Fire pistons, what's "the knack"?

[ONE]

For nigh on twenty years now I've been trying (on & off!) to use a fire piston. I've had several, given (or thrown) all away.
Just got another as part of a kit, modern metal one, and after a morning of trying, again all I have is a sore wrist.
I've asked online and in person many times and the answer is always something along the lines of "you just need to develop the knack", but what is it? I've literally worn out bags of o-rings trying, watched others and followed them exactly, had others clean, lube and load the piston for me but I've never seen as much as a glimmer. When I first tried flint & steel, I found it terribly unreliable until someone said to me "Stiff fingers, loose wrist" and that was that... Fire's a go-go.

Anyone got any similar wisdom for the piston or do I just (as I had before this one appeared) file it, along with dancing, under things I just can't do.

 

[ONE]

I've just smacked my thumb on the worktop while trying again and I'll be surprised if I don't lose the nail, going by the colouration.

I've lived without them for 50 odd years, I think I might get by on the other firelighting methods I have at my disposal.

 

[Stew]

Are you putting Vaseline on the o rings as well?

I find a very fast hard whack is needed, not too much tinder.
Hard to say without seeing you do it.

 

[ONE]

Yes, vaseline and every other thing the videos, the sales people and the instructors at meets tell you to do, and on occasion have done for me and just handed me the piston to whack... Nada, ever.

Really think it's time just to let them go, too many injuries!

 

[Stew]

Are those that hand it to you able to produce an ember?

 

[Bazzworx]

What is the technique you're using? I taught my 10 year old niece how to do it. She wasn't able to push down with enough force so what we ended up doing was to insert the plunger, lift the whole lot up together then bring it down with force nice and square and quickly pull the plunger out with a glowing ember at the tip. That was with a Bushcraft tools metal fire piston with good quality char cloth and it also works really well with Amadou tinder fungus.

If you don't have any Amadou I could send you a piece. It would only be small as I don't have a lot myself. PM me your address if you'd like some.

 

[ONE]

Are those that hand it to you able to produce an ember?

Practically every time.

 

[ONE]

If you don't have any Amadou I could send you a piece. It would only be small as I don't have a lot myself. PM me your address if you'd like some.

Thanks but I have a bit myself, use it with flints.

 

[billycoen]

I tried,i failed,many times.And as i said to the piston,it's you,not me.

 

[Danqrl]

As a gift I received a bush tools fire piston in July so thanks for making me think about it again. I gave a little go in July following the instructions that came with it and had no joy but ill try some more this weekend.
You are not alone in the struggle ha ha

 

[MikeeMiracle]

Bought one of these from bushcraft tools at the Bushcraft show and could not get it to work either, the sliding was bumpy. Took it back and it seemed the o-ring just needed adjusting until it formed a proper seal.

 

[Hammock_man]

I have a fire piston that I love. It is a nice milled aluminum one, super fit great seal with the o ring and I make a point of using fresh bone dry char cloth take I have tested to take even the smallest spark.

In a hundred goes I might of had 5 glowing embers!!!!! You truly are not alone.

 

[Laurentius]

Never managed to get one to work either.

 

[Tiley]

I have an aluminium fire piston, having tried a number of rather beautiful wooden versions, and find that it works well for me in creating an ember.

In terms of technique, I keep the piston in a pocket so that it benefits from body warmth. I don't know if that has a signal effect but it seems to ensure a consistent ember. The next phase relies on not so much force as speed: push the plunger down, with some force - powerful but not wrist-breaking - but then take it out as quickly as possible to ensure that the heat you have generated by the compression can be converted to an ember by the addition of oxygen/air.

There was some rule about the proportion of the width of the plunger to its length but I can't recall exactly what it is; I'm not even sure if it's entirely relevant either but then, what do I know?

I have to admit that, although it is not my primary means of creating an ember for a fire, I always carry the fire piston as I do like its simplicity and comparative reliability.

 

[Tony]

As Tiley says, get it back out quickly! You can see if the fuel has heated up, if it obviously has heated up but extinguished before you've got it out then remove the piston quickly, I usually force it down hard and fast with my palm, grasp the top as I pull up swiftly with a slight twist.

Charcloth and Amadou are great for getting your ember.

Once you've got it nailed you'll enjoy using it, it's a great way of creating an ember that's really quite reliable.

 

[Wildpiper]

For nigh on twenty years now I've been trying (on & off!) to use a fire piston. I've had several, given (or thrown) all away.
Just got another as part of a kit, modern metal one, and after a morning of trying, again all I have is a sore wrist.
I've asked online and in person many times and the answer is always something along the lines of "you just need to develop the knack", but what is it? I've literally worn out bags of o-rings trying, watched others and followed them exactly, had others clean, lube and load the piston for me but I've never seen as much as a glimmer. When I first tried flint & steel, I found it terribly unreliable until someone said to me "Stiff fingers, loose wrist" and that was that... Fire's a go-go.

Anyone got any similar wisdom for the piston or do I just (as I had before this one appeared) file it, along with dancing, under things I just can't do.

dont get discouraged they are a booger even for experienced people sometimes. In my experience, step 1 check the bore or cylinder by cleaning with a Q-TIP and alcohol any bit of debris in the bottom can mess the whole thing up. STEP 2 lube your O ring. Step 3 add just enough char cloth to fill a little past the cup (too far and the bottom of the bore like those met with the business end of a holy hand grenade shall snuff it). Step 5 load the piston in the bore and in one quick motion smack it and pull it out (like your hand is the crank shaft in an engine) this step takes practice. Its a quick three step motion like playing certain embellishments on a bagpipe chanter. Anyway you slam your hand down quite hard on the top, the instant you feel it driven home grab the handle you just struck and yank it out as quickly as you rammed it in. In practice this whole motion should take a second or less. If you leave it in too long your ember will go out. I use a 30 dolar plastic model from wildersol.com. Not an endorsement just a fact. Hope this helps

Wildpiper

 

[stevied]

I saw this last night and remembered I had 1 in the garage so having a go with it now. I’ve just watched a few yt tutorials that show just how easy it is, they lie!!

 

[Toddy]

If the trying to make it work leaves me sore, aching and frustrated, it's just no good.
I'll find another way.
The wee pilot's rescue sparklighter is brilliant.
Like this one.

 

[Trojan]

I got 'piston off' by mine. There is far easier ways to light a fire.

 

[stevied]

All I’ve got to show for my efforts today is a sore hand. I’d like to figure it out but as you say, there’s easier ways so no hardship if I can’t. I like the traditional flint and steel that I got from here a few years back.