Coloured flames help

Has anyone tried making a paste, perhaps petroleum jelly + salt of your choice, and smearing on top end of your poi? Centrifugal force should keep it from flying off an sticking to someone. That would be a bad thing - would be a bit like napalm I imagine. If its on the top [inside of swing]. Havent really graduated to flame yet, so I havent tried this idea.

*** BUMP ***

I just found this ...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

It's all based on the physics of flame tests, that you did at school in chemistry.

http://chemistry.allinfoabout.com/features/flametest.html

This has a list of salts, and the "colour active" component. Most of these salts won't dissolve in anything but water though. That's your major problem with salts; they need polar solvents to dissociate and dissolve, and methanol just ain't polar enough. Petrol, parrafin and diesel are useless for this.

Um... why are you saying it again again?

To show off presumeably

and wow.. loks at that NYC.. what a wippersnapper he used to be..
His second post is probably the most important thing to know about coloured flames.

The only problem I've run into with colored flames is the fact that all chemicals that alter the color release fumes much more toxic than typical fuel smoke. Use with caution my friends.

The chemistry here is fairly sound, if a bit overly complex. While hydrogen bonding is present, for example, it is an extraordinarily weak bond. It could not prevent combustion.

Those using lower temperature fuels like lamp oil/kerosene, realize that certain color changing chemicals require a high amount of energy in order to excite electrons to the higher shells to release color. Green is more standard than other colors because it's activation energy is lower. Some colors will only be visible with white gas, which burns at a higher temperature.

Good luck for now; if I can get some work out of the way, I might be able to review a few articles and see if I can't find some harder numbers for everyone.

I said it again because it was quicker than finding the original post I posted it too, and I personally am not a fan of having to click link after link to get to a useful post.

It's all about personal preference really.

hmmmmmmmm i may be off topic here but i remember putting pottasium permanganate into a flame with some very nice coloured flames as a result.


i don't know if there any chemical restrictions on this substance or not but would like to know

Is pottasium permanganate restricted?

Health Rating: 3 - Severe (Life)
Flammability Rating: 0 - None
Reactivity Rating: 3 - Severe (Oxidizer)
Contact Rating: 3 - Severe (Corrosive)
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES & SHIELD; LAB COAT & APRON; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES
Storage Color Code: Yellow (Reactive)

Fire:
Not combustible, but substance is a strong oxidizer and its heat of reaction with reducing agents or combustibles may cause ignition. Contact with oxidizable substances may cause extremely violent combustion.
Explosion:
Strong oxidants may explode when shocked, or if exposed to heat, flame, or friction. Also may act as initiation source for dust or vapor explosions. Contact with oxidizable substances may cause extremely violent combustion. Sealed containers may rupture when heated. Sensitive to mechanical impact.


Probably not the best thing to use...

i'll re-phrase my last post.:nerr:


i was at school and in one science lesson the teacher showed us what happened

i recently found a website that sells fuel to give of coloured flame, safe and easy. i asked them if they had tried kevlar, and if it would work on my poi. they haddent the foggiest wat i was on about. i dirrected them here, so ill keep you posted as to the out come. (unless they get to you first, in which case, remember that i sent them here! lol)

no comment on safety, but here's a pretty demo of the possibilities

I recently discovered in a local hardware store, fuel for sale that gives flames in the colours of red, yellow, green and blue...

this post is probably only useful if you live in australia

I HAVENT TRIED IT YET, BUT I believe A 3:1 OF WHITE GAS : BLEACH-purple?????

ALSO------ACETONE = A MORE ORANGY RED WITH A NEON BLUE CORE!!!sry to post twice let me know if these actually work!!!!

I'm not sure what the bleach and white gas would do but I’m pretty sure you should not be mixing bleach with any thing unless you are a chemist and really freaking know what you are doing.

Bleach mixed with certain substances can spontaneously combust.

ALSO----RANDOM CAPITAL letters and words read like SHOUTING!, and nobody likes SHOUTY PEOPLE at ALL,

No they don't, do they?

has anyone tried titanium flake some research has told me that it works well with kero or lamp oil doesnt change the color but adds a nice sparkle effect to ur poi with out the dangers off Wire wool only problem is u gotta go thru fireworks supplier but is perfectly legal in all countries to posses as far as i know