Fire pistons are indispensable tools for campers and survivalists, working by forcing compressed air down onto an inflammable scrap of fabric that then ignites when exposed to sparks from compressed air pressure.
Simple to make and designed specifically to be utilized by children, this project gives kids something tangible they can use during electronics learning sessions.
1. Materials
Fire pistons are amazing survival tools that use air around you to generate an ember and sparks. Used in schools as engaging demonstrations, these devices capture student attention and interest by producing instant fire!
Compressing air under an adiabatic condition creates heat that ignites tinder material stuffed into the end of a piston. Such devices have been in use since ancient times as an efficient alternative to friction-based fire lighting methods.
These devices can be purchased commercially from education suppliers; however, they can also be made at home using simple materials. A brass rod fits into an acrylic tube using an O-ring seal for airtight sealage; then an internal piston fits inside this rod filled with char cloth or similar tinder material before being secured to it by means of a wooden knob handle.
2. Drilling
Fire pistons have been around for hundreds of years but lost popularity following the introduction of matches.
Making a fire piston using materials commonly available from hardware stores is easy and affordable. All that’s necessary to create one is some copper tubing with one end blocked off, and a brass rod for use as the piston. Cut this to approximately 9 inches long before filing or sanding to fit smoothly inside your tube, applying petroleum jelly or grease lubrication around its O ring seal before inserting it in there; tight sealing provides compressed air necessary for ignition of your tinder.
3. Turning
Fire pistons have been around for hundreds of years, though with the proliferation of matches they’ve fallen out of favor. Still, they remain highly effective tools for starting fires by compressing air quickly enough to heat char cloth into an ember for ignition.
Grover uses a small file to file away some of the aluminum from one end of a tube to make it fit more securely with its piston (rod). He also files its interior edges to smoothen out any rough spots.
He adds the rubber O ring to create an airtight seal in the cylinder, then applies petroleum jelly lubrication. He inserts the piston, puts char cloth in its respective divot and pushes home the rod with a swift, vigorous push.
4. Gluing
Fire pistons are survival tools that employ the scientific principle of adiabatic heating to heat and ignite char cloth or other easily-ignitable tinder material, making this type of fire starter lightweight and portable enough for most survival situations.
For your fire piston to function efficiently, you’ll require a copper tube, wooden rod, seal, sealant glue and tinder material. A hacksaw or drill may be useful in cutting and shaping the piston cylinder while notching on the rod will ensure an air-tight fit.
Step 7 – Insert and test the sealing ring
5. Finishing
One of the oldest fire starters, known as a fire piston, works like a diesel engine by rapidly compressing air to ignite tinder inside its cylinder. Unlike matches and matchboxes, this primitive tool doesn’t become affected by moisture as easily.
Basic parts for this machine include a hollow cylinder sealed on one end by an O-ring and fitted with an O-ring on the other; piston is then inserted into this chamber via its handle, and press down force is exerted against this piston using another handle on top of this device for good control of piston movement.
Establishing the seal requires practice, but as soon as you feel the “cushion” of air pushing the piston up again you know it’s working. Applying some oil to the O ring helps lubricate it further.
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