How To Use Fire Piston

There are three different ways you can use the fire piston to create a
coal. The typical method used is the Slap method. Others like to use
the Crunch method while Becky prefers the Backwards-Slap method,
especially while demonstrating the fire piston multiple times at events.

Slap Method

Place fire piston rod into
the bore so just the gasket is
inside the fire piston.

Hold the barrel of the piston
in your prominent hand with
your thumb pointing toward
your body and strike the
piston with the palm of your
other hand with one sharp
hit.

Prepare your
tinder bundle and
set aside.

After the piston has hit bottom
with any one of the above methods,
immediately pull out.

Backwards-Slap Method

Hold the barrel of the piston in
your prominent hand with your
thumb pointing away from your
body. Slam the cap into the
palm of your other hand.

Crunch Method

Hold the barrel of the piston
in your prominent hand and
push the piston into the
barrel with the palm of your
other hand quickly.

Tap or pick out the burning
ember into your awaiting tinder
bundle and blow into flame.

Place a small piece of
tinder into the hollow at the
end of the fire piston rod.

DISCLAIMER

I am NOT responsible for fire pistons that are broken or not
working due to abusive or careless actions. I can look at a fire
piston and know if it's true malfunction, an accident or abuse.

I am also NOT responsible for injuries or damages due to improper
or careless use of the fire piston.

You may be thinking; "What? Are you serious? How
can this happen and who would do it?"

Yes we are serious.....very serious....unfortuneately.

For example....

When the bottom of a fire piston is completely blown off,
that is not something that just happens. Testing out
materials of the man-made variety in the fire piston can be
VERY dangerous and even deadly, not that we've ever seen
the headline "Death by Fire Piston" yet. We've seen the
pistons though.

Man-made materials not listed in the tinder article are NOT recommended in
the fire piston and fire pistons with missing bottoms will not be replaced or
refunded and we will not cover any damages caused by a fire piston projectile.
We do not recommend the use of any accelerant or man made materials not
recommend in our "Tinder for Your Fire Piston and Flint and Steel" article.
Instead, test out natural, untreated materials.

OK, this one is SO ridiculous I am just going to quote it.

"...I tried using a hammer with a block of wood on it, and I've
tried stepping on it. It won't go all the way down."

Ummm....uhhh...NO we will not refund or exchange your fire piston. And
for those who are wondering, often with great compression, especially with
an o-ring seal, the fire piston pops back up SO fast that some may not
notice this and think that there is something wrong with the fire piston.
NOPE, this is a good thing. The higher the rod the more compression.
Others yet are afraid of breaking their fire piston or do not know that they
need to get the rod to touch bottom. All is needed here is hitting it harder.

When is it NOT a good thing? If your tinder is not placed snuggly enough into the tinder cup it may
fall out to the bottom of the piston and get stuck. If you are using the fire piston like Les Stroud did
and dropping the tinder into the bottom it will not work and the tinder may get stuck. The tinder
must be removed with a twisted piece of cloth, paper towel, ect. In the case above, if you hammer it,
step on it or use other means to cram the tinder in the bottom, then you'll find that the tinder may not
be able to be removed. Then you'll find your fire piston will not fire. Oops.

NOTE: When tinder is crammed enough in the fire piston, looking inside with a flashlight may not
help you see it. As with the fire piston our 3 year old has, he as crammed something in the bottom.
With a flashlight, the bottom looks smooth as what ever is crammed in there matches in color. It is
so tight it can not be removed.

We have received few fire pistons for repair, of Darrels anyway. All but two were sent back without
any reworking done on them with notes that said:
"Needed a new string wrap."
"Just needed to be lubricated."
or
"Just needed to be cleaned out."

(Of the other two? One was misuse and the other was a piece of wood that shrunk due to being a piece
that was from a wet batch that was sent to me.)

Fire Pistons are not sent out with broken rods. If the rod is
broken, it is due to misuse or abuse.

As long as you pull the fire piston rod out straight, this will not happen. If you
twist and pull down or up, it can break. If for some reason the rod gets stuck in the
barrel and you start moving the rod up and down to loosen it, it will break. This is
an usually an accident. For $15, you can get a new rod custom lathed and fit for
your fire piston. But we can not simply give out new pistons for carelessness.

Since we're on the topic of tinder sticking in the tinder cup:

We are not responsible for damages caused by tinder that pops
out of the tinder cup due to it not being placed in snuggly.

We will not pay for a new bed, pay for care for injures to pets,
pay to resurface wood furniture, and no amount of money could
put a smile back on your wifes face when she finds out.

Ok, We've all been there and, mostly, these stories are funny, even to the person with
the fire piston in their hand....after the fact anyway. But they do serve as a lesson to
use the fire piston responsibly. Make sure no children or pets are underfoot. Make
sure you are not standing in a place with a bed of dry pine needles at your feet. We
do not recommend the fire piston to be used indoors. As with any fire starting
method, we recommend using sound judgement when trying out your new tool.

Treat the fire piston like you are starting any fire in the bush in a responsible manner.

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