petromax fire piston

Here I light a fire with the Petromax fire piston, I give you a few tips on how to use it with success.

[@Seplicar]

The reason I like a Fire Piston is that I don't need any materials to support its operation that I can't find in the woods. I use charred punkwood in the piston end pit. I'm sure I could use animal fat as a lube. A wrapped natural fiber can be used instead of an o-ring. One tip, when using a kernel of charred punkwood, I drive the cylinder down on the piston ( not the other way around ) so the kernel does not fall out of the end of the piston.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Good tip, thanks 👍

[@bobbieschke599]

Fire pistons were used in the Indonesian archipelago centuries ago.

[@carls.6746]

looks exactly the same as the bushcrafttools fire piston. you can store it together by loosening the screw so the air can escape around the seal and turn the handle to tighten it back down a little.

[@MrArdentatheist]

I have a perspex one so that you see the flash of the ignition. A great demonstration of physics, but a bloody fiddly to get fire going.

[@eugeniovaldez7205]

Well done Rob! Super instructional and enjoyable. Thank you

[@rrcaniglia]

I had a piston that had a screw vent to release pressure when packing up the rod in the well.

[@johnturner6251]

Thankx Rob

[@richardhenry1969]

I think I can say pretty comfortably this is more gimmick then useful. I'm not saying it's useless. I'm just saying in this day and age there are so many easier ways to do it. I love a ferro rod just because it's easy. Yet I never go in the woods without matches and a few lighters in pockets. Even have a magnifying lens( more for old 👀then fire starting). I was taught being a woodsman meant you could get by on less. It seems nowadays they want the woods to be with as much gear as you have at home. Instead of a cup,knife,firemaker,cover,bedding then my most important fishing gear lol that is what brings me to the woods. Hiking rivers and fishing 🎣 Anyway love to see your opinions Anyway. I believe it does have the neat factor, which has made me part with my money more then I'd like to admit. 😆

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I think it's a bit of fun and it does help to horne the firelighting skills, I always have a matchsafe ferrorod and lighter on me in the woods.....and the odd gimmick to play with.

[@timbryan9701]

Thaanks again for taking us along. I've never messed with fire pistons but wondered is you could ignite a jute twine tinder- bundle with one.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Yes , quite easily if you are careful and don't drop the tiny coal, probably best to put it straight into a larger piece of char material.

[@woodsman82]

@@RobEvansWoodsman sorry to bother you. I was wondering if your account was hacked on Instagram?

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

@@woodsman82 yes it was, eight weeks ago.

[@gerardmartyn1738]

Nice for a change of pace. Always like options. 👍

[@DWMurry]

Never been a fan of the fire piston, but in a jam... It's always a good thing to learn new stuff and have an open mind... One never knows! 🤷

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It's from the tropics I believe. Could be a little project to make one in the bush.

[@DWMurry]

@@RobEvansWoodsman interesting! The reed and stick approach would be a fascinating figure out thing! 🤔

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

@@DWMurry bowdrill fitted with a flint tip to drill.

[@DWMurry]

@@RobEvansWoodsman 🤣 🤔.... Just might work! 😳.... 🔥

[@harwoodblades3633]

Used to have a Peugeot diesel with the same components 🙄..that was hit and miss also 😁all the best Lincoln 🤙👍

[@Anndyinthewoods]

I have one from PSkook. I wouldn't rely on it, too fiddly but fun to play with once in awhile!

[@HarshmanHills]

great video but I hate using fire pistons lol

[@stuartlockwood9645]

Hi Rob ☺ looks a nicely made item, and worked well, at least you got a fire, and the essential cup of tea I hope, don't realy know if I'd carry one, a bit too fiddly, and if you broke or lost the O'ring I guess it's game over, thanks for another interesting video mate, stay safe, best wishe's to you and your's, Stuart UK.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Cheers Stu. It did come with three O rings but they are very fiddly.

[@MattieBeekeeper]

Genuinely impressed with that to be honest. Fiddly and a pain with the lube etc by the looks of it but if you're just using it for the fun of it it worked well enough, two slaps to get an ember. Might get one just to impress my kid lol

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It's a bit of fun , I wouldn't take it into the bush.

[@daemonharper3928]

I'm also impressed, I've not seen them before. Simple, robust, lightweight - a neat little toy......bought one on ebay before the vid had finished 😂

[@grahamwinter5536]

👍 Nice Toy 😁. I was really stunned by your comment on Pete's review of the DBK knife, have the UK authorities lost it or what 😏🤔. I'm looking forward to your review, if and when you you get it. Looks like the right thing for me.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It's rediculous that they turned all those knives around and sent them back.

[@TheDavewatts]

Good skills Rob but not for me give me a box a matches any day 👍

[@mikeinthewoods2193]

No bloopers?! 🤯

[@daemonharper3928]

That looks like a fun toy....I'd play with that for an afternoon. I love the cleverness of them - somebody gave this a lot of thought and designed something simple and robust that would work for years....we're all too jaded and spoilt by lighters to fully appreciate what a neat solution it is 🤣, you'd win a Nobel prize for that 200 years ago! Great little review and test - as per usual. What's with the posh knife coming up? Grail event?

[@edwardstagner1021]

The question is how come it’s so finicky? Is it the quality of the tinder that makes it finicky or pulling it out too fast or leaving it in too long .Or maybe it’s just experience I don’t know. My experience has been that is finicky too.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Personally I think that a fire piston is a gimmick, not something I'd rely on in an emergency.

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

Awesome Rob. Do you have a link mate?😁👍👏👏👏👏

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

No mate

[@TheDavewatts]

Didn't you have a video up yesterday, I spotted it late last night though I'd watch it today but it's gone.🧐

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It's the Fallkniven Idun cowryX video, I put a proper thumbnail on it this morning.

[@TheDavewatts]

😂I thought I dreamt it, glad I'm not going mad, will it be going back on.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I just checked and I'd set it to private by mistake , it's back on now.

[@TheDavewatts]

Ha ha I see it.😂👍

[@marksadventures3889]

Seems a bit of a faff. I appreciate the craft know how, but for me a ferro rod or lighter comes first, life's too short. Interesting though. Take care Rob thanks for posting

[@clivedunning4317]

A really informative video Rob. Now , I feel a bit of a fraud asking you this question, as I have no intention of ever using a fire piston. Do you think/have you ever tried, using jute or a bit of waxed cotton ball as tinder ? My thought is that it would be more convenient to carry around than relying on bits of tinder in a end cap. Just curious as to whether or not it would work as a viable tinder source.TIA.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I don't think cotton wool or jute would work in it, it would be a good secondary tinder to get flame from the tiny coal.

[@fog360]

Has your Instagram been hacked ????

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Yes , 8 weeks ago. I have a new account Robevanswoodsman.

[@fog360]

@@RobEvansWoodsman ok mate I’ve been getting message from you old account I will delete and block

[@jamesparker6383]

with all the other ways of starting a fire why would you want to use something that is hit or miss? Give me a Bic or a ferro rod or even matches and I'm good to go. I don't mean it in a bad way but that thing is just way too complicated to use .

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I do say it's a gimmick to be fair, a bit of fun.

[@jamesparker6383]

@@RobEvansWoodsman thank you sir for your reply and I must say I truly enjoy your videos

[@slick_slicers]

I do struggle to see the point of this. There are so many better methods of ignition.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It's a bit of fun.