Frequently Asked Questions
What are the fire starter's uses
Horseshoe Mountain Fire starters are very useful for many things.
Campers, Boy Scouts, Backpackers, Survivalists, Home emergency kits. They are
great for carrying in your glove box in case of emergency. They are great
for pilots to carry because of their light weight and durability. They
make a great gift for any outdoorsman. They are not affected by cold or
moisture. The backpack model is small enough to keep in your pocket.
What about the Flint?
We use man made flints. They are made of a complex metallic mixture of
15 rare earth metals. The flint alone is hot enough to light any fine dray
material such as moss, dry grass, wood shavings, paper, cloth, pine needles,
etc.
What does the Magnesium do?
The magnesium helps get things going. It can be scraped into shavings,
bunched together and ignited with the flint spark to produce a white-hot starter
fire of about 5,500 degrees...roughly 8 times hotter than a match, more than
twice the temperature needed to melt iron.
How do the fire starter's work?
Gather any available materials that will burn such as wood, moss, paper,
leaves, cloth, weeds, leather, grease, etc. Prepare by building a
tepee-like pile with the tinder. Use the striker to scrape magnesium
shavings on to the pile. Bunch the magnesium shavings together. Hold
the fire starter with the flint side up. The tinder should be as close to
the fire starter as possible for best results. With the fire starter at
about a 45 degree angle to the ground, use the striker to scrape the flint and
produce a spark. Strike several times if needed. Blow on the starter
fire to increase the air supply to the fire. Add material but don't pack it too
tightly or it will smother. Use more magnesium if the tinder is wet, or if
the fire is hard to start.
See Demo
How long do they last?
This depends on the model and how it is used. Our smallest fire starter
will last about 1,000 strikes, our largest will go about 30,000 strikes.
These numbers are based on our testing. Actual number will vary with the
length of the strike and the pressure used by the striker.
What different models do you offer?
We carry the BACKPACKER model which is perfect for backpackers, or as a
survival tool - where space and weight are a consideration. This model is
small and has no handle (see photo). It can be purchased as a 1,000,
7,000, 15,000, or 30,000 strike model. It includes a striker and a leather
strap.
We also carry the KEY RING MODEL, which has a hardwood handle with a flint
and a rod of magnesium mounted on top (see
photo). The hardwood can be
scraped with the striker as well as the magnesium to aid the fire
starting. It can be purchased as a 1,000, 7,000, 15,000, or 30,000 strike
model. This model also includes a striker and a leather strap.
Our last model is the CAMPER model. This is our most popular model. It
includes a rod of flint and magnesium mounted in a deer or elk horn handle (see
photo). These can be ordered as 1,000, 7,000, 15,000, or 30,000 strike
models. It includes a striker and a leather strap.
How can I contact you and place an order?
If you wish to contact us please see our Contact Us
page. If you wish to place an order, you may email your order to us, call us on
the phone, or print out an order form and mail it to us. Payment may be
made with cash, check, money order, or PayPal. We hope to have
online ordering & payments available in the near future.
How can I obtain more information about your fire starters?
We will be glad to send or email free information upon request, including an
information sheet, instructions, and order form.
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