Does anyone have any expireience with fire pistons?? They lok really cool, and Im asking for one for christmas and was wondering how hard they are to work. I would probably be getting one with a cotton gasket. Thanks in advance

Les Stroud tried one in an episode of Survivorman and had a hard time getting it work...though it did work.

This is my opinion of course but I'd be worried about their longevity...gaskets can fail, pistons can leak, shafts can bend. And as far as I know field repair would range from difficult to impossible.

Less mechanical than a Bic or a Zippo but those are easily and inexpensively replaced...firesteel on the other hand doesn't really break (unless you're incredibly unlucky or careless).

I just looked at some videos on youtube and it looks like some peopke are actaully very good at it, would be cool to have though.

I would say apply the K.I.S.S. method. In other words bic, vaseline cotton balls, magnesium flint as a backup. Just my opinion.

Just another opinion...I have several, wood and Plexiglas. I prefer the Plexiglas one. It has a synthetic gasket and I can see if I was successful. The concept is nifty and it is fun to play with. I have better luck with flint and steel, but it does work and just uses a pinch of tinder. I think it's easier to use a bow and drill too, but these are fun to work with, at least I find them so. I keep one as an alternate firestarter/available-match extender, but wouldn't be my sole fire starting capability. Like most skills it needs practice, but the resulting coal is hot enough to get a fire going in a tinder nest, if you're only looking for a technical up or down. Hope this helps...

oh and by the way im looking at these two places

here
and
here

i really like the holiday deals on the later, and also they seem to have a really great flint an steel setup.

I have one. It’s fun, it’s neat to make fire in a way few know how to, BUT I would consider this a backup to a backup to a backup. Maybe it’s just me, but I find the fire piston to be an inconsistent fire maker. I can always get fire, sometime 2nd or 3rd try, sometime 10th or 15th try. Flint and steel seems more consistent, usually fire first time. I have had better luck with char cloth than with tinder fungus as the tinder in the fire piston.

If funding is the limiting resource in your outfitting endeavor, I would NOT make this apriority purchase personally.

yeah, i just made a whole bunch of char cloth today!! But i think it is the eisiest way to catch a spark from my firesteel. Every other way takes mabye two or three tries but the charcloth, first time everytime.

Here's another place to look
http://www.primitiveways.com/fire_piston_for_21st_century.html

I don't really consider flint and steel, bow drills and fire pistons serious fire starting tools for emergency situations. Although, bow drill could be useful if you're left with absolutely nothing else since its all natural parts. To me, they're toys or part of a hobby. I get a delicious sense of accomplishment when I start a fire with flint and steel. I haven't used a fire-piston although the wood ones look like works of art. If you can get one for Christmas, rock on! And let us know how it works out for you.