Mini Ferro Striker!

I had an extra ferro rod from a waterproof plastic matchbox lying around, so I glued it to a small piece of wood, and now I have a mini fire steel. It is actually able to make a small spark, which is pretty cool.

Materials:

• mini ferro rod(from a waterproof plastic matchbox)
• small piece of wood
• skewer
• toothpick
• glue(superglue or epoxy)
• varnish or wood oil
• 150 grit sandpaper
• 800 grit sandpaper
• ruler
• 2mm drill bit
• 3mm drill bit
• some string

Tools:

• vice
• drill
• saw

If you buy a waterproof plastic matchbox, it is likely to have a very small ferro rod at the bottom. Take a screwdriver, or even your fingernail, and remove it. Remove any glue on the ferro rod and, using the 150 grit sandpaper, lightly sand 5mm of the ferro rod, to give the glue a more porous surface to grip. Lay aside till later.

Cut out a piece of wood measuring 15mm x 10mm x 5mm. Use sandpaper to shape and smooth it to your desired grip. Place the piece of wood in a vice with a piece of fabric to prevent the vice from damaging the wood. Drill a hole with the 2mm drill bit up to 5mm deep. Try to get it as straight as possible, as this is the ferro rod hole. Drill another hole with the 3mm drill bit to make a lanyard hole. Sand to neaten.

Stick a skewer into the ferro rod hole, making sure it's tight and wont fall off. Dip it into your desired varnish/wood oil or paint the varnish/wood oil on. Allow any excess to drip off, and stand it upright to prevent excess drying on the handle. After the varnish has dried, lightly 'sand' with ordinary paper.

Once everything is ready and dried you can glue it together. Use a very small amount of glue on a toothpick and put the glue into the ferro rod hole in the handle. Push the ferro rod in. Add a little bit to the outside for extra strength. Leave the glue to dry for as long as the instructions say.

Carefully clean off any glue if there is to much on the outside. Thread some string through the hole and tie it off with an overhand knot(granny knot). You now have a mini ferro rod striker. I found a striker from a paracord bracelet works very well for creating sparks.