There are people who doubt the effectiveness and profitability of steel. For them, I give my vision of the situation, in relation to survival and fire (as its first element)
Flint
1. How many teals does the tinderbox have? on different sites, they write from 5,000 to 50,000. Let's take the average value, 20 thousand.
Bottom line: if you spend 20 teals on one fire, we get 1000 fires. Considering that with each fire, dexterity in handling increases significantly, there are many more than 1000 real fires!
2. The flint does not deteriorate, does not get wet, does not catch fire on its own (not flammable), no storage conditions are needed. Also, the temperature of the sparks does not change even in the most severe frost.
Matches.
1. There are 45 matches in a box. Even if two matches are one fire, boxes = 22.5 fires. Which is an obvious exaggeration, it is real only if you burn gasoline. Well, okay, let 23 fires, it's not a pity. So for 1000 fires, you need 43 boxes.
2. Matches deteriorate, are afraid of water, break, and are inconvenient to store and transport. For survival - not very convenient. But they are cheap.
Lighters.
1. Silicon in a lighter is enough for 300 teals. Gas usually runs out much faster. Let's take the average value: 2 teals = 1 fire. The result is 150 bonfires. 1000 fires is more than 6 lighters.
2. The lighter is capricious, it should not be overheated, wet, left in the sun or warm, it is afraid of the cold, and in frost it can let the survivalist down.
Outcome
It is for survival, as a spare, almost eternal, reliable and trouble-free source of fire - there is nothing better than flint and flint in the world, and it is unlikely to appear. If you go on a difficult campaign, and without a flint, then you are a desperate or stupid fellow. Matches and a lighter, of course, should be at hand, and in huge stocks it is stored in a byze, cache, at home. But in a campaign or a sharp dismount - a flint and steel should be sewn into shorts! (IMHO) :)
I will also say that I am an old tourist, I owned the first steel flint in Russia, from the Expedition. Taking advantage of the monopoly, these bastards were pushing them around 80 bucks for the thinnest. I don’t remember exactly, but for one tinderbox from the Expedition, you could buy a trunk of matches! Either an insane marginal or a paranoid survivalist like me could buy it.
Now, thanks to Survive.rf and the like, as well as all sorts of ebays, the cost of a flint and flint in relation to a fire is close to the cost of matches and lighters.
Summarizing. There are a lot of show-offs on the net about the crapness of Chinese fires, regarding all sorts of Swedish and American rods, made to an excellent standard. They are softer, the chips with teal are much thicker, there are more sparks than those of fire starters from China.
I am an ardent opponent of these show-offs! Chinese steel is much more economical and cheap. His teals, although duller, produce 3-5 times more teals!
It is better to get used to the skill of ignition than to shred a valuable fire starter into extra sparks.
Yes, I am also against the technique of chipping from a flint and shavings, followed by igniting a hill of these chips. For the same reason - overspending and anti-economy. It's better to kill one rod per workout.
Thank you for the opportunity to express your opinion Survive.rf.
Test and video instruction for the fire starter:
Fire starter large, 7.5cm ∅ 8mm "Survive" 330 rub.
Someone somewhere said that Chinese steels are bad ... 10 seconds, without any paper or cotton wool, and the fire is ready. Hands - not hooks, or flint and steel good? ;)
Large fire starter. Whistle, compass, armchair, adjustable cord. Has no expiration dates, maximum reliability. A steel flint must be in every NAZ! An elongated thick rod, the simplest design.
The lighter, which has already become familiar and commonplace in everyday life, appeared quite a long time ago - in the first half of the 19th century. At first, it was a cumbersome, albeit effective device in comparison with traditional means of making fire. In the future, fire technology only improved and improved, and lighters became smaller and more convenient. A big push in the development of lighters received during the First World War, and at the beginning of the twentieth century, their use became truly massive.
The production of lighters of the Japanese company has almost a century of history. Since its inception in October 1920, the company has set itself the goal of producing the most technologically advanced lighters in the world. This path, which the Japanese adhere to to this day, has already brought the company a whole lot of discoveries and inventions. The world's first cordless lighter, as well as one of the first mass-produced piezo lighters, were released under the Windmill brand. Windmill is the first to equip its lighters with a touch sensor, and has also developed the world's thinnest lighter with a thickness of only 5mm. And today windmill lighters continue to amaze the world: the latest original technological and design solutions traditionally collect numerous awards at various exhibitions.
Modern Windmill lighters have all the features to become an indispensable assistant on a hike, fishing, hunting or just in difficult operating conditions. Windmill lighters have a shock-resistant body and withstand repeated drops from a height of 5 meters onto a concrete slab. They are resistant to high and low temperatures (from -50°C to +60°C). Moisture resistance and tightness constituent parts allows Windmill lighters not to lose their functionality even after being in a water tank with a pressure of 10 atmospheres. Wind resistance is one of the main features of Windmill lighters. The flame of lighters does not go out even when exposed to an air flow at a speed of 20 m / s.
Windmill ZAG
The smallest and lightest weatherproof lighter from the entire Windmill range. Its weight is only 35 g. Buy a lighter windmill ZAG is available in four body colors: black, transparent green plastic, and camouflage green or brown.
Windmill AWL-10
Turbo lighter with piezo ignition mechanism. Excellent gas combustion allows you to use the lighter with maximum efficiency, and the dimensions familiar to many make the AWL-10 model ideal option for everyday wear in the city. In the online store Soldier of Fortune is available in four colors: black, gray, khaki and camouflage green.
Windmill Delta
The body of the lighter is made of high-strength elastomer, the advantage of which lies in the fact that at very low temperatures the lighter remains comfortable to the touch. The model was developed specifically for the USA, where it has been successfully sold for many years. The transparent side of the body allows you to control the level of gas in the lighter. Available in three body colors: black, orange and transparent green.
Windmill JPW
The walls of the body of JWP lighters are made of 2 mm thick aluminum, which allows the lighter to work for a long time with little or no significant heating. The lighter has a ring for a strap or a keychain. The Windmill JPW lighter is available in several body finishes.
Windmill Quest
upscale turbo lighter with ignition mechanism piezo. For greater reliability, it is equipped with a lid lock, which makes it safer and more reliable. The body is made of high strength rubberized plastic. The characteristic features of this model include an ergonomic shape and a large volume of the fuel tank.
Windmill Space Sensor
Unique in its kind touch lighter. It is ignited by a slight movement of the finger (it is not even necessary to touch the lighter!), which triggers a special sensor located at the end of the case. The sensor is powered by two LR43 batteries. Made in a stylish and ergonomic shockproof metal case.
Windmill Katana
Reliable high-strength lighter in an original design case, reminiscent of the traditional plates of Japanese combat armor. But the lighter got its name for the wide flat flame designed for convenient ignition of cigars.
Windmill HAL
Turbo igniter with piezo ignition in a massive metal case. A capacious fuel tank with a volume of 1.6 grams will allow you to forget about refueling for a long time. The main thing in this model is reliability. Waterproof housing and wind protection system ensures trouble-free operation in the most extreme conditions. For safety, it is equipped with a mechanism that blocks the piezo ignition button when the lid is closed, as well as a metal bracket that blocks the lid and prevents it from opening if it falls.
Windmill Shock-Pro SP-3000
The true flagship of Windmill lighters. The largest model with maximum functionality. shockproof housing, systems of protection against wind and moisture. The fuel tank holds up to 2.2 grams of gas. It comes with a long cord for comfortable carrying. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.
Any of the presented WINDMILL lighters can be purchased in our online store. We will ensure the delivery of the order to the nearest branch of the Russian Post, and if desired, the courier will deliver it to an address convenient for you, home or work, right to the door, with payment upon receipt, throughout Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Many believe that lighters are an invention. modern society, however, the principle of operation that underlies the operation of this device - flint, steel and fuel, are used in different cultures for many thousands of years.
Lighters are quite simple. One of their positive qualities is the ability to produce fire with one hand, while expending minimal physical effort. Like all mechanical devices, the lighter can break or simply fail. And the more moving parts, the more likely it is to break. Even when the fuel supply in the lighter has run out or leaked out, in the hands of an experienced person, the sparks from under the ignition wheel can be used to kindle. Although this may not necessarily work with piezoelectric type lighters.
Although lighters are not completely waterproof, a quick spin of the wheel on a smooth, uneven surface will generate enough heat to dry out the elements and bring the lighter back to life. However, the gas lighter will not work if it is cold. You will have to spend some time and effort to warm it up. It will be especially difficult to do this in severe frost.
Lighters on the market are different and have different properties. Petrol Zippo lighters, IMCO, Bowers and the like are unusual and attractive, their main advantage being automatic operation. Once you turn the wheel and ignite the fuel, you can put the lighter down and it will continue to burn.
On the other hand, they are heavy, give off a strong smell and take up too much space. The biggest reason that makes it difficult to use petrol lighters in an emergency is the need to fill them with liquid fuel. In hot desert conditions, a full gasoline lighter can completely evaporate the fuel in just a few days. And what's even worse. These lighters do not show the remaining fuel level. There are two ways to check if there is liquid fuel in the lighter.
The first method involves trying a gasoline lighter empirically. It should light up at least on the third try. The second method is unique and applies only to gasoline lighters. If it smells, then there is fuel in it, but how much of it is unknown. If you do not have the ability to constantly monitor the presence of fuel in a gasoline lighter, then such an item has no place in the set (kit, stock, NAZ).
Branded gas lighters Bic, Cricket, etc., are a fairly high-quality product. How good can a disposable item be? But unfortunately, for the most part, they do not have the option of regulating the flame. In other words, you can't make a lighter flame bigger or smaller. Numerous Chinese-made gas lighters, which are sold in many stores right next to the checkout, are much better suited for completing an emergency kit (set, stock) and especially for mini ones.
These lighters usually have a flame control function and are available in many different colors with transparent bodies. So you can see the amount of fuel left inside. Wrap brightly colored duct tape or scotch tape around the body of a gas lighter to increase its visibility, especially at dusk and at night, but leave the top and bottom untaped so that you can control the level of gas inside.
Don't expect to be able to tell how much gas is left in your lighter just by shaking it and listening to the sounds it makes. Before each trip or trip, in addition to visually checking the fuel level in a gas lighter, be sure to check its performance. Even in arid climates, the top metal part of a gas lighter corrodes, and since we are dealing with a mechanical object, there is no need to risk it.
If you live in an area with high levels of humidity, you will most likely need to replace the lighters in your survival kit quite often. And even though your gas lighter may look like new, it's still best to replace it with a fresh lighter after a couple of years of storage. Gas lighters are commonly available, cheap, light, compact and easy to use devices. While not a panacea for all problems, they provide us with enough reliable way immediately receive fire, but like all things, they must be used carefully and with the right degree of common sense.
Hello dear readers :)
I have been wearing gasoline for a long time, everything in it is good except for the size, like a fire backup is normal, but as a main thing, even in the forest, it’s not very comfortable, I’m generally silent about smokers.
In short, the thing is convenient, but not as reliable as a capsule, and requires peeling.
Do you know what are the advantages of such lighters? Work at negative temperatures without any preparation, refueling with fuel (from acetone to kerosene), simple design, practically indestructible (the case is metal, though it could be thicker, and as a result, the weight would be more)
Came to me two capsules in a pretty blister.
FROM reverse side there is a blister
instruction in Chinese
For comparison, I put a capsule, it is similar in size, but how usability differs, you can see in the photo, the metal is painted and covered with a vile, shiny varnish. 
Diameter 1.2cm. We will disassemble the black one, under the lid on the thread, a standard scheme that has been tested for centuries, a flint, a wick wheel, a thread and a gasket from a new one (however, not everything is in order with it) 
Entrails, with cotton removed 
Here are the main pluses and minuses: a plastic plug with a very weak thread, and a leatherette strap for which it is convenient to hold 
Pay attention to the size difference: 
Holding the capsule in your hand and observing the sky and the earth, we thread the little finger into the lanyard, and we get a very convenient device, the ribbed cap allows you to unscrew it with one hand. 
Advantages over capsules:
Larger liquid volume for similar dimensions.
Very comfortable in the hand, one-handed ignition.
Minuses:
Plastic plug with plastic soft thread.
From the store, gasoline holds only 4 months (the capsule lies for a year) due to a thin rubber band under the top cover, when twisting it is not felt, if I replace it, I think it will keep it like a capsule.
Recommendations:
For the purpose of amplification service life from one charge, it is better to replace cotton wool with cotton wool from a female tampon. gasoline holds 2 times more, burns many times longer compared to ordinary cotton wool
If ignites badly, change the flint and (or) gasoline.
Lubricate the thread to avoid abrasion and extension service life
If burns badly, most likely the wick has been transferred, poke a needle into the place where the wick exits from the body.
Wick must reach the bottom.
As with all gasoline lighters, do not allow long heating time, that is, in Russian: you can’t keep it lit for a long time, the metal of the wheel is “released” and loses its rigidity, after the release, it will stop sparking normally.
