Fire Piston Photos

[The Warrior]

 Here's the fire pistons I own. The first is a traditional string gasket Cocobolo piston by Darrel Aune of Primal Connection. The second is  by Jeff Wagner of Wilderness Solutions, and is a traditional string gasket made out of buffalo horn, with a Cocobolo lanyard ring on it. The third piston is Cocobolo, with a delrin rod and o-ring gasket, also made by Jeff Wagner of Wilderness Solutions. Les Stroud uses his pistons. The fourth is also Cocobolo, iirc, and is a James Spily custom. Brass rod and o-ring. It has a longer shaft, and probably works the best out of all of them. The last one is made by Rose Mountain Fire Pistons, and is made out of Red Stag. It too has a brass rod with o-ring. This one works quite well too, with a longer stroke, but the unusual end makes it a little harder to get chaga, char cloth, etc, to stay in.

Let's see those pistons!

[Mr. Whippy]

I admit it.  I had to wiki Fire Piston.  That is cool.

[mudtoy]

I also had never heard of them but they are indeed cool


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I am here:

[The Warrior]

Many don't know what they are. I came across them about 10 years ago on the internet, then bought these a few years ago. They're a blast to use.

[BenH]

I don't have one (yet), but this might interest you:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/267124385/sparxgear-fire-piston



They look a bit bulky... but they're SO BEAUTIFUL

[The Warrior]

Cool. The price is about right too.

[Mercury]

I have never seen that before.  I had to wiki it too.  What a cool way to start a fire!  I carry a magnesium/ferro block in my BOB and a firesteel in my EDC bag, but after seeing this I may add one of these to my setup. 

[The Warrior]

I have never seen that before.  I had to wiki it too.  What a cool way to start a fire!  I carry a magnesium/ferro block in my BOB and a firesteel in my EDC bag, but after seeing this I may add one of these to my setup.

They're cool, you'll love it. I EDC a firesteel in my Wave sheath.

 

[sparky415]

Those pistons are beautiful 

I don't own one so here's some fero rods with homemade handles

[Screwtape]

Nice pistons, and Sparky nice work with the rods, did you turn the handles yourself?

[sparky415]

Nice pistons, and Sparky nice work with the rods, did you turn the handles yourself?

Thanks
I have made a few now, I should have a tidy and round them all up for a group shot 

[Mr. Whippy]

I don't have one (yet), but this might interest you:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/267124385/sparxgear-fire-piston



They look a bit bulky... but they're SO BEAUTIFUL

I pledged to this project.  Those look awesome!

[The Warrior]

Thanks everyone. Those ferrocerium rod handles look awesome Sparky.

[mvyrmnd]

I don't have one (yet), but this might interest you:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/267124385/sparxgear-fire-piston



They look a bit bulky... but they're SO BEAUTIFUL

I pledged to this project.  Those look awesome!

Me too. With the 3 rods in the side, he's covered a lot of options for getting a fire started.

Now to learn how to make char cloth

[The Warrior]

Now to learn how to make char cloth

Easy. Cut up one inch squares of cotton cloth. I personally use old t-shirts. Place the squares in an Altoid, or similar tin, with a hole punched in the lid. Do not pack them in there. Put them in there loosely. Set it on some coals, or a grill outdoors. The gasses escaping through the hole will prevent oxygen from entering the can.  No oxygen – no combustion.  Charcoal is made in the same matter. After the smoke stops, it's done. That's it. Nothing to it.