anyone ever make or use one of these fire pistons ???

I think paramedicpete almost set his dog and couch on fire trying to use one of those <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> but I'm sure he will share the story himself.

Matt

Interesting item! I would not carry one, but it would be great for show and tell to scouts and the like. Gimme a $1 Bic or a magnifying glass, much lighter and easier to carry:) Thanks for sharing the interesting site

I haven't tried that particular brand of fire pistons per se, but, I have seen fire pistons work, and would get one given half a chance. It tried to make my own, but that is way beyond my current technological means. Just one of those things you hafta buy.

Hmmm...

Seems that with a little ingenuity an improvised fire piston could be manufactured in the field from that $1 bic and expedient material after the bic ran dry. The tough part is getting a piston to fit tightly in the Bic. The two things required for effectiveness is a smooth inner wall and a tight fitting piston. The bic provides the correct inner wall but how to manufacture an oval piston in the field that will get a tight fit? Well some nearby hardwood, knife, cordage. The better you whittle the less cord required. I would guess that something like simple cotton cord would be best but you might be able to make due with dental floss. OTOH if you have a round lighter the whittling might be easier.

Must try this. Anyone with a good idea on how to open the empty bic lighter without damaging it beyond usefullness with simple field tools. ( I won't probably have my dremel in the survival situation.) Let's limit it to the tool set of a leatherman / swisstool type implement.

Read here - Pete
http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showt...=true#Post10151

maybe the saw or the hacksaw thingy on the side of the vic swisstool file.
im not sure you plan will work, the volume of a bic lighter may be to small ....

I've become quite an expert at opening up disposible lighters, although I have not yet tryed bic. I use a saw blade of any kind, whatever is at hand (usually a hegna* or junior hacksaw blade). I saw part of the way through, about 1/3 just below the working bits, and then just use a knife blade to prize the rest off. It doesn't take much effort at all.

* For those of you not familiar with a hegna saw, it is a type of electronic scroll saw mounted on a platform. The blades are very thin and about 3 inchs long and flexible. I carry a shortened one in my wallet.

Actually I piston a fire once and the resulting odor was enough to tell me I did a bad thing! I will use a flint and steel from now on, no nasty odors! <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

This is the one I got as it was cheaper, well made and I wasn't sure if a fire piston was for me.

Tinder Flash Fire Piston

Now that I know this is for me I will be ordering one from Wilderness Solutions as a hand made one from Coco Bolo is just to good to pass up

Rich