Fire piston

[dogwood dan]

Dose any one have first hand knowledge using a "fire piston". If so what materials was it made from, do you still use it and if not why, what area did you use it in ?

 

[CWL]

Fire pistons are fun to play around with, but are pretty temperamental by needing to keep clean, needing lube to grease the piston and still having to carry starting tinder. You also have to be careful with amount of tinder added to the piston. High winds, rains or even low light (night) can make it hard to operate. It was used in the home before matches, not out in the field, where getting the lube contaminated or dirt inside the tube, can result in a useless piston.

For the field or survival, firesteels, matches, lighters, etc. all work better.

 

[kilroy.45]

I don't have any first hand knowledge but try www.wildersol.com

 

[dogwood dan]

I am a lighter man but last fall my 7 year old tipped our canoe while I was digging in my drop bag, I found my self cold wet and shivering on a windy river bank looking at two waterproof matches (remembering to refill the match holder) It had a happy ending but I am looking for a reusable all weather back up. I have been using a flint and steel with paraffin soaked cotton as a cheat, but the piston looked cool. I will be sticking to the flint and steel unless some one has a better recommendation.

 

[dogwood dan]

Also thanks kilroly for the link

 

[Woods Walker]

Here is mine.

Fun to play with but for real Firecraft work I pack a Bic, firesteel and matches.

 

[Alan2442]

I actually ordered one of these yesterday. I will post up a review when i get it in the mail.

 

[knife doctor]

Going Gear makes an awfully nice one. It's not traditional in appearance, but does a terrific job. Highly recommended.

 

[nc527]

Going Gear makes an awfully nice one. It's not traditional in appearance, but does a terrific job. Highly recommended.

Agreed. I picked up the going gear "vulcan" fire piston at blade this year. for only $30 I had to try it, and it works great. Just another firestarting tool added to my repitoir.

 

[halo2]

I've built a few. I don't use them as a primary tool, I just wanted to see if I could. Here's one. Another is made of brass tubing.

 

[Macchina]

I've been making them for years on my lathe. They're made from 6061 Aluminum and I use them mostly on backpacking trips to impress people . It actually kind of works until I start trying to explain the thermodynamic theory behind it, then I'm just uncool...

 

[skab8541]

I've made a couple, and own one from Wilderness Solutions. And i will say that the ones I have made work better for me then the fancy one from Wilderness Solutions.

I made the plunger out of a bolt I had, bought the brass tube and end cap. Cut off the threads of the bolt, drilled out the end for the tender, filed a grove for the o-ring and sealed the brass tube up.

I have used char cloth, milkweed ovum, mullen pith, corn stalk pith, milkweed down, chaga, punkwood, and a couple other tenders I'm forgeting at the moment.

For me it's more a fun thing to mess around with, I would never rely on one for my only fire starting means.