Page:
Wheeemember
33 posts

Posted:
Anyone ever tried this?

What I'm thinking is a staff with ends covered in the stuff that strike-anywhere matches use (phosphor?). You could then light your staff by striking on the ground (well concrete/tarmac anyway - grass probably wouldn't work!). As well as looking good it'd be a way to start with non-fire and only light part way through.

A couple of problems I can see:

1) Replacement of the ends. Would an arrangement to hold several matches which can just be replaced work?

2) How would the ends react to being dipped in fuel? Would they still strike properly?

Suibomaddict
577 posts
Location: Oregon, USA


Posted:
If you're gonna use several matches, why not just use one that is not attached and light it normally? No reason to complicate things.

Definition of poi- A Hawaiian food made from the tuber of the taro that is cooked, pounded to a paste, and fermented.

Ahnold discussing poi - "It is naht a toober!"


L0s3r_r@v3rSILVER Member
enthusiast
274 posts
Location: Swansea, Ma (US), USA


Posted:
he's going for a 'mystical' effect. i'd sayd use soemthing like a capgun but stronger

You know what I'm thinking about right now? That's right, Tacos!


Ange_GSCGOLD Member
HOP's glowstick ambassador!!
128 posts
Location: Bay Area, California, USA


Posted:
Sounds kind of risky. I dont think it would actually work but its a good idea. Try it and tell us what happens.

missegyptology: "I just remember beingall off balance and unicycling really fast down to campus and the arabic was all blurred on the page"

^When Linz pulls an all nighter before Arabic class^


yoniGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,099 posts
Location: Bideford and Bath, United Kingdom


Posted:
i seem to remember talkin to someone bout this, i think it would be possible but a trigger type mechanism would be better than matches,

watch miss congeniality to see a self lighting baton, (damn good film too biggrin)

UCOF "evolution: Poi -> stick -> hoops -> devil stick -> juggling club -> juggling ball -> crayons."

Supergroovalsticprosifunkstication
In other words, it's the thumps bump


jc_firetricksBRONZE Member
enthusiast
205 posts
Location: Brisbane, Australia


Posted:
Use the starter of fa gass barbie...

Can be found at most hardware stores. wink

nearly_all_goneSILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom


Posted:
I would say that if you're going to whack it on tarmac to start it, you're going to bugger up your wick fairly quickly. Probably better to have some kind of flame on-hand and just waft the dipped staff over that.



The only way I can think of this is like a kind of sherbert dib-dab thing... dip in fuel, dip in phosphor, then strike. If you'd already put the phosphor on, soaking it with fuel would just wash it off.



As for matches, you'd have to be bloody careful not to simply snap the match. I don't know if you've ever tried to do things gently with the end of your staff, but lighting a match mid-spin without it looking crap would probably be fairly hard. It would also probably go out before it lit the wick (definitely would if you were still spinning it), unless they were already warm from a previous burn (and remember, spinning them unlit will cool them very quickly) or you were indoors.



Also, if you aim to start non-fire then light halfway, it would be even more difficult to light because regardless of how well you spin-off, a full (well, half) session will take a lot of fuel off the wick.



Cool idea, sorry to be negative but I'm not sure matches are the way to go and I hope you can afford new wicks when your old ones fray to hell wink

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau


squarefishSILVER Member
(...trusty steed of the rodeo midget...)
403 posts
Location: the state of flux, Ireland


Posted:
That type of chemical mix used on the match heads is pretty unstable in large quantities, it can explode if confined in to small a space and ignited.

You would probably be better of with an electrical ignition system using a 9V battery and some wire wool.



Then you wouldn't even need to strike it against the ground- just hold it out and watch it light up in front of you!



Also the 9V battery could be used to power some nifty LEDs and such if you want to start off with non fire effects
EDITED_BY: squarefish (1140616399)

L0s3r_r@v3rSILVER Member
enthusiast
274 posts
Location: Swansea, Ma (US), USA


Posted:
tho explotion are cool they are bad on the end of a staff. ubbrollsmile

You know what I'm thinking about right now? That's right, Tacos!


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
the old dream.... rolleyes along with the kero-compartment in the stafff for instant refuelling....

I'd advise a mechanism that can be triggered from the handle by using a button or such, some batteries sparking, whatever...

Putting phosphor on the end of a staff... dude, don't do and tell me please, or do and don't get close... grrrrrrrrrrr.... this stuff is poison! And if you have an accident with lit phosphor on somebodies skin.... hmmmm yummy burn... wink

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


L0s3r_r@v3rSILVER Member
enthusiast
274 posts
Location: Swansea, Ma (US), USA


Posted:
fire tom makes me giggle like a skool boy with adhd ubblol

You know what I'm thinking about right now? That's right, Tacos!


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
adhd? umm is this illegal? wink



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ps: sorry, my previous post could have sounded arrogant to some... please x-cuse, it wasn't meant like that... I was just happy to see that my "pipe-dreams" are other peoples' too... wink biggrin makes me feel less lonesome... wink
EDITED_BY: FireTom (1140940421)

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


FlamingOberonGOLD Member
ohm mani padme hum
134 posts
Location: Worcester, MA, USA


Posted:
it is also going to depend heavily on your fuel.

to self-ignite a staff dipped in kero is going to be significantly more difficult to self-ignite a staff dipped in white gas. if you are using white gas, which i think would be a necessity for something like this, thean you should be able to rig a barbecue lighter starter or some other flint system to create just a spark, hypothetically with the trigger near the center of the staff, and the resuting spark on the ends... because one good spark is all you will need to ignite the ends. if youre using kero it will take much more than a spark to ignite...

you could also just do something to the extent of dripping a little fule (very little )on the inside of your staff, and lighting one end normally, and the other end will self-ignite. i have only done this on accident, i dont actually know how safe it is, so someone please admonish me if it is totally stupid... you could always rig explosive/firework fusing through the center of your staff for the same effect, which may or may not be safer, though more expensive, and will have to be reset after every burn...

L0s3r_r@v3rSILVER Member
enthusiast
274 posts
Location: Swansea, Ma (US), USA


Posted:
Written by: FireTom


adhd? umm is this illegal? wink

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ps: sorry, my previous post could have sounded arrogant to some... please x-cuse, it wasn't meant like that... I was just happy to see that my "pipe-dreams" are other peoples' too... wink biggrin makes me feel less lonesome... wink




adhd= attention defiset hyperactive disorder.. it's load of fun when you learn to contol it! ubbrollsmile

You know what I'm thinking about right now? That's right, Tacos!


nearly_all_goneSILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom


Posted:
Written by: FlamingOberon


you should be able to rig a barbecue lighter starter or some other flint system to create just a spark, hypothetically with the trigger near the center of the staff, and the resuting spark on the ends... because one good spark is all you will need to ignite the ends.



I only spin with white gas, and I think what I said above still stands - on a spinning staff, the ends would need to be warm for any sort of spark or light to catch, and then you'd have to be going reasonably fast for the whole wick to ignite before a little flame went out.

Warmth is going to be critical, in my opinion. Really like the idea of using a BBQ flint to light though, a lot of potential in that!

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau


marcoenthusiast
328 posts
Location: uk


Posted:

I have a self lighting staff system going through final testing and then onto prototype, using replaceble wire wool cartridges,

mark

chris19SILVER Member
newbie
17 posts
Location: Münchendorf, AUSTRIA


Posted:
sounds really cool but may you make a vid to show us how it works.

twirling greets

hilli

Think but never worry for tomorrow will come anyway


Ignarnewbie
10 posts

Posted:
Try using a full fire staff- this is just one where the kevlar wicks stretch nearly all the way from the ends to the handle, right? Then, you can put a lighter in your hand as you spin (some dexterity is needed her), and if you've coated the whole wicks in fuel, you can then light up really quickly from the handle without your audience noticing! Even better, the flames shoot out from thehandles towards the tips, so it looks like a lightsaber going up.

I claim no resposibility for people burning their hands using full fire staffs... It HURTS!

nearly_all_goneSILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom


Posted:
That sounds nice, Ignar! I'd love to see a video of it lighting up like that!

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau


Fine_Rabid_DogInternet Hate Machine
10,530 posts
Location: They seek him here, they seek him there...


Posted:
\\\"along with the kero-compartment in the stafff for instant refuelling.... \\\"



That\\\'s becoming less of a dream.





 Written by: Oddballs.co.uk



NEW Kapok Reservoir 4\\\' Fire Staff

These new staffs were developed in association with Oddballs to create a long burning fire staff. Kevlar will not soak up a lot of liquid meaning low burn times. Kapok absorbs 10 times as much as kevlar - you can see where we\\\'re going here! These fire staffs are based on an aluminium tube with a silicon hand grip and 330mm of 100mm kevlar wicking.





As for self lighting.... I\\\'ve seen small fire batons that have seemingly burst into flame. Can\\\'t remember where, when how or why though. frown



But the battery and wire wool idea certainly sounds feasable. smile

The existance of flamethrowers says that someone, somewhere, at sometime said "I need to set that thing on fire, but it's too far away."


marcoenthusiast
328 posts
Location: uk


Posted:

I've been making reservoir / chambered staffs for nearly 3 years now,

mark

pineapple peteSILVER Member
water based
5,125 posts
Location: melbourne, Australia


Posted:
hmm, i was working with a design a while ago, of using nichrome wire to ignite it. you'd need a piece of it wrapped around the wick, and with enough current (12V i think, i forget how many amps) it bursts into flames and is gone.

with the right fuel mix, this could light it easily.

cheers, pete

"you know there are no trophys for doing silly things in real life yeah pete?" said ant "you wont get a 'listened to ride of the valkyries all the way to vietnam' trophy"

*proud owner of the very cute fire_spinning_angel, birgit and neon shaolin*


Ignarnewbie
10 posts

Posted:
This might sound kinda stupid, but has anyone thought about this. Fire is nearly invisible in bright light, so if you spin indoors in real bright lit, and then suddenly get someone to switch all the lights out, provided the audience is far away enough you can still get a good OOOOH! from them.

Kevlarsoul- sorry, i don't actually have a full fire staff to take a video of, my last one gut buggered after too much use. but i'm trying to make a new one, just be adventurous!

pineapple peteSILVER Member
water based
5,125 posts
Location: melbourne, Australia


Posted:
also, available on ebay, there is a magicians utility. its two liquids, that when mixed together, create fire. not too sure how controlledit is though.

cheers, pete

"you know there are no trophys for doing silly things in real life yeah pete?" said ant "you wont get a 'listened to ride of the valkyries all the way to vietnam' trophy"

*proud owner of the very cute fire_spinning_angel, birgit and neon shaolin*


MacGyver2210Member
3 posts

Posted:
Hi all, new guy starting off with a rant:
 Written by: pineapple pete

using nichrome wire to ignite it. you'd need a piece of it wrapped around the wick, and with enough current (12V i think, i forget how many amps) it bursts into flames and is gone.



Indeed, this is one possible setup. Possibly the easiest thing I have ever seen for remote lighting of pyro effects was what was previously mentioned about wire wool(steel wool?) and a battery. Running a 1.5 - 3V battery's current through steel wool will make it glow red hot(enought to light kero) or even burst into flames(with a 9V battery). We used to use this to make stage props where we needed a 'gunfire' effect(trigger was a switch, battery in the butt, wires down the barrel to a small clump of wire wool and flashpowder).

It would be almost no trouble to run the electrics inside, and down through a hollow staff to two alligator clips, with a 9v battery somehow sealed with a switch in the handle area. Then you could just take a few strands of wire wool, run them around the end of the staff right below the wick, and when you press the button - kawoosh!

The only reason I could advise against piezoelectric ignitors(electronic lighters, gas grill starter sparkers, etc) is that because they do deal in concussion-electrics(very sensitive, can even be triggered by dropping them) and because it is electric at all, it may not function as expected or at all after dipping the ignitor. Also, the spark created is fairly weak and may not light a lower flashpoint liquid like Kero without perfect positioning.

Side Note: As I got bored and just tried it, if you link 4 9V batteries in series(36V 9mA) before attaching it to the wool, it damn near explodes.... biggrin

razzaSILVER Member
member
43 posts
Location: Helensburgh, Australia


Posted:
hey there
ive actually made a new type of fire staff which kind looks like an full length staff the good thing about it is that when u want to light it u press the bouton in the middle and both ends light up then engnite it runs of a 9v battery i have also added 20 LEDs which run up the staff which also operated with a flick of a switch i works quite well the only think is the wicks r a bit dodgie cause they are made out of towel uif u wanna see pictures on my electronic staff msg me and ill try and get some

Horsepower is how fast u hit a tree. Tourqe is how far the tree goes with u


artindorilmember
117 posts

Posted:
I don't know if it's been suggested (sorry didn't have time to read the whole thread) but you could try some form of pizo-electric lighter operated by a foot switch. then you could build it into some sort of housing so it wasn't obvious. Alot of work, but it might do what you want

Urielnewbie
3 posts

Posted:
Ignar's got it right with the full fire staff, except we call then firewalls. it works really well, just keep the lighter hidden and make sure you get rid of it somehow once the staff is lit.

i'm korma si, met'a seren geti, mor kay forr, aro sitrrio maar.

funnyangelmember
37 posts
Location: north yorkshire


Posted:
just a thougt, feel free to rip to shreds..! flash cotton/string wound around the staff and set off by pezo electrics? or do flash products burn too fast light?

FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
 Written by: marco





I have a self lighting staff system going through final testing and then onto prototype, using replaceble wire wool cartridges,



mark





uTube - uTube -uTube -uTube -uTube -uTube -uTube -uTube



 Written by: razza

hey there

ive actually made a new type of fire staff which kind looks like an full length staff the good thing about it is that when u want to light it u press the bouton in the middle and both ends light up then engnite it runs of a 9v battery i have also added 20 LEDs which run up the staff which also operated with a flick of a switch i works quite well the only think is the wicks r a bit dodgie cause they are made out of towel uif u wanna see pictures on my electronic staff msg me and ill try and get some





flickR - flickR - flickR - flickR - flickR - flickR smile



Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease wink
EDITED_BY: FireTom (1170658458)

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


MynciBRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom


Posted:
surely with a hollow staff with wicks you could have something akin to the oven lighters on the inside of the tube with the electric lighting section at the wicks, then it's just click and light, may be trickyrefueling ovenlighter and wher eyou put the "on" button, but for someone technically minded I'm sure they could find a way

A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.


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