CAN'T GET LIT COAL

[rabradman]

It arrived today and I've played with it ( acrylic cylinder, aluminum piston). I can't seem to get it to "flash" pushing the piston into the tube. If I brace the piston on a rock firplace and push down I can get it to "flash" - but it is "out" by the time I get the piston out. I would say maybe 10-20% flash rate with supplies charcloth.

Any thoughts?

Should I replace charcloth and purge piston after each attempt? How fast is piston pulled out? Any video to show how much char cloth to use.

[JAHNS79]

sorry it took so long to get back to you, I have been very busy the last two weeks.  First i would like to say that striking the piston against another surface other than your hand can cause damage to the cylinder base and after repeated strikes against a hard surface may damage the integrity of the cylinder.  The charcloth I sent in the package with you is the same that I used to proof light the firepopper before it was shipped.  There is a little technique that you will develop that will make the piston light very reliably but it takes time to get it  down.  You say you are getting a flash and this is a very good sign.  It means you are real close.   To answer your Questions the char cloth should be fine as long as it is dry and I always recommend you purge the cylinder after every attempt because the flash you are getting is using up most of the oxygen in the firepopper.