OK, I have found another bargain, but I didn't want to put it up until I had bought one so that I could check out the quality of the fire piston. It came through today and I have been giggling at this amazing little fire making tool. It works on the same principle as a diesel engine, the air is compressed quickly which heats up so high that it ignites a piece of tinder on the end of the plunger. A fool could operate it!! 
£11.65 will get you this fire piston! Now, I know it isn't made from buffalo horn, and I know it has a rubber seal on the end and a brass liner as the piston chamber, but it works perfectly and is a great introduction to fire pistons. My girls didn't quite get the technique, but they got the idea and they soon had a small fire going by using the coal and adding it to one of these.
I ordered my fire piston and the seller was fantastic. He said because the postage to Germany was so high ($10, I didn't think that was too high!) he would throw some bits and bobs in for me for free. Very generous of him, I looked forward to getting my fire piston, when it arrived I had the tin that I have already posted a link to, and some of these amazing fire bricks, they are like compressed charcloth and they light so easily. He also chucked in some cedar bark mulch to fill the tinder box tin with!!
I am mega happy with this bargain fire piston. It will get plenty of use over the next few years I hope, it also came with replacement rubber ends so that I can maintain it as I need. The bottom of the fire piston has a hole in it which I think I can fill with the tinder, but I will need to make a bung for it. That shouldn't be a problem though.
Obviously, if you wanted a high end traditional style fire piston, this isn't for you. There isn't a gasket string to wind on, and the bore is made from a piece of brass tube, but the effect is still the same. My kids thought it was magic!!!
£11.65 will get you this fire piston! Now, I know it isn't made from buffalo horn, and I know it has a rubber seal on the end and a brass liner as the piston chamber, but it works perfectly and is a great introduction to fire pistons. My girls didn't quite get the technique, but they got the idea and they soon had a small fire going by using the coal and adding it to one of these.
I ordered my fire piston and the seller was fantastic. He said because the postage to Germany was so high ($10, I didn't think that was too high!) he would throw some bits and bobs in for me for free. Very generous of him, I looked forward to getting my fire piston, when it arrived I had the tin that I have already posted a link to, and some of these amazing fire bricks, they are like compressed charcloth and they light so easily. He also chucked in some cedar bark mulch to fill the tinder box tin with!!
I am mega happy with this bargain fire piston. It will get plenty of use over the next few years I hope, it also came with replacement rubber ends so that I can maintain it as I need. The bottom of the fire piston has a hole in it which I think I can fill with the tinder, but I will need to make a bung for it. That shouldn't be a problem though.
Obviously, if you wanted a high end traditional style fire piston, this isn't for you. There isn't a gasket string to wind on, and the bore is made from a piece of brass tube, but the effect is still the same. My kids thought it was magic!!!
