Fire piston
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A fire piston, sometimes called a fire syringe or a slam rod fire starter, is a device of ancient Southeast Asian origin which is used to kindle fire. It uses the principle of the heating of a gas by
Demonstration of a fire piston
Modern fire piston made from 1/2" PVC pipe, wood dowel, and rubber O-ring
Fire pistons from Thailand (1,2); the Philippines (3,4); and Java, Indonesia (5)
Modern replica of a Southeast Asian fire piston made from cocobolo
Bellows
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Bellows are a device constructed to expel a controlled blast of air. The simplest type consists of a flexible bag comprising a pair of rigid boards with handles joined by flexible leather sides enclos
Fire piston
…definite proofs linking Madagascar with a Southeast Asian origin. The principles governing fire pistons were also used to construct Southeast Asian piston bellows with bamboo. These piston bellows could pump sufficient air into a furnace to produce temperatures high enough to melt metal, which led to the independent…
Hand-made English fireplace bellows
A preserved baker's bellows at Deutsches Werkzeugmuseum (German Tools Museum) at Remscheid.
Old bellows used on goldfield near Milparinka, N.S.W., Australia. 1976.
Pair of piston bellow tubes and plungers used by the Moro on display at the Museum of the Filipino People in Manila's Rizal Park.