fire pistons

[wedgie]

hi just made 3 in uk
used 8mm plummers gas pipe from b&q
6mm brass rod cap ends for gas pipe soldered in place.
tap washer orings
the groves in the piston
char cloth was made out of an old denim shirt
this makes the whole thing easy to work
i did a comparison with a flint and steel and fire piston side by side the mset up time was almost the same but the fire piston got the fire going in around half the time which was a suprise at the time as i have made fires often with the flint and steel (swedish) since 1985

 

[mazeman]

Nice one mate.
Do you fancy putting a tutorial together? I for one would be really interested in how you did it.

 

[Galemys]

Nice one mate.
Do you fancy putting a tutorial together? I for one would be really interested in how you did it.

Hi Mazeman,

you have PM!

Cheers,

Tom

 

[crazydave]

have you done a web search? a few years ago I read loads on the subject when they became the american craze of the summer with people making and selling them in bone metal, wood perspex etc...

from what I remember the seal is the most important with westerners using o rings or close tollerance engineering but traditional ones used greasy string in general.

I even remember a guy sticking a drop of veg oil in there to recreate a small diesel engine and being surprised at the result

 

[Chance]

Is there anyone out there who has experimented with bore size and stroke ? We're hunting for suitable shed-bodgery materials, and wondered whether there's a formula out there that relates bore to stroke for an optimum firing (while understanding that there's no such thing given the variety of variables).
The first prototypes are in copper pipe (ø13.5mm x 200mm), but we hope to source some narrower stainless autoclave tubing.

 

[Stryker]

Hi Wedgie,

Would you mind sending me your plans, details on the fire piston you made.

I want to give it a go.

Cheers

 

[greensurfingbear]

if there are plans knocking around is there a chance I might see them pls fancy having a go at making one.

Thanks

 

[Bush_Man]

Quick google search and found this link:

http://www.primitiveways.com/fire_piston.html

 

[Galemys]

if there are plans knocking around is there a chance I might see them pls fancy having a go at making one.

Thanks

Here is a fire piston tutorial (with step-by-step pictures) I posted a while ago:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35523

Cheers,

Tom

 

[greensurfingbear]

Here is a fire piston tutorial (with step-by-step pictures) I posted a while ago:
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35523

Cheers,

Tom

Cheers mate appreciate it