Fire pistons, what's "the knack"?

[Toddy]

It's worked for thousands of years

The fire piston, if made from bamboo, in countries where Bamboo 'technology' is commonplace, seems to work fine.
Maybe we're just too cool and damp

 

[ONE]

I eventually just accepted that as a method of making fire, it's not for me. I did achieve the occasional ember, but achieved far more bruises. It's a pity, because the novelty of it appeals to me.

 

[Toddy]

Have you tried the Rudiger roll method ?
I found that quite fun. Kind of interesting to play around with fillings.
Flax works instead of cotton, so does bog cotton tufts and thistle down.
Best I found though was mugwort leaves and chagga.

 

[stevied]

I did it, I did it!! I’ve tried some char cloth I did 6-7 years ago and it lights nearly every time. I’ve no idea what the difference is but it just seems to work.
That looks interesting Toddy, I wouldn’t mind giving that a go!

 

[Toddy]

Oh well done

 

[Tiley]

Have you tried the Rudiger roll method ?
I found that quite fun. Kind of interesting to play around with fillings.
Flax works instead of cotton, so does bog cotton tufts and thistle down.
Best I found though was mugwort leaves and chagga.

This sounds like something lifted directly from the pages of Harry Potter!

 

[Toddy]

Go on, give it a shot small crunchy ashes, crumbs of chagga and mugwort leaves was my best set up

M

 

[johnj]

The sparklite USAF fire lighting kit in Toddy's video is nice and simple.
All you would really need to replicate it is the flint mechanism out of a clipper lighter, some cotton wool and a small waterproof box.
So simple yet far more effective than the majority of fire lighting gadgets costing considerably more.
Johnj.

 

[Pattree]

I gave my fires piston to a grandson who hasn’t used it. It was the same aluminium one that other posters have with compartments for char-cotton and grease in either end.
I’m pretty sure that the nature and condition of the char cotton is the key. Natives of the Amazon don’t even seem to apply much pressure. I have never managed a fire with it yet.
A ferrocerium rod and the back of an Opinel work every time for me especially as my go-to Opinel Explore has one in its handle!