bayite 1/2 Inch X 6 Inch Large Ferro Rods Ferrocerium Rod Drilled Survival Fire Starter Flint Steel with Toggle Lanyard Hole for Camping Emergency

works great. I love it because it works well in my hand even though I have a hard time holding small objects tightly in my hands due to getting old. I would use this for teaching little ones due to the ease of use and size.

The rod produces lots of hot sparks, but also diminishes with use, or in order words, each time it produces sparks you are scraping away material, thus the limited number of uses.

Arrived fast. Works as intended. No corrosion. Will throw a ton of sparks

I am a Freelance Gear Reviewer, and former Top Reviewer from a well-known online gear review site. I am also a Survivalist, and professional wilderness survival writer and editor.When it comes to Ferro Rods, size does matter. The reason for this is due to physics & mathematics, both of which was my primary focus in college. It all measures down to surface area, and length. A small ferro rod will produce less sparks, that is just science and not opinion. The amount and temperature of the sparks is what will ignite the tinder.People that have problems lighting their timber with ferro rods either has a combination or one of the other problems; not enough sparks or sparks are too low a temperature or a combination of both. (this is assuming your tinder is not to blame)Being an older gentleman reaching 50 years in the not-too-distant future (sadly), I must say that I got tired having to press so hard on my striker against smaller, thinner, less 'hot' ferro rods.Con: heavier than smaller Ferro rods, and hole is a tad small to feed paracord through, so make sure you melt the tip of cord 1st, and have patiencePros: Hotter sparks up to 3000°F, more sparks produced, easier to use due to size, this product will last longer due to it's size (there is just more Ferro material), less pressure needed to produce same amount if not more sparks of smaller competitors)Conclusion: Buy Once... Cry Once,,, IMO it is better to spent a tad more money, and get this heavier, thicker, more durable, and far more sparks producing Ferro rod. It will allow you to more easily start fires, and more effortlessly, not to mention due to the higher spark temperature output, you will be able to catch fire far less 'suitable' tinder, like on those wet and raining days in the wilderness.

It’s a bit small but will work for every once in a while easier to carry. Sparks well and easy to use. Takes a sharp edge to spark

I have never used one before ! I’m 68 years old and for the first time I actually used one , So let me say , the problem I believe the problem customers are having is, one not using a good quality piece of tooled steel, ( My old flat file worked perfectly ) I used the edge of the file , second thing is make sure you get the black shiny outside of your rod down to the actual striking material plus make sure it is a little flat on the rod , To get mine started I took the edge of my file and started scraping it just like your going to start a fire , in about 8 to 10 hard strikes I was throwing sparks , the more I striked with the corner edge of the file the more and heavier sparks came off , So in stead of buying a little striker , I just re-worked a old small file to use, ( So don’t use the flat edge of the file as if you were filing on a piece of steel, Only use the edge of the file and make sure your on a 45 degree angle with your file edge, ( note I used the file handle part of the steel )

It's a basic ferro rod, so it might not be the sexyest item on Amazon, but this is the King of All Ferro Rods! It is far longer (6"), and larger in diameter (1/2"), than other sellers on Amazon, and it's about half the price. Why? Because it doesn't come with a useless custom handle, flymsy case, or some fancy striking gizmo that you can hang around your neck - forget all that nonsense, this is what you need to start a fire when your camping, or if you just want a awesome ferro rod for your Get Home Bag or SHTF Bag. You don't need a designated striker, just use the back of your knife (I love my Mora Garberg Knife for this application - for my money it's the best bushcraft/outdoor camping knife sold on Amazon).Additionally, there is a hole on one end that is perfect for threading paracord through and making a secure wrist lanyard, and in a pinch paracord can be used as an accelerant to start a fire if you have nothing else.Hot Tip: take a one to two inch piece of 1/2" shrink tube, slide it on, heat it up, and you have a great non-slip handle. If you cover the hole with the shrink tube, just poke through it with a awl or drill bit after it cools and then string your lanyard cord through it. That's what I did and it works great.I don't use a ferro rod as my primary fire lighting device, I carry a Bic lighter which is faster and easier, but I do recommend carrying a ferro rod as a back-up if you run out of fuel or your lighter breaks. It is very primitive and satisfying way to start a campfire, and when it comes to survival and warmth redundant systems are a good thing.One caveat, if you are a backpacker and weight is a big deal to you, this rod is somewhat heavy (it says 0.8 oz, it feels like more than that to me), you might be better off with their smaller 4" x 3/8" ferro rod.

Bought this for scouts and have now taken to using it for myself. This huge fire steel has gotten fires going for me in as little as one strike. It throws large showers of sparks easily using a 90 degree striker. Highly recommend as it will be useful for many many years to come.