fire piston
- Thread starter catweasel
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I've been thinking about making one too, except I don't see the point in making one unless it's manufactured using primitive means and naturally occuring materials so I've set myself quite a challenge!
I've done plenty of research on the subject. It seems that ignition is much easier to achieve with narrower bores, say 6-10 mm in diameter. Probably, the smaller the better but you also need room for your tinder. As regards length, the recommended length is usually 4-6 inches. As regards a minimum length, I really have no idea, but I imagine that below 4 inches might be pushing it.
I've a few problems to solve before making a primitive fire piston. Firstly, plugging the end of the tube properly so that air can't escape. It seems that air will leak through most wood plugs. Perhaps pine-pitch would act as a better seal?
Secondly, it's tricky to carve the piston to fit the bore nicely, say from a hazel rod. Carving a nice neat recess for the gasket is also tricky to do by hand.
There's definitely quite a bit of skill required in making one of these primitively. I've decided that elder is the wood to use for it as the pith can be easily removed and then the bore can apparantly be widened and made uniform using horsetail and then polished to a shiny finish by burnishing.
Anybody else have any input?
I've done plenty of research on the subject. It seems that ignition is much easier to achieve with narrower bores, say 6-10 mm in diameter. Probably, the smaller the better but you also need room for your tinder. As regards length, the recommended length is usually 4-6 inches. As regards a minimum length, I really have no idea, but I imagine that below 4 inches might be pushing it.
I've a few problems to solve before making a primitive fire piston. Firstly, plugging the end of the tube properly so that air can't escape. It seems that air will leak through most wood plugs. Perhaps pine-pitch would act as a better seal?
Secondly, it's tricky to carve the piston to fit the bore nicely, say from a hazel rod. Carving a nice neat recess for the gasket is also tricky to do by hand.
There's definitely quite a bit of skill required in making one of these primitively. I've decided that elder is the wood to use for it as the pith can be easily removed and then the bore can apparantly be widened and made uniform using horsetail and then polished to a shiny finish by burnishing.
Anybody else have any input?
If you are happy to have a go with modern materials you could try:
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/firepiston/rbmodelt/index.html
not tried it myself though
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/firepiston/rbmodelt/index.html
not tried it myself though
There was a video i watch a while ago, where some fella made one with natural materials.
Was in thailand or somewhere cant remember, sorry. Someone will tho i'm sure.
Was in thailand or somewhere cant remember, sorry. Someone will tho i'm sure.
ive got some clear acrilic tubing with a 20mm inside messurement that i am going to use for the barrel (should be intresting to see in) but i am also thinking about how to blank one end off. when you think about it its basicly a diesel engine using the commpresion to heat the tinder to flash point. i also rember seing someone on tv using one with cotton wool soaked in parafin. when he pumped it the piston shot clear out of the barrel. so theres a fair bit of pressure in these things (even though all i'll be putting in is some charcloth)
many many thanks for the answers
many many thanks for the answers
i have been experimenting for the last couple of years
the last incarnation works well enough to be given to friends for x mass pressies this x mass just gone.(they are very pleased with the result but i am now kicking myself for not taking any pictures of them before i gave them away)
i have found that using o-rings as gaskets they are quiet easy to make and they work well. and are easier to use than the string gasket type. but they are dependent on having the correct type of lube for the o-ring use the wrong one and they do not last more than 5 uses as the o-rings will perish
the string type can take some time to get right as the number of turns around the shaft is the diffidence between the piston being too tight and getting jammed in the bore and not quiet having enough to seal properly to get enough compression.
the tinder i have used with mine are cramp balls amadou char cloth(almost too easy to get an light) i keep experimenting with others that i come across as and when.
be aware that using oils paraffin white spirit and any kind of petroleum product apart from vaseline to (lube the string gasket) is unnecessary, stupid and dangerous plus you will probably see you hard work destroyed which will be a bit of a downer
the last incarnation works well enough to be given to friends for x mass pressies this x mass just gone.(they are very pleased with the result but i am now kicking myself for not taking any pictures of them before i gave them away)
i have found that using o-rings as gaskets they are quiet easy to make and they work well. and are easier to use than the string gasket type. but they are dependent on having the correct type of lube for the o-ring use the wrong one and they do not last more than 5 uses as the o-rings will perish
the string type can take some time to get right as the number of turns around the shaft is the diffidence between the piston being too tight and getting jammed in the bore and not quiet having enough to seal properly to get enough compression.
the tinder i have used with mine are cramp balls amadou char cloth(almost too easy to get an light) i keep experimenting with others that i come across as and when.
be aware that using oils paraffin white spirit and any kind of petroleum product apart from vaseline to (lube the string gasket) is unnecessary, stupid and dangerous plus you will probably see you hard work destroyed which will be a bit of a downer
The Fire Pistons work really well in conjunction with char cloth, which is the tinder that you would use in it.
Youtube has tons of video tutorials on how to make them
http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...l3397l0l4091l16l12l0l4l4l0l218l1015l2.4.1l7l0
This is a really neat 2 part video on making on using just the basics...
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NKq4ChNOew
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK2yqcKdUZc
I like this video as it shows you how simply these things can be made.
Youtube has tons of video tutorials on how to make them
http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...l3397l0l4091l16l12l0l4l4l0l218l1015l2.4.1l7l0
This is a really neat 2 part video on making on using just the basics...
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NKq4ChNOew
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK2yqcKdUZc
I like this video as it shows you how simply these things can be made.
The hardest problem I've found is attaching the char to the end of the piston.
I can get coles from a fire piston but find flint and steel much easier.
Maybe its the UK climate
I have made a few in the past, but all from modern materials and involving workshop machines and tools.
The resulting pistons did work, but not as reliably as commercially available examples, but I did enjoy the process.
Charcloth does work very well in a piston, but it is a dirty process, gradually dirtying the bore until the system fails to work - whereupon it needs a thorough clean and re-lubrication to restore its abilities. Other tinder's work well too, Chaga and fluffed up amadou, punk-wood.
ATB
Ogri the trog
The resulting pistons did work, but not as reliably as commercially available examples, but I did enjoy the process.
Charcloth does work very well in a piston, but it is a dirty process, gradually dirtying the bore until the system fails to work - whereupon it needs a thorough clean and re-lubrication to restore its abilities. Other tinder's work well too, Chaga and fluffed up amadou, punk-wood.
ATB
Ogri the trog
[h=2][/h]
Hi, here is some information from Wikipedia. I found it useful when I made a fire piston using brass tube and steel rod. Here is a picture of it.
There is a link at the bottom of the page that gives all the technical info you need. Although I found you could play with the proportions quite a bit so long as you have the right tinder, I found charcloth the most reliable.
Cheers
Nigel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_piston
There is a link at the bottom of the page that gives all the technical info you need. Although I found you could play with the proportions quite a bit so long as you have the right tinder, I found charcloth the most reliable.
Cheers
Nigel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_piston
Hi, here is some information from Wikipedia. I found it useful when I made a fire piston using brass tube and steel rod. Here is a picture of it.
There is a link at the bottom of the page that gives all the technical info you need. Although I found you could play with the proportions quite a bit so long as you have the right tinder, I found charcloth the most reliable.
Cheers
Nigel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_piston
That looks nice.
Here's a tutorial on making a fire piston from hardware store material that I posted here long ago (I give workshops in making these in this manner at the Dutch bushcraftweekend meetings):
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35523
And here are some natural tinders that can be used in a fire piston:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40703
As for dimensions, I have made working fire pistons with inner bore diameters from 6-12 mm and the smallest one had a bore depth of just under 6 cm. A bore diameter of 2 cm will probably give problems for you will need far more power to compress the air inside such a fire piston than in one with a smaller diameter. I recommend 8-10 mm for the inside diameter and 3 inch or more for the depth if you are making one for the first time.
Cheers,
Tom
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35523
And here are some natural tinders that can be used in a fire piston:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40703
As for dimensions, I have made working fire pistons with inner bore diameters from 6-12 mm and the smallest one had a bore depth of just under 6 cm. A bore diameter of 2 cm will probably give problems for you will need far more power to compress the air inside such a fire piston than in one with a smaller diameter. I recommend 8-10 mm for the inside diameter and 3 inch or more for the depth if you are making one for the first time.
Cheers,
Tom
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