Ever use a Fire Piston?

[coolrobc]

^ that's one of the sites I'd been looking at. I think I'm going to try wood though.

Unfortunately for my desire to build afire piston, my canoe plans arrived in the mail a few minutes ago.

[redhawk]

This may help.



http://www.garagegrafix.com/centerfi...a-fire-piston/

Hawk

[coolrobc]

I'm thinking about making one this weekend if my canoe plans don't arrive. I've seen a few home made ones on-line. Seems like it's mostly trial an error.

Any one have an idea or thoughts of what the ideal chamber size would be at full compression? I suppose it would depend on the diameter of the piston, and that smaller would be better. What do you guys think?

EDIT: I just noticed the link above shows a chamber size of 3/16 for a 1/4 inch piston.

[Adk Keith]

They definitely appeal to my old school tendancies.

It seems that they would make a light weight, dependable backup for starting fires and it looks like they could be made fairly easily with a little wood working talent. Unfortunately I have very little wood working talent.

While I always carry a lighter in my emergency kit, I have had the flints corrode to powder and therefore become useless after a period of time. So triple renundancy might be good in my case.

Rudolf Diesel? Sounds familiar. Doesn't he have a son in the movies?

[XCTiger]

Here's what looks like a pretty good link, with a discussion of the technology and some plans.

http://www.onagocag.com/piston.html

[redhawk]

Why not make one?

Simple engineering.

Hawk

These were originally a very primitive type tool. The barrel was made from young bamboo (I think) and used grass fiber as the gasket.

[coolrobc]

No, but I've been thinking about getting one.

[Wldrns]

I've looked at them with a longing eye to experiment with yet another unique gadget... but the quality made ones are quite expensive. In the end, triple redundancy cheap bic lighters, with maybe a magnesium sparker having a permanent home in my pack seems a lot more practical and "sure-fire".

[1894]

Never used one , but they look like a fun and interesting back up
But , for practical use , I'll stick with my bic , waterproof matches , and fero rod with dryer lint and / or some cotton balls soaked in petrolium jelly

[redhawk]

I knew someone who had one.

The technology is great. It worked every time i tried it. The secret is the type of fungus you use. I believe it was developed in the Phillipines.

There once was a german who was with some Indigenous Phillipine natives and was introduced to the fire piston. He took it home and used the technology to invent a new type of engine.

His name?
Rudolf Diesel

Hawk

[Adk Keith]

Wondering what your experience is with fire pistons.