Slam Rod Fire Starter – Ignition By Air!!

did you know there’s a way to start a

did you know there’s a way to start a fire by squishing air in this project

fire by squishing air in this project

fire by squishing air in this project we’re building a tool that does exactly

we’re building a tool that does exactly

we’re building a tool that does exactly that and with a little bit of

that and with a little bit of

that and with a little bit of resourcefulness we can make this for

resourcefulness we can make this for

resourcefulness we can make this for under a buck

under a buck

under a buck [Music]

the materials for this project cost me

the materials for this project cost me less than a dollar I got these pieces of

less than a dollar I got these pieces of

less than a dollar I got these pieces of scrap acrylic for free and besides those

scrap acrylic for free and besides those

scrap acrylic for free and besides those all I’m going to need are a couple of

all I’m going to need are a couple of

all I’m going to need are a couple of rubber o-rings a one and a half inch

rubber o-rings a one and a half inch

rubber o-rings a one and a half inch bolt and this handle I got off a

bolt and this handle I got off a

bolt and this handle I got off a lawnmower this piece of clear acrylic

lawnmower this piece of clear acrylic

lawnmower this piece of clear acrylic rod fits perfectly into this tube so I’m

rod fits perfectly into this tube so I’m

rod fits perfectly into this tube so I’m ready to form the piston I’ll use a ten

ready to form the piston I’ll use a ten

ready to form the piston I’ll use a ten inch piece of rod and secure it into the

inch piece of rod and secure it into the

inch piece of rod and secure it into the Chuck of my drill press a hacksaw is my

Chuck of my drill press a hacksaw is my

Chuck of my drill press a hacksaw is my tool of choice for cutting a groove in

tool of choice for cutting a groove in

tool of choice for cutting a groove in the plastic rod and with a bit of

the plastic rod and with a bit of

the plastic rod and with a bit of guesswork I’ve made it just big enough

guesswork I’ve made it just big enough

guesswork I’ve made it just big enough to fit this o-ring securely leaving the

to fit this o-ring securely leaving the

to fit this o-ring securely leaving the rubber edges slightly wider than the rod

rubber edges slightly wider than the rod

rubber edges slightly wider than the rod next I’ll place the rod in a bench vise

next I’ll place the rod in a bench vise

next I’ll place the rod in a bench vise protected with a terry cloth and when

protected with a terry cloth and when

protected with a terry cloth and when it’s secured use a 3/16 drill bit to cut

it’s secured use a 3/16 drill bit to cut

it’s secured use a 3/16 drill bit to cut a hole right through the side it’s a

a hole right through the side it’s a

a hole right through the side it’s a clean cut and the spacing is about

clean cut and the spacing is about

clean cut and the spacing is about quarter inch from the o-ring so I’ll

quarter inch from the o-ring so I’ll

quarter inch from the o-ring so I’ll proceed to my chop saw and make a cut

proceed to my chop saw and make a cut

proceed to my chop saw and make a cut just barely touching the top of the hole

just barely touching the top of the hole

just barely touching the top of the hole this has just created a claw that will

this has just created a claw that will

this has just created a claw that will hold my tender it’s time to cut these

hold my tender it’s time to cut these

hold my tender it’s time to cut these pieces to length so I’ll mark them at 6

pieces to length so I’ll mark them at 6

pieces to length so I’ll mark them at 6 inches and cut them together while I’m

inches and cut them together while I’m

inches and cut them together while I’m here I may as well cut an inch off the

here I may as well cut an inch off the

here I may as well cut an inch off the tubing and a small square piece that

tubing and a small square piece that

tubing and a small square piece that I’ll use in a minute okay I’ve got all

I’ll use in a minute okay I’ve got all

I’ll use in a minute okay I’ve got all my pieces cut to length so now I’ll

my pieces cut to length so now I’ll

my pieces cut to length so now I’ll remove the protective paper from this

remove the protective paper from this

remove the protective paper from this little square and carefully cement it to

little square and carefully cement it to

little square and carefully cement it to one end of the tubing this will need to

one end of the tubing this will need to

one end of the tubing this will need to be an airtight seal and I’m hoping this

be an airtight seal and I’m hoping this

be an airtight seal and I’m hoping this weight on top will help with that

weight on top will help with that

weight on top will help with that setting I can get back to making the

setting I can get back to making the

setting I can get back to making the piston this time I’m using my drill

piston this time I’m using my drill

piston this time I’m using my drill press and a quarter inch bit to drill a

press and a quarter inch bit to drill a

press and a quarter inch bit to drill a fold down the inside of the rod my goal

fold down the inside of the rod my goal

fold down the inside of the rod my goal is to get the hole as centered as I can

is to get the hole as centered as I can

is to get the hole as centered as I can and when it’s roughly one and a quarter

and when it’s roughly one and a quarter

and when it’s roughly one and a quarter inches deep it can be transferred back

inches deep it can be transferred back

inches deep it can be transferred back to my bench vise for tapping this is a

to my bench vise for tapping this is a

to my bench vise for tapping this is a 5/16 coarse thread tap and I’m using it

5/16 coarse thread tap and I’m using it

5/16 coarse thread tap and I’m using it because it matches the threads on this

because it matches the threads on this

because it matches the threads on this bolt to make this handle I carefully use

bolt to make this handle I carefully use

bolt to make this handle I carefully use my vise and a 1/2 inch drill bit to

my vise and a 1/2 inch drill bit to

my vise and a 1/2 inch drill bit to hollow up the center which made a large

hollow up the center which made a large

hollow up the center which made a large cavity that I’ll be using later I

cavity that I’ll be using later I

cavity that I’ll be using later I threaded this hex bolt all the way in

threaded this hex bolt all the way in

threaded this hex bolt all the way in and then secured it tightly using a pair

and then secured it tightly using a pair

and then secured it tightly using a pair of pliers you can see the handle and the

of pliers you can see the handle and the

of pliers you can see the handle and the rod thread perfectly together and will

rod thread perfectly together and will

rod thread perfectly together and will just need to be tightened by hand a

just need to be tightened by hand a

just need to be tightened by hand a little acrylic cement is applied to the

little acrylic cement is applied to the

little acrylic cement is applied to the rod near the handle then the one-inch

rod near the handle then the one-inch

rod near the handle then the one-inch piece of tubing is added and cemented in

piece of tubing is added and cemented in

piece of tubing is added and cemented in place by dripping glue into the gaps

place by dripping glue into the gaps

place by dripping glue into the gaps this piece is to help reinforce the area

this piece is to help reinforce the area

this piece is to help reinforce the area where the handle meets the rod that’s

where the handle meets the rod that’s

where the handle meets the rod that’s setting and it looks like the tubing is

setting and it looks like the tubing is

setting and it looks like the tubing is cured enough to knock down the base on

cured enough to knock down the base on

cured enough to knock down the base on my belt sander

my belt sander

my belt sander just a minute of sanding and the base is

just a minute of sanding and the base is

just a minute of sanding and the base is rounded and looking much

rounded and looking much

rounded and looking much better to help it cure airtight I’ll

better to help it cure airtight I’ll

better to help it cure airtight I’ll clap it together and leave it overnight

clap it together and leave it overnight

clap it together and leave it overnight to finish off the piston all I need to

to finish off the piston all I need to

to finish off the piston all I need to do is slide the other o-ring into place

do is slide the other o-ring into place

do is slide the other o-ring into place and this will help cushion the acrylic

and this will help cushion the acrylic

and this will help cushion the acrylic pieces from impact with each other as

pieces from impact with each other as

pieces from impact with each other as well as create a slight gap between the

well as create a slight gap between the

well as create a slight gap between the tinder claw and the chamber base a

tinder claw and the chamber base a

tinder claw and the chamber base a little bit of lubrication is added to

little bit of lubrication is added to

little bit of lubrication is added to the o-ring and this $1 fire piston is

the o-ring and this $1 fire piston is

the o-ring and this $1 fire piston is looking awesome

looking awesome

looking awesome I even found a little cap that fits

I even found a little cap that fits

I even found a little cap that fits perfectly into the handle I had enough

perfectly into the handle I had enough

perfectly into the handle I had enough material to make another piston I’m

material to make another piston I’m

material to make another piston I’m gonna test the small one first using

gonna test the small one first using

gonna test the small one first using some char cloth I made in a previous

some char cloth I made in a previous

some char cloth I made in a previous video I don’t need very much and this

video I don’t need very much and this

video I don’t need very much and this little piece should work fine when

little piece should work fine when

little piece should work fine when that’s rolled up and placed in the grips

that’s rolled up and placed in the grips

that’s rolled up and placed in the grips of the tinder claw

of the tinder claw

of the tinder claw I’ll gently insert the rod into the

I’ll gently insert the rod into the

I’ll gently insert the rod into the chamber until the o-ring presses inside

chamber until the o-ring presses inside

chamber until the o-ring presses inside then with one swift downward stroke I’ve

then with one swift downward stroke I’ve

then with one swift downward stroke I’ve got ignition and my tinder is burning

got ignition and my tinder is burning

got ignition and my tinder is burning I’ll try that again and this attempt was

I’ll try that again and this attempt was

I’ll try that again and this attempt was just as successful by compressing the

just as successful by compressing the

just as successful by compressing the air quickly enough the temperature

air quickly enough the temperature

air quickly enough the temperature shoots up hundreds of degrees Celsius in

shoots up hundreds of degrees Celsius in

shoots up hundreds of degrees Celsius in a fraction of a second enough to ignite

a fraction of a second enough to ignite

a fraction of a second enough to ignite char cloth and other types of tinder

char cloth and other types of tinder

char cloth and other types of tinder into burning embers the cavity in the

into burning embers the cavity in the

into burning embers the cavity in the piston handle is perfect for storing

piston handle is perfect for storing

piston handle is perfect for storing some char cloth and the cap will hold it

some char cloth and the cap will hold it

some char cloth and the cap will hold it in place to see if this will work out in

in place to see if this will work out in

in place to see if this will work out in the woods I’ve readied a tinder bundle

the woods I’ve readied a tinder bundle

the woods I’ve readied a tinder bundle made from dry grass and when my fuel is

made from dry grass and when my fuel is

made from dry grass and when my fuel is loaded I’ll give the piston a whack

loaded I’ll give the piston a whack

loaded I’ll give the piston a whack there it is

there it is

there it is I’ve instantly got a glowing Ember and

I’ve instantly got a glowing Ember and

I’ve instantly got a glowing Ember and using a piece of grass to transfer it

using a piece of grass to transfer it

using a piece of grass to transfer it into the nest works pretty well the heat

into the nest works pretty well the heat

into the nest works pretty well the heat is building and this little bundle

is building and this little bundle

is building and this little bundle almost explosively bursts into flames

almost explosively bursts into flames

almost explosively bursts into flames that happened pretty fast and before I

that happened pretty fast and before I

that happened pretty fast and before I burned myself I better get this over to

burned myself I better get this over to

burned myself I better get this over to the fire pit this bundle is a little

the fire pit this bundle is a little

the fire pit this bundle is a little damp so I’m adding a piece of char cloth

damp so I’m adding a piece of char cloth

damp so I’m adding a piece of char cloth inside the nest to help it develop a

inside the nest to help it develop a

inside the nest to help it develop a flame and there it is and it’s taking

flame and there it is and it’s taking

flame and there it is and it’s taking off fast

off fast

off fast yikes I’ve been getting ignition on

yikes I’ve been getting ignition on

yikes I’ve been getting ignition on nearly every stroke and this is proving

nearly every stroke and this is proving

nearly every stroke and this is proving to be an easy and fairly reliable way to

to be an easy and fairly reliable way to

to be an easy and fairly reliable way to start a fire without matches some people

start a fire without matches some people

start a fire without matches some people say this little tool was commonly used

say this little tool was commonly used

say this little tool was commonly used in the 1800s and was the inspiration

in the 1800s and was the inspiration

in the 1800s and was the inspiration behind the diesel engine with this tube

behind the diesel engine with this tube

behind the diesel engine with this tube being completely see-through it’s

being completely see-through it’s

being completely see-through it’s exciting to witness the actual ignition

exciting to witness the actual ignition

exciting to witness the actual ignition point of my fuels and for under $1 it

point of my fuels and for under $1 it

point of my fuels and for under $1 it was definitely a project worth the

was definitely a project worth the

was definitely a project worth the investment that’s another item for my

investment that’s another item for my

investment that’s another item for my emergency kit and a great way to see

emergency kit and a great way to see

emergency kit and a great way to see science in action if you liked this

science in action if you liked this

science in action if you liked this project perhaps you’ll like some of my

project perhaps you’ll like some of my

project perhaps you’ll like some of my others check them out at the king of

others check them out at the king of

others check them out at the king of random calm