Flint striker

**Philip Davies** · Nov 21, 2019, 04:02 AM

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It seems that nobody has posted one of these before on this site.

I was surprised when a search revealed no results, because, although obsolete, it’s quite a popular novelty item( like candle holders-which I don’t make either)

I was mainly sanding things in the workshop, but had the fire going to keep warm, so using the latent heat, I would tap this into shape gradually, over the course of three days! So I did not use the air pump. As the fire diminishes, I shovel the glowing embers into a lidded steel box, and that’s my charcoal for when I want a white/yellow heat.

It’s made from a worn file. Although ergonomic, I do not care for the shape much, it’s a bit of an abortion, if you’ll pardon the allusion.

**bruce.desertrat** · Nov 21, 2019, 04:59 PM

The shape is a little...lumpy-ish, but that gives it some handmade charm. I should someday see if my mom still has the wrought door-knocker I made in my HS welding/forging class...THAT was only-a-mother-could-love-it ugly :-)

**Philip Davies** · Nov 22, 2019, 10:27 AM

I agree that the lines are not quite as sweet as a French curve drawing aid, or did you mean that there were hammer marks visible? I think that for craft fairs it is an advantage that the forging is a bit rough, so that it is obviously hand-made, although technically, smithwork should not be “lumpy”!