Steve crafts stunning fire pistons from exotic materials like water buffalo horn. A staple among primitive skills enthusiasts, his designs make them easy to use and quickly ignite any tinder-based flames.
To create your own fire piston, you will require a copper tube, dowel rod (lubricated with petroleum jelly) and tinder material. Achieve a tight seal via O-ring notches on the dowel rod is key.
The Basics
Fire pistons are primitive fire starters that rely on air compression science to light tinder. A fire piston has two components: a hollow cylinder and piston rod; the former should feature an end with a flared end to hold your tinder while you push in the piston rod from behind; lubricants may be applied to reduce friction.
The cylinder should be made from material that will burn slowly. One end should be sealed while the other should remain open, and then fitted with an airtight seal either by string packing lubricated with petroleum jelly or using rubber gasket if possible.
Once your tinder is prepared, place it in the notch of the piston and slam the rod into the cylinder. As soon as the piston withdraws it will create an audible spark which ignites your tinder with compressed air, creating a visible cloud of combustion visible to all.
History
These simple fire starters, first developed in Asia, use adiabatic compression to ignite tinder. As opposed to conventional friction-based fire starting techniques, which require high levels of pressure and low ignition temperatures for ignition, this device relies on heat generated through rapid air compression rather than pressure alone.
Fire pistons are hollow cylindrical devices with one end sealed and one open that contain a piston rod that fits inside them. Pushing in on this rod causes air inside to be compressed, increasing both its temperature and pressure until it can ignite tinder placed into its cupped end of the cylinder. They are deliberately narrow so they can be operated by human hands, and to maximize compression ratio they are often coated in grease to reduce friction.
Materials
Fire pistons consist of hollow cylindrical vessels with one end sealed and one open, equipped with pistons designed to airtight when inserted into their respective cylinders, and provided with handles at either end for grip.
The piston should feature a notch or groove designed to accommodate easily combustible tinder such as char cloth, shredded bark or amadou. Once placed inside this groove, quickly pressing in on the piston will compress and heat it enough for ignition.
Grover suggests that a wood fire piston could be constructed out of different materials, including animal bones or even metal. Once assembled, it would need to be carefully carved so as to fit within its respective cylinder and securely contain tinder for use as fuel.
Compression
Rapid compression within a fire piston generates air temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Fahrenheit, heating it to ignite a piece of char cloth placed within its hollow end.
For maximum compression pressure, the cylinder and piston must fit precisely together, often being lubricated with oil to facilitate this fit.
Filing down one tube end’s interior edges is critical in order to make sure that the wooden plug fits more tightly in its place, and adding some oil will aid its slide more freely into the piston. Furthermore, ensure that this seal fits tightly enough so as to prevent air and heat energy leakage.
Ignition
Fire pistons are essential camping tools, ideal for backpackers, hikers and travellers. Used correctly they can light tinder or even start fires if you blow on them!
Physics behind fire pistons may seem simple, but certain details must be followed correctly for it to function effectively. The bore of the cylinder must be perfectly straight and smooth, while its piston must have an effective seal at its cylinder end, either via string packing lubricated with grease or rubber O ring seals.
Once everything is in place, compressing the piston will create an ember that can ignite into flames. With proper care and maintenance, your fire piston should last a long time!
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