Forums > Other Toys > anyone made teabags?
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2 posts
Location: Georgia USA
2 posts
Location: Georgia USA
Posted:
When I was doing a show at Glastonbury Fest a few years back, I saw the use of what was called 'tea-bags'. Basically they seemed to consist of a big wire-mesh poi head filled with steel wool and fuel. When burned and spun it produced a large cascade of glowing iron filings, a bit like a Catherine-Wheel
Clearly not a toy to be used anywhere near an audience (it had a spread of around 50 feet), but visually very striking.
Has anyone made one of these? Im wondering if there needs to be wick inside with the steel wool, and what the minimum guage of mesh should be on the outside, to hold in the steel wool but let out the sparks.
I'll experiment, and post the results, but if anyone has any experience they would like to share, I would be most grateful!
Cheerie
anonymi
When I was doing a show at Glastonbury Fest a few years back, I saw the use of what was called 'tea-bags'. Basically they seemed to consist of a big wire-mesh poi head filled with steel wool and fuel. When burned and spun it produced a large cascade of glowing iron filings, a bit like a Catherine-Wheel
Clearly not a toy to be used anywhere near an audience (it had a spread of around 50 feet), but visually very striking.
Has anyone made one of these? Im wondering if there needs to be wick inside with the steel wool, and what the minimum guage of mesh should be on the outside, to hold in the steel wool but let out the sparks.
I'll experiment, and post the results, but if anyone has any experience they would like to share, I would be most grateful!
Cheerie
anonymi
tePOOKatoo - physical pyrotechnic performance
GOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
hello and cool name, mr tePOOKatoo! I sense great mischief-makingin your name!
these pois with sparks (let's for the moment call them 'Sparkly Poi', shall we?) will needs some wicking and/or fuel to set up the hot temperature for the wire wool to combust smoothly.
An open cage configuration may be difficult to regulate the flow of molten bits - perhaps it may help to search for the thread topic on 'Black Bush' Poi and the accompanying howto thread for it. It's the most thought out poi-that-is-sparkly IMHO, and there's even an amply illustrated website devoted to it!
hello and cool name, mr tePOOKatoo! I sense great mischief-makingin your name!
these pois with sparks (let's for the moment call them 'Sparkly Poi', shall we?) will needs some wicking and/or fuel to set up the hot temperature for the wire wool to combust smoothly.
An open cage configuration may be difficult to regulate the flow of molten bits - perhaps it may help to search for the thread topic on 'Black Bush' Poi and the accompanying howto thread for it. It's the most thought out poi-that-is-sparkly IMHO, and there's even an amply illustrated website devoted to it!
Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
starring Skippy the green llama
1,148 posts
Location: Seattle, WA
1,148 posts
Location: Seattle, WA
Posted:
do a search for sparkly poi, or steel wool..I think the latest design that's come up has been Black Bushs', and seems to be a nice design(I plan on trying it for my next pair). The wire mesh I use(seems to be pretty common in sparkly poi deezign) is the chikin wire with square holes about 1/4 in (r .635 cm) square. No wick necessary, just a qwik dip n burn..
do a search for sparkly poi, or steel wool..I think the latest design that's come up has been Black Bushs', and seems to be a nice design(I plan on trying it for my next pair). The wire mesh I use(seems to be pretty common in sparkly poi deezign) is the chikin wire with square holes about 1/4 in (r .635 cm) square. No wick necessary, just a qwik dip n burn..
First intention, then enlightenment..
Ars Pyronomica
" Life is programmed. Whether death is programmed or not is yet to be determined."
GOLD Member
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
still can't believe it's not butter
6,978 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
also larger poi-that-are-quite-sparkly have been previously made to hugeness, like that twirled by Knagi, others have referred to these large poi as fire pillows.
also, the Flaming Butterflies (WA, OZtralia) use material other than wire wool to bootifewl effect - they have a video on their site that demonstrate this.
also larger poi-that-are-quite-sparkly have been previously made to hugeness, like that twirled by Knagi, others have referred to these large poi as fire pillows.
also, the Flaming Butterflies (WA, OZtralia) use material other than wire wool to bootifewl effect - they have a video on their site that demonstrate this.
Laugh Often, Smile Much, Post lolcats Always
I don't want a title.
940 posts
940 posts
Posted:
Boo. I thought this thread was going to be about the actual teabags in Spinning in Paris.
Boo. I thought this thread was going to be about the actual teabags in Spinning in Paris.
E pluribus unum, baby.
member
34 posts
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
34 posts
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Posted:
Most people I know call this pyro crack. Not for the faint of heart. Wear a shirt with long sleeves.
one of the guys in my crew made a small set for a stage performance at Burning Man 2002:
Non-Https Image Link
-david
a.k.a. fireninja
Most people I know call this pyro crack. Not for the faint of heart. Wear a shirt with long sleeves.
one of the guys in my crew made a small set for a stage performance at Burning Man 2002:
Non-Https Image Link
-david
a.k.a. fireninja
BRONZE Member
confused and abused
363 posts
Location: bristol, United Kingdom
confused and abused
363 posts
Location: bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
When you use wire wool it's crazy, any contact with anything cools the sparks down. I did it bareback and the sparks p****d all over me and i didn't feel them at all.
I found that if you only use wire wool though the poi are a little too light (to my liking anyway) it's good to use some denim or something slow burning, that does eventually burn, so the spin has a good amount of sparks all the way through your spin and lasts more than 30 secs.
The best way i have found is to wrap sheets of wire wool round with denim too
--------------------wire wool layer
____________denim layer just roll up together
Just wrap them fairly tightly around each other as wicks and burn!
Enjoy and don't be scared to spin them really fast (more sparks!)
Tennis
When you use wire wool it's crazy, any contact with anything cools the sparks down. I did it bareback and the sparks p****d all over me and i didn't feel them at all.
I found that if you only use wire wool though the poi are a little too light (to my liking anyway) it's good to use some denim or something slow burning, that does eventually burn, so the spin has a good amount of sparks all the way through your spin and lasts more than 30 secs.
The best way i have found is to wrap sheets of wire wool round with denim too
--------------------wire wool layer
____________denim layer just roll up together
Just wrap them fairly tightly around each other as wicks and burn!
Enjoy and don't be scared to spin them really fast (more sparks!)
Tennis
My cat's breath smells like catfood
member
11 posts
Location: M-town
11 posts
Location: M-town
Posted:
four steel wool pads made into a square with wire and leaving enough loose wire to make a circle harness, hang one on each poi,soak with fuel choice "mine being kerosene",ignite in manner of choosing. I suggest using the forward weave. You will get appx. fifty foot full circle screaming spark furry.burn time is close to a minute depending upon variables.
four steel wool pads made into a square with wire and leaving enough loose wire to make a circle harness, hang one on each poi,soak with fuel choice "mine being kerosene",ignite in manner of choosing. I suggest using the forward weave. You will get appx. fifty foot full circle screaming spark furry.burn time is close to a minute depending upon variables.
bones heal and chicks dig scars
geek, level 1
5,300 posts
Location: everywhere
5,300 posts
Location: everywhere
Posted:
morning toph...
never thought i'd see you here? (not enough dreads
)
will email ya soonest from darkest NZ
love to you and yourr lovely ms kate.....
(ps theres a search function onHoP )
R
morning toph...
never thought i'd see you here? (not enough dreads
)will email ya soonest from darkest NZ
love to you and yourr lovely ms kate.....
(ps theres a search function onHoP
)R
Holistic Spinner (I hope)
BRONZE Member
member
4 posts
Location: glasgow, United Kingdom
member
4 posts
Location: glasgow, United Kingdom
Posted:
what about putting them out?
what about putting them out?
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,009 posts
Location: Bristol, UK
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,009 posts
Location: Bristol, UK
Posted:
No fair! I thought this was going to be an interesting thread about spinning teabags, but no, it's boring old sparkly poi.
Teabag spinning is much more fun!
No fair! I thought this was going to be an interesting thread about spinning teabags, but no, it's boring old sparkly poi.
Teabag spinning is much more fun!
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Posted:
Weren't you spinning tea bags on the picture on the spinning in paris download screen Dom?
Weren't you spinning tea bags on the picture on the spinning in paris download screen Dom?
I live in a world of infinite possibilities.
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,009 posts
Location: Bristol, UK
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,009 posts
Location: Bristol, UK
Posted:
Yep, but that wasn't on that video. Maybe when I finally get round to doing a video I'll include some bonus teabag footage.
Is anyone else giggling everytime they read the word teabag?
Yep, but that wasn't on that video. Maybe when I finally get round to doing a video I'll include some bonus teabag footage.
Is anyone else giggling everytime they read the word teabag?
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Posted:
I wasn't actually no....but I am now for some reason
I wasn't actually no....but I am now for some reason
I live in a world of infinite possibilities.
I don't want a title.
940 posts
940 posts
Posted:
Yup, mostly because I've heard awful definitions of the verb-form.
Yup, mostly because I've heard awful definitions of the verb-form.
E pluribus unum, baby.
member
23 posts
Location: New York
23 posts
Location: New York
Posted:
a dip isn't even necessary... just use very fine steel wool and it will burn on its own just fine
a dip isn't even necessary... just use very fine steel wool and it will burn on its own just fine
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,092 posts
Location: In a van, United Kingdom
old hand
1,092 posts
Location: In a van, United Kingdom
Posted:
use the finest grade wire wool that you can, DONT dip, and dont light!!!
sound confusing? well just use a normal household 9V battery, thats what i use, dry wire wool and a 9V it makes an even brighter wall of wooll!!!
dont take my word for it, try it!!
frodo out
use the finest grade wire wool that you can, DONT dip, and dont light!!!
sound confusing? well just use a normal household 9V battery, thats what i use, dry wire wool and a 9V it makes an even brighter wall of wooll!!!
dont take my word for it, try it!!
frodo out
passing through, this world still lives.
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
Posted:
Interesting suggestions with demin and the 9v battery - I'll have to try those. I've made what I call "wire-poi" which are basically what you guys are talking about - cages filled with fine wire wool. I couldn't find any chicken wire, but if you take a bird feeder, cut it in half, fold a few bits over (to close the bottom) and use some coat-hangar to clip onto, it works pretty well. I think I need to find a bigger bird feeder or something though as I only get ~20 seconds burn time
I wonder if the battery things works well because you're lighting right through the center of the wool?
Interesting suggestions with demin and the 9v battery - I'll have to try those. I've made what I call "wire-poi" which are basically what you guys are talking about - cages filled with fine wire wool. I couldn't find any chicken wire, but if you take a bird feeder, cut it in half, fold a few bits over (to close the bottom) and use some coat-hangar to clip onto, it works pretty well. I think I need to find a bigger bird feeder or something though as I only get ~20 seconds burn time
I wonder if the battery things works well because you're lighting right through the center of the wool?
Cake or Death?
SILVER Member
(...trusty steed of the rodeo midget...)
403 posts
Location: the state of flux, Ireland
(...trusty steed of the rodeo midget...)
403 posts
Location: the state of flux, Ireland
Posted:
HeHeHe,
*teabagging*
isn't it nice?
HeHeHe,
*teabagging*
isn't it nice?
veteran
1,269 posts
Location: middle of Troon
1,269 posts
Location: middle of Troon
Posted:
*is confused about teabags....*
did i miss something?
*is confused about teabags....*
did i miss something?
random murbles
BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL. 30th april ~ Calton hill - Edinburgh
SAMHUINN FESTIVAL. 31st October ~ Royal Mile - Edinburgh
member
52 posts
Location: England
52 posts
Location: England
Posted:
Im doing some experimenting with this at the moment, I want to come up with a really cheap, easily made home version. Are the black bush ones like a black tube with a cross of wick at the bottom to hold the wool in ? I saw them once but could never find the site again.
So far Ive tried a couple of bird feeder things, one a spiral construction the other a straightforward mesh construction. Bigger holes are needed as the wire wool clogs anything small up very quickly so Im about to have a go with some chicken wire.
I totally love the battery idea, what do you do with it ? just stuff it in there ? Ive noticed that the fuel spillage is copious when soaking wire wool so this is just great and should be shouted from the rooftops i think.
Non-Https Image Link
Im doing some experimenting with this at the moment, I want to come up with a really cheap, easily made home version. Are the black bush ones like a black tube with a cross of wick at the bottom to hold the wool in ? I saw them once but could never find the site again.
So far Ive tried a couple of bird feeder things, one a spiral construction the other a straightforward mesh construction. Bigger holes are needed as the wire wool clogs anything small up very quickly so Im about to have a go with some chicken wire.
I totally love the battery idea, what do you do with it ? just stuff it in there ? Ive noticed that the fuel spillage is copious when soaking wire wool so this is just great and should be shouted from the rooftops i think.
Non-Https Image Link
member
52 posts
Location: England
52 posts
Location: England
SILVER Member
(...trusty steed of the rodeo midget...)
403 posts
Location: the state of flux, Ireland
(...trusty steed of the rodeo midget...)
403 posts
Location: the state of flux, Ireland
Posted:
general spin,
yep, tube with wicking, thems the black bush all right, the advantage is that the centrifugal force brings down a constant supply of wool to the burning end giving a nice constant stream of sparks.
Just make sure that the tube is metal and not plastic!
if you cant find big black bush tubes the cans that tennis balls are supplied in work very nicely as well.
general spin,
yep, tube with wicking, thems the black bush all right, the advantage is that the centrifugal force brings down a constant supply of wool to the burning end giving a nice constant stream of sparks.
Just make sure that the tube is metal and not plastic!
if you cant find big black bush tubes the cans that tennis balls are supplied in work very nicely as well. member
52 posts
Location: England
52 posts
Location: England
member
44 posts
Location: cumbria ENGLANG
44 posts
Location: cumbria ENGLANG
Posted:
if you want to make blackbush but cant find the tubes try using tin cans (the ones that rice pudding come in are the best)
its cheaper and i find it works fine.
have fun
if you want to make blackbush but cant find the tubes try using tin cans (the ones that rice pudding come in are the best)
its cheaper and i find it works fine.
have fun
the end is nigh and now comence the time of the retarded badger
GOLD Member
Pirate Pixie Crew Captain
8,428 posts
Location: Wales
Pirate Pixie Crew Captain
8,428 posts
Location: Wales
Posted:
What flavour tea is best Dom? does it make a difference if they are herbal?
*walks away looking as innocent as she can*
What flavour tea is best Dom? does it make a difference if they are herbal?
*walks away looking as innocent as she can*
Feed me Chocolate!!! Feed me NOW!
activist for HoPper liberation.
1,643 posts
Location: ffidrac
1,643 posts
Location: ffidrac
Posted:
If you span..... teabags... and dipped them, then tea would fly everywhere and you'd get the same effect as sparkly poi but for the daytime,
if you did it in a white room, you'd also get tea splashes all over the wall, you'd get modern art! sort of like one of damien hirsts spin paintings but with an extra special poi dimension...........
i appreciate this thread has nothing to do with actual tea, but it's just as fun.
If you span..... teabags... and dipped them, then tea would fly everywhere and you'd get the same effect as sparkly poi but for the daytime,
if you did it in a white room, you'd also get tea splashes all over the wall, you'd get modern art! sort of like one of damien hirsts spin paintings but with an extra special poi dimension........... i appreciate this thread has nothing to do with actual tea, but it's just as fun.
Aurinko freedom agreement reached 10th Sept 2006
if it makes no sense that's because it's NOn-sense.
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