Bigfoot Researchers: Fire Piston, Start a Fire With Compressed Air

Make your own fire starter that uses compressed air and burns at 500 degrees! Fire pistons are no secret to avid campers and survival enthusiasts, but you don't have to be the outdoorsy type to build one of your own.

The primitive Fire Piston operates on the same principle as a diesel engine. When air molecules are rapidly compressed within the cylinder, the temperature of the air becomes hot enough to cause combustion. A single thrust of the piston ignites tinder placed in the end of the shaft. Since fire pistons create fire through compression, they function even after complete submersion and make an excellent addition to survival gear. The fire-piston is capable of creating a live ember in a fraction of a second and open flames in less than 30 seconds... even in windy conditions.

While fire pistons are difficult to construct, they are durable and reliable. A properly maintained fire piston will provide many hundreds of lights. When they eventually do become worn, original performance can be restored in minutes by replacing the rubber gasket.