Simple Fire Piston Lighting Chaga

This is a simple fire piston made from maple hardwood scrap. I wanted to make a 'quick and dirty' fire piston concentrating on function rather than form. In other words, it's ugly, but it works.

I'm guessing the piston cylinder is a 5/16" hole 3 1/4" deep. It's been sanded smooth with various grits of sand paper.

The piston rod has a channel cut into it around 1/32" deep for a gasket. The gasket is cotton string and is lubed with water or petroleum jelly.

There's no sealant applied other in the bore once it's used.

I'm lighting chaga in the video and using that ember to ignite another piece as a coal extender.