Beckerhead Gear

Okay, so we have to have a symmetrical end product, I can deal with that.

I'm not instantly discounting the fire piston Flexxx, but after seeing video after video on them, they don't seem as useful as a firesteel would. Now I mean having both would be good, two is one and one is none and all that, and the more methods for firestarting the merrier, but for me personally, I wouldn't buy one. If I had one, I would use the firesteel over that every time. And if it came down to the choice of carrying one versus a firesteel, it is going to be left behind most if not all the time.

Now that being said, we could incorporate the two. The plunger could house a removable firesteel fairly easily I would think, and the end of the "base" could probably have a small tube capsule like storage thingy at the end. Heck with the right kind of gumption you could have the firesteel be screwable into the end of the base so you could use the whole thing as a handle.

Of course, those are just my thoughts, and if you guys want fire piston, 'ole Derek is more than happy to oblige, and I will gladly whip up whatever drawings you guys want. But if it were up to me, firesteel trumps piston, and that is what I would rather have.
 
Okay lets take a vote on this.

Firesteel
or
Firepiston

I was thinking everyone has a firesteel of some kind and the piston would be somthing different.

Either way I will make sure it works, I will check each product before it leaves my house...
 
how about something with modularity such that we can go with a fire steel now, and have a firepiston module later (more limited, by demand?) and they'd join up... or many things, storage capsules, etc, that all link up...

now, if i had a lathe, i'd probably be making fire pistons for fun... they just too cool.

mmm
 
In the spirit of compromise, and the acknowledgment that others may disagree with my views on fire pistons, here is a hybrid of the two. No idea if it would work, but it is at least symmetrical.

5341012798_e7a9493440_b.jpg


The turquoise/blue-ish region is the firesteel and end capsule storage thingy.

The green is the fire piston plunger sleeve that fits over the firesteel.

The red is the fire piston base.

Not shown is an endcap that would fit on the end of the capsule portion. There would be threads in key places, obviously, like where the green meets up with the blue, so that the piston mechanism would be stable. Maybe some knurling for like .5" at the end nearest the firesteel on the outside of the green so it would be easier to remove. And of course threads on the end cap and inside of the end of the capsule portion.

I am thinking that someone could take a round file to the firesteel base on the outside edge to make a little half round slot that might work on the firesteel itself depending on the material the whole thing is made from. And we could gussy up the capsule and base and whatever else however we wanted with knurling or grooves or what have you.

And like I said, if the Beckerheads say they want a fire piston, I will whip up one of those as well.

A pic of the outside, for poops and giggles.

5340427589_f6cc1e3f41_b.jpg


Overall length with an endcap in place would be somewhere around 6.5" or so.
 
DerekH said:
Okay, so we have to have a symmetrical end product, I can deal with that.

I'm not instantly discounting the fire piston Flexxx, but after seeing video after video on them, they don't seem as useful as a firesteel would. Now I mean having both would be good, two is one and one is none and all that, and the more methods for firestarting the merrier, but for me personally, I wouldn't buy one. If I had one, I would use the firesteel over that every time. And if it came down to the choice of carrying one versus a firesteel, it is going to be left behind most if not all the time.

Now that being said, we could incorporate the two. The plunger could house a removable firesteel fairly easily I would think, and the end of the "base" could probably have a small tube capsule like storage thingy at the end. Heck with the right kind of gumption you could have the firesteel be screwable into the end of the base so you could use the whole thing as a handle.

Of course, those are just my thoughts, and if you guys want fire piston, 'ole Derek is more than happy to oblige, and I will gladly whip up whatever drawings you guys want. But if it were up to me, firesteel trumps piston, and that is what I would rather have.
Click to expand...

OK, tough choice here. Firepistons work quite well when you get them right. As reliable as a firesteel, IMO. Fire steels are the tried and true method for me, I use them, but the downside, is that they do get used. They are a perishable item, in that its a deck of cards, 1 strike 1 card gone from the deck. Granted its a big deck, but it is finite.

A good steel firepiston will last forever. Replace the orings and you are good to go. Finding tinder is easy enough, if you don't have charcloth. Downside there, they are a little heavy when made from steel. Aluminum just wouldn't do for me, stainless steel is required there.

Tough, tough call, but since I have about a dozen firesteels, I have to vote for a fire piston. I always wanted one and my homemade ones suck to the point of not working.

Firepiston.

Moose
 
moosez45 said:
Firepiston.

Moose
Click to expand...

Flexxx said:
I will say fire piston also....
Click to expand...

Fair enough.

How long/wide would you want this thing? Would you want storage on the end of the base, or the plunger for the o-ring and some charcloth or whatever?

I am of the thinking that storage on the end of the plunger might help make for a more comfortable use of the thing. Kind of like a mushroom cap kinda thing, only not as mushroomy lookin. Say for sake of initial design I am making the plunger about 3/4" longer than the base, kinda like the one Flexxx showed in the video.
 
Whoa, whoa, whoa...only 2 votes have been submitted. We can't automatically go with the piston. :D

yes, I have a few of them. And yes, they get used up (after a LONG time)...

...but my vote: Firesteel!
 
I am going to chime in here and say something.

Hey Flexxx, whichever route, thanks for offering to make whatever it is we come up with for us Beckerheads. That is a pretty solid thing to do.

I kinda feel like the choice is yours, since you are the one being gracious enough to do it, so when it is all said and done, I think yours is the voice we ought to be listening to most. Either way, whichever route we take, thanks man. Like me, you joined this group and latched on hard, cause it is an awesome group of people. Glad to have you here.
 
DerekH said:
I am going to chime in here and say something.

Hey Flexxx, whichever route, thanks for offering to make whatever it is we come up with for us Beckerheads. That is a pretty solid thing to do.

I kinda feel like the choice is yours, since you are the one being gracious enough to do it, so when it is all said and done, I think yours is the voice we ought to be listening to most. Either way, whichever route we take, thanks man. Like me, you joined this group and latched on hard, cause it is an awesome group of people. Glad to have you here.
Click to expand...

we don't even have to have a fire gimmick toy...

could just have a storage capsule, or SOMETHING else :)

keep those ideas flowing...

oh, my favorite fire piston has a brass sleeve, and a wood outside. pretty light, and that model stores both the lube, and the char in one self-contained unit.

it would be fun to have a custom Becker thing, and even more fun if it's unique. really unique swag :)
 
DerekH said:
I am going to chime in here and say something.

Hey Flexxx, whichever route, thanks for offering to make whatever it is we come up with for us Beckerheads. That is a pretty solid thing to do.

I kinda feel like the choice is yours, since you are the one being gracious enough to do it, so when it is all said and done, I think yours is the voice we ought to be listening to most. Either way, whichever route we take, thanks man. Like me, you joined this group and latched on hard, cause it is an awesome group of people. Glad to have you here.
Click to expand...

Dude, when you're right, you're right! Since I really have no skill set to contribute to this project, I guess I don't have an opinion one way or another.

Do I prefer a firesteel over a fire piston? Yes. Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? No. Will I value something that is made by Beckerheads, for Beckerheads regardless of what it is? Absolutely!! I don't really care if it's a fire gadget, or a plastic name tag.

Many thanks to Flexxx and Derek for their investment of time and effort into this project.

Derek, thank you for putting things in perspective.
 
Its all good.

I'm down with almost anything that I can create on my machining gear, I would love to make somthing thats never been made but I just don't have the technology or funds to do so.

I will however create somthing excellent for all of us, THE BECKERHEAD FIRE POWER (whatever it will be).

This forum is awesome and the people here are great guys, I wish I would have found this place years ago when I first got a BK knife.

To me this section of the forum shines.

What do you guys think about SKULLS?
I know a guy that makes them and it would be a sweet set-up, I would drill them, ream the desired hole Circumference and add another hole for paracord and it would be perfect.

They also come if different colors.

SAM_1829.jpg


SAM_1228-1.jpg
 
I like skulls. Like 'em alot, but I just can't bring myself to hang anything from my knife lanyards cause I always end up whacking myself.

Over on USN there is someone there that makes something different, like a puma or something, and one thing I always thought would be cool is if someone made a wolf type thing based on this pic:

5342185171_1e4ab201ed_b.jpg
 
Flexxx said:
Looks like the firesteel is going to win, I love firesteels so its all good....
Click to expand...

i really want a capsule :) then you can store viagra in it (herbal of course), so you always have a ready supply of wood :)
 
Flexxx said:
:eek::D

I took a viagra once it got stuck in my throat and I had a stiff neck for weeks....
Click to expand...

Budump, CRASH!

I hope your better at machining than one liners, or else all this is in vain.:D:thumbup:

Moose
 
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