Fire pistons, what's "the knack"?

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
39,133
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S. Lanarkshire
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 :dunno:
 

ONE

Full Member
Nov 21, 2019
270
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N. Ireland
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.
 
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Toddy

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Mod
Jan 21, 2005
39,133
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S. Lanarkshire
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.
 
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stevied

Full Member
Dec 15, 2010
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East Riding
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!
 
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Tiley

Life Member
Oct 19, 2006
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Gloucestershire
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!
 

johnj

Member
Jul 12, 2023
13
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47
Wales
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

Full Member
Jul 19, 2023
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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!
 

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