Got my fire piston working - once :(

M

Michael Bennett

Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
666
Had one of those rare days yeaterday - a little time to myself in the workshop. I stumbled across the fire piston I tried to build a few months (years?) ago. Just an acrylic tube plugged with acrylic rod and a plunger made from the same material. It's superglued together and has an "O" ring as a seal and is lubed with Vaseline.

Well, it never worked before, but I dropped some charcloth in it and pushed - a short, sharp thrust. Who'dathunkit? Glowing ember!!!! Cool ....

I haven't been able to reproduce it. My superglue joints aren't holding. I'm testing other glues and will post results, but I'm thinking that a cylinder bored from solid rod would hold much better than the glued plug.

Mike
 
Steve is a member of the Primitive Skills Group.....probably one of the foremost authorities on Firepistons....he has even developed a gasketless one...and he's a great guy to talk to....very knowledgable and very free with that knowledge....I admit, I have gotten 6 FP's from him....no formal connection other than as a very satisfied customer, and I've tried a few of his competitors (long gasket types (he'll explain), but his stuff works great IMHO
Just my .02.....
Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top