How do you wick your stick?

I'm thinking about re-wicking my 4 footers or maybe just building new 5 footers. I want LOTS of fire though.

Obviously this takes a lot of wick so trying to figure out how I'm going to do it. At the moment I'm thinking 2 sets of 2 feet of 4 inch wick, side by side on each side (8 inches of wick on each side, 2 feet long).

I wonder would 2 feet give me a decent enough burn time? 8 inches still doesn't seem that big when I look at it though

Bluecat, how's those sticks you use on O'Minero that have fire down the length wicked and how do they work?

As you all know wick is expensive so anybody's ideas or comments on what wick you have and how you find it would be gladly recieved.

James

Nah... Why do things by halfs? Get a 6 metres of 6cm wick and do two 1.5m long wicks at each end. Phat wicks is what you want... I think also if you could find 8cm wide kevlar it would be better, as well, you wouldn't have the gap... Or three lots of 4cm would do too...

And when you're attaching them I think it helps to wrap masking tape around the wicks before you start screwing in screws/bolts. It keeps the wick in place, and it makes the whole screwing process easier. (and it comes off at the end too! It's only masking tape.)

fire scares me.

There is a staff version of the Canon balls. I'll have to post a picture. Extreme amount of flame for the amount of wicking you use. When you wrap wicking over itself to bulk up the wick head, the covered wicking just becomes a sponge for fuel. It's not exposed to fire and as much heat. Use something else to bulk up the head then cover it with the expensive kevlar. There is pictures of the Canon balls in my gallery. Hopefully they'll give you some ideas.

i'm currently makeing a staff, and i was wondering how much kevlar i need to buy for a good, reasonable sized wick. any suggestions?

I have 8 inches of wick on each end of my stick, which is about 4-5 feet total length.

Its hot and scary enough with 8 inches I would not recommend going any more unless you have a very long stick. 8 inches is practically too much as it is, if im not twirling it, it gets burny handy.

It burns for a long time, more than enough to get me tired, and does not go out easily, which is great if you want to go fast.

The sound is very impressive as well.

i use on my staffs that i sell... 50cm of 4 inch wick on easch end as a base

this gives a really good visual burn time, as as the tick is wrapped tightly the fule can not escape as eaily as with a lose wick, meaning teh fire draws it out better and thus a better burn

if you wish to extend you wicks then butt up next to it the desired length

i would start with adding maybe about 2inches to your 4, or if you wish add 4 to four right up next to it

this will give you a differnet style flame size, and a larger flame at burn off, but more wick means more fire, so be carefull, you dont wnat to have so much wick the staff is unusable due to teh lames lick up the staff and burn your hands, and also yuo dont wnat it to produce so many fumes that it makes you ill

the most i have had on a staff os 16 inches, and taht hurt!

the flames rose up teh staff and burn my hands so that they tingled it was not very nice, shorty afater the staff was killed and teh wick used on different toys!

if you can have a look at other peoples stcisk around you at your next meet, you might find a 6inch flame is teh right way to go for you

strugz has a 6inch wick after he saw mine a while back, and taht what i like, although at the mo im using 4 inch wicks ill be going back to 6 when i make my new toys

enjoy

I was think about wrapping the wicking down the staff until it was as long as i needed it to be and then adding layers as required.

my question would be whats the minimum number of layers you can get away with.

right now i have 6 2ft lengths of 4inch whid wick just waiting to be gobbled yup by a fire monster.

I just burned with my double wicks......it was great. A lot of fire. best time of my life. :Smile:

Another way of wicking a stick for lots of fire surface are using kevlar rope.

Cut out a groove across the top of the staff, lay the rope in it and then twist away. It should look like one of those twister lollies when done but it dont arf get hot!

The end is finished with a screw and washer to hold in place (part timber core)

Burn time is about 6-7mins and its surprising the fuel they hold - this was with 1/4inch rope.

Scroll down a little but - my stix

I made them ages ago and the pix are not great nut they will give you an idea of what im going on about............

Have fun

strugz.......could i get you to make me some sticks if i give you some cash? as i want a pair that are not bendy like mine

Check pmz 2moz, got to go work now

but yeh

thank you

how do u get the wicks to stick to the staff ???

u can u wire

drill a hole threw the staff wrap the kevla around
push wire through then twist it

it gets hot if u dont drill same holes further down the staff

have any 1 tried different hole sizes 4 different harmonics ??

with towel wicks y do people say to cover in in PVA glues wats does PVA glue do ???

I'm really lazy. When I run out of whick, I just buy a new staff.

a quick wuesion , should the wick be rolled tight on the staff, or a little looser , or realy loose.. i thought that a little loose would be best, cos then the fuel can get into the middle that bit easier.. any advice/ suggestions out there?

I thought looser, meant a faster brighter burn, with more air, better burn offs etc.

Ben told me tighter is better and I am converted at the moment. Burn offs are still fine, burns longer and plenty bright.

I think tighter'll have the wicks last longer tooo....

Yep... wicks last longer if they are tighter (I've found)... not too tight though, cos then the fuel doesn't get into it properly.