Before the discovery of K. Chancel in Paris in 1805, various methods were used to produce fire. Most people have heard of the flint and steel method, which was widespread and in use two centuries ago. But before that (about five centuries later) fire drill or fire plow was the most common method. In these ways the harder wooden back is rolled or rubbed in the groove of the softer wood, until a glowing half is produced. Native Americans are said to have used flint and iron as a method of producing fire, even before Europeans introduced iron. America – they used iron pyrite against flint instead of hammered steel. Fires are so difficult to start in these ways that punk coals are dug up and kept burning and stored to facilitate the process.
What, then, do these methods of making fire have in common? Friction The fire is used as a source to generate heat. But did you know that there is another way to burn that you probably haven’t even thought about? I force the air. The inhabitants of Southeast Asia created fire by compressed air rather than by friction. Although the “piston fire” device used for this purpose (which is simple in craft and made of wood) seems simple enough to build, it still requires significantly more skill to manufacture than other common methods of making fire.
A fire piston consists of a wooden cylinder closed at one end. A wooden dowel rod is precisely carved into this cylinder. A small hole is made at the end of the trick through which the cylinder enters, and a small piece of wood (char-cloth commonly used today, which can be cotton material burnt on metal) is placed at the end of the trick. Again, as above this end, a thin plant fiber or string is wound around to form a gasket. Gasket and dowel then coated with animal fat for lubrication. The gasket is inserted into the cylinder and, with one stroke of the screen, the doma is lowered into the depth of the cylinder, and is quickly withdrawn to reveal a glowing spark in the fuel. Fire is made from the compression of air! (The technical term is actually “adiabatic”, which is a thermodynamic process that depends on heat or cold whether the gas pressure is increased or decreased).
A piston fire sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? But believe me, these thoughts are difficult and tedious to construct, when the room has to be completely air-tight. For this method of producing fire may be considered an art rather than a science. Even though it looks like a section of bamboo ready to be rolled is easy, the actual manufacturing and maintenance of this craft requires great skill. And once you have the piston fire built and at your discretion, you’ll have a lighter cigarette that never requires fluid or flint!
The New York Times reported in 1876 that a piston fire had been discovered in 1745 by Abbé Augustin Ruffo, who was quoted in a report by Professor Govi who said it in a book published by Father Boscovich in 1755 entitled ‘The Clever Mechanism.’ Diesel also claimed that Rudolph was inspired to produce his famous diesel engine by looking at the piston.
Another unusual device was used to produce fire, which I call a penitential machine. An old acquaintance of mine said that he served a short sentence in prison many years ago and while he was incarcerated, he observed prisoners using cigarette lighters that they had built out of scraps of commercial lighters. To build one, the small wheel, which turns against the flint in the normal lighters, is first removed, then a thread of about two feet is doubled, and the ends tied together. This double string is inserted through the hole in the wheel, and a wooden plug is inserted to hold the wheel in the center of the double string. Then the aspirin tin was filled with linen, and the ends of the string were held in the hands, and the wheel was wound round the string. The ends of the string were pulled outwards to break the string, which would spin the wheel rapidly to the bottom of the pond. The sparks are ignited at intervals, from which the cigarette could then be lit. Captives saved money on par, lighter fluid, and more flints of tobacco were consumed. !
Practice a few of the fire methods listed above and see if they come in handy on your next camping trip. Or you might want to try making your own firecracker. If you do this, you will first understand that it will take a lot of skill and patience to work properly.
Sources:
“Fire Making,” Wildwood Wisdom by Ellsworth Jaeger, 1945. Macmillan Company, New York.
Backwoodsman Magazine, Vol. 26 No. 3, June 2005
Wikipedia, Fire piston, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_piston
Wikipedia, Match, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Match
