How to Make a Wood Fire Piston

The fire piston is an ancient device used to create fire. Through the ages cultures from Europe to the Pacific islands utilized the fire piston concept. The materials they used to construct fire pistons ranged from bone to wood to brass.

The principle of the fire piston is adiabatic heating. This is when a gas is compressed quickly and heats up enough to ignite tinder. The compression principle can also be found in the diesel engine.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/4-inch 'O' ring used in plumbing Wooden dowel for exterior 1 inch in diameter Wooden dowel for interior 1/4 inch in diameter Wooden block 3 inches by 2 inches by 2 inches Small screw Drill 5/8-inch drill bit 1/4-inch drill bit 1/8-inch drill bit Ruler Pencil Wood saw Grease or Oil

1. Measure off 6 inches of the 1-inch diameter dowel and mark with the pencil. Saw through the dowel at the mark.

2. 
    

   Mark the dowel's center point at one end. Set the 5/8-inch drill on this point and drill down 4 inches.

3. Measure off 4 3/4 inches of the 1/4-inch diameter dowel and mark with the pencil. Saw through the dowel at the mark.

4. Use 1/8-inch drill bit to place a 1/4 inch 'bowl' in one end of the 4 3/4-inch dowel piece.

5. 
    

   Place the 3 inch by 2 inch by 2 inch wood block on a horizontal surface, with the 3 inch by 2 inch surface facing up. Measure and mark the center of the top surface.

6. Drill a hole 1 inch deep at the center of the block, using the 1/4-inch drill bit.

7. Insert the flat, unfinished end of the 1/4-inch dowel into the hole drilled in the last step. Measure and mark the center of one of the wood block's 2 inch long sides. Drill a 1 1/2 inch depth at this mark using the 1/8-inch drill bit. Drill through the dowel. Next, insert the screw into the hole to hold the dowel in place.

8. Measure 5/8-inch on the 1/4-inch diameter dowel, starting at the end where the 'bowl' was drilled. Mark the dowel's circumference at this point.

9. Saw a 1/8 inch deep groove along the marked circumference. Place the 'O' ring into the groove. The 'O' ring should just touch the inside walls hollowed out by the 1-inch diameter dowel.

10. Grease or oil the 'O' ring to insure a seal.

Tips & Warnings

• Use needle nose pliers to bend one end of a 3 inch piece of stiff wire slightly. This bent end is used to remove the burning kindling from the bowl end of the small dowel. If the 'O' ring is doesn't fit properly, adjust the groove by cutting it. Cut a little, insert the 'O' ring and check. Increase the groove depth gradually until the 'O' ring makes a perfect seal.

Resources

• Video Instruction on How to Use a Fire Piston

[BrightScarf]

on 3/24/2009 *Ker-blink* ...cool. This would make me a happy camper!