A piston is a block that pushes other blocks when a redstone input is pulsed into it. Pistons can push most blocks, depending on how they have been situated, and sticky pistons can also pull. Making pistons is simple, as explained here.
Method 1 of 4: Crafting a normal piston
1Find the materials needed:
- Find four cobblestones. Mine normal stone and it turns to cobblestone, or mine cobblestone.
- Get one redstone. This is found underground when mining.
- Get one iron. This is mined underground, then needs to be smelted.
- Get three wooden planks. Cut down a tree, put a log in your crafting table and you'll get four wooden planks. Three are needed for the PistonRecipe.
2Place all of the materials into the crafting grid in the PistonRecipe formation:
- Place the three wood across the top three slots of the grid.
- Place the iron in the middle spot of the grid.
- Place the redstone directly under the iron.
- Place the cobblestones in the leftover spots.
3Craft the piston. When done, shift click or drag to your inventory.
Method 2 of 4: Crafting a sticky piston
Sticky pistons are able to push and pull blocks. Normal pistons can only push. This makes sticky pistons more versatile. However, two normal pistons could push back and forth if needed.
1Make a piston as outlined above.
2Find a slimeball. This can be found by killing a slime. You'll find slimes underground in certain chunks. When the slime is killed, it will drop a green slimeball.
3Place the piston and slimeball into the crafting grid as follows:
- Place the slimeball in the center slot.
- Place the piston directly underneath it.
4Craft the sticky piston. When done, shift click or drag into your inventory.
Method 3 of 4: Powering the pistons
1Apply any kind of redstone input (redstone dust) to the piston and it will extend. It will push the blocks that it has been placed next to. If it's a sticky piston, it will pull the block as well.
- The redstone trail must lead directly to the piston. It isn't enough to put the redstone next to a piston, as this won't work. You may even need to curve the redstone trail to activate the piston.
- Redstone inputs include: Redstone torch, a lever, a button, etc.
Method 4 of 4: Building with pistons
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- Pistons are not able to push a chain of blocks over 12 blocks. By this point, it's just too long.
- Some items will turn into something else if pushed. For example, cactus, pumpkins, dragon eggs, sugar cane and jack-o-lanterns turn into drops when pushed. They are redeemable by walking over them again. Melons will turn into slices, allowing your character to consume them (you cannot eat a melon when it is whole). Cobwebs will turn into string, which can be used for things like fishing rods and bows.
- Some blocks cannot be pushed by a piston (or pulled). For example, anvils are simply too heavy. Obsidian, bedrock, end portals and nether portals cannot be pushed. Pistons cannot push lava or water but they can obstruct either type of block.
Things You'll Need
- Minecraft, installed
Sources and Citations
- Cross checked against Minecraft Wiki, http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Piston
In other languages:
Português: Como Fazer um Pistão no Minecraft, Italiano: Come Costruire un Pistone in Minecraft, Español: Cómo hacer un pistón en Minecraft, Русский: сделать поршень в майнкрафте, 中文: 在Minecraft中做出活塞, Deutsch: Einen Kolben in Minecraft herstellen, Nederlands: Een duwmachine maken in Minecraft, Français: Comment fabriquer un piston dans Minecraft, Bahasa Indonesia: Membuat Piston Di Minecraft
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