Traditional Fire Pistons – Wooden and Buffalo Horn

From $39.95

Description

Start a Fire With Compressed Air !

A Fire Piston is a two piece device first used in the 1700’s in Indonesia to start fires. One part is a hollow cylinder ranging in length from about 3 to 6 inches sealed at one end and open at the other. The piston fits tightly into the cylinder piston with an airtight gasket (originally made of plant fibers, cotton string or today’s modern equivalent, a rubber o-ring). The piston has a wide top to allow a firm grip to grab it, or a large enough surface area to strike it sharply. The piston generally has a notch or recess on or in its face, into which tinder (a piece char cloth or Tinder Fungus) is placed.

When the piston is quickly pushed into the cylinder, the air in the cylinder is compressed causes the interior temperature of the air to rise sharply to 500°F, This is hot enough for the char cloth or Tinder Fungus to ignite and glow red hot (like the end of a cigarette. The piston is then quickly withdrawn, before the now-burning tinder depletes the available oxygen inside the cylinder. The smoldering tinder can then be removed from the face of the piston and transferred to a larger nest of fine kindling material, such as Jute Twine, Paper Towel , birch shavings, etc. The ember is then fanned or blown upon vigorously to create a flame, at which time various stages of larger kindling can be added until built into a proper fire.

We have several types of Fire Pistons available…all work equally well. The main difference is what material the Fire Piston is made from (aesthetics) and what type of gasket (string or rubber o-ring) is used.

 

Coco_Bolo_and_Horn_photo

Which one to buy?… That’s easy!

Material Choice (Coco Bolo Wood or Buffalo Horn)
Both the golden orange/brown grained Coco Bolo Wood Fire Pistons and the jet black Water Buffalo Horn ones perform very well. Both have been polished to a high gloss and produce a coal produce a coal on the first or second try. The material (Coco Bolo or Buffalo Horn) is strictly your personal aesthetic preference.

Gasket Type (String or O-ring)
If you like things 100 % traditional style then one of the string gasket models is for you. The string gasket will need to be re-wrapped after approx. 25-50 fires. Replacement string for the gasket is included with each Fire Piston.

If you like things to be easy and nearly maintenance-free then the O-Ring gasket models are what you should look at. The O-Ring gasket makes changing gaskets easy. Just slip on a new rubber o-ring when the old one wears out. The o-ring gasket will need to be changed after approx. 250 fires. A replacement o-ring for the gasket is included with the Fire Piston.

Compression Release or Not?
If you like things to be easy and also like “trick little gadgets” the Compression Release O-Ring Models are for you. It is are available on all O-ring Fire Pistons. The Compression Release is a “finger operated” compression release valve located at the lower end of the Fire Piston body that can be unscrewed to vent the pressure out of the cylinder for storage of the Fire Piston plunger into the cylinder. The Fire Pistons with no Compression Release Valve are designated as “Basic”.

 

 

Delrin_Fire_PistonDelrin Basic Fire Piston

This is our lowest cost Fire Piston. It is the bare-bones version made from a modern synthetic material and has no compression release. However it produces a coal flawlessly! This compression fire- starter was designed with the modern hiker, backpacker and survivalist in mind and features a high compression O ring seal for dependability. It’s completely water proof and impervious to the element and engineered to hold up under the harshest outdoor environments. (Note: Delrin is a unique thermoplastic material for use in moving parts in which low friction and long wear life are important. It is a combination of PTFE fibers uniformly dispersed in Delrin acetal resin)Delrin_Comp_Release

Price: $34.95

Delrin_Ferro
Delrin with Compression Release Fire Piston

This is an upgrade from the Delrin Basic Fire Piston with the addition of a Compression Release valve on the bottom of the cylinder. It is made from the same durable Delrin synthetic material and has an O-ring gasket to insure repeatable, reliable fire making performance. After closing the compression release valve the pistons cylinder retains vacuum allowing the Fire Piston to be carried upside down without losing the plunger.
Price: $42.95

 

Delrin with Compression Release Fire Piston and Sparking Ferrocerium Fire Rod

This is the top of the line Delrin Fire Piston. It is made from durable Delrin synthetic material, has an O-ring gasket and the compression release.  In this model we also made the plunger hollow so it can be used as a “secret compartment” to carry a Ferrocerium (Ferro) Sparking rod (included). This is the same sparking rod used in metal matches and Military magnesium fire starters.  You can also remove the rod and use the hollow plunger to carry other survival itemas such as tinder fungus or char cloth for tinder used by your Fire Piston.
Price: $49.95

coco_bolo_string

 

Coco Bolo with String Gasket

If you are looking for a traditional Fire Piston this is the one you want . It is made from Coco Bolo wood and uses a traditional string gasket Cotton String gasket as the seal on the plunger. The cotton string gasket will need to be re-wrapped every 25 or so fires . Extra string gasket cotton string is included as well as detailed instruction with photos on the process.
Price – $ 69.95

 


Coco Bolo with String Gasket and Leather Pouch

This is the same traditional String gasket Fire Piston as above with the addition of a leather pouch traditionally used to carry Tinder fungus as a fuel for the Fire Piston and Fire making tinder to start a fire. The cotton string gasket will need to be re-wrapped every 25 or so fires . Extra string gasket cotton string is included as well as detailed instruction with photos on the process.
Price – $ 79.95

coco_bolo_oring_only
Coco Bolo Basic with O-ring Gasket (no compression release)

If you are looking for a traditional Fire Piston look but want the convenience of an easily changeable gasket this is the model you want.t . It is made from Coco Bolo wood and uses a O-ring gasket as the seal on the plunger. The O-ring gasket will need to be changed after 250+ or so fires . An extra O-ring is included with the Fire Piston and is easily changed.
Price – $ 59.95

 

Coco_Bolo_with_CR
Coco Bolo with O-ring Gasket and Compression Release

If you are looking for a traditional Fire Piston look but want the convenience of an easily changeable gasket this is the model you want. It is made from Coco Bolo wood and uses a O-ring gasket as the seal on the plunger. The O-ring gasket will need to be changed after 250+ or so fires. An extra O-ring is included with the Fire Piston and is easily changed.

Price – $ 64.95

 

Coco_Bolo_Leather

Coco Bolo with O-ring Gasket, Compression Release and Leather Pouch

If you are looking for a traditional Fire Piston look but want the convenience of an easily changeable gasket this is the model you want.t . It is made from Coco Bolo wood and uses a O-ring gasket as the seal on the plunger. The O-ring gasket will need to be changed after 250+ or so fires . An extra O-ring is included with the Fire Piston and is easily changed.
Price – $ 74.95

 

buffalo_horn_string
Buffalo Horn String Fire Piston – Temporarily unavailable

This carved, polished and pre-tested Fire Piston is made from the horn of an actual Asian Water Buffalo that has been hand polished to a glossy smooth finish. It will light fire after fire as you amaze family and friends on its simplicity of operation. Buffalo Horn is a good choice in climates with high humidity. The gasket on this model is the traditional String gasket.
Price: $84.95

 

Buffalo_FP_with_Pouch
Buffalo Horn String with Leather Pouch Temporarily unavailable

This carved,polished and pre-tested Fire Piston is made from the horn of an actual Asian Water Buffalo that has been hand polished to a glossy smooth finish. It is the same quality as the above Fire Piston and has a traditional leather pouch attached to carry tinder for the Fire Piston or tinder for you fire. Buffalo Horn is a good choice in climates with high humidity. The gasket on this model is the traditional String gasket.
Price: $94.95

 

 

Buffalo Horn Basic Fire Piston with O-ring (no compression release) Temporarily unavailable

This carved, polished an pre-tested Buffalo Horn Fire Piston has that traditional look but has the benefit of using a rubber O-ring gasket to provide 250+ before needing to be replaced. The replacement of the gasket is simple…just flip off the old O-ring with your fingernail and put on the new one (an extra O-ring is included).
Price: $74.95

Buffalo_Horn_Oring

Buffalo Horn Fire Piston with O-ring and Compression Release

This carved, polished an pre-tested Buffalo Horn Fire Piston has the durability of the water-proof Asian Buffalo Horn, the convenience of using a rubber O-ring gasket to provide 250+ before needing to be replaced and the compression release feature for easy storage of the plunger in the cylinder.. The replacement of the gasket is simple…just flip off the old O-ring with your fingernail and put on the new one (an extra O-ring is included).
Price: $84.95

 

Buffalo Horn Fire Piston with O-ring, Compression Release and Leather Pouch Temporarily unavailable

This is the Fire Piston that Les Stroud purchased from us for his “Survivorman” television series for the Alaskan Episode.  He asked our opinion for a fire piston that would be used in a high humidity. moist condition (Alaska in the spring), was reliably and had a means to carry extra tinder to fuel the Fire Piston.  This model was what we recommenced and what he purchased.  It had the O-ring gasket, compression release valve and a traditional leather pouch for extra tinder.

Price: 99.95

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