SOLD: Fire Piston - $35 SOLD**

[Lonely Raven]

I picked this up from a fellow forum member - Silverlion.

It seems well made, it's just too much of a pain in the butt. I'll stick with my bic lighter. $35 shipped.

Comes with an extra set of O-rings, a square of char cloth, and some cotton balls. I've used it to start two fires, so it works.

[Bradley]

. . . it's just too much of a pain in the butt. . . .

You could carry it in your pocket . . .
.
.
.
.
I have 2 of them and love them dearly
Startes a fire everytime with out fail . . .
Keeps your fire starting skills up . . .

The kids love to watch as well . . .

[Brums]

Does it take whole cotton balls or just use the small piece of cloth to ignite the cotton ball?

[Old River Rat]

You could carry it in your pocket . . .
.

That got me laughing

[wyleone]

You can use small pieces of cotton, but the char cloth that is included will work every time.

Apparently, you haven't had the lever of that Bic pressed down in your pocket or pack and empty the gas out on you.

[Bradley]

Does it take whole cotton balls or just use the small piece of cloth to ignite the cotton ball?

Best to use on the end is a small piece of "Char-cloth"

Char-cloth =
take a strip of denim, about an inch wide and a foot or two long . . .

. . . roll it up and put it into a small metal can that has a tight lid.
Use an awl and punch a very small hole in the top.

Place near to a fire or heat source . . .

What will happen is the cloth gets hot enough to burn . . . but doesn't . . .
. . . because there is a lack of Oxygen in the can.
When it stops smoking through the awl-hole, it is done.

When the can is cooled . . . . . . you can remove the "Char-cloth"
Pinch a bit off, about 10% bigger than the end of your fire piston,
gently place it in the end . . .
DO NOT force or press it in hard, as it needs the benefit of air around it to ignite in the unit while plunging it in.

Then place the ember in your cotton ball,
I use hemp, fluffed up or dry grass.

Hope that helps

[Silverlion]

Hate to hear it's not to your liking. Part of using the primitive fire starting methods is the craft of it. Sort of like a bow drill. It's a pain at first, but is fun and another way you have to create the wonderful thing called fire. Bushcraft is more of a hobby than a practical way to camp. I prefer my hammock over gathering wood and pine boughs to build a shelter. Sorry again that it didn't work out for you.

[Bradley]

. . . It's a pain, . . . .

'cept I don't beg . . . I would beg to differ . . .

Unless you don't keep it clean and greased up with vaseline.

A bic or zippo can run out of fuel
matches can get wet or used up. . .

but a wet fire piston with anything combustable will never let you down.

And I don't even sell them

Just sold on them

[NFA]

As someone said, bushcraft like the fire-piston is an interesting hobby, but not my hobby, and arguably not the simplest or most efficient way to camp...

I carry 2 mini-bics and 2 packs of MRE matches, in ziplocks, when I go camping...I've never had to go to my back up on either, but still carry them...

Hang your own hang...

Jamie - nfa

[Silverlion]

'cept I don't beg . . . I would beg to differ . . .

Unless you don't keep it clean and greased up with vaseline.

A bic or zippo can run out of fuel
matches can get wet or used up. . .

but a wet fire piston with anything combustable will never let you down.

And I don't even sell them

Just sold on them

My apologies...I fixed it. "It's a pain at first...." It gets much easier, both when you refine your technique and the piston gets some use in it. I light my BBQ with the piston or flint and steel. I'm sad, I know.....