Detailed Product Description

Ferrocerium rod is made from Iron, Magnesium and mostly of an alloy of rare earth metals called mischmetal, which contains cerium, lanthanum and a small amounts of neodymium and praseodymium detailed as the following composition
Mischmetal (rare earth metal) abt 75%
Iron abt 18. 1 to 19. 3%
Magnesium 3 to 4%
Rare earth metal distribution
Cerium 49 to 51%
Lanthanum 26 to 34%
Neodymium 0 to 10%
Praseodymium 4 to 7%
Pyrophoric percentage 98% min.
Hardness 70 to 90 HV

Application : It is used as the firestarters or fire starter in scouting and camping, sparking entertainment, clockwork toys, strikers for welding torches, etc., it is the best compact firestarter we can easily use, plus its dependability,made it a favorite of survival experts, hunters, fishermen and campers. It works equally well when wet or dry. Swedish Fire Steel has even found its way into cabins and backyards as a fool-proof way to light stoves and gas-barbecues.

Operation : 
When the rod is scraped with a steel edge or the spine of a knife, particles or shavings are scraped off and ignited by the friction giving a shower of hot sparks.  These burning particles can, in turn, ignite your tinder, the best tinders for ferro rod include:
Cotton wool

Birch bark
Fine Fatwood chips/dust (also known as Maya wood sticks or rods)
Char cloth
Tinder fungus
Wire wool
Dried grasses/natural fibers/natural fluff material
Paper
Magnesium chips, magnesium powder (you can get a ferro rod embedded in a magnesium block which makes a spectacular high-temperature flash fire!)

Corrosion can be a bit of a problem with ferro rods - especially in hot, humid climates or where the ferro rod is kept close to the skin.  A quick and easy solution to this is to paint the rod with nail polish - clear if you want it to look neutral or a more "exciting" color (such as red color) if you want to make it easier to find if you drop it outdoors!  The surface coating doesn't affect the performance of the ferro rod as far as the amount of sparks it generates but you do have to keep on applying the nail polish though. Suggest getting two rods, one to play with and one to keep in the survival kit, one is bigger diameter and another is smaller diameter to save your money.

As well as keeping an eye on your rods for corrosion, take care not to drop them onto hard ground as they can break (although they can still be used).

You do need to remember to practice with your ferro rod before you need to rely on it!

You can get a bare rod or ferrocerium blanks and roll some tape on as a handle, that will give you twice as much ferro to work with and may save a little room as well. You simply pull your knife blade or striker slowly and firmly down the length of the ferrocerium rod, and sparks easily ignite a stove, barbecue, paper, dry grass bark, tinder, this iron rod is water resistant, and its 3000° C spark works well even when conditions are wet, cold, and less than optimal. this ferro cerium flint fire starter is a favorite of survival experts, hunters, fishermen, backpackers, campers and boy scouts, etc.,  Also the ferrocerium rod can be inserted into one side of Magnesium block to build a Magnesium Ferrocerium Firestarter, etc.,

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