Fire Pistons: The primitive fire-starter that works like a diesel engine.

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Fire Pistons

The primitive Fire Piston operates on the same principle as a diesel engine. When air molecules are rapidly compressed within the cylinder, the temperature of the air becomes hot enough to cause combustion. A single push of the piston ignites tinder placed in the end of the shaft. Since fire pistons create fire through compression, they function even after complete submersion and make an excellent addition to survival gear. The fire-piston is capable of creating a live ember in a fraction of a second and open flames in less than 30 seconds....even in windy conditions.

While fire pistons are difficult to construct, they are durable and reliable. A properly maintained fire piston will provide many hundreds of lights. When they eventually do become worn, original performance can be restored in minutes by replacing the gasket. Complete instructions for care and use are included.

You won't find any plastics or man-made materials used in the construction of these pistons. Manufactured in the USA by Jeff Wagner, these are the highest quality, traditionally styled fire pistons of wood or water buffalo horn (from India) available anywhere in the world.

Each piston comes with a small amount of tinder fungus (Inonotus obliquus) and a roll of charcloth. A piece of the tinder fungus or the charcloth is placed on the end of the shaft that is inserted into the cylinder and ignited. A supply of shredded cedar bark or oakum tinder for tinder bundles is also included. The ember is placed into a tinder bundle and blown into flame.

All pistons are thoroughly tested to assure performance. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed. If you don't like it for any reason, simply return in original condition within 5 days for a full refund. We don't like to keep our customers waiting, so we have ordered a supply ahead to expedite the fastest possible delivery to our customers. Most models are now in stock for immediate shipment.

	MODEL 1 - This model features a tapered end that is comfortable in the hand and pocket. Available in either hardwood or water buffalo horn.
	MODEL 2 -Features a carved piercing for attachment to a possibles bag, lanyard, neck cord, etc. The cylinder can remain suspended around the neck, leaving a free hand to manipulate fire-making materials. Available in either hardwood or water buffalo horn.
	MODEL #3 - Features an attached buckskin tinder bag. Great for carrying your fire-making kit. Available in either hardwood or water buffalo horn.

Fire Piston, Model 1. Wood $65.00 Quantity:

Fire Piston, Model 1. Horn $90.00 Quantity:

Fire Piston, Model 2. Wood $70.00 Quantity:

Fire Piston, Model 2. Horn $95.00 Quantity:

Fire Piston, Model 3. Wood $77.00 Quantity:

Fire Piston, Model 3. Horn $103.00 Quantity:

Jeff,

I just wanted to send my thanks for making such a beautiful and functional fire piston. This is an addition to my "possibles bag" that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Your craftsmanship is of the highest quality I have seen in many years. It is a piece of art! Thank you again.

Respectfully,
Jimmie L. Payton

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Oakum Tinder

Once you have a hot coal from your fire piston, bowdrill, handdrill, or flint & steel kit, you will need to place the glowing ember into a nest of light, dry, fibrous materials, called a tinder bundle. Good tinder bundles can be made from dead grass, sagebrush bark, or the inner bark of a dead cottonwood tree, and many other materials. Just look around for dry, fluffy materials and shape them into a nest-like form. In the mountains you can use "pine fluff", the dried flower parts of the pines which often accumulate in small piles around logs and boulders. As a curiosity, very fine steel wool can also be used. The steel fibers are so fine that they catch fire and burn, one of those things you almost have to see to believe.

We hope that you the reader will learn to make your own primitive fire sets and collect your own tinder, but to get started you may want to use our quality "oakum" tinder. Oakum is made of fibers from the jute plant. Historically, oakum has been manufactured for plumbers, heavily greased and used for packing around steel pipe fittings. The oakum we have is ungreased, plain dry fibers. A small amount of "oakum" tinder is included with the flint & steel kits, and shredded cedar bark is included with the fire pistons. Tinder is sold separately for bowdrill and handdrill sets.

Make your tinder bundle into the form of a nest with a hole in the center to place the coal. Cradle the bundle in your hands, gently closing the front to wrap the coal inside. Be careful to not smother it, but only to blanket it to keep it warm. Blow with steady, even breaths between your hands and let the smoke spill out the backside until you have a flaming bundle, a ball of fire. Then place it in the fire pit and start adding small twigs and then bigger sticks.

Our oakum tinder is also helpful for group events, when a large amount of tinder is needed. We sell oakum by the pound. One pound makes about twelve average-size tinder bundles. We ship the oakum in recycled plastic bags (bread bags, etc.).

1 lb. Oakum Tinder $8.00 Quantity:

Also see these related pages:
Flint & Steel Sets for Primitive Fire Making
Bowdrill and Handdrill Sets for Primitive Fire Making
Fire Plow Sets for Primitive Fire Making
Swedish Fire Steel Emergency Fire Starter
Fresnel Lens Card Magnifier

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Silver Star, MT 59751
406-287-3605
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Fire Piston, Model 1. Wood	$65.00	Quantity:
Fire Piston, Model 1. Horn	$90.00	Quantity:
Fire Piston, Model 2. Wood	$70.00	Quantity:
Fire Piston, Model 2. Horn	$95.00	Quantity:
Fire Piston, Model 3. Wood	$77.00	Quantity:
Fire Piston, Model 3. Horn	$103.00	Quantity:


USA Customers We ship all USA orders via USPS Priority Mail, except as otherwise noted on the website. Express Mail shipping is available by special request.	International Customers outside the USA please click here for additional shipping information.