best steel for sparks

[Brokennock]

Who makes the best steel striker for a flint and steel fire kit? I've had a couple with one being quite a bit better than the rest. I just got a new one and it doesn't spark well at all. Seems to only spark with certain flints and only when struck against the flint like when holding char on top of flint, won't spark when struck down on with flint when trying to drop sparks into a box of char. I have another that sparks no matter what but can't remember where I got it.

So, who made your best steel and where can I get one?

 

[coloradoclyde]

I always buy mine at a rendezvous where I can test it before I buy it......
Unless yours is made by an artisan blacksmith, I think they are all pretty much imported from India or China.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have a bunch of strikers made by ronny blacksmiths that are crummy sparkers. Need to find a way to harden so they do what they are supposed to do.

 

[floyd1350]

I just use a broke piece of file with the teeth ground down.

 

[wattlebuster]

Curt Lyles made mine an it sparks like a welder http://www.cdlyles.com/tradeblanket-page9_files/image007.jpg

 

[Nifeman]

I make mine out of old broken Black Diamond files. Don't use the new ones they're case hardened. Grind the teeth off, heat to cherry red with a propane torch and quench in water... Hope this helps, Bud

 

[Brokennock]

I've never heat treated/hardened steel before. Can I get the new poor sparker hot enough with a propane torch? And, should I quench with water or with used motor oil?

 

[Dave Marsh]

That was going to be my question as well. I have several and they do not spark.

Dave

 

[Nifeman]

Depends on what kind of steel it was made from. Sometimes unscrupulous makers make them from mild steel just to sell them. Typically, the older files were made of 1095, which has a higher carbon content. And yes you should be able to heat with propane. If that doesn't heat hot enough, you could go with Mapp gas. Hope this helps, Bud

 

[necchi]

With all respect;
Guy's, learning to get a proper temper for a good striker isn't something that any backyard buckskinner can do with a torch in a half hour.
It's the same with a flintlocks frizzen, getting a Rockwell hardness that will send that shower of sparks is an art that takes a long time to learn,, it's why there are so many POS strikers out there.

I was at a local Rendezvous cruising the vendors and came across a bowl full of strikers and with the vendors blessing was playing with several,, none had the shower I was looking for and made that comment. The man that made them just happen to be running his forge at that very Rendezvous and a few minutes later I was approached with the challenge;
"Tom wants to see you, he's going to show you how to use a striker"
(Ok) So I went to see him, he was pretty livid and in a very condescending manner proceeded to demonstrate his "shower" of sparks from his strikers, the man was swinging the steel with all the force he uses with his hammer on the anvil.
I simply reached in my pouch and produced the striker I've been using for years,, it's nice and cost me some pretty decent $$.
My striker will send a shower that leaves sparks crackling as they drop 2 feet before they extinguish.
Let me just say the conversation that followed didn't go well or end in a pleasant manner.
Again, getting a really good temper is an Art that some have a gift for and others don't.

 

[floyd1350]

if you grind the teeth off the edge of an old file keeping it cool you will not change the temper and it will have the right hardness to spark like crazy.

 

[tomme boy]

Anyone on here make them?

 

[LRB]

I do. I forge them from 1095 square stock, and brine quench. I temper the finger grips well, and leave the strike zone hard. Had a friend set his cotton T shirt on fire playing with one. Too funny!! Laughed till it hurt.

 

[Brokennock]

I guess I'm going to have to go find your website again. It is an idea of mine to find a way to put together a kit comprised, as much as possible, of gear made by some of the excellent craftsmen on this forum.

 

[tomme boy]

Wick, I sent you a PM.

 

[44-henry]

I have used mild steel for strikers before and they worked just fine when after casehardening, but I use a pack hardening process that provides a very deep case. Those attempting casehardening with a torch and Kasenite are probably not going to achieve good results.

 

[BillinOregon]

The late Mike Ameling made some good ones, God rest his soul.

 

[coloradoclyde]

How were early examples of flint strikers hardened, was the high carbon already in the mix or were they hardened using bone black or something similar?

 

[Crewdawg445]

Easy... Make one from an old file. :thumbsup:

 

[colmoultrie]

I got a nice oval one from Ward Oles, aka "At the Eastern Door, " a few years back. I was talking to him one year, didn't buy it, and regretted it. The first thing I did the next year was go find him and buy one. That I have never regretted.