Hi Nate, you don't need much time or skill to convert a file. Look for a file with smooth edges, as the ones with cutting ability on the edge will chew up your rock. You can use the whole file and it will do double duty as a sharpening device. Or clamp it down and snap off a section....3 or 4 inches long. Files as they are will yield sparks, they don't necessarily need to be a fancy shape. Old used files or new ones.
downeast primitive skills It's getting the smooth edges part that is the toughest part for me. But just haven't run into one. :P and if I have a file one it won't be anything fancy like you said. Simple and easy. Thanks man!
downeast primitive skills Good place to look for old files is yardsales & flea markets. Bought a couple of them for 50 cents each. A small one to leave intact, as a file & another one to break into pieces.
Honestly I haven't looked into it much. All I know is you want it to be on the softer side as the stone needs to be harder then the steel. At least that's my understanding to it. I should definitely research that in the future.
sorry but you are not correct now, not all striker have to be made out of high carbon steel, the latest strikers are made out of titanium. I have one and while different it strikes a lot hotter and will actually alight troublesome tinders unlike traditional strikers.
This is a fixed medium I can not go back and change... obviously. And while there are some made out of titanium (I have one in my personal collection). I prefer the high carbon steel ones as I found they gave more reliable sparks. If I wanted a hot spark, i would use a ferro rod.
@@TheOtterOutdoorsman I was just point out the error mate. I like my ti striker, but you are right they take a bit of getting used to as far as their sparking ability goes.
@@waveman0 Just want to put it this way, The titanium strikers didn't come out for quite a while after I shot this video (I remember them coming out, it was cool). It's less an error and more when this video was shot.
You can also use titanium as a striker,.. not as common,.. you said something about it had to be high carbon steel. It throws a hotter spark then carbon steel.
Titanium strikers were unknown to me until almost a year ago (a year after this video was filmed), and I was able to get my hands on one. I haven't really played around around with it yet on camera. Probably will at some point, I mostly wanted to add it to my collection of strikers, as there are a lot better videos out there on it. and for high carbon steel versus carbon steel, I probably should have been a bit more specific. I've used both, but honestly, with lower carbon steels I've found the added work makes them a lot less worth it to use. have hotter and more sparks leads to less hits and faster results (with my favorite strikers I've been able to get it on one or 2 hits) where as with a file striker I've seen people just banging away for 15 to 30 minutes and the second I hand them my striker they get a result (and the guy that swore by file strikers was then starting to think about investing in good striker. So I guess adding a footnote 2 years later, you don't have to have higher carbon steel, it's just better in my opinion.
Hi Nate, you don't need much time or skill to convert a file. Look for a file with smooth edges, as the ones with cutting ability on the edge will chew up your rock. You can use the whole file and it will do double duty as a sharpening device. Or clamp it down and snap off a section....3 or 4 inches long. Files as they are will yield sparks, they don't necessarily need to be a fancy shape. Old used files or new ones.
downeast primitive skills It's getting the smooth edges part that is the toughest part for me. But just haven't run into one. :P and if I have a file one it won't be anything fancy like you said. Simple and easy. Thanks man!
downeast primitive skills Good place to look for old files is yardsales & flea markets. Bought a couple of them for 50 cents each. A small one to leave intact, as a file & another one to break into pieces.
The file use to cut the depth gauges/rakers on a chainsaw has smooth edges, they are small and compact.
Nice Collection!!! I like that you shared a bit of info on each one.
Lee Ralph Thanks Lee!
Thanks for sharing. Good to know various options to throw a spark with a rock.
Oldtimer Lee Thanks Lee!
Nice bro. I do enjoy doing flint and steel myself.
Thanks for the video
Eat Carbs Agreed Mark. Thanks man!
Great overview Nate! Cheers, Marc
Scouting Free Thanks Marc!
Liked and subscribed. I forge like at least 3 of these a week. :) Mostly from the Viking age or Romans. Nice video. Thanks for sharing!
so what is the proper temper for a striker?
Honestly I haven't looked into it much. All I know is you want it to be on the softer side as the stone needs to be harder then the steel. At least that's my understanding to it. I should definitely research that in the future.
wel explained buddy
thanks
greetings from Belgium
steve
Thanks Steve!
my favourite way to make fire too. i make fire using a traditional method everyday just to keep my hand/eye in
I just find something relaxing about it. Thanks for watching
definitely something cathartic. you're definitely an exponent of the art, good comprehensive view across the board. good video
What's with the janky striking motion? Your angle is too shallow.
What area do you live in? I make strikers.
I'm from Massachusetts.
sorry but you are not correct now, not all striker have to be made out of high carbon steel, the latest strikers are made out of titanium. I have one and while different it strikes a lot hotter and will actually alight troublesome tinders unlike traditional strikers.
This is a fixed medium I can not go back and change... obviously. And while there are some made out of titanium (I have one in my personal collection). I prefer the high carbon steel ones as I found they gave more reliable sparks. If I wanted a hot spark, i would use a ferro rod.
@@TheOtterOutdoorsman I was just point out the error mate. I like my ti striker, but you are right they take a bit of getting used to as far as their sparking ability goes.
@@waveman0 Just want to put it this way, The titanium strikers didn't come out for quite a while after I shot this video (I remember them coming out, it was cool). It's less an error and more when this video was shot.
You can also use titanium as a striker,.. not as common,.. you said something about it had to be high carbon steel. It throws a hotter spark then carbon steel.
Titanium strikers were unknown to me until almost a year ago (a year after this video was filmed), and I was able to get my hands on one. I haven't really played around around with it yet on camera. Probably will at some point, I mostly wanted to add it to my collection of strikers, as there are a lot better videos out there on it. and for high carbon steel versus carbon steel, I probably should have been a bit more specific. I've used both, but honestly, with lower carbon steels I've found the added work makes them a lot less worth it to use. have hotter and more sparks leads to less hits and faster results (with my favorite strikers I've been able to get it on one or 2 hits) where as with a file striker I've seen people just banging away for 15 to 30 minutes and the second I hand them my striker they get a result (and the guy that swore by file strikers was then starting to think about investing in good striker. So I guess adding a footnote 2 years later, you don't have to have higher carbon steel, it's just better in my opinion.
flashman V does its last ? Or ware down quickly.