Fire piston...thoughts?

[Dergyll]

Hey guys,

I've always been a ferro rod or lighter kind of guy...I recently saw someone use fire pistons and thought they looked pretty interesting, any thoughts? Especially on longevity, reliability, that sort of thing.

If you do happen to use one, any recommendation on brands/types?

Thanks for your time!

 

[gadgetgeek]

They are a fun toy, and a cool demonstration tool. As far as brand, the one I have that works is from Wildersol, the cheap one I got off ebay I cannot get to work. The stroke vs bore ratio is really critical to get right.

About like being able to light a friction fire, cool to have, cool to demo, only takes one thing going wrong and it won't get you an ember. Mine is part of my "show off" kit, not my "survive" kit.

 

[ElementalBreakdown]

Not by any stretch a good choice for anything but fun.
I carry about a half dozen ways to make fire, and these don't come close to making the cut.

Consider for example the right kind of magnifying glass (convex), at least you would have another useful tool- I use it far more often to pull splinters and ticks out of people and dogs, inspect small parts, even ID mushrooms than make fires, but it works for that too.

My go to fire sources are a refillable mini torch, wax coated strike anywhere matches in an oring sealed tube with tinder, and those trick birthday candles that relight when they get blown out by the wind.
If on a decent chance of being out for days, a matchlight briquette or 3 wrapped in tinder and sealed in an oring box is good too.
I have tried firebows and all that but don't see a reason to learn a technique that requires awkward tools.
I guess it's always good to have redundancy, but even Survivor cord with its waxed jute strand (it has 10 lb. Fishing line and wire too) seems better than a fire piston.
I have better luck with a hunk of shavesble magnesium and striker (I. E. I flint and steel than pistons.