Forums > Technical Discussion > Odd type of fuel...
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One night when bored i burned off some fuel i had for an RC airplain i had. It was some type of oil and said 15% nitro on it. I burned it on the gorund and it lit very similarly to kerosine.. burned rather slow and stayed lit for a while. The greatest thing about it was that the flame was GRAY! I'm not sure how great it is for wicks but i'm sure it would look awesome.
i just found a link to buy it except mine was orange not pink.
https://www.hobbyfever.com/product_info.php?products_id=3885
i've never spun fire before i hope to do it in the next 4 or 5 months after i get a little better
if someone had any more info on using this to spin, reply!
addict
475 posts
Location: Van Diemans Land, Australia
One thing though dude.
It is actually rather difficult to light kerosene just poured on the ground.
In Fact i have yet to see it be done. and trust me, my friends have tried
Fair luna bright, fair luna moon
it shines at night but fades too soon
fair luna moon, fair luna bright
forever we dance
we dance under starlight
member
53 posts
Location: Washington D.C.
I may have to try that.........
I wonder what would happen if you mixed it with other fuels???
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war
for a lead role in a cage?
--Pink Floyd
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Excuse for for sounding forceful with my next comment...
DO NOT MIX FUELS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you want your arm blown off, or to die horribly from toxic fumes, either now, or in 10 years time.
At no point should anyone mix fuels never mixed before unless they know exactly how it will react.
Leave the experimenting to chemists who often have a death wish anyway...
The mxing thing aside, if you can light the fuelon the ground, chaces are it has a very low flashpoint, which means it is veyr dangerous to use,a nd can ignite when you least expect it or even when someone walks past with a cigarette or strikes a spark on the ground with the buckle on their shoe...etc etc
The first thing to do whenever trying a new fuel is to get the MSDS sheet from the supplier an dgo throuhg all the medical hazards on paper first.
Please please please do not experiment with flammable fuels...
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member
53 posts
Location: Washington D.C.
A friend of mine is a chemist.......and I'm sure that he will help me. I wouldn't take a chance like that with some one that knew what they were doing. I want to see if I can get him to test it in a lab.
We'll play safe...I promise
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war
for a lead role in a cage?
--Pink Floyd
old hand
929 posts
Location: Oregon, USA
Don't forget that this is used as a substitute for GASOLINE *hisssssss*
That said, it's methyl alcohol, which explains the odd color, plus nitromethane, which is used in top fuel drag racing and funny cars. As if thats not enough its got magical lubricants in it since its made for engines, so at the very least you're going to get some sort of residue *cough*lubricant*cough* and quite possibly some not so healthy fumes.
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Warning: Please Do Not Jump On The Seals
160 posts
Location: Sweden
lurch: you seem to know what you're talking about, but i would say send a mail to the manufacturer about MSDS. just to be sure
fire is just light and heat.
it's you friend!
member
53 posts
Location: Washington D.C.
wouldn't that be the same thing as some of the chemical burns? I mean you get some of the same results.....film on your wicking and posssible unhealthy fumes.
I really don't think that this is the greatest idea.....don't get me wrong on that. I just would like to see what could happen.....in a controlled environment. I don't think that it would be wise to burn with stuff.
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war
for a lead role in a cage?
--Pink Floyd
Retro Fyre Wizzard
538 posts
Location: Pietermaritzburg (KZN), South Africa
Fuels like that (i checked the link out) have extra 'additives', kinda like the fuel oil mix for a 2stroke engine.
These fuels burn very heavy, and release a very toxic smoke! I would not recomend using these fuels (i've tried most things and i've suffered for it, but tht's why we have these forums so we can learn from each others mistakes
)Mixing fuels is never a good idea, thx charles!
Parafine/kerosine is oil based and has a low flashpoint, and should only be mixed with other oil based fuels (and only if you know what you're doing).
For some performances i mix my parafine with citronella oil (used as an outdoor insect repellant). Citronella is about 20x more expensive than parafine, so needless to say i only use it on rare occasions (and as a mix), like when i'm expected to perform in a confined space or indoors (not recomended - i cringe whenever i have to). Citronella produces a much more peasant smell when compared to parafine but I personally find the smoke to be heavier on the lungs and it has a slightly higher flashpoint.
This fuel mix, on a 3part parafine to 1part citronella is the only mix i recomend to anyone, even mixing chemicals for colour changes (which btw can only be done with alcohol based fuels, coz oil based wont disolve) should be done with EXTREME caution, i've seen some crazy stuff go wrong!
Unfortunately, i cannot show any of these coz baq then i dirrent have a camera, perhaps i should take some shots of burns for y'all 2 c!?
Regards 
Shu
(Ice-E FyreStorm - Group Manager & Performer)
You know those people your parentals warned you about?... I'M ONE OF THEM! 
Yes, i do bite!!
member
53 posts
Location: Washington D.C.
I took up the idea with my buddy in the chem department, and he said that it would be more or less a bad idea and that there would be a lot of damage to the wicks. We didn't test it with any other fuel types because of the flashpoints.
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war
for a lead role in a cage?
--Pink Floyd
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Great to hear...sounds like your buddy values his neck more than some chemists I've known!
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addict
475 posts
Location: Van Diemans Land, Australia
i have seen people use citronella for fuel before.
You should have seen the bugs drop out of the sky when she started spinning.
it was like one of the plagues of egypt
Fair luna bright, fair luna moon
it shines at night but fades too soon
fair luna moon, fair luna bright
forever we dance
we dance under starlight
member
53 posts
Location: Washington D.C.
that's got to be a great sight..........
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war
for a lead role in a cage?
--Pink Floyd
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Written by: Charles
Great to hear...sounds like your buddy values his neck more than some chemists I've known!
A chemist friend of mine (MarkP on HoP) span using lemon scented citronella on New Years - the fool breathed off a buzzsaw with the stuff. Luckily he didn't get hurt and instead of getting the usual columns he created some rather nice fire balls.
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Irish
525 posts
Location: Dallas.........ish, USA
Written by: Shu
For some performances i mix my parafine with citronella oil (used as an outdoor insect repellant).
some people are allergic to citronella oil....my partner always caughs up all sorts of nastyness and usually gets nosebleeds whenever we use it....so i do NOT reccomend it for any usage...it also leave a nasty residue on your wicks....and anything else it touches...
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Retro Fyre Wizzard
538 posts
Location: Pietermaritzburg (KZN), South Africa
Written by: darkpoet
my partner always caughs up all sorts of nastyness and usually gets nosebleeds whenever we use it....so i do NOT reccomend it for any usage...
Never had this problem before, thanks. I'll bear that in mind.
Written by: darkpoet
it also leave a nasty residue on your wicks....and anything else it touches...
I have never had any more of a problem with citronella residue as i have with parafine residue... both are oil fuels there is going to be a residue. I find that because it burns hotter there tends to be LESS residue. bear in mind that citronella comes in 2 forms, yellow and a stronger green. the green tends to be kinder on the wicks.
I also would not recomend burning with straight citronella, the smell can be overpowering and uncomfortable for people who suffer from asthma or sinus problems. Citronella is normally burnt in small doses as an insect repellant, on a wick there's alot more fuel burning. (Soz i shoulda mentioned tht before)
Regards
Shu
(Ice-E FyreStorm - Group Manager & Performer)
You know those people your parentals warned you about?... I'M ONE OF THEM!
Yes, i do bite!!
89 posts
Location: Bristol, UK
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EDITED_BY: Pyroptix (1196216875)
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
It's also called Solvent 3440 Special in New Zealand...
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Retro Fyre Wizzard
538 posts
Location: Pietermaritzburg (KZN), South Africa
Thanx Pyroptix
I've been looking for info like that for some time!
Regards
Shu
(Ice-E FyreStorm - Group Manager & Performer)
You know those people your parentals warned you about?... I'M ONE OF THEM!
Yes, i do bite!!
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