A fire piston can be an invaluable survival tool for backpackers, hikers and others looking to be prepared. Utilizing air compression technology to ignite tinder, it can be constructed easily from basic materials.
A fire piston requires three components to operate effectively: a hollow cylinder, an O-ring-equipped rod that fits inside it securely, and a handle to compress the cylinder.
1. Cylinder
Fire pistons are invaluable survival tools, as they can light any type of tinder without using matches. Furthermore, they’re easy to make and can be used with materials like char cloth, dry leaves and bark as well as many others.
To create a basic fire piston you will require:
Copper tube with one end sealed – This should be slightly larger than your piston.
Wood for Handle Creation – To create the handle, it should have approximately the same diameter as your cylinder. Drill a hole partially through the wood so your rod fits securely inside.
An O-Ring similar to what can be found in your car – To properly place the O-Ring into its groove on the piston, it should be lubricated with petroleum jelly before being placed inside its groove.
Brass rings designed to fit onto the ends of rods should have inside and outside diameters of 5/16×7/16×1/16 and include a chamfer to ensure it does not bind when being pushed into position.
2. Piston
Fire pistons are handy additions to any survival kit or bug out bag. By compressing char cloth into an ember that can then be used to spark fires, these devices require minimal material for operation and require little space in storage.
Your experiment requires a hollow cylinder with one end sealed off, as well as a piston with an airtight seal which can easily fit inside the cylinder. Additionally, its knob or handle should make for easier compression and insertion into the cylinder.
Use a number 31 drill bit to drill a hole into the piston rod (that will be held with the knob) using the number 31 drill bit, making sure that its diameter corresponds with that of the inside lip of your cylinder. Round off any sharp edges or points on either, as well as creating a small groove at the bottom of your piston rod for placing your tinder.
3. Tinder
A piston fire starter is an inexpensive device that utilizes air compression to ignite tinder. It consists of a cylindrical vessel fitted with an internal piston secured within, as well as an O-Ring that creates the seal around its perimeter. While demonstration fire pistons can be purchased from education suppliers, you could easily make one yourself with all of the materials.
Locate a metal rod that will fit snuggly into the copper cylinder and secure it using an O-Ring. It must be tight as this allows the piston to be quickly compressed down quickly for increased compression pressure and ignition temperatures.
If you don’t already possess it, create some from cotton materials such as old jeans or T-shirts, placing it in an airtight container such as a metal water bottle without gaps between it and its interior surface. Char cloth should char within minutes leaving you with some very effective tinder that you can use with any type of flint (although I find it easiest to ignite using a 9V battery and steel wool).
4. Syringe
Southeast Asians developed this incredible fire starter and it continues to be used by backpackers, hikers and travelers today. It uses air compression adiabatically in its piston to ignite tinder placed within its cupped end – perfect for backpacking trips!
Firestarters require little to no fuel and are an excellent alternative to more traditional friction methods of starting fires such as rubbing two sticks together or creating sparks with flint and steel. Perfect for survivalists and outdoor enthusiasts alike, homemade versions can easily be assembled out of wood or other durable materials at home.
Note that making an effective fire piston takes some practice; that is why its popularity among backpackers, hikers, and travelers is such an attractive one. Both piston and cylinder must fit snugly for maximum compression pressure; I find lubricating the o-ring with some sort of oil can also help reduce friction.
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