Making and Using a Fire Piston

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  • Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
  • 3/8" pipe, with the appropriate sized dowel, and O-ring would work better, but here is what I used.
    Materials I used:
    Copper pipe 1/2" Dia. 5" long
    Dowel 1/2" Dia.
    O-ring 9/16" O.D. 3/8" I.D.

Комментарии • 1,3 тыс.

  • @FoulOwl2112
    @FoulOwl2112 Год назад +447

    For anyone interested in how to make charcloth: Get yourself an old Prince Albert Tobacco can. An Altoids tin works good too, but it just doesn't hold as much. Punch a hole in one end with a nail. Get yourself some 100% cotton cloth. Fold it up and fill the can. Not packed super tight, but full. Close the can and put it on a good heat source. I use a gas cooktop or camp stove. But a small campfire's fine too. When u start seeing vapors coming out of the nail hole, light the vapors. It'll produce a flame like a butane lighter. If the flame goes out keep re-lighting it. Once it refuses to re-light, your charcloth is done. Let the can cool. Open er up n dump out your charcloth. Be gentle with it as it's very delicate. You only need a tiny bit of it at a time (postage stamp size) to start ur fire. I store mine in an Altoids tin.

    • @koreymann2493
      @koreymann2493 Год назад +10

      THANK you this saves me a bunch of time looking. Very clear and easy to understand. Another 'old way' that can be useful in damp situations!
      Do you find any difference in quality with new cotton vs old? Dyed and undyed? Easy enough to make a batch inna survival type scenario

    • @FoulOwl2112
      @FoulOwl2112 Год назад +10

      @@koreymann2493 Its GOTTA be 100% cotton. Not a blend of any type. Dyed is just fine though. Old fashoned "pillow ticking" is probably best. But good old worn out cotton sheets n pillowcases is great. The heavier the better. Like hospital type sheets...

    • @FoulOwl2112
      @FoulOwl2112 Год назад +11

      .. and obviously BTW lay the can on it's side (or however it is most evenly expised to the heat source).
      Dont stand the can on end lay it flat on the burner. Seems obvious... But you know how people are nowdays

    • @somuchtosay
      @somuchtosay Год назад +20

      You got Prince Edward in a can? You should let him out....

    • @FoulOwl2112
      @FoulOwl2112 Год назад

      @@somuchtosay Too late. I accidentally cremated him.

  • @aisforrebel9310
    @aisforrebel9310 5 лет назад +660

    Simple, to the point and sped-up during the unnecessary parts. Well done!

    • @jases459
      @jases459 Год назад +5

      Ok mister judgy judge judge

    • @Runedragonx
      @Runedragonx Год назад +2

      @@jases459 Judgey McJudgeface

    • @m____w____6981
      @m____w____6981 Год назад +12

      When he bored into the wood core, I was sure it was gonna slip and go into his wrist. If I tried that without clamping the wooden core, I would be in the emergency room.

    • @angrydragonslayer
      @angrydragonslayer Год назад +11

      @@m____w____6981 skill issue

    • @saltybildo4415
      @saltybildo4415 Год назад +7

      @@m____w____6981 gotta be smarter than the drill

  • @danw1955
    @danw1955 Год назад +42

    Great tutorial! For those that don't understand what happens when you hit the plunger, think of how a diesel engine works (compression ignition). When you hit the plunger, it raises the pressure of the air in the tube to 3-400 lbs. and superheats it, causing the tinder to ignite. Very basic, no matches required, and works in pretty much any weather, as long as you have some dry tinder to work with.😉

    • @gustavovazquez4235
      @gustavovazquez4235 Год назад +3

      Thanks

    • @kenbellchambers4577
      @kenbellchambers4577 Год назад +3

      First recorded use by the Kikuyu Tribe of Africa. Their model was larger and made from wood. Probable estimated length about two feet. (700mm approx.) Thanks for the info. re pressure.

    • @clydegray9714
      @clydegray9714 Год назад +2

      Always certain to learn more in the comments. The understanding being my goal. Thank you my good man! An interesting learn indeed

  • @andymodeller965
    @andymodeller965 Год назад +428

    This tutorial video was just brilliant sir. To the point - no disruptive background music - clear and informative. The world needs more individuals like you.
    If only Tom Hanks had one of these tools while 'cast-away'.
    I will be making one of these fur sure. Thank you for posting.

    • @OhmSteader
      @OhmSteader Год назад +6

      TSA would have stopped him from boarding with that tool .

    • @chrissewell1608
      @chrissewell1608 Год назад +11

      He should have openes all those damn boxes. There may have been a satelite phone, gps, and a survival kit in one!? But No... he had to deliver those packages! Thats when I knew he was an idiot.

    • @saltybildo4415
      @saltybildo4415 Год назад

      Tom hanks is a pedo

    • @carlsaganlives6086
      @carlsaganlives6086 Год назад +6

      @@chrissewell1608 ...kilo of coke, entertainment center w/x-box, solar generator, TOOTHBRUSH, gender neutral blow up 'companion'....

    • @MrMartinswan
      @MrMartinswan Год назад +5

      Great way to sick drill bit in your arm

  • @hernanp666
    @hernanp666 Год назад +229

    This is what instructional videos should look like! Good work, man!

    • @realemonful
      @realemonful Год назад

      666 will get you to eternal hell one day!

    • @Geewillickerz
      @Geewillickerz Год назад

      Except for the dangerous way he drills. One slip and .....

  • @oxyfee6486
    @oxyfee6486 Год назад +71

    No irritating music, sped up through the boring parts, no driving to get gas and coffee first, well done! Thanks for the knowledge.👍

    • @3OBTPA
      @3OBTPA Год назад +1

      He's a real hero! Seriously!

  • @russellcole3549
    @russellcole3549 Год назад +8

    No bullshit! Zero. Yes! No crappy graphics or background music. No telling us how you were inspired to take up woodworking after your opera singing career didn't work out. You even sped through the extraneous video. Most importantly, you didn't needlessly narrate what you were doing. I don't know that I need a fire piston, but I enjoyed your video. Cheers!

  • @alularussell778
    @alularussell778 Год назад +11

    First time I saw this device was in the jungle of Viet Nam. Hand made local wood. I thought it was very cool and never forgot it. Does bring back memories.

  • @aom9082
    @aom9082 Год назад +10

    Two fold purpose. This vid also showed you how a diesel engine works. The diesel is combusted during compression. I like it.

  • @ChasenR
    @ChasenR 2 года назад +282

    Small suggestion, recess the knob so that the dowel sits into it about a half inch, keep the end of the dowel from splitting, or at least delay it as the wood ages should someone forget to oil it. One could use a copper t pipe fitting to give it a pump style handle and add storage for spare char cloth and o rings, possibly even a small tube of vaseline or oil for lubricant

    • @OldNavajoTricks
      @OldNavajoTricks Год назад +30

      Seal vaseline etc in plastic straw trimmed to size 👍

    • @denniswendtland9707
      @denniswendtland9707 Год назад +20

      Would silicone lube like I use on swimming pool O rings extend the life of your piston O ring? Great ideas.

    • @StrangerInAStrange
      @StrangerInAStrange Год назад +19

      @@denniswendtland9707 I believe that silicone grease would work fine; vaseline would also work fine AND could be used for fire starter/accelerator.

    • @stevemaskal5933
      @stevemaskal5933 Год назад +23

      Or even matches.

    • @Mike-xi4zt
      @Mike-xi4zt Год назад +14

      Matches 😂😂

  • @kenh9508
    @kenh9508 Год назад +3

    At the 8:30 mark i noticed I was blowing on my cell phone screen trying to get a flame. 🤣 great video. Thank you.

  • @alwillkill
    @alwillkill Год назад +6

    Never heard of a fire piston until today,and I'm 52.Great informative video.

  • @BitSmythe
    @BitSmythe Год назад +72

    4:22 When soldering apply the solder at the far side from the torch. This will ensure that the whole project is hot enough and you won’t have to re-flow the other side.

    • @veramae4098
      @veramae4098 Год назад +1

      I wish this community would start making vids for Ukraine, after the Russians leave, before major rebuilding is done. How will the citizens live in the meantime?

    • @FrankBenlin
      @FrankBenlin Год назад

      @@veramae4098 Do it.

    • @ST2theEphen
      @ST2theEphen Год назад

      Thanks for the tip

    • @pierremartel3552
      @pierremartel3552 Год назад +3

      Yup, when brazing like that, always use the heat from the part to melt the tin/lead/silver. That way you know that the part is hot enough for the brazing to catch properly.

    • @SouthJerseyBaitReviews
      @SouthJerseyBaitReviews Год назад +1

      ​@@pierremartel3552 yea but he isn't brazing just soldering the copper pipe. With brazing ur going at a way higher temperature vs soldering that uses lower temp.

  • @jameslmorehead
    @jameslmorehead Год назад +54

    This is an awesome low cost fire piston. I love it!
    As a machinist, I made some fire pistons as Christmas gifts a few years back. The body was 1 inch hex brass stock. The piston was 5/8 round brass stock turned down to half an inch. The ID and OD were machined to a 1/2 thou clearance and straightness over the 6 inch length. On the end of the piston, I made a wider, more shallow cavity with a groove cut across from side to side to make extracting the ember easier. The ID of the body was initially drilled , then bored and reamed, so it left the drill point in the end to keep from smashing the ember. This let me make the piston body a bit longer. I made a threaded cap for the back end of the piston that was 1 inch in diameter to make it easier to use. Both the end cap and the piston had knurling to make unscrewing the cap easier. Inside the cap was storage of char cloth. I drilled out the body of the piston to about 3/4 of an inch from the ember cup, and made a telescoping blow tube that fit inside. It extended to 18 inches long. That was great to both direct the air exactly where it needed to be when heating the ember, but without blowing out the just starting tinder and to get your face far enough away so you aren't getting the smoke blowing back at you.

    • @iuliandragomir1
      @iuliandragomir1 Год назад +4

      Instead of writing a novel, you could simply say that it's a stupid idea!

    • @jameslmorehead
      @jameslmorehead Год назад +10

      @@iuliandragomir1 Did you miss the 'I love it!' part? Was just sharing my experience with a similar project.

    • @toddsmith8608
      @toddsmith8608 Год назад +16

      @@jameslmorehead I appreciate your detailed description of how you made yours.

    • @itoibo4208
      @itoibo4208 Год назад +7

      A nice gift! If you like physics, these are amazing. The blow tube was a nice touch.

    • @frankgennon1
      @frankgennon1 Год назад +2

      @@toddsmith8608 so did i

  • @RJ-wx3fh
    @RJ-wx3fh Год назад +66

    pro tip for the o ring groove- use your pipe cutter to mark 2 lines. Really well done project and video :)

    • @Twobarpsi
      @Twobarpsi Год назад

      That's a good tip!

    • @ffjsb
      @ffjsb Год назад +9

      Exactly what I was thinking. And if you have a drill chuck large enough, you can put the wood piston in it at low speed to make a consistent groove with the file.

    • @garyalford9394
      @garyalford9394 Год назад +3

      You could use a drill or drill press as a lathe to cake o-ring groove

    • @donalddicorcia2433
      @donalddicorcia2433 Год назад +1

      That, Sir, is an inspired idea!

    • @grinderpumpguy
      @grinderpumpguy Год назад +1

      Or a table saw set depth?

  • @BonesyTucson
    @BonesyTucson Год назад +70

    I've always been curious to try one of these, but never have because didn't want to bother wrassling up a bunch of high tolerance parts or something. Didn't know you could do it this way - thanks! Definitely earned a subscription.

    • @donalddicorcia2433
      @donalddicorcia2433 Год назад +12

      If you purchase a piece of closed end pipe called a “water hammer arrester” you don’t even need to solder on an end cap.

    • @YogonKalisto
      @YogonKalisto Год назад +1

      @@donalddicorcia2433 ha was thinking while watching there must be something prefab out there as a substitute unless copper pipe is necessary, thanks! i'm assuming it's all about squeezy squeezy friction heat blah (ima science ist)

  • @exposingtheamericanstasitr3579
    @exposingtheamericanstasitr3579 Год назад +37

    Its not everyday i see something completely new that is useable and practical. Thanks for sharing.

  • @YouAskedForThis563
    @YouAskedForThis563 Год назад +1

    I inherited a fire piston (tonteldoos) that was from the second Anglo-Boor War, 1899 - 1902 when Great Britain sent their soldiers to die in South Africa for the gold fields, at a ratio of ten to one.
    It is one inch diameter X four inches long. The plunger goes through the fixed end-cap of the body and the other removable end-cap is secured to the plunger by a small chain.
    Inside is some charred cotton wool.
    Thanks to this video I now suspect that the plunger is missing at least one O-ring as I could never get the thing to work.

  • @rolandburisch9489
    @rolandburisch9489 Год назад +30

    Very interesting; it uses the phenomenon of air heating rapidly under compression, just the same principle as that of the diesel engine, compression ignition. It's hard to imagine that enough heat can be generated by compression alone. And yet, put your thumb over the end of a bicycle pump and compress and you'll get a blister before you know it.

    • @adrianalanbennett
      @adrianalanbennett Год назад +7

      In addition to the heat, it is also concentrating oxygen.

    • @teodormajewski3566
      @teodormajewski3566 Год назад +1

      like meteors

    • @johne5493
      @johne5493 Год назад +5

      The fire piston was the inspiration for the inventor of the diesel engine.

    • @henry9406
      @henry9406 Год назад

      Thanks Roland , I thought I was going to have to google it 😁🍻

    • @jamesburkhard
      @jamesburkhard Год назад

      Please don’t advise people to put sources of high pressure air right against their skin. Very bad things can happen if air is injected…

  • @Justin-Outdoors
    @Justin-Outdoors Год назад +1

    This is original style RUclips content. Not trying to look professional, but still great quality and strait to the point!

  • @jimjustice581
    @jimjustice581 Год назад +25

    Thank you for making this with tools most people have on hand. It’s nice to watch a how-to video that doesn’t require a router, drill press, laser, hydraulic this and that.

    • @xExekut3x
      @xExekut3x Год назад +3

      right? so many how-to videos out there that appear they're for the laymen, then they break out equipment which costs thousands of dollars and is something that typically only a machinist/woodworker/w/e would readily have available... are these types of people just dumb? out-of-touch?

    • @meatmanek
      @meatmanek Год назад

      Yeah I appreciate that he kept this simple even though he has access to a lathe.

    • @chucksneed1264
      @chucksneed1264 Год назад

      ​​@@xExekut3x they're passionate about their hobby and want to do quality work

  • @steveshaw649
    @steveshaw649 Год назад +2

    I am over 70 years old. I have been around and I've never even heard of a fire piston before. Something new every day... Thanks!

  • @JakeEpooh
    @JakeEpooh Год назад +16

    RUclips was invented for exactly this kind of awesome video. Great work, man!

  • @woodybrison
    @woodybrison Год назад +11

    When you take the time to polish the copper even tho it's not necessary, you are sending a signal to one and all that you took the time to make this thing well. I find the same thing looking at engineering drawings and software source code: there's often a strong correlation between stuff that works well and whether the designer took the time to straighten it up and comment it understandably

  • @joesbarbecue1
    @joesbarbecue1 Год назад +43

    It's good to have a number of these types of things with you when you go out into the wilderness.
    Magnifying glass, flint and steel, steel wool and battery or foil, bow, etc...
    I used bring these things when I went camping.
    Now that I'm old and lazy, I just take the self igniting propane torch!😁

    • @kurtschultz8199
      @kurtschultz8199 Год назад +6

      There was one trip where I got caught out. I had multiple back-up fire starting tools (matches, lighters, magnesium block and a magnifying lens), but none of them worked. It was so windy that I couldn't even start a fire inside my tent (which, admittedly, is a dangerous thing to try).
      I went without hot food for a couple of days, then went completely hungry for the next couple of days after that.
      My solution, once I got home, was to order some "Lifeboat Safety Matches" and keep them in my backcountry kit. It must have put Murphy's Law to work for me, since I've never had to use them :)

    • @GerOffYeWeeBastard
      @GerOffYeWeeBastard Год назад +1

      ...and a couple of road flares. :p

    • @Scriptorsilentum
      @Scriptorsilentum Год назад

      😂😂

    • @kurtschultz8199
      @kurtschultz8199 Год назад +1

      @@GerOffYeWeeBastard I think you're onto something here. If road flares could be made smaller, they'd actually be fairly convenient for starting emergency campfires. Say, something about the size of a golf pencil, and secured in a water-tight plastic capsule. I bet they'd even start in the rain.
      Oops, it's already been done - Orion makes them.

    • @kurtschultz8199
      @kurtschultz8199 Год назад +2

      @@keithmarlowe5569 Sounds like you're talking about a "Dakota Fire Hole". Rather than risk my tent (and permanent burn scars), I opted to eat my energy snacks, then go hungry. I was on the west edge of the Lake Tahoe Basin, so food wasn't *that* far away. Got to Tahoe City, found the supermarket and hit their deli for a fat Poor Boy Sandwich. I was back home in the East Bay by midnight.

  • @yeeeehaaawbuddy
    @yeeeehaaawbuddy Год назад +12

    This is my first time ever hearing about a fire piston. What a good demonstration of how to make one. Very simple tool, very simply explained. Thanks!

  • @reginalynn9856
    @reginalynn9856 Год назад +28

    👏 Impressive fire piston ! I’ve never seen anything like this, thank you for sharing. 👍

  • @Hatasumi69
    @Hatasumi69 8 месяцев назад

    Thanks for this. I just saw a science demonstration of how compressed air can be heated and immediately guessed correctly that other people with more skill and experience could help me learn how to apply this knowledge practically - noe I'm here learning what I need to make this as a project of my own.
    I love the internet when it comes to sharing knowledge in good faith and the people like yourself who use it to help others.

  • @billrowan1957
    @billrowan1957 Год назад +44

    One of the greatest videos on YT, if only more people agreed with that. 👍 (I appreciate you sharing the knowledge)

  • @quebirt
    @quebirt Год назад +2

    It's always funny to see people including these in their "survival kits." I would hate to depend on one of these to build a fire. That being said, they ARE very cool, and I have 2 of them : )

  • @samday6621
    @samday6621 Год назад +24

    I’ve never heard of a fire piston, so watched to learn. I was surprised that the char-cloth ignited simply by compressed air!

    • @stevegee58
      @stevegee58 Год назад +10

      Yup, that's basically how a Diesel engine works - they have no spark plug.

    • @user-um8fy8wh4n
      @user-um8fy8wh4n Год назад +6

      @s go to a 7-11 and buy a lighter.

    • @peterrenn6341
      @peterrenn6341 Год назад +10

      @@user-um8fy8wh4n yes, that would be so much more interesting. Why don't you make a video showing how to do that? ;-)

    • @ellieprice3396
      @ellieprice3396 Год назад +5

      What is "char cloth"? Is it regular cloth or a special type or what? Can something else be used for this?

    • @cranegantry868
      @cranegantry868 Год назад

      @@ellieprice3396 YOu can make char cloth easy, there's tons of vids on the topic.

  • @straytarnish9443
    @straytarnish9443 Год назад +2

    Man thanks for sharing your video I don't know why people ever bothered rubbing two sticks together if it were easy enough to make a thing like what you done shared with this

    • @thinkfirst6431
      @thinkfirst6431 Год назад +1

      It could be a problem if you didn't know what copper, pipe or a o-ring was and didn't have access to them.

  • @observingcitizen404
    @observingcitizen404 Год назад +4

    You sir....need to make more "how to" videos!!! Better than 99.99% of the so called "expert tutorials" I've watched.

  • @peterjones7288
    @peterjones7288 Год назад

    You know they’re a true old time craftsman when, they de-burr copper pipe with a pocket knife. Well done sir I’m subscribing

  • @joescott58
    @joescott58 Год назад +14

    I’ve grew up in the deep woods of Alaska. I’ve seen a lot of different fire starting methods. This is the 1st time I’ve seen this one. It’s good. Preparedness is always best, but the more alternatives a person is aware of then the more that Edson tilts chance in his or her favor.

    • @martinswiney2192
      @martinswiney2192 Год назад +4

      First time I ever seen this method. Guess it works on same principal as a diesel engine. Also never seen anybody come so close to drilling a hole in their wrist. Scary dude.

    • @petemcpeterson6205
      @petemcpeterson6205 Год назад +2

      You know what works even better? A lighter !

    • @user-um8fy8wh4n
      @user-um8fy8wh4n Год назад +1

      @@petemcpeterson6205.. And matches.

    • @MrBen527
      @MrBen527 Год назад

      Right!!

  • @anzaal
    @anzaal Год назад +4

    Interesting display of physics. I've always liked matches or a propane torch to start fires. I make vast quantities of fire starters (for the wood stove) by pouring melted paraffin into paper egg crates and cutting them up. About 60 years ago I would start campfires with a bow drill to impress the girls ! Thanks for sharing your skills.

  • @slycoopracoon2478
    @slycoopracoon2478 Год назад +7

    Man I just could not stop watching this. I was so intrigued by what you were making and how it works. Really blown away by the science of those things. Awesome video!

  • @nodemever3291
    @nodemever3291 Год назад +34

    This was figured out by native’s of New Guinea a long long time ago using materials found in the jungle where they lived
    It took me a few tries before I made one that worked using a dowel and a piece of a sledge hammer handle for the barrel and the top knob I have also made one out of copper pipe similar to the one in this video and another using an old Mag lite that I keep char cloth and a little Vaseline in the area the bulb went in
    If your not air tight between the plunger and the tube you can add a second Oring slightly above or below the first one it sometimes works and saves starting over

    • @OnHoldAt50
      @OnHoldAt50 Год назад +2

      I was combing the comments looking for someone that said they built one too, and it worked. Huh.

    • @ckl9390
      @ckl9390 Год назад +3

      I was wondering if this could be made out of bamboo for the tube.

    • @DeeDee-bm9hr
      @DeeDee-bm9hr Год назад

      The natives of New Guinea were still in the Stone Age molesting each other when we found them, don’t give them to much credit lmfao

    • @scooterss2112
      @scooterss2112 Год назад +1

      Or you could just put a lighter in the flashlight case.

  • @nothername2843
    @nothername2843 Год назад +8

    Good one bloke. All the necessary detail delivered clearly without waffle. Bravo and thanks.

  • @sligacheese6470
    @sligacheese6470 Год назад +1

    A piece of charcoal just for dust is another good idea. Add to burning material like paper rubbed with charcoal dust works great get the paper real dirty fold it up for later.❤

  • @warrenkral6562
    @warrenkral6562 Год назад +3

    First I've seen this. This feels like borderline magic....

  • @Twobarpsi
    @Twobarpsi Год назад +1

    This method of fire starting, has always amazed me. Making fire from air!

  • @Scriptorsilentum
    @Scriptorsilentum Год назад +16

    Freaking brilliant. Simple, robust, effective. Love it!

  • @BlunderMunchkin
    @BlunderMunchkin Год назад +1

    Brilliant design. I want to call it 'obvious,' but I wouldn't have thought of it in a million years even though I know exactly how it works.

  • @waynemanning3262
    @waynemanning3262 Год назад +6

    And I would have used $1000 dollars in power tools to do the same thing! Nice work!

  • @timjoepog
    @timjoepog Год назад +2

    I like this, No BS approach. Thank you for being clear and telling the actual information thats necessary. Not just making it with no words.

  • @manchu6005
    @manchu6005 Год назад +5

    That was the most informative and easy video about this subject that I have located. Thank you very much, Sir. 🇺🇸⚔🇬🇪

  • @alfredforbessealy524
    @alfredforbessealy524 Год назад

    never actually thought you could use an Oring-dowel for a plunger
    thank you sir, I shall make good use of this

  • @billywinningham8879
    @billywinningham8879 Год назад +5

    Spot on instructions very well explained clear as a bell 🛎 If you have the stuff to make one and can’t make one after watching this please don’t try your hopeless 😊

  • @raydunn2582
    @raydunn2582 Год назад

    Marvelous. And you called it 'flux' instead of soldering paste. Haven't heard that for years, er, decades.

  • @chief1redwolf909
    @chief1redwolf909 5 лет назад +15

    I didn't know to cut dowell a lil short to keep from bottoming out , thank you and God bless !!!

  • @lkgreenwell
    @lkgreenwell Год назад +1

    Rudolph Diesel, of the engine, became acquainted with one of these, in a local museum. It has been speculated that it may well have influenced his later design, which works on the same principle

  • @johnloraditch9562
    @johnloraditch9562 5 лет назад +30

    You need to build a door knob with a storage compartment to keep extra rings and lubricant etc.

    • @SansNeural
      @SansNeural Год назад

      No, you *need* to keep a pack of dried scotch bonnets on you so you can eat them and then sh!t fire whenever you *need* it.

  • @xionix4
    @xionix4 Год назад

    Beautiful demonstration from start to finish.

  • @chrisleggatt3240
    @chrisleggatt3240 Год назад +10

    I've not heard of a fire piston before, and I'm not disappointed! I love how this looks like witchcraft 👍

    • @timin770
      @timin770 Год назад +2

      Kinda similar to the way a diesel engine works. The heat of the compressed air/fuel mixture causes ignition.

    • @lawrencelimburger9160
      @lawrencelimburger9160 Год назад

      @@timin770 wow, genius!!

    • @MrLeftfootlouie
      @MrLeftfootlouie Год назад

      Witchcraft?
      Where are you from the 13th century?
      Witchcraft..lmao
      You have delusional thoughts .

  • @badkatrising3918
    @badkatrising3918 Год назад

    I’ve used fire pistons a lot when fishing in Alaska by my self. Much more dependable than lighters. You can get them completely soaked and they will work 5 minutes later

  • @ScientistPrepper
    @ScientistPrepper Год назад +3

    Hey I like this piston video! Never heard of a fire piston but I like it. Appreciate you teaching this.

  • @TheSleepingonit
    @TheSleepingonit Год назад

    Never heard of this, I'm 45, glad RUclips showed you to me. Subscribed

  • @mcdls5
    @mcdls5 Год назад +11

    Tip: Always put the flux on the inside piece first. You'll thank me.
    Also, clean the outside of the solder with something like steel wool before you make the joint to reduce the amount of contaminants.

    • @grinderpumpguy
      @grinderpumpguy Год назад

      Do tell. Flux female/fitting first? I'm curious why

    • @mcdls5
      @mcdls5 Год назад +1

      @@grinderpumpguy To keep things clean. If you put the goop on the male side of the fittings first then anything that touches it gets goop on it. If you the female size then it's pretty hard to get that goop on stuff.

  • @locotico71
    @locotico71 Год назад +1

    Thank you sir for the tutorial. I learned something new today. Much appreciated

  • @VisonsofFalseTruths
    @VisonsofFalseTruths Год назад

    My family growing up would always save old jeans that were too ripped up to make charcloth. We'd put some in a coffee can in the summer, light it and let it smolder and the smoke would keep away gnats, mosquitos and other flying bugs. Didn't occur to me until much later in life that it made a damn good firestarter as the few times we went camping the menfolk had either dryer lint or cotton balls smeared with vaseline and lit it with matches or a lighter. This little machine here seems as good as a lighter in a pinch and looks a good size for a camp kit. I'll have to put one together, myself!

  • @russellhall5065
    @russellhall5065 Год назад +3

    Very useful for when you're stranded in the wilderness with nothing but some copper plumbing, a wooden dowel, soldering equipment, a blowtorch, etc. Watch this video all the way to the end. It could save your life.

  • @steveng8706
    @steveng8706 Год назад +2

    Making one to carry in the glove box of my jeep. Never know when a fire can come in handy! Subscribed 😊

    • @davezemba9109
      @davezemba9109 Год назад

      Ever heard of a Bic lighter?

    • @steveng8706
      @steveng8706 Год назад

      @@davezemba9109 I carry one in the jeep. Those things slowly drain. There is nothing to drain in one of these compression pistons. A lighter is a better choice if there is fluid in it...

    • @davezemba9109
      @davezemba9109 Год назад

      I've had lighters sitting around for over 30 years and they still light. It's what the military uses.

    • @steveng8706
      @steveng8706 Год назад

      @@davezemba9109 Most Bic lighters last a long time. Most. Not all. This pressure lighter does not use a fuel that can leak out and evaporate. And it is very small. Takes up around the same space as an ink pen in my glovebox. I would rather be safe than sorry. You do you...

  • @dirkbruere
    @dirkbruere Год назад +3

    Interesting. I have never previously heard of starting a fire using air compression. Thanks.

    • @robertmencl9169
      @robertmencl9169 Год назад +2

      Diesel engines do just that all day long! Which is why we never hear a trucker complaining that he needs to change his spark plugs

    • @dirkbruere
      @dirkbruere Год назад +1

      @@robertmencl9169 I know, but never expected that the temperature would rise high enough to ignite a solid

    • @dntfrthreapr
      @dntfrthreapr Год назад +4

      When air is compressed the same heat content of the column of air is now in a space much smaller so the temperature goes up proportionally to the compression ratio. To me the cool thing is that if you let the compressed air pocket cool back down to ambient temperature, then let it expand, it will need to pull thermal energy out of its environment in order to expand. This is called refrigeration.

  • @lucasbuttalicka4521
    @lucasbuttalicka4521 Год назад

    That is some skillful hand work that can only be acquired with years of experience.

  • @dav1099
    @dav1099 Год назад +7

    very nice job! can you tell us just how it works please ? thanks for posting👍

  • @Dan-gn2xo
    @Dan-gn2xo Год назад

    Something I never knew existed. I understand how it works but that never would have occurred to me. Thanks for the video.

  • @DiabloOutdoors
    @DiabloOutdoors Год назад +16

    Awesome video! I always wanted one, but they are expensive to buy. Now I'm going to make one myself thanks to you. I'm a subscriber now.

  • @knightforlorn6731
    @knightforlorn6731 Год назад +2

    i like that method of bringing the ember to flame.

  • @lirnerpublishingnotes
    @lirnerpublishingnotes 2 года назад +3

    I keep watching this video's ,on how to make a fire piston in a simple way, it's amazing how simple it looks to make a safety fire, thanks , well done, I really enjoy this video.😂

  • @kritzoventer6611
    @kritzoventer6611 Год назад

    Awesome- demonstrating the thermodynamic principle of adiabatic heating in under 10 minutes. A permutation of this principle also underpins atmospheric temperatures, something climate science is yet to fully grasp, and what engineering has been showing us for a long time.

  • @elebeu
    @elebeu Год назад +14

    Looks good, I wonder if you could use the pipe cutter to score/cut the sides of the groove and then clean out the area for the o-ring.

  • @Mike-ny6sf
    @Mike-ny6sf Год назад +1

    Pretty amazing ...just like matches and Bic lighters! 😄

  • @edgufler1122
    @edgufler1122 4 года назад +4

    Love the video Jon. Thank you for sharing it with us.

  • @terrydouglas2777
    @terrydouglas2777 Год назад

    Great video sir, to the point, not wasting people's time with music and nonsense. Great video. I'd like to add, when you make groove for O ring, put dowel in the drill and spin it fast then use wood file to make groove. It makes a perfect groove. Then the knob, drill into it half inch an recess it to last year's longer and countersink screw in center of knob to hide it. I read a lot of comments on here. The whole point of making this piston fire starter is to teach people how to start a fire when we don't have any matches or lighters. But if you would fit piston into a T that's half inch on center an 3/4 on top 2 ends you can add extra pipe to make a storage tube to hold char cloth and small tube of oil or Vaseline to keep O ring lubed up, and store extra O Rings Incase the one would ever break making it not seal the air inside it to lite the cloth. Most people don't realize what the science is going on with this. Air has oxygen and nitrogen in it. The nitrogen is a fuel and when compressed it burns, an the oxygen is just the perfect amount to help it catch fire. There are many ideas we all have to make these, so we just watched this awesome video here and now you can build yours at home, or gather up your children and grandchildren if you have them and you can solder the caps on ends, and let the kids do the rest. They learn by doing it, not being told how to make it. Let them make something cool, and make char cloth and roast some marshmallows and make those s'mores. You will be the best dad or grandpa those kids could wish for. An make sure you let them start the camp fires this summer using their piston fire starter they built themselves. Gives them a boost of pride they made that with their own 2 hands. Teach them survival, fishing and hunting. Take slingshot rubber bands with pouches already on the straps, so they only need to find a forked tree limb and saw to cut it down. Take bark off an use good strong fishing line to attach the bands to the wood. Shoot acorns and small rocks and have a target set up, by then you should have a pile of drink bottles or juice boxes empty. Have fun and please get kids outside to be one with nature. An to all dad's, carry a side arm with extra clip. You don't know what is out there, an be sure you tell kids never talk about the gun you have in you at all times. Stay safe and share the Love.

  • @paulhelberg5269
    @paulhelberg5269 Год назад +3

    Excellent DIY video. Thanks for sharing.

  • @javiergamboa8101
    @javiergamboa8101 Год назад

    The only video I’ve ever liked. Simple because it was to the point and you didn’t waste a single word such as “Like and Subscribe”.

  • @qwerty13380
    @qwerty13380 Год назад +11

    Very impressive work. You did this with simple tools, and easy to find materials.

  • @rogercpate4386
    @rogercpate4386 Год назад

    Best explanation and demonstration of building fire piston yet. I can see what I was doing wrong on my previous attempt.

  • @robertnordeen4631
    @robertnordeen4631 3 года назад +5

    Very cool. So that looks easy to make. Thanks for the lesson !!

  • @Dr.E-nigma
    @Dr.E-nigma Год назад

    This has been the best walkthrough Tutorial for building a piston firelighter

  • @DivinityIsPurity
    @DivinityIsPurity 3 года назад +4

    That's beautiful, my guy. Tutorial is nice too.

  • @jimsjacob
    @jimsjacob Год назад

    That was great. I like how you appeared to use items you had on hand. Thank you for sharing that.

  • @prjndigo
    @prjndigo Год назад +4

    Tiny bit of improvement to this is to solder on another cap at the upper open end then use a pipe cutter to cut the top off the cap so the open end is protected from denting and deformation.

  • @NotAsTraceable
    @NotAsTraceable Год назад

    This is a perfect how-to video. Didn't throw in some canned introduction and a long winded history of fire and it's benefit to mankind in order to make a longer video for more advertisement revenue like almost all how-to videos these days.

  • @SilntObsvr
    @SilntObsvr Год назад +4

    If you buy all the bits at a Big Box store, this would (assuming you already have the tubing cutter and soldering stuff) set you back around $15 (and you'd have lots of leftover screws, o-rings, dowel stock, and at least enough extra copper pipe for a second unit -- shortest pieces I've seen are a foot long). You could probably build with threaded plastic pipe and a screw-on cap and teflon tape for about the same price, though it might be harder to find a dowel that fits the pipe well.

    • @scooterss2112
      @scooterss2112 Год назад

      Or just buy $15 worth of lighters.

    • @jamespriddy8275
      @jamespriddy8275 Год назад +4

      People like us that just do primitive skills for fun generally have all sorts of materials in our shop and never buy new. If you do, you probably should stick to video games.

    • @benzracer
      @benzracer Год назад +4

      You don’t even need a screw, just cut the dowel about a half inch long, drill out the knob and glue it in if it’s not tight.

    • @karlregan5276
      @karlregan5276 Год назад +2

      @@benzracer that is what I originally thought he would do, and what I would have done. Probably stronger that way.

    • @irw4350
      @irw4350 Год назад

      or......... you could buy a gas cigarette lighter for 50 cents

  • @grahamsengineering.2532
    @grahamsengineering.2532 Год назад +1

    Wow, I've never seen anything like that before. Thanks for sharing.

  • @starguard4122
    @starguard4122 Год назад +4

    Thank you so much for making this video. I ran across the cutting tool you used at 0:12 once and had absolutely no idea what it was or what it was used for. Thank you again!

  • @classicbikerx3588
    @classicbikerx3588 Год назад +1

    Legit! I had everything to complete this lying around my garage.

  • @Steve.Garrison
    @Steve.Garrison Год назад +19

    Great video! I haven't seen this before, but it makes sense how it works. Just guessing but it's probably important that the plunger is long enough to get the highest compression ratio, but stops before it hits the cap on the end. Subscribed. 👍👍

    • @SilntObsvr
      @SilntObsvr Год назад +15

      You are correct -- you need a minimum compression ratio of about 14:1, and 20:1 works better. Quarter inch clearance with a five inch stroke gives that 20:1, near enough; that gives an air temperature high enough to ignite pretty nearly anything combustible (charcloth holds the resulting coal well, but primitive makers of these have used shelf fungus shards, dried moss, etc. -- anything you'd use for first tinder with a spark or friction fire tool).

    • @Steve.Garrison
      @Steve.Garrison Год назад +1

      @@SilntObsvr Thanks! It's on my list of things I want to try now.

    • @ckl9390
      @ckl9390 Год назад +1

      @@SilntObsvr For loose material or shavings could it be put in the bottom of the metal tube instead of in the end of the plunger? Would dumping them back out cause problems or residue result in fowling with repeated use?

    • @SilntObsvr
      @SilntObsvr Год назад +5

      @@ckl9390
      I'd expect fouling to be an issue, as well as the tube stealing heat from your ember (especially with a copper tube like this).

    • @christophermitchell7925
      @christophermitchell7925 Год назад +1

      It’s cool as a science experiment, but it isn’t very practical if we’re talking about realistic scenarios, like if someone had to make fire to survive. Hardly anyone who doesn’t carry around a fire piston carries around char cloth, and good luck finding the necessary parts and tools to create the piston.
      A Bic lighter or torch would serve most people better. Heck, a Ferro rod would work better in most cases. If you’re out of char cloth, you’re out of luck.
      Even if someone had one of these, with char cloth, I’d still rather have a Bic lighter, a torch, & a ferro rod.
      The way it works is cool, it just isn’t very practical, that’s all.

  • @Gator-357
    @Gator-357 Год назад +1

    Neat project. I always struggled with this method for some reason it's always hit or miss.

  • @lewis2553
    @lewis2553 Год назад +3

    Good idea! Just be careful not to get too much oil from the o-ring down on the end of the piston. You don't want it to diesel on you.

    • @Nagger666
      @Nagger666 Год назад

      Isn't that exactly what you want?

    • @lewis2553
      @lewis2553 Год назад +4

      @@Nagger666 Hardly. When oil diesels, it burns rapidly and just might break your hand!

  • @patrick7639
    @patrick7639 Год назад

    I like that your safety, first person drilling that dowel in your hand

  • @waltergigandet6715
    @waltergigandet6715 Год назад +3

    Very nice instructions
    Good job teaching😉

  • @bunnyniyori5209
    @bunnyniyori5209 Год назад

    Hmm, I LIKE RUclips videos that actually show me something clever I had not thought of before.

  • @chuckg2709
    @chuckg2709 5 лет назад +3

    Very awesome straight to the point video thank you and believe it or not im going to make one this afternoon thank you

  • @davidlaw9686
    @davidlaw9686 Год назад +1

    Excellent. Good to know should we return to the beginning of life.

  • @RookKnight
    @RookKnight 2 года назад +7

    This was awesome, Im excited to try to make one for myself 👍

  • @leroyjones6958
    @leroyjones6958 Год назад

    Never can resist the urge to speed it up and make it look like something a 6 year old would do with a video camera.

  • @SubTroppo
    @SubTroppo 3 года назад +4

    "Well, doctor, as I told the nurse, I watch a guy on RUclips drilling holes, and..."

    • @zeusem6158
      @zeusem6158 3 года назад +2

      Got you I was watching him too with sweaty palms