Are ferro rods fragile?

[sniper 55]

I'm wondering if ferrocerium rods are fragile? I've seen some bare rods on sale and I'm thinking bung one in my wallet and a credit card stainless tool thingy and I got it on me all the time.
The other idea was the magnesium block on the key ring.
Any thoughts on this idea?

[pseudonym]

I've never snapped one.

Neither have the baggage handlers at London or Norwiegan airports.

[DustyDog]

Think unless they are a very thin variety, they seem pretty robust, mine gets jangled everywhere but takes it ok.

[Bad Wombat]

How about something like the exotac nanoSTRIKER. These are available on ebay for next to nothing. I carry a modified one on my keyring.

[Deeps]

I have one of these on my keyring (probably a bit OTT if I'm honest) although I've tweaked it slightly. I've given it a test run and it seems to spark fine with the tiny bit of hacksaw that comes with it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00I ... ge_o06_s00

but you can also get these which are more for fire lighting.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Polymath-Produc ... ZYYECY9HN5

[Mortblanc]

I have had one of the old Boy Scout ferro rods on my keychain for many years and it is still there and still functions. That one has gotten plenty of rough use.

I also buy the smaller 1/8" rods and tape them to the metal survival cards and carry them in my wallet. I have had one in the credit card slot for 10 years and the little ferro rod is still intact.

I also know that the big 5/16" ones on the magnesium block are tough as nails and very difficult to hack saw through. (I wanted two short ones)

You will probably lose them before you break them.

[Deeps]

I have had one of the old Boy Scout ferro rods on my keychain for many years and it is still there and still functions. That one has gotten plenty of rough use.

I also buy the smaller 1/8" rods and tape them to the metal survival cards and carry them in my wallet. I have had one in the credit card slot for 10 years and the little ferro rod is still intact.

I also know that the big 5/16" ones on the magnesium block are tough as nails and very difficult to hack saw through. (I wanted two short ones)

You will probably lose them before you break them.

That's a good with the small rod in the wallet, mine is getting 'bulgy' again, although I do carry one of the survival cards so I could maybe have another rationalisation of my pockets.

[sniper 55]

I have had one of the old Boy Scout ferro rods on my keychain for many years and it is still there and still functions. That one has gotten plenty of rough use.

I also buy the smaller 1/8" rods and tape them to the metal survival cards and carry them in my wallet. I have had one in the credit card slot for 10 years and the little ferro rod is still intact.

I also know that the big 5/16" ones on the magnesium block are tough as nails and very difficult to hack saw through. (I wanted two short ones)

You will probably lose them before you break them.

I hadn't thought of taping it to the survival card thingy, I was just thinking of bunging it in a corner, but it makes a lot more sense to have it fastened to something solid. Nice one mate (wheres the thumbs up icon?)

[QUAID]

They are very brittle..... I bought a standard looking ferro rod when i was trying them for the first time from bcb for practice. I snapped it in the middle on the first use.
My advice, practice how to use them ... a good video is this:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x19onD1azfg[/youtube]

[mananaja]

I have had one in the credit card slot for 10 years and the little ferro rod is still intact.

sbobet666