Posted: 8/28/2008 6:56:54 PM EDT
|
I did look before posting this. I didn't see it posted any where and apologize now if it was. Just thought it was a good idea for a fire starter. Fire Piston |
|
I have one from this guy. Mine is a full size plexiglass model. They are not nearly as easy to use as the pics and vids make them seem. I still use mine and think its an excellent method for fire creation. You definately need some arm strength, specifically in the forearms, to work them well. I also have been having a hard time finding the punk wood in my area. I've been trying to find alternate fuels for it. So far the only thing I found that works reliably is twine, which unfortunately doesnt grow on trees here. To use the twine you have to cut a small section off the reel. Maybe 12" or so. Untwist it so you have the individual strands. Take 2-3 of the strands and wrap them into a tiny circle. You want its diameter to be smaller than that of a pencil eraser. Once you have a few loops in a circle begin wrapping it perpendicular to the circle axis. So you start out with a loop (0) thats 2 or 3 strands and maybe 3 wraps. Then you begin wrapping the other way, starting in the middle, so the loop looks like its wearing a belt (8). Continue to wrap the other way until youve covered the whole loop and you have what looks like a pill. At this point you should only have about 4 inches of twine used. If I'm making them for immediate use a little spit will hold it together. If I'm making them for later I put a tiny dab of glue on the loose end. |
|
I actually have 3 different ones. They do work very well. It does takes some practice to get good with them. Generally I can get some tinder glowing in under 2 minutes consistently. Some important things to keep in mind. Technique Keeping the piston lubricated having the appropriate tinder |
What do you use for lube? |
| if you are going to carry something it seems to me that the flintrods and steel (blastmatch, strikeforce, sweedish steel etc.) work just as well or better. even when wet. if the fire piston was something that could be made in the woods then it would be another thing. until then i keep practicing with the bow system. it is novel though. |
Lots of different things work. I usually use a grease. Chapstick works pretty good and are convenient. Most fire pistons come with some grease. |
| This one is a bit larger, but I made one from the instructions on the site. Half of the T handle is used to store tinder (char cloth, in my case), and the other half holds some PJ for lubing the piston. Works like a charm. |
Mine came dry and I had been using a single drop of CLP since I had no other info. |
| I made one from a broken Maglite (google it). I can't seem to get a good ember from it. I've tried pocket and dryer lint and a piece of paper. It gets the stuff blackened and scorched and I can smell it has burnt some, but can never see an ember. I threw it in the trash this afternoon, guess I'll have to fish it back out and play with it some more. Seems like a lot of work for something so inefficient. I hate to part with it after going through the trouble though. I don't really see it as been a survival tool. If I can't get dryer lint to blaze up, I'm sure not going to get wet leaves to light. Mostly a novelty. |