[TheForge] strikers

[Dave Brown]

At 23:25 12/28/02 -0500, you wrote:
>CAn any one tell me about how flint strikers are made ? use carbon steel heta
>treat them what I need to know all I can and yes what they look like
>
>Bob
>HotAnvil Forge

Bob,

Fire steels come in a fairly wide variety of shapes, and even sizes.  The 
most common, however, are the "C", "J", and "0" shapes.  Go to 
http://www.greyowlcrafts.com/tomahawks.htm and scroll down a bit and you 
can fine a number of pictures of the more common shapes.  Note also that 
some are referred to as "American", "French", "British", etc.  However, 
these same shapes can be found in a number of cultures and are not 
necessarily "American", it's just that it is supposed to be a shape 
commonly made in an area.  This is open to a lot of debate.

As for materials .... The key is "high carbon".  Old files, pieces of flat 
or coil springs, etc can make good fire steels.  There are examples in 
museums of early fire steels made from old files with the lines from the 
teeth still visible.

My personal preference for fire steels is to use W-1 (aka:  drill rod).  W1 
is simply high carbon steel (1095) and is hardened by simply quenching in 
water.  The easiest form to find W1 in is round "drill rod".  the 1/4" and 
5/16" sizes work well for most fire steels. (1/4" for the "0" shapes, 5/16" 
for others).  The rounds need to be flattened first, then shaped.  If you 
are lucky to find the right supplier, W1 is also available in flats which 
work nice for making the "J" and "C" shaped steels.  Drill rod seems 
expensive at first ($4 for 3' of 5/16"), but that breaks down to only about 
$0.50/striker that will retail at $8 to $10.  If you are making a large 
number of strikers, the cost is inconsequential especially when compared to 
the value of your time in dealing with old files.

But either way, old files or new W1, it's the high carbon that is needed 
for a good shower of sparks.

Dave Brown
Heritage Smithing
Green Bay, WI
ABANA, UMBA, GoM, MODA, ARG