What do you guys think of fire pistons?

[DWK2]

A couple of the ebprimitives models have watertight storage compartments in one or both ends. You can carry some tinder/lube in there and always have it with the piston. Nonetheless, I expect to use it mainly for my entertainment and to annoy my outdoor buddies.

DancesWithKnives

 

[myright]

I remember seeing Les Stroud using one on Survivorman and he had quite a hard time trying to make fire with it. I've never used one and don't intend to purchase one.

 

[Codger_64]

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.

Vaseline eats o-rings (most are neoprene, butyl or EPDM). Use a silicone based lube or vegetable oil. Even skin oil works in a pinch.

 

[kgd]

I think I like traditional flint and steel (F&S) better. Both fire piston (FP) and F&S use charcloth or could use tinder fungus if you can find it in your area. F&S is more rugged. Despite my breaking my striker due to foolishness, I was able to still make it spark. F&S is not all that dependent on the flint part. With a little effort you can find many types of rocks that will through a spark with your steel. You might even be able to get your knife to replace the steel for sparking. So as I see it, it is a pretty versatile system.

With the fire piston, you become pretty dependent on the mechanical functioning of your unit, the same way as you would a lighter. Those o-rings might just fail on you from sitting there over time. The fire piston works or it doesn't work. With F&S you have options...Look for a better rock or something.

The one advantage I might see is the FP might require a bit less fine motor control which could be useful in some situations. However, I'll side with Bushman5's critique here. You find yourself in trouble, its unlikely you are going to go to F&S or FP to make your fire unless that is all you have. Of course, as somebody mentioned, why would that be the only thing you have on your body....If you are smart enough to have primitive fire methods at your disposal, you could stick in a little ferro rod in there somewhere?

Do I want a FP? Hell yeah! I also want one of them rope lighters that Storl sells. I love fire! However, I'm a bit like others on here who think of them as a bit of a party trick. Of course bow drill is also a party trick. But you get all the girls with the bowdrill

 

[jds1]

I think the mechanics of the fire piston are very cool. And you can never have too many skills when it comes to firemaking. I've had fun playing with these two.

Jeff