Grover instead uses materials available at most hardware stores to craft his cylinder. Through much trial and error, he has determined that optimal drilling depth for his cylinder lies between 4 inches deep and 4 1/4 inches.
Once tinder has been packed into its respective notch and coated in petroleum jelly (a thin layer will do), when compressed, its temperature quickly rises enough for it to ignite and spark ignition of its ignition source.
Materials
Fire pistons are survival tools used by wilderness enthusiasts and backpackers, who compress air under pressure in order to spark cloth. Its compact size makes it convenient to take into the field for use.
Simple yet effective device you can construct yourself using readily available materials. A great project for kids to gain hands-on experience using tools and technology!
Copper tubing is the best material to use when it comes to creating a cylinder tube, as its smooth surface makes for easier manipulation and has excellent sealing qualities. A metal rod should be chosen for durability reasons – these can often be found at hardware stores in different shapes and sizes.
Char cloth can be made by burning an old cotton pair of jeans or t-shirt in a metal pan over the stove to char it, storing it in a tin, and lighting tinder in it to use as light sources.
Parts
The fire piston is an incredible piece of machinery used for centuries to ignite fires. This small device resembles a diesel engine in that it uses compression to heat tinder until it ignites, using compressed air as fuel.
Fire pistons consist of two main parts, a hollow cylinder with one end sealed but open and an airtight circular seal at the other; as well as a piston rod lubricated with petroleum jelly or grease and featuring an end chamber that can store tinder material like char cloth.
The other key component is a knob that will be attached to the piston rod and serves as a handle to push and compress it into its cylinder. Made of wood, this handle can be customized as desired before being secured with glue. A brass cap may also be added onto one end of the cylinder to keep char cloth dry and protected.
Tools
Fire pistons can be an essential addition to your backpack or bug-out bag as a backup method of starting fires. Easy and effortless to make, the main components consist of a copper cylinder with cap at one end and dowel rod fitted tightly into its groove; when compressed by air pressure inside, this tight fit creates an air seal which compresses dowel rod and sparks ignition of tinder.
Make sure that the dowel rod and the cylinder fit snugly together using a file, cutting a grooved end into the piston to hold your tinder securely.
My char cloth is stored in a small tin, which makes it easy for me to pull it out when needed and also keeps it dry and protected.
Instructions
Fire pistons constructed of durable Delrin synthetic material and featuring an O-ring for airtight seal. Ideal for school demonstrations and survival kits.
Start with a copper tube at least 4-inches long and drill a hole through it halfway, creating a knob at one end for use as a handle. Finally, drill another hole through the center of this knob in order to hold a tinder cup along with a rubber O-ring (you could even use petroleum jelly as adhesive for this step).
Make sure that the end of the rod (known as the piston) matches the size of the hole you just drilled in the copper tube end cap. If tight fits are difficult, try sanding down both ends of the rod before cutting and stuffing with char cloth or another form of tinder material that fits snuggly inside it before glueing into place.
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