Groupings of animals or even objects get generally get some sort of unique classifier….a gaggle of geese, a murder of crows, a flock of pelicans, a ream of paper, a pot of coffee, a wallet of money….whatever. Well I have been quite fortunate to have been working with a couple of the BCUK members and FirePiston makers over the past couple of months. Now I find myself in possession of a multiple of FirePistons…so I propose this grouping

A Compression of FirePistons

I started out with a Piston Hand Drill model from Darrel Aune of D&B Primative Forgeworks. I played with it for several weeks but found it getting progressively harder and harder to stroke. I noticed the difference really in comparison to my recent arrival from Jeff Wagner. I made a brief mention of it on a forum where Darrel hangs out, and before I knew it he had contacted me asking me to return the piston for a tune up. So off it went. About a week later I had a message from Darrel that he had retuned the piston, attributing the stiffness to slight shrinkage due to some not completely aged Cocobolo that had snuck into his stock. He mentioned that the piston was on the way back and he had added a couple of things for my trouble. I figured a handful of fungus or some char would be included, and I anxiously awaited it return.

Well a pretty large box arrived and was I ever surprised when I opened it up. Not only had my original piston returned with a very smooth stroke, but he had added a very neat tinder pick to the hand drill hole.



This pick looks to have been made from bone and is just a very neat addition to the piston. I can roll a small coal out of the piston quickly and neatly. I was super pleased….but wait…



Also in the box was another complete piston….a bit shorter than the other and not a string gasket but a bog standard O-ring. This piston has a super rebound…it is almost hard to get the shaft to bottom for storage.



Very nicely done and a neat modern approach.




This whole family….my Compression of Pistons now includes the Bushcrafter from Jeff Wagner of Wilderness Solutions, with tinder compartment in the handle, the hand drill model with pick and the O-ring model both by Darrel Aune.



The various other bits surrounding this Compression of Pistons are tinder bits from Darrel including cattail down, mullein pith, char cloth, birch bark, thistle, string and lube, tinder fungus and tow. My handbraided lanyard for the Bushcrafter collar and of course my Ingram Wharncliffe #4 are included.

Really a very generous box back from Darrel.

These guys are a pleasure to work with. All three of these pistons now stroke smoothly and produce coals on the first or second strike.

These devices are quite unique ways to produce fire and while a bit bulky are really great in a windy place as the fungus works even better.

Do you know if anyone has tried making a piston from, say, aluminum, or a light alloy steel? Or maybe some kind of high temp plastic, like lexan?

I know there are lexan versions. There is a site somewhere with a video of them in action. I cannot quite remember or find it however. These look like a flat ended syringe but I do not know how they functioned.

I have never seen metal ones offered for sale. If you can find a copy of Cache Lake Country by John Rowlands, he has a drawing and description of one based on some metal tubing. Good book too...I have a review here:

http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=133

I've never seen these before.
Where can I get more info on them?

Mit videos!
http://trackertrail.com/survival/fire/firepiston/index.html

You can find Jeff Wagner Pistons at Wilderness Solutions

http://www.firepistons.com/

And Darrel Aune at D&B Primative Forgeworks

http://www.primalconnection.com/

Both of these guys are super to deal with, and their work is quality. Jeff has been supplying pistons for quite some time and Darrel is relatively new. Darrel also sells on ebay.

Here are some other posts about firepistons...

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showf...=true#Post47203

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showf...=true#Post46536

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showf...=true#Post17391

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showf...=true#Post10756

The Classic....and why I got a piston thread...

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showf...=true#Post10151

Randy,

I have a lexan fire piston I'd happily send you to test and review. Lemme know...

M

Very interesting but I see two types of "pistons" listed, a "fire piston" and a "drill piston". What is the difference ?<><

Here are two variations, the first made from PVC:

PVC fire piston

the second, yours for only $115, about halfway down the page:

Plexiglas fire piston

A drill piston is a dual use device. It serves as a base for a hand drill and is a firepiston. Look at the first image and the hole in the bottom of the piston is to hold a short piece of mullein stalk, a longer shaft is placed in the piston body and you have a handdrill. I have yet to make this work, but it is a neat idea.

Look at my original post on the handdrill piston to see the fireboard and mullein stalks.

Mike....see your PM's and thanks.

Randy - pm back at ya... M <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The plexiglass piston from SgtMike just arrived. It is certainly a smooth operator. It is a bit smaller overall than the Aune O-Ring model I pictured above, but the piston shaft is quite a bit larger. It has double O-rings and the rebound is so smooth the piston nearly returns to its starting position after striking. I can see a cloudy atmosphere form in the chamber upon compression...driving off moisture I think from the fungus. I have yet to strike this in the dark, but will do so later on today to see the ignition.

A nicely made piston...not quite as stylish as the Cocobolo models but highly functional and fun it its own way.

I am not certain of the maker of this one, but maybe Mike can fill us in. I am thinking it was Steve Leung, but this may not be correct.

Thanks Mike.

Randy,

I'm truly not sure of the maker, however, they're available through our friend Canranger44 and Diving Sparrow Paddle Works... http://home.cogeco.ca/~adude/tinderflash.htm

Enjoy it in good health, my friend...

M <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I just love the smell of burning tinder fungus. Hey Randy.

Abe in Ontario Canada sells the plastic tinderflash. Please let me know if I can help answer any fire piston questions. Thanks.

http://www.firepistons.com

Jeff,

Welcome to the ETS forums. As a satisfied customer and user, I want to thank you for making a quality product.

I am sure that your participation in the forums by answering questions will be greatly appreciated.

Pete
<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I too welcome Jeff to the forum.

I think I can say that Pete "lit" my fire for a piston quite a while back. The more I use these devices the more I like them.

It is fun to be able to build a fire in a totally unique way. The appeal of the wood pistons too has a lot to do with their enjoyment.

So, thanks Pete and thanks Jeff.

>> I think I can say that Pete "lit" my fire for a piston... <<

IIRC, actually, the first thing he lit with his fire piston was his bedspread <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> (Or was it the dog? Pete, you'll have to chime in to defend yourself).

I have a few burn holes in the carpet as well. They are an amazing little device. I probably hold the Guiness record for "most ignitions of the fire piston" yet I still enjoy the facination aspect. I have challenged their functionality by placing them in the freezer and submerging them under water and they still come up smoking. The tinder fungus is great stuff also. I like to use it for making fire with the hand drill. Once lit the challenge is not to make fire, but rather to put it out...:)

It was the bedspread <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Pete