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Home made fire staff, aluminum problem

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#829931 - 13/06/07 07:51 PM Home made fire staff, aluminum problem
Masked52 member Registered: 13/06/07 Loc: Kiwi land sounds great!	I made a fire long staff using aluminum electrical piping from Home Depot, the dimensions were 19.05 mm diam x 1.6 mm. It's quite heavy as well. But recently, actually almost right after I made it, it showed signs of bending, the ends going down. I'm not sure if this was just the pipe, although I don't remember noticing it, or what it was. Any ideas, advice? Thanks! Edited by Masked52 (14/06/07 01:29 PM)
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#829932 - 13/06/07 08:16 PM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: Masked52]
bender still can't believe it's not butter Registered: 14/11/01 Loc: Melbourne, Australia	heat makes metal more malleable. don't set it on fire. fire is hot. _________________________ Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
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#829933 - 13/06/07 08:23 PM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: bender]
Masked52 member Registered: 13/06/07 Loc: Kiwi land sounds great!	I plugged the ends, so you're saying it's just natural from burning, and shouldn't affect my spinning? _________________________ Fire eaters are the most conceited people. Especially when they're on fire. "Help me, save me, put me out, me, me, me..." -Paolo the Fire Eater
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#829934 - 14/06/07 04:27 AM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: Masked52]
*HyperLight old hand Registered: 09/12/03 Loc: Great Malvern [UK]	Written by: Masked52 19.05 m diam x 1.6 mm. 19.05 metres diameter by 1.6mm long? I'm not surprised it's bending! Maybe that should be 19.05mm diameter by 1.6m long? How thick are the walls of the pipe? Aluminium is a relatively soft metal (some grades of it are softer than others too) and as people have already said, heating it will make it softer still. I'm not much of a staff spinner, but I do know that trying to spin a bent staff is considerably more difficult than a straight one. I'd suggest trying again with a steel tube, thicker aluminium, or a harder grade of aluminium - good luck! _________________________ Cake or Death?
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#829935 - 14/06/07 11:40 AM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: *HyperLight]
simta compfuzzled Registered: 11/04/06 Loc: hastings	or have a wood core which will give the staff more strength _________________________ "the geeks have got you" - Gayle
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#829936 - 14/06/07 12:00 PM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: simta]
bender still can't believe it's not butter Registered: 14/11/01 Loc: Melbourne, Australia	^^ that's usually a great idea, however this may make an already havey staff unwieldy. _________________________ Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
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#829937 - 14/06/07 12:04 PM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: bender]
simta compfuzzled Registered: 11/04/06 Loc: hastings	ahhh you'll get used to the weight a week or two down the line you wont notice _________________________ "the geeks have got you" - Gayle
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#829938 - 14/06/07 01:23 PM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: simta]
ubersmack journeyman Registered: 09/07/06 Loc: Wisconsin	I would suggest an all wood staff with copper sheathing where the wicks will be, copper or aluminum. I have worked with copper though and it handles heat well, i.e. not bending. _________________________ "Runs with Scissors"
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#829939 - 14/06/07 01:29 PM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: ubersmack]
bender still can't believe it's not butter Registered: 14/11/01 Loc: Melbourne, Australia	simta, in my experience, the best situation is when you craft to match your skill set, not the other way 'round. it will make a huge difference to rely on a range of toys that will be flexible enough to allow you to attempt the biggest range of moves. Don't limit yourself needlessly. _________________________ Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
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#829940 - 14/06/07 08:35 PM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: bender]
DarkFyre HoP mage and keeper of the fireballs Registered: 04/11/05 Loc: Palmerston North	quick question M52 is the entire staff bending into a U shape or is it crushing at the ends into a mis-shaped oval If it is bending into a U then staighten it and give it a wood core If the ends are crushing then stop droping it _________________________ May my balls of fire set your balls on fire
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#829941 - 15/06/07 04:01 AM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: DarkFyre]
Masked52 member Registered: 13/06/07 Loc: Kiwi land sounds great!	Written by: dizzypheonix quick question M52 is the entire staff bending into a U shape or is it crushing at the ends into a mis-shaped oval If it is bending into a U then staighten it and give it a wood core If the ends are crushing then stop droping it
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#829942 - 15/06/07 04:38 AM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: Masked52]
Rellizate old hand Registered: 10/02/07 Loc: Cambridge, UK	Too heavy at the ends. Wodden dowl it?
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#829943 - 15/06/07 05:12 AM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: Rellizate]
Masked52 member Registered: 13/06/07 Loc: Kiwi land sounds great!	Written by: Rellizate Too heavy at the ends. Wodden dowl it? I only plugged the very ends with dowels. So that could indeed be the problem. If I could figure out how to remove the silicone attached dowels I would, but it looks like my best bet is to make a new staff. Is removing burnt wick and reapplying it alright for the wick?
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#829944 - 15/06/07 05:36 AM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: Masked52]
*HyperLight old hand Registered: 09/12/03 Loc: Great Malvern [UK]	Written by: Masked52 If I could figure out how to remove the silicone attached dowels I would 1) screw a screw into the dowel 2) clamp the end of the screw in a vice or get someone strong to hold it with some pliers 3) pull like an ox on the staff 4) marvel at your dowel-less staff _________________________ Cake or Death?
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#829945 - 15/06/07 06:36 AM Re: Home made fire staff, aluminum problem [Re: *HyperLight]
Rellizate old hand Registered: 10/02/07 Loc: Cambridge, UK	Yeah, but make sure it's a long screw. I did that once, and it just broke the dowl in the middle of the staff. >: -(
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