thanks for that.
i think i'll just get the stripped down model to play with.
Aloha, what kind of starter tinder were you using?  does yours have o-rings? 
My piston is all modern, made of aluminum and with o-rings.  Like Schwert, I use chaga tinder fungus.  I'm planning on going camping end of February and will bring it to play with if I remember.  I might bring the Himalayan Imports Sirupati that was given me too.  Same guy that gave me the fire piston gave me two kuk's.  Can you believe it?  And all I did was help him out a tiny little bit.