Despite how common they are, miniature firestarter rods can be hellaciously frustrating to use. If you’ve ever found yourself scratching away at a match-sized stick of ferrocerium, and cursing its apparent futility, this video’s for you.
Every camper’s kit should include some tool that can start a fire even in the dampest conditions. Ferrocerium, or “ferro,” rods are the most popular option, and miniature ferro rods show up in most basic survival kits.
Unfortunately, as survival expert Dan points out, the smaller the ferro rod, the harder it is to start a fire — unless you use this handy tip from the bushcraftsman himself.
In this brief explainer, Dan shows a near-foolproof fire starting method using a mini ferro rod and a pocket knife.
Ready to learn why ferro rod size doesn’t really matter? Park it and hit play.
Runtime: 7 minutes
