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As for the gasket, now I've got another plant I want to grow
Is wetting the fiber the usual way to prepare the gasket prior to using it? How would that work in the field, licking it?
The bamboo piston arrived well, I picked it up from Cliff at the airport. It wasn't a hard decision to drop the job I was working on to run over to see him and get it.
Ed
Glad the piston arrived safely Ed. I thought a bamboo piston would appeal to Cliff as well.
Wetting the fibre is the usual way to prep it.
In the field spit on it if there is no water around rather than licking it.
Give the fibres time to swell. Remember that S. California is a lot drier than the environment in which this bamboo grew (lowland forest near a lake) and there will be shrinkage.
Best place to keep it would be in the bathroom/ shower where it can have a chance to absorb the humid air. Not directly in the shower stall of course.
On the move a fire piston does not need to be kept dry like matches and if it gets immersed during a river crossing that's not a problem as the video shows.
It's best to keep your tinder dry though but even damp tinder it can be dried out by repeated compressions which will "steam" away the moisture.
Of course a fire piston has the smallest carbon footprint of any fire lighting tool (apart from two rocks) due to its longevity and the use of sustainable tinder!!
You can use any fibre but the original one is very strong. I believe that braided it would make a good thong for the fire thong having seen some native kids using it to wear away bark.
If you can't get it try another Artocarpus species like jackfruit or breadfruit and see how that does.
