour might drown your fire and necessitate building a new fire.. If you camp once a year and stay at just one site with one fire throughout, one rod might last your lifetime.. With that kind of camping I'd just use a cigaret lighter and not worry about other methods..
An interesting comparison. The question I ask is just how are these rods made? I Don't believe it's poured molten metals as the magnesium would go up like a blast furnace. One sees all sizes for rods from tiny to 1"x6". So how does one do it?
I do distinguish between the two. I call a softer rod, a mischmetal rod and a hard rod, a ferro rod. The high magnesium are nice and soft and simply burn hotter which in my opinion just works better.
out of curiosity,i see manu people running braided jute twine soaked in wax and a ferro rod,not sure which and pretty sure they dont either lol,but it works very well.my question is will traditional flint also light this type of fire starter?
You call the one higher in iron harder than the one higher in magnesium, but it appeared that the one with higher magnesium was harder to get sparks to come off. So which one requires more force to throw sparks?
This was the most informative discussion of "ferro" rods I have found anywhere. It is exactly the sort of information that I was looking for and the information was given in such a way that the subject is very clear. I will actually buy one of both kinds due to this video. The Light my fire will be purchased today. Do you have any suggestions for a high magnesium content rod? Preferably full size. I would like one about the size of my Light my Fire Army rod that I plan to get or larger. While I wait for a responce, I will check out more of your videos. I subscribed as well. Thank you in advance for any suggestions or advice that you may give on the subject.
thx so much für these oldschool advice! you are absolutey right! very intersting spelling of mishmetall, like your wife from switzerland, in germany the correct spelling is: mischmetall. misch means mixed.. greetings from germany
+tommypk86 Tommy, it shows at the end of the video. The song is "The Levy" by Petey "Hop" Hopkinson. He can be found at www.Peteyhop.com. A great guy who plays at a local place here.
You sure do explain things in an easy to understand way.
Thank you.. I was wondering.. I have three rods and noticed that they don't behave th same.. Now I know why.. You've been a big help..
Very cool to hear.....thanks for the post (got it off the Pathfinder FB page). I've been a chemist for 10 years and the only thing I had ever gleaned just by use, was that the harder must have a higher Fe content. Thankfully, you've done the research for me!
very well explained, in my opinion the first really detailed and 100% correct explanation
Thanks very much for explaining No one has explained this to me yet. Big help
Thank You Earthling
You Got Yourself A New Subscriber From Birmingham England UK Bless Up
Thank you for a very informative presentation capped nicely with a demonstration of each.
John, loved the quality of this video and the audio level was *excellent*. Hoping to see more when you have time. -=dave=-
You are obviously a smarter guy than average and more informative than most. Great video.
Finally someone to explain the difference. I've noticed that it's not all the same thing, but I didn't know what the difference really is. Thank you for this video, it is very helpful to me.
Thanx abunch,great video! Very easy to see why people get confused, but when someone explained it like you did, well very easy to not be confused about the whole thing. Thank you again.
Thank you, finally someone who can explain the difference in FCR.
Thanks again and greetings from the Netherlands
I have literally never heard the term 'mischmetal' in my life.
Highest marks for a much appreciated video. Mystery solved! Excellent demonstration.
Excellent! I always believed that my strike force is a Mischmetall with lower Fe because of the big chunks it throws. Thanks a lot for bringing light and fire to the darkness of knowledge.
Very good and informative video!
Best regards from Germany
Stefan
Nice explanation and demo. You just answered my 'burning' question. Thanks you, sir!
Excellent pun
Awesome video, you are right very few retailers know what they are selling. Took me three orders to find a supplier that provides the harder steels
Excellent video sir, very informative. I also learned tonight that making fire with a ferro rod is not only about skill but also some luck, I say this because every night I practice making fire with ferro rod and my tinder of choice is fatwood. I made shavings plus scrapings of fatwood tonight and WOW! I failed at lighting it. That has never happened to me before with fatwood. I scraped and scraped my ferro and sparks would hit the shavings but they absolutely would not catch on fire. Now I am using good fatwood, this stuff smells strong and it's sticky plus its even from same stick I've been using to make my fires. If this has ever happened to you let me know because I am dumbfounded.
Thank You! Very informative. I use the Ferro Cerium "High Iron Content" rods to make my Fire Steel assemblies with Fat Wood handles and a piece of extra Fatwood for making Shavings. They work Great and I sell lots of them! Education in fire building is key and there are lots of great videos like yours to do just that. Had never heard the term Mischmetal before either. Keep up the very good vids.
Thanks. I have always noticed that some companies recipes are different. To me in my opinion, that recipe and the right balance of metals is what drives the competition
Dave Canterbury sent me here. Excellent video. I subscribed. Look forward to learning from you.
Thanks I've always wondered what the difference was between the two. This will help me in the future when getting ferro rods for the knives I make.
This is the first vid of yours I've watched, thanks for the explanation.
John McCann- Pretty interesting. Thanks for your videos & website! I always manage to learn something new.
Thanks for the clarification.
Regardless of the metal content, it's all about your technique, how hard or soft, fast or slow you strike it, as well as how sharp the edge is on your striker. You can use any of these and get them to throw sparks, or chunks depending on those circumstances.
Yes. For the really hard EBAY cheap ones I use a square lathe bit millling blank. 4 edges. M2 tool steel or a Corona gardening shears sharpener with carbide. Softer ones aren't much of a problem, less pressure more speed and "run"
Well...I just learned something. I knew about the harder and softer Ferrorods and thought the softer was making more sparks. Didn't knew about the magnesium tho. Very interesting. Well explained. Great video. You just got a new subscriber.
Thanks. I was suspicious of something like this when I saw bigger sparks from some rods. This is the only video i have seen explaining what the difference is.
I find many so called "bushcraft experts" who do comparison videos get this small detail wrong. they have no idea the difference between higher iron & higher magnesium. many gig the rods depending on their preferences (more sparks or long lasting molten bits). I am 50 year old female and I remember my high school science. plus, my older brother told me about the differences 35 years ago....thanks for the easy peasy explanation on this subject.
Great video, very informative. I've always distinguished rod as being hard composition or soft composition but never really knew the difference. Now that you've explained it the difference is pretty clear. A nice compromise would be to carry both the hard type ferrocerium rod along with a block of magnesium. If you need a hotter spark, simply scrape off some magnesium and add that to the tinder. I've done it many times and often it will allow difficult tinder to light easier. It is a bit of a pain to add that extra step, but it isn't generally needed unless your stuck with difficult or damp tinder.
Good video. Had no idea, just noticed that some of my rods responded differently. Like you said, prepare the tinder bundle and they all work.
John . . . excellent video. This answered all of my questions. Thank you sir.
Thank you. I'm not confused about this subject anymore.
Thank You , I live in the north west , Oregon , stuff is usually moist in our forrests so I think Ill go for the Misch metal . Thanks again .
Good to know there is a difference. Even though it may not mean much to some, I can see right away why people on the survival shows have trouble. They lack technique when they execute the striker against the rod or bar and I can see as you stated already that the softer rods would be easier to use as those little burning bits would offer a greater chance to catch fire quicker. It's also a nice visual clue as to where the sparks are going and may ignite. I'm sure the harder rods would work with properly prepared tinder, but then again, it's proper preparation and technique that gets one a fire or not. :)
Excellent video, much I didn't know on this Ferro rod subject.
Excellent review. I’ve always been happy with every order placed through u guys. Thanks! 😁
Very good. I like the softer rods where the clumps stay burning. I have no problem grabbing another sooner if my sparks burn longer.
where do you recommend I get the softer ones from? Any preferences?
Very good video, John! I just learned something, thanks to you! Very clear explanation and easy to understand the difference! My strategy is high iron with a separate magnesium block for when it's needed.
I think there's a lot of confusion in the market about firesteels and you show you know what you're talking about.
All the best from Switzerland, Rob.
Thanks for you informative Demonstration , nobody has pointed that out befor :)
subscribing now, been hearing dirttime guys talk about you online for years, glad to find you Mr McCan (forgive spelling error I'd any, sir, please) great finding you!
Thank you for your video. Clear, concise and informative. Thanks
Excellent presentation and explanation. Thanks again.....
I had never heard mischmetal before, but I now know something that financially speaking will save me a lot of money. my preference is high magnesium because my skill level is low. the longer burning sparks help me. I also am a city folk. I look to these fire starting rods as survival rods so, I will not use them except to practice, and then in the unlikely case that I need the fire to survive. I also keep a generic bic lighter.
Could you include a link to your store in the video description area below the video? That would help both customers and your business. Thanks.
very informative (been looking for something like this a LONG time!). as one commenter mentioned, it would be nice to have a list (if that's possible) of as many brands/models of rods of both types so people can be more informed in terms of what it is they want and where to look. one video I had seen the advice given was "you just have to try them out" but that can get costly and I prefer something other than "trial and error" in choosing something if that's at all possible. but I've learned a lot more about rods since seeing this video.
Nice job explaining this difference. Thank you for sharing.
Now I get it. I have many firestarting devices and now understand why the behaving so different.
Nice video with a lot of information, thanks for sharing it with us.
Great info to know. I'm surprised this isn't more widely known.
Thank you for that great video. Now I understand the difference between the two. You have a new sub.
Thanks for the info. Greatly appreciated.
Useful and good video, thank you for taking the time to share this information and knowledge
I gonna watch every vid from ya, cause they are anwesend John, moreover you Look like 'the alpöhi' from Switzerland. Great!
Thanks for the info. First time I understood this difference.
Wonderful and informative video I thought it is the same thing has different names but now I got the difference between them
Very nice. Love the mora. Great choice.
Excellent informative video. Thank you John,, you just taught me something that I did not know
Thank you very much for the wisdom you have give us! I must improve my fire making skills.
Very good and very interesting. By happenstance all my fire rods are ferrocenium and I have found bigger is better. If you have two rods of the same size what approximate life span of the mishmetal 50% or 75% of the ferrocenium rod? Also with the very small diameter mishmetal rods how long do they last befor they break in two when you use them.
Great video on comparing the different types. I actually didn't realize there was a difference in rods. It seems to be a compromise though. The rods with more magnesium tend to be smaller, and thus throw less sparks. Which ever one you choose, it seems bigger is still better. Personally, I like having my combo block of magnesium with a ferro rod embedded in it. I couple of shaving of magnesium in your pile helps guarantee a start.
very informative, is it safe to look at higher iron content ferrocerium burning though?
Thank you sir. I have been in stores that could not tell me if the rod was even , soft or hard, so how are they going to be able to explain any thing to their costumers?
Thanks for the great info. You did a perfect job of explaining the difference.
Great video I really like the light my fire fire steels I have not had any trouble with them I would like to find some others about the same hardness as the light my fire but a little bit larger diameter. Could you give me any suggestions.
Thanks for the very informative video John. From 7:49 in the video on, is there any way you could list the names of the rods that contain more magnesium (or the ones on the right side of the wooden board) please? And do you carry these on your website? I am looking for the rods that throw the "globs" and you seem pretty knowledgeable about this. Thanks in advance.
John,I love your video's.Not only very informative but they make me chuckle when I see your hair and beard getting longer.In a couple more years you can call yourself Merlin?
You have lots of great material on your channel.
I definitely sub’d.
Thanks for the info, but what is the exact ratio and contens of these Ferrocerium rods ?? So how much Iron, how mich Cerium and how much Magnesium ? Still other metals in this alloy ?? Many thanks.
Thank you for explaining the difference. Where would I go to buy bulk ferro rods. I live in Canada and with exchange rate and shipping from the U.S., it is costly. I still do because of product I can't buy here. What type of company would make them. Thank you.
Thank You for explaining.I prefer the softer ones myself,but then again,I don't think I'd ever start enough fires to worry about wearing one out,let alone the display you have.Even for people like yourself,whom I guess spends a lot of the time in the wild,how many fires does a person need to start?If I'm camping,I usually start a fire and keep it going the entire trip.
***** Kinda like the film "Blair Witch Project".I'm SO scared!Well get the Hell outta there.Run in a straight line 'til you find someone.....anyone,lol
Bowtie41
..... If you are hiking and sleeping at a different camp each night, you might need to make three or four fires everyday.. There are many variables that determine when you need to build a fire.. A down-pour might drown your fire and necessitate building a new fire.. If you camp once a year and stay at just one site with one fire throughout, one rod might last your lifetime.. With that kind of camping I'd just use a cigaret lighter and not worry about other methods..
Thank you for an excellent presentation
An interesting comparison. The question I ask is just how are these rods made? I Don't believe it's poured molten metals as the magnesium would go up like a blast furnace. One sees all sizes for rods from tiny to 1"x6". So how does one do it?
Thanks mad Jack I just realized I watched this 3 years ago
I do distinguish between the two. I call a softer rod, a mischmetal rod and a hard rod, a ferro rod. The high magnesium are nice and soft and simply burn hotter which in my opinion just works better.
Very much like the the new intro that you put on this video
out of curiosity,i see manu people running braided jute twine soaked in wax and a ferro rod,not sure which and pretty sure they dont either lol,but it works very well.my question is will traditional flint also light this type of fire starter?
You call the one higher in iron harder than the one higher in magnesium, but it appeared that the one with higher magnesium was harder to get sparks to come off. So which one requires more force to throw sparks?
Thank you for clearing this up great video very educational I'm gonna subscribe
Which is better in a wet or humid climate (PNW)?
Great video thanks for doing this my friend!
This was the most informative discussion of "ferro" rods I have found anywhere. It is exactly the sort of information that I was looking for and the information was given in such a way that the subject is very clear. I will actually buy one of both kinds due to this video. The Light my fire will be purchased today. Do you have any suggestions for a high magnesium content rod? Preferably full size. I would like one about the size of my Light my Fire Army rod that I plan to get or larger.
While I wait for a responce, I will check out more of your videos. I subscribed as well.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions or advice that you may give on the subject.
Well put together video, great video. Thanks for sharing with us
thx so much für these oldschool advice! you are absolutey right! very intersting spelling of mishmetall, like your wife from switzerland, in germany the correct spelling is: mischmetall. misch means mixed.. greetings from germany
Do the larger 1/2 x 6" rods ever break in half if you were to strike it with a knife blade or if you stepped on it? If yes, could you still use it?
Great video thanks nice presentation and explanation
Thanks. I just wish there was a way to know which formula of metals I was buying without having to test them.
Very informative video.
What was the intro song by the way?
+tommypk86 Tommy, it shows at the end of the video. The song is "The Levy" by Petey "Hop" Hopkinson. He can be found at www.Peteyhop.com. A great guy who plays at a local place here.
Excellent. Thanks for the link.
I watched to the end but obviously not through the credits.
Thanks again.
Thanks for the great explanation. It's confusing with people using the same or similar names for different products.
I didn't understand the different still this video you explain it out very well thank you
Good review
What's the name of your opening song?
Great music
The titel of the song and artist are shown at the end of the video. The song is called "the Levy" by Petey "Hop" Hopkinson
Magnificent explanation! Finally! Thanks You very much! :)
Very informative video. Now I understand the difference.
Very informative video. Thank you so much for sharing sir. I also ordered some stuff on your website to support.
Thank you, answered questions I didn't even know I had!
Great video, Thank you , I always had confusion.very informative .
Such a well made video. Thank you for taking the time to explain this so perfectly! Awesome....I subbed
Really appreciate this explanation! Thanks!
Excelente video. Congratulations!
Thank you for spreading your knowledge!. I learned a lot and I will pass it on!. Peace.