What do you guys think of fire pistons?

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newknife

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Jul 6, 2008
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What do you guys think of fire pistons? Anyone use them?

I know there are options that work better. I've never used a fire pistion but it just seem like it would be fun to have and use.

Anyone know how long they are supposed to last? I know some come with a lube. I guess if you run out of lube they stop working?
 
I have several from Michael. Excellent quality fire pistons. Very reliable, they produce a nice hot coal from some char cloth. I haven't had a chance to take them out and use them properly, but I assume they would do the job well.

DSC01968.jpg
 
I have an EB Primitives fire piston. I really like it for the cool factor, but it isn't really a survival item. You can use vaseline a lubercation on them. Mine came with O-rings for life, so it will last a while assume nothing else goes wrong.
 
Josh K said:
I have several from Michael. Excellent quality fire pistons. Very reliable, they produce a nice hot coal from some char cloth. I haven't had a chance to take them out and use them properly, but I assume they would do the job well.

DSC01968.jpg
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Just curious...who's Michael? Do you have a link for the fire piston in the photo? Thanks..
 
BarberFobic1992 said:
I have an EB Primitives fire piston. I really like it for the cool factor, but it isn't really a survival item. You can use vaseline a lubercation on them. Mine came with O-rings for life, so it will last a while assume nothing else goes wrong.
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I was looking at that one today on ebay. Yea.. it definitely wouldn't be the only survival item. But, if I'm trying to get a hot coal...it sure looks easier than a bow drill (which I plan on trying as well)

Did you get the one that's 4 inches or 6 inches long?
 
Have you guys tried getting a hot coal without using char cloth? Maybe by using some natural tinder in the woods?
 
newknife said:
I was looking at that one today on ebay. Yea.. it definitely wouldn't be the only survival item. But, if I'm trying to get a hot coal...it sure looks easier than a bow drill (which I plan on trying as well)

Did you get the one that's 4 inches or 6 inches long?
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Mine is 4''. The physics would suggest that a 6'' would light better, but I like the compactness.

newknife said:
Have you guys tried getting a hot coal without using char cloth? Maybe by using some natural tinder in the woods?
Click to expand...

The EB Primitives includes a massive quantity of some man-made tinder that was not charcloath, he called it "black bear" tinder, but I think it is some kind of insulation or somthing :confused: regardless, it works really well. Also, Chaga fungus works as does punk wood.
 
They are cool, but for me, hit or miss. I have mixed results with them, but they are fun to play with.

I couldn't see using them when shaking from hypothermia, which is the main reason they are recreational, at least for me.
 
newknife said:
But, if I'm trying to get a hot coal...it sure looks easier than a bow drill ....
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Definitely looks easier than a bow drill.

But I'm trying to imagine the scenario where I've lost my lighter, my firesteel, and my storm matches, and somehow find myself left with just a fire piston and a bit of char cloth. ;)

They sure look like a fun gadget, though.
 
Zaner01 said:
Definitely looks easier than a bow drill.

But I'm trying to imagine the scenario where I've lost my lighter, my firesteel, and my storm matches, and somehow find myself left with just a fire piston and a bit of char cloth. ;)

They sure look like a fun gadget, though.
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exactly... I may just try to make one for fun.
 
I tried to make one...all I ended up with was a ruined Mini-MagLite. Perhaps I will try again some day when I have more adequate facilities to work.
 
I have one from EB Primitives and I am very pleased with it. I think a firesteel is a much better emergency firestarter but I also think for those of us who enjoy gadgets they are worth owning just to play with. There is a bit of a learning curve but I am pretty good at using mine after some practice. Check out EB Primitives. It comes with tons of extra lube, o rings, and charred material.
 
I was under the impression that fire pistons are very old technology, hardly a gadget, more along the lines of a sweet tool that's survived time.

I keep intending on making a PVC version, maybe I'll remember next time I hit the store.
 
If i had one, i would use it for woods EDC use. I would not rely on it for a survival situ, as my hands tend to cramp very badly when cold.
 
Good for use in a cabin or permanent camp. Not practical for survival, backpacking, camping use.

You need to keep lube around, need the right sized pc of starter tinder to fit in the piston, and can't have dirty fingers or it may contaminate the tinder. The tiny pc. of material really is small and susceptible to wind and rain. Not necessarily the right kind of conditions for when you are in the outdoors.
 
Well, last I checked they're a little dated. :p

A fun novelty at best, but for backpacking I'll stick with a lighter and match & ferro back-up. I'd personally prefer the bow and drill for something a little more challenging, it'll keep you sharp!
 
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