Fire pistons have long been used by various cultures around the world, particularly South East Asia and Pacific Island nations. Consisting of an airtight hollow cylinder sealed on one end and an insertable piston, this device remains popular today in South East Asia and Pacific Islands communities alike.
Rapid compression of air in a narrow tube dramatically raises its temperature and can ignite any tinder material inside it.
Compression
Fire pistons (also referred to as tinder pistons or syringes) are hollow tubes sealed on one end with an integral plunger for use in rapidly compressing air inside and subsequently raising its temperature. When operated quickly, this allows users to rapidly compress it inside while increasing temperature levels within.
Rapid compression causes gas molecules to interact more frequently and generate heat as energy is gained in their collision. This phenomenon is known as adiabatic compression and produces significant heat output.
Fire pistons require a cylinder that is smooth and accurately bored with an appropriately fitted plunger, as well as being equipped with an airtight seal created from leather thread or fiber wrap and grease (the Pacific Natives used wild dog fat to grease their piston). Once these elements are in place, tinder can be placed at the bottom of the piston before quickly pressing it down on its piston for ignition.
Ignition
Fire pistons are incredible little tools capable of producing flame at the end of a stick, using compression to heat tinder into coal. Fire pistons were commonly used by prehistoric peoples of tropical regions and later by explorers before matches became widely available.
To use a fire piston, begin by placing a small piece of tinder inside the groove on the piston and quickly plunging it into your cylinder. Rapid compression causes it to ignite and heat up rapidly, producing sparks which ignite further tinder inside your cylinder, creating fire. Make sure that both piston and cylinder fit closely so air and heat energy don’t escape; add oil to either end to improve their connection for optimal results.
Expansion
The rapid work done by the piston to compress air into a smaller volume causes its gas content to heat up quickly, providing a classic demonstration of thermal expansion that can also introduce students to particle model of air and Charles’ law.
Fire pistons are hollow cylindrical devices with sealed ends and an internal plunger that can be pushed down, originally used hundreds of years ago and made famous through movies before safety matches came about; but recently these tools are seeing renewed interest among survivalists and outdoor enthusiasts.
Start by loading one end of your piston with a bundle of tinder such as char cloth, cotton balls or dry leaves, then set your cylinder on a flat surface and quickly push down on its piston until its end – when this occurs your tinder should ignite, creating a spark which can then spread to other flammable materials, eventually becoming an open flame.
Heat
Fire pistons work similarly to diesel engines (named after German inventor Rudolf Diesel, who also invented the motor). When compressed they heat up and ignite fuel.
Steve handcrafts stunning and functional firepistons out of exotic woods and materials such as bamboo, plexiglass and water buffalo horn – even making one from tinder fungus! His customers vouch that these firepistons work exceptionally well and are very reliable.
To create a fire piston you will require a copper cylinder with its one end sealed off, a piston with an O-ring fitted for airtight seal, a handle or knob to push in and out the piston, and some kind of O-ring lubrication to allow smooth sliding of O-ring in and out of cylinder.
Once your piston is inside its cylinder, you need a source of ignition quickly – such as cotton wool, cramp ball fungus or King Alfred cake.
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