MagLite Fire Piston - Goingprepared.com

Nice. I just printed off the wiki tutorial page (23 pages). I was so excited that I happened to have the small MagLite (which never worked well--just never threw away [glad I didn't]) and I've been studying numerous fire making techniques lately. Thanks for posting both the video and the tutorial!!

Thanks! The wiki is open for anyone to edit (except for a few pages), so feel free to add anything you think might be useful to others regarding the outdoors.

Excellent video!
Well presented and filmed, all very clear.
The wiki is excellent too, great work, thanks!

I love it

wow Les Stroud would be jealous. good work.

I'm still working on it. :(

The design on the inside is a lot different than the 2AA version, so I want to still make one that people can reproduce without the heavy bench tools that I have.

Any word on the Solitaire version?

Hi, it's maxdadfan under a different user name. I have this pen knife sharpener. I took out the sharpener and did my best to get the tube airtight. Now all I need is something 1/4" in diameter to use as a piston.

I am working on setting up a website to sell related stuff, but hadn't thought about selling these. If enough people want them, I would be willing to sell them.

I was wondering if you sell any of these items. I usually don't like to build things, just buy them. By the way, I'm maxdadfan; I have more than one account.

I understand. I just don't have a whole lot of things to use to make a fire piston. I normally use fire steels, but they run out. In fact, my sl3 knife broke in half within 4 months. I just want a fire starter that is inexpensive but lasts a lifetime.

I think that might be a bit beyond my skill level. Bic pens are not very structurally sound and could break under the extreme pressure needed for a fire piston to work. I would hate for someone to be injured because of something I posted.

Hey. I don't have a mag lite. I was wondering if you could possibly spare some of your time and find out how to make a fire piston with a standard Bic pen. I have plenty of them and wish to have an inexpensive but efficiently working piston. Please post a video. Thank you for all your time.

Yes it is always good to have back up fire, i always have 2 means of fire on me and know the bow drill well also! But it is always fun to try new ways. The challenge is half the trip!

Haha, I'm glad you like it. I am not sure how practical it is though, so you might be better off with a lighter and a few firesteels. It sure is fun to make and play with though. :)

Haha, I'm glad you like it. I am not sure how practical it is though, so you might be better off with a lighter and a few firesteels. It sure is fun to make and play with though. :)

Thanks for the great idea and instructions. I just made one from a Maglite i found in the river and $3.50 of hardware. I got coals the very first try! And i never used a fire piston in my life! This is going on all my outings!

pretty sweet

Just looked at your detailed instructions - great job. I'm a fire piston freak and love this - j

Thanks for this. Thats the next few hours killed...

this is brilliant! i have a 2 AAA maglite that's broken and now i have a good use for it. i also have 2 other maglites that i don't plan on killing at the moment but this is a great idea! thanks, i think i'll make one today.

I don't see why not. I think I have a Solitaire lying around, so I'll try that in the next week or so and post back with the results.

I wonder could a Maglite Solitaire be converted in the same way?
It would be neat to have a fire piston small enough to put it on your keychain.