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has anyone used one of these for starting fires? are they worth the price of $80 - $100? I always carry char cloth with me and usually use a small magnifying glass to start it smoldering. The only problem with a magnifying glass is you need the sun to shine. That is why I was thinking about a fire piston for cloudy days. Any Help or experience out there?
TN_Hiker
04-18-2006, 17:43
What is a fire piston? Seems mighty pricey for a firestarter.
a fire piston is made in two parts: the tube and the plunger. The plunger has a hole in the end of it that will accept a small piece of char cloth or fungus. The two pieces are made to barely have a slip fit into each other. the principle is based on compressing air which in turn causes heat. Hitting the plunger with your hand compresses the air in the piston and therefore heats to a temperature high enough to ignite the char cloth. Supposidly it doesn't matter if the piston is wet, it will still start the char on fire. this design is based upon the diesel engine.
http (http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/firepiston/fp3.html)://www.wildwoodsurviv (http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/firepiston/fp3.html)al.com/survival/fire/firepiston/fp3.html (http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/firepiston/fp3.html)
Could always make one yourself. Search "primitive technologies" online. I think the S. Pacificer's use bamboo.
HH,
Ryan
oldfivetango
04-18-2006, 18:45
has anyone used one of these for starting fires? are they worth the price of $80 - $100? I always carry char cloth with me and usually use a small magnifying glass to start it smoldering. The only problem with a magnifying glass is you need the sun to shine. That is why I was thinking about a fire piston for cloudy days. Any Help or experience out there?
Mr Lugnut,
I own TWO firepistons.One is very deluxe and made from buffalo horn.The other is made from acrylic and is especially neat to use in the dark
because it is transparent.
That said-I would not give you a plugged nickel(and they each cost WAY more than that) because they are just not dependable enough.
After watching the Tom Hanks movie I went through the "primitive
fire" phase and still use my bowdrill that I made to show my pals that,yes,it
can be done.
If you want primitive,my advice would be flint and steel.There is also a device known as a BLASTMATCH that is the nth degree in firestarting.However,my all time favorite is a simple candle with either a match or a lighter.Easy to light when wet,takes only one match or just a
second worth of the butane from your lighter.
The problem with the firepistons is the material you have to use in them is a wood fungus and it will dry out and quickly become unuseable.So
I switched over to charcloth in lieu of the fungus and it will actually work but is quite messy and undependable.Also,if you have an acrylic piston they
recommend against its use as it "scores" the inside of the piston which will
result in failure later.Oh,almost forgot,nearly broke my hand hitting the piston-not fun.
So to recap-candle,blastmatch,flint and steel,or flic a Bic-all good!
Have a nice day,
OFT
Tha Wookie
04-18-2006, 19:30
Mr Lugnut,
I own TWO firepistons.One is very deluxe and made from buffalo horn.The other is made from acrylic and is especially neat to use in the dark
because it is transparent.
That said-I would not give you a plugged nickel(and they each cost WAY more than that) because they are just not dependable enough.
After watching the Tom Hanks movie I went through the "primitive
fire" phase and still use my bowdrill that I made to show my pals that,yes,it
can be done.
If you want primitive,my advice would be flint and steel.There is also a device known as a BLASTMATCH that is the nth degree in firestarting.However,my all time favorite is a simple candle with either a match or a lighter.Easy to light when wet,takes only one match or just a
second worth of the butane from your lighter.
The problem with the firepistons is the material you have to use in them is a wood fungus and it will dry out and quickly become unuseable.So
I switched over to charcloth in lieu of the fungus and it will actually work but is quite messy and undependable.Also,if you have an acrylic piston they
recommend against its use as it "scores" the inside of the piston which will
result in failure later.Oh,almost forgot,nearly broke my hand hitting the piston-not fun.
So to recap-candle,blastmatch,flint and steel,or flic a Bic-all good!
Have a nice day,
OFT
Great post, OFT.
A lot of wisdom and experience there.
I still like the bow-drill, though;) When I'm not in the mood I use flint and steel.
Working on the hand drill now.
lug nut,
You ask, “has anyone used one of these (fire pistons) for starting fires?"
I have not.
Are you considering something to use as your primary source of starting fire, as in your cooking fires, or as an emergency backup?
bigmac_in
04-18-2006, 22:50
I prefer to use a coke can and a chocolate bar - just like mythbusters......
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12483&highlight=mythbusters
;-)
littlelaurel59
04-19-2006, 12:30
Flint, steel, and dryer lint. Simple, lightweight, and a VERY effective way to start a fire.
I think I have my answer. thanks
The Cheat
04-19-2006, 18:01
Mr Lugnut,
I own TWO firepistons.One is very deluxe and made from buffalo horn.The other is made from acrylic and is especially neat to use in the dark
because it is transparent.
That said-I would not give you a plugged nickel(and they each cost WAY more than that) because they are just not dependable enough.
After watching the Tom Hanks movie I went through the "primitive
fire" phase and still use my bowdrill that I made to show my pals that,yes,it
can be done.
If you want primitive,my advice would be flint and steel.There is also a device known as a BLASTMATCH that is the nth degree in firestarting.However,my all time favorite is a simple candle with either a match or a lighter.Easy to light when wet,takes only one match or just a
second worth of the butane from your lighter.
The problem with the firepistons is the material you have to use in them is a wood fungus and it will dry out and quickly become unuseable.So
I switched over to charcloth in lieu of the fungus and it will actually work but is quite messy and undependable.Also,if you have an acrylic piston they
recommend against its use as it "scores" the inside of the piston which will
result in failure later.Oh,almost forgot,nearly broke my hand hitting the piston-not fun.
So to recap-candle,blastmatch,flint and steel,or flic a Bic-all good!
Have a nice day,
OFT
If you're going to use a candle, use one of those trick candles that won't blow out.
grrickar
04-20-2006, 16:32
I prefer to use a coke can and a chocolate bar - just like mythbusters......
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12483&highlight=mythbusters
;-)
And that polished can bottom can be on the bottom of your Pepsi can alcohol stove
fivefour
04-22-2006, 15:38
Flint, steel, and dryer lint. Simple, lightweight, and a VERY effective way to start a fire.
dryer lint does light easily. after lighting a few fires with it, i became conscious of where dryer lint comes from. kinda scarey that something that flammable is found so close to a heat source.
Moogusida
04-02-2011, 13:27
Yes, it's a very important thing to have in your pocket when your matches got moist and you have to make a campfire. I will buy this thing for sure.
I think they invented the Bic lighter in like... 1978 or something... :)
Les Stroud used a fire piston in one of his Survivorman epiosodes. It's pretty cool, however I would never use it as a main means for starting a fire. If fact, I would list it after lighter, matches, fire steel, magnifying glass, and just before bow and drill.