Introduction to Ferro Rods || The Eternal Flame

There is probably nothing more quintessentially bushcraft and survival in the woods than the classic ferro rod. You see it on TV, on YouTube, in magazines, heck, maybe you’re even jealous of your friend you go camping with who whips that magic eternal flame out and gets the fire going while you’re still breaking matches in the corner.

These little magic sticks are probably one of the first things you should learn if you’re interested in learning about bushcraft, survival, and being a serious outdoors person you can take care of yourself. They call it the eternal match for a reason.

What is a ferro rod?

“A ferro rod, short for ferrocerium rod, is a type of fire-starting tool used in bushcraft and survival situations. It is made from a mixture of metals that produce sparks when scraped against a rough surface.” – ChatGPT

You might be asking yourself what the big deal is … why do people bother? Why not bring a match or a lighter and make life easy?

  • they can be used thousands of times over and over
  • more durable than a box of flimsy matches
  • they won’t go bad
  • better adapted to various weather situations
  • can be combined with a knife to start a fire

What are some basics you need to know about ferro rods if you’re new to them and not sure where to get started? Well, for one they are cheap-ish, just like everything in life there is a good range, but they won’t break the bank. Just check on Amazon.

Also, you’ll notice when you first get one, as you can see in the pictures above, they will come with a protective coating, usually black, covering the entire rod.

If you’re new to the game you might not know you need to remove this protective coating before you can actually use a ferro rod to get sparks. Also, most ferro rods come with a striker, but it’s also common to use the back edge (not the sharp side) of a knife to act as a striker.

Also, the technique you use to actually strike a fire, aka get sparks out of your ferro rod is important, especially if you are using a knife or something sharp, you need to be careful and practice a little. Holding your striker piece stationary and then pulling the ferro rod back towards yourself is the preferred and safe option, as opposed to what might feel natural, doing the opposite by moving the striker piece while keeping the ferro rod stationary.

Ferro rods are something of an art rather than a science, and practice makes perfect, while it might feel awkward at first, practice in your backyard, testing the distance required between your ferro and your tinder etc. This is just something that takes time and practice.

What are you waiting for? Time to go make Gandalf proud with your eternal flame!

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