View Full Version : Cheap Firepistons
Just stumbled on these by accident - while looking at info on Kites.
http://www.cochranes.co.uk
(Go to Secondary School and Further Education, then scrolldown to Mathematics, General Science and Technology, and click on 'Hyman Fire Piston').
These are designed for use in schools and physics classes to demonstrate the principle - however the best bit is that it is a clear firepiston, for around 30 pounds. The size looks like its probably about 10-12 inches long - but its difficult to tell from the picture.
If I had any spare cash I'd probably go and buy one just to see what its like - in the meantime I might see if there is anywhere else selling them under this 'use' banner for less...
(Go to Secondary School and Further Education, then scrolldown to Mathematics, General Science and Technology, and click on 'Hyman Fire Piston')
Ouch - that's got to hurt!
Paganwolf
12-12-2004, 18:50
well done there they will be great for demo's !!!! cheers for that :wink: :biggthump
Cheers i have ordered one. Be fun to have a play :-)
Bird scaring kites! Well I know what they're for - to keep a covey on the ground whilst you walk a net over them. Now I need a really big net and a lot of partridges.....
Can you let me know what they're like to use? and what its dimensions are? I'm tempted to get one to add to my fire-starting methods collection, but only if its small enough to be practical to carry about in a medium kitbag. Otherwise I might use the tools and resources at my parent's this Christmas to try and make one for myself...
that sounds like fun. Let us know how you get on if you do make one.
Jeff Wagner
14-12-2004, 21:09
I bought one of these a few months ago and promptly broke it while attempting to get a light. I wish you better success. A small request - Please do not judge the capability of a real fire piston based on the performance of these glass tubes.
Paganwolf
14-12-2004, 21:12
fire pistons are a fantastic bit of kit as jeff says his are awesome, ive a bufalo horn one and have just ordered one of these to try cheap as so you never know, get one you wont regret it :wink:
Do you know of any good suppilers of good quality inexpensive fire pistons?
Paganwolf
15-12-2004, 06:16
Jeff wagners your man :wink: , i think they start at 35 quid for the do-it-yourself one and I think Geoff from Natural Pathways was going to start selling them :?: but for the cocobolo and buffalo horn your looking at a few more pennies but they are a quality item.... :biggthump
Paganwolf
15-12-2004, 10:56
PW have you got a link?
Here you go buddy, there 40 quid by the way, its there updated website looks good..........http://www.natural-pathways.co.uk/contact.htm :biggthump
My cheapy fire piston arrived today. Good service from the supplier. However the piston itself is poor. The plunger is very uncomfortable to use.
I would recommend adding a few pounds and following PWs link to a decent one. Im alittle disappointed with mine.
Jeff Wagner
16-12-2004, 14:48
Jeff wagners your man :wink: , i think they start at 35 quid for the do-it-yourself one and I think Geoff from Natural Pathways was going to start selling them :?: but for the cocobolo and buffalo horn your looking at a few more pennies but they are a quality item.... :biggthump
Thanks for that Mr. PaganWolf. To those who have not attempted to construct one, the difficulties in making a traditional fire piston are unfortunately not apparent. There is a bit more to it than simply drilling a hole in a piece of wood. I apologize for the high prices however they reflect the amount of work involved. FYI - Quality cutlery is a weakness of mine. From the photos I've seen on this site a trade would be viewed quite favorably :wink:
Jeff
Just received a perspec fire piston through the post, but not the one I linked to before - this one was from a guy in Canada:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~adude/tinderflash.htm
And is particularly lovely - it cost around 20 pounds including postage, took just over a week to get here, and the guy even included some tinder fungus in the package to get me started! :o): He accepts Paypal for postage, which makes paying for the item in dollars a lot easier.
Really nice solid design - I can't recommend these enough, especially at that price!
Jeff Wagner
04-02-2005, 15:39
I have one of these from about six months ago. Has Abe corrected the tiny tinder cavity? I found that a pick was needed in order to get the coal out.
Tinder cavity is 4mm diameter and 6mm deep - which holds a nice lump of tinder fungus or charcloth by the look of things - I'll comment more once I've used it a bit in anger :-)
SamHyman
19-07-2010, 19:44
Hi there. I'm new to this forum - in fact I did a google search for the Hyman Fire Piston, and found this site. I am happy to know that my dad's invention is still getting a mention somewhere.
I grew up around his stuff and many shapes and sizes of fire pistons. He finally finished the prototype and got it marketed a few years before he passed away. The original idea comes in the form of bamboo used by tribes in Borneo. My dad showed his piston to Ray Mears once, who - being fascinated by making fire - had not heard of this method before.
Well, I hope you find it a joy to use!