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Fire Piston
EA put up a few threads about fire pistons. In answering his question as to why I didn't have one, I just didn't - no particular reason. Then when he posted the videos of making one, I thought - I could do that.....sort of.
Materials list:
1/2" copper pipe
1/2" copper end cap
1/2" dowel
#8 rubber o-ring
scrap wood
I cut the pipe and dowel, made the slot for the o-ring with a file, used a 1/4" drill bit for the recessed end.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...rojects002.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...rojects013.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...rojects014.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...rojects015.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...rojects017.jpg
We've been getting some pretty impressive afternoon thunderstorms lately. Here's the view from outside my workshop while I was working.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...rojects006.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...rojects011.jpg
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...rojects012.jpg
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Fire pistons fascinate me. I may have to do a project.
I assume you soldered the cap on the copper?
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No I didn't. It was a tight fit, and I rested the base on a hard surface before I pushed the piston in. This was just to see if I could do it. The fit of the dowel isn't the greatest. The pipe manufacturers idea of 1/2" ID and the dowel manufacturers idea of 1/2" OD are a tad off. I used some lip balm to help with the seal, but it could be better.
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that's a real tight fit.
Thanks CD.
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That is awesome Crash! I like it!That thing is smoking!
I love creating useful tools and take pride in using them. I use mine to build a fire in the smoker when friends and family are over for a BBQ and from time to time the fire place.
So how easy would you rate this project?
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This was very easy. It took about 20 minutes to put together. I still had to fiddle around with it to make it work, but I may play around a bit and get a better fit.
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I have a Fostner bit I am thinking of using to make a wood one. Just one of those " i will one day" projects
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I had to look up fostner bit - wasn't sure what it was. Wouldn't a regular bit work?
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The fostner bit by it's design drills with the leading face and allows the side of the bit to keep it from wandering as many times happens with a fluted bit. It therefore drills a rounder hole which should make for a better fit with the piston. I have thought a few times about building a fire piston using my lathe for both the drilling and to turn the piston. Kinda high tech some might say but probably the most accurate way as far as fit.
oldtrap
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Thanks for the explanation.
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