Please read everything below, especially the "Functions" section. K.N.I supply is a business based in the U.K so rest assured you will receive the items you purchase. Please also feel free to visit the account profile. Thank you.


The listing is for one 12mm x 125mm Ferrocerium rod with 4mm drilled hole.


Functions:

1. Primarily used in conjunction with steel (striker or knife edge etc - NOT provided) for lighting fires during outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and survival situations but can also be used to light barbecues etc.

2. There is a 4 - 5mm hole drilled in each rod for the purpose of making a handle or threading a lanyard through should you choose to. I carry mine on a quick release lanyard made using 10 metres of woven paracord which then attaches to my belt so I never drop or lose the rod. I would advise you to do something similar so it is always to hand when you need it.

3. Often used to start explosions and effects in the pyrotechnics industry for film and television.


Description

Ferrocerium is a modern alternative to old school flint and steel.

The rods are best used with an accompanying steel bar, scraper or the back edge of a knife (NONE of these are provided at the moment since everyone likes to use something a little different or their own knife).

Some bushcraft knives are built with a back edge or notch behind the blade specifically for use with a ferro rod but almost any relatively sharp or roughed up edge of steel will do it.
Simply drag (not push) the steel edge downwards along the length of the rod towards your chosen tinder at anything between a 45 or 90 degree angle.

**As a side note, each rod has a black coating on the outside when brand new. Use your metal edge to gently scrape this off until a patch of the rod is silver and you're good to go.**

Most sparks will only last a split second during this process and will therefore not burn you, however some may last a couple of seconds and can cause a tiny burn if landing directly on your skin. With this in mind I advise wearing gloves whenever possible whilst using the item although I have personally never been burned by one in more than two decades.

Each rod will literally last for thousands of strikes. Each fire, if laid correctly, should only take 1 - 5 strikes of the rod to light. At this size of rod you may never need to buy another unless you are in the habit of camping and making fires quite often.

Using the rod to light fires will usually require some practice before employing the technique in the great outdoors. If this is the case then please read up on and adhere to the local laws regarding fires, especially if you are practicing away from home. In the same way, please only light fires outdoors and away from other flammable materials, people, animals, buildings, roads and vehicles.

**Fire is extremely dangerous, so please practice common sense and treat it with respect. They are often started accidentally when safety guidelines are not adhered to. If in doubt, always read up on fire lighting and fire safety.**

Due to the manufacturing process, where the rods are cut to length whilst still red hot after being extruded as one long bar, they may or may not have a very slight curve or kink at one end but this doesn't affect their usability.


A little history and technical description for anyone interested...
Ferrocerium was invented in 1903 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach. It takes its name from its two primary components: iron (from Latin: ferrum), and the rare-earth element cerium. The pyrophoric effect is dependent on the brittleness of the alloy and its low autoignition temperature.

It is a synthetic 'pyrophoric' alloy that produces sparks when scraped with a hard metal edge. The sparks can reach temperatures of 3,000 °C (5,430 °F). This occurs due to the rapid oxidisation of tiny ferrocerium shards produced by the process of scraping the rod. This also allows the rod to work during cold and / or wet conditions (though your tinder and wood must still be dry).


Dimensions

**Due to the nature of Ferrocerium the dimensions can vary very, very slightly. Usually less than a millimetre or so.**

Diameter - 12mm
Length  - 125mm
Drilled hole ~ 4mm
Weight ~ 105g


Shipping Details

Shipping is FREE within the UK via Royal Mail with an option for faster delivery.
Default is Tracked 48 and I always obtain proof of postage.

Shipping cost for the rest of Europe is £5.75 +£1 per additional item.
Default is International Tracked arriving in approximately 3 - 5 business days.
There may also be additional charges levied by your country of residence which I cannot do anything about.

Items will be dispatched within 24 hours of ordering on working days.

I will always try my best to dispatch as quickly as I can including Saturdays however there is no guarantee I can get to a post office at the weekend.

If you order after 12 noon on Friday for example, the order may be dispatched the same day or Saturday but if not, it will be Monday.

See the returns policy for details about damaged or unwanted items.


About K.N.I supply

K.N.I supply is a sole trader offering small, lightweight, convenient but most importantly applicable, basic survival equipment.
Started with almost no investment, the idea behind K.N.I supply is to build a business from the ground up selling such items whilst also offering advice and tips on their uses.
Eventually the hope is to expand the product catalogue to include more items, large and small, whilst staying within the boundaries of "keep it applicable, simple to use and convenient to carry."
Each item is put through its paces in the field by the proprietor and a small number of independant product testers in order to ensure its usefulness because anyone who is serious about outdoor activities, and / or survival practices, will understand the importance of keeping their kit compact and lightweight whilst also making sure it is sturdy and useable.
Furthermore, with a love for the outdoors, there will be a focus on helping people get out more and prepare for excursions into the various environments that surround us. With the advent of the computer, internet and mobile devices, many people appear to have lost their appreciation for all things natural, and hopefully K.N.I supply can help rekindle that in at least some.
As well as all of this, there is the opportunity to follow the journey of a small business through its early stages and development whilst learning what it can mean to run one yourself. Small businesses can often struggle to get off the ground, so seeing that you aren't the only ones and gaining insight into another business model may serve to reassure you.

Thanks for viewing and reading. :)


Disclaimer
I have listed this item to the best of my ability. If you have any questions, please contact me with at least 24 hours prior to the auction ending so I have time to respond.
Payment is expected within three days of the auction ending and PayPal is the preferred method.
The item will be shipped within two business days after payment has been received.
Please leave positive feedback when the item arrives and the same will be done by K.N.I supply after you have left your feedback.
If for some reason there is an issue with the item when it arrives, please contact me ASAP.