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: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-33.917662,151.241226

[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

(Image removed from quote.)

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

(Image removed from quote.)

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.

[Syph007]

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

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

(Image removed from quote.)

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

I joined too at the 35 buck mark.  Im a hardcore survivalist at heart and have alot of gear, but never did get a fire piston.   I tried making one with lexan tube once(thought it would be cool to see the plug glow) but that project didnt work out so good.  35 bucks is a fair price so I'm in.

[Sparky415]

Thanks everyone. Those ferrocerium rod handles look awesome Sparky.

Thanks Warrior 
There's a few more of them somewhere on here, a Walnut with copper and a Micarta one

[Mr. Whippy]

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

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

(Image removed from quote.)

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

I joined too at the 35 buck mark.  Im a hardcore survivalist at heart and have alot of gear, but never did get a fire piston.   I tried making one with lexan tube once(thought it would be cool to see the plug glow) but that project didnt work out so good.  35 bucks is a fair price so I'm in.

I really like the multiple fire options.  Plus, the package is very attractive.

[Syph007]

I really like the multiple fire options.  Plus, the package is very attractive.

Yep I agree, plus Im addicted to buying stuff, gear and knives!

I make kydex sheaths with spots to put in firesteel, but making a fire piston was over my head.   Firesteel rods are nice and cheap, I buy mine from here, and they are awesome.  http://firesteel.com/FireSteel-Blank-Rods/

[The Warrior]

I tried making a piston once too. Didn't turn out so well. I also love buying gear. I have another knife, a pocket slip pouch for my Vic Farmer, and a Cold Steel blowgun ordered. 

I just got my Snugpak Sleeper Lite, Frogg Toggs DriDucks poncho, and ProForce fold-a-cups in. Oh yeah, and my 12cm Zebra pot also came in:

[Mr. Whippy]

Pretty exciting!

This project on Kickstarter is ALMOST fully funded now!



Linkage!

[Mr. Whippy]

Update:

Fully funded. When mine arrives, expect a report. 

[badwolf]

Zag has a fire piston for sale here number 18

[Mr. Whippy]

Zag has a fire piston for sale here number 18

Ok.  Zag officially has a LOT of cool stuff.    (sadly I have two Sparxgear fire pistons coming).

[Syph007]

Update:

Fully funded. When mine arrives, expect a report. 

My fire piston from that kickstarter project just arrived!  Did you get yours yet?

If the rain ever stops here I'm going to give this a try out back.

[Mr. Whippy]

Not yet.  Hoping to see it soon...

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

If the rain ever stops here I'm going to give this a try out back.

Oh, where's the fun in that?   

[Mr. Whippy]

Still no fire piston.

[Syph007]

Still no fire piston.

I expected to be the last person to get one, but I guess I got lucky.  Did you order some of the fancier colors maybe?  I see he has compression issues on some of them too, but mine has good compression.  I still haven't actually got to make a fire with it yet though.  There seems like never enough time when little ones are around.  I can recite the lines from all three toy story movies though, that should help me in a survival situation right...

[Mr. Whippy]

My two fire pistons arrived and both achieve spark quite easily.    I'm going to try to start a fire in the next few days.